Black & Gold Fest

Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát 20th Annual Pow Wow/h3>

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET | Columbia Ice Fields, University of Waterloo

September 23, 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the United College (formerly St. Paul’s University College) annual Pow Wow. This year is the inaugural collaboration on this celebration between the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC) and the University of Waterloo Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR). In addition to the Pow Wow being co-hosted by WISC and OIR, there will be another major change from years past, as the Pow Wow moves to the University of Waterloo Campus at an indoor venue, Columbia Icefield (CIF). A huge thank you goes out to University of Waterloo Athletics for your support in this celebration!

This is a one-day event featuring vendors, dancers, and singers from the Region of Waterloo and beyond. This is a non-competition Pow Wow, with a focus on celebrating Indigenous culture and tradition through song, dance, arts, and food. Most importantly, this Pow Wow is intended to be a safe, welcoming, and vibrant opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks from the University of Waterloo community and beyond to gather and spend time with each other in a beautiful display of indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in the celebration!

Cost: $5 general admission

• Non perishable food donations accepted in lieu of payment 
•  Youth under 18 yrs. & Seniors 60+ yrs. free 
• Post-Secondary students free with valid student card

London, UK Chapter Pub Night

6:30 to 10 p.m. BST | Samuel Pepys Pub, Stew Ln, London EC4V 3PT, United Kingdom

Get your beer steins ready! We're bringing Oktoberfest to the United Kingdom. Join the London Alumni Chapter for drinks and nibbles at the Samuel Pepys in the City near Cannon Street.

Meat and vegetarian options will be available. If you have other dietary requirements, please let us know when you register.

Cost: £5, includes drink vouchers and appetizers

New York Chapter Trivia Night

6 to 9 p.m. ET | 202 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011, United States

Time to bring out your lederhosen! You're invited to an Oktoberfest-inspired brewery and trivia night. Join the New York Alumni Chapter at The Canuck for drinks, food and healthy competition.

Cost: $5, includes a drink ticket and appetizers

Calgary Chapter Trivia Night

6 to 8 p.m. MT | The Dandy Brewing Company, 2003 11 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 3G6

Time to bring out your lederhosen! You're invited to an Oktoberfest-inspired brewery and trivia night. Join the Calgary Alumni Chapter at The Dandy Brewing Company for drinks, food and healthy competition.

Cost: $20 with alcoholic beverage, $10 with non-alcoholic beverages only. Includes appetizers and snacks

Toronto Chapter Oktoberfest Social - SOLD OUT

6 to 8 p.m. ET | WVRST, York Street Entrance, 65 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5J 1E6

Ziggy zaggy, oi oi oi! We're bringing Oktoberfest to Toronto with a Bavarian-themed social at WVRST. Join the Toronto Alumni Chapter for drinks, food and great company. Plus, come dressed in your finest lederhosen and feathered cap — the best costume will win a prize.

Cost: $15, includes a sausage and fry meal (Vegetarian and vegan options available)

Waterloo Region Chapter Trivia Night

7 to 9 p.m. ET | The Jazz Room, 59 King St N, Waterloo, ON N2J 2X2

Time to bring out your lederhosen! You're invited to an Oktoberfest-inspired trivia night led by local brain-teaser extraordinaire BeccaHosts. Join the Waterloo Alumni Chapter at The Jazz Room in the Huether Hotel for drinks, food and healthy competition. Be sure to wear your Oktoberfest finest for the themed photobooth!

Cost: $15, includes drink ticket and appetizers

Meet Your Host

Trivia night will be hosted by Rebecca Neill of BecaHosts. Rebecca is an experienced entertainer and host with a history of working in the fine arts industry. Skilled in improvisation, creative concept design, performing arts, theatrical production, and dramatic literature, Becca has been hosting trivia and bingo nights for over 5 years in the KW Region! Learn more at https://beccahosts.com/ 

Supporting Female Leaders: Our Story, Our Future

6:30 to 9:00 p.m. ET | Black and Gold Room, Student Life Centre, University of Waterloo

The Women’s Centre and Alumni Relations invites students and alumni alike to connect and learn as a community. A lecture by TD Canada Trust | Your story, Your future which will talk about the financial challenges facing women will be followed by introductions and supportive connections with University of Waterloo Professors who work in the feminist space.

Join us to bring strength to our community, learn and make connections to support one another. All are welcome to the female-positive and supportive, intersectional event for all female-identifying women and trans*folks.

Cost: $10 alumni, free for current UWaterloo students, includes refreshments

Vancouver Chapter at Harvest Haus - SOLD OUT

6 to 11:30 p.m. PT | Harvest Haus, PNE Forum, 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K 5J1 

Ziggy zaggy, oi oi oi! On Friday, September 29, join the Vancouver Alumni Chapter at Harvest Haus. We are pleased to offer a discounted rate for this sold-out event.

Socialize with other alumni at the VIP tables for food, drinks and oompah bands. Tickets include a ceramic stein. Plus, come dressed in your finest lederhosen — the best dressed alum will win a prize!

Cost: $35, includes VIP table seating and ceramic stein, food and drinks sold separately

Please note: Due to the ticketed nature of this event, all sales are final. No refunds will be permitted. 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023

7 a.m. | BMH Green, University of Waterloo 

In September of 2022, the University of Waterloo proudly committed to reconciliation, indigenization and decolonization across the entirety of our institution. 

We are committed to building long-term relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities, rooted in respect and reciprocity. As an institution of higher learning, the University of Waterloo has a unique and important role to play in working toward Truth and Reconciliation.  

With that said, we invite and encourage you all to attend UWaterloo’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events on Friday, September 29th.  Our 11:30 a.m. walk will be a 2.5 km loop around Ring Road. Accommodations for mobility and dietary requirements will be available.
 
All of the ceremonies will start and end at the B.C. Matthews Hall (BMH) Green. The entire University community is welcome to attend and observe all of the ceremonies throughout the day as their schedule allows. Please RSVP for all of the components you plan to attend. 

Schedule of Events *all times approximate
Sunrise Ceremony | 7:00 a.m. 
Commitment Polishing Ceremony | 10:00 a.m. 
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Program and Walk | 11:00 a.m. 
Traditional Feast, Drumming and Dance | 12:30 p.m. 

Yoga in the Field House

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House

Kick off your day with a beginner-friendly yoga class in the Waterloo's state-of-the-art Field House facility. De-stress and engage your body in joyful movement. All ages welcome.

You may bring your own yoga/exercise mat/towel or limited quantities will be available to borrow for the class.

Cost: Complimentary, pre-registration required

Warrior Welcome Tent and Facility Tours

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Parking Lot W, Beside Warrior Field

Fuel up for the day with complimentary refreshments and join a facility tour to see what’s new in the Field House, CIF and the newly opened SLC/PAC Expansion!

Cost: Complimentary, pre-registration required

Alumni VIP Tent

11:30 a.m. Tent opens | 1:00 p.m. Kick-off | East Berm, Warrior Field

Cheer on the Warriors in style! Join us on the East Berm of Warrior Field as the Men's Football team battles the Guelph Gryphons. With a buffet lunch, paid bar, giveaways and more, the VIP tent is the best place to catch all the action!

Alumni VIP Tent ticket holders will have access to view the game from the tent or take advantage of lawn seating on the East Berm (bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets!) Limited bleacher seating will be available on a first come first served basis.

The Alumni VIP Tent is open to all ages. Attendees will have ID checked at the door and wristbands provided to those of age.

S.A.I.L. presents: Echoes of the Land

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Parking Lot W, Beside Warrior Field

Student Art Innovation Lab (S.A.I.L.) is an award-winning creative arts community outreach program housed in a refurbished vintage Airstream trailer. Run by the University’s Fine Arts Department with support from the Chalmers Family Arts and Culture Experience Award, S.A.I.L. is both art lab/studio and mobile art gallery.

In conjunction with Alumni Black & Gold Fest, S.A.I.L. will be presenting in-process artistic work from the project Echoes from this Land: Visioning – Revisiting Truth and Reconciliation. Spear-headed by Associate Professor Briana Palmer of McMaster University, this project engages Indigenous and non-Indigenous artist/creators from educational institutions and communities across Canada in a print exchange that looks at the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action.