O-Week 2022

Orientation Week: Welcoming the Class of 2T6

By Rachel Boutet

Orientation Week (O-Week) 2022 has kicked off at the Faculty of Dentistry.

96 first-year DDS students are gearing up to enjoy a week’s worth of events run by O-Week organizers. Anabelle Ng 2T5, Luciano Fernando 2T5 and Raj Sidhu 2T5 are this year’s O-Week coordinators and with the help of 16 leaders, will be hosting the newest DDS students at a variety of events from August 29 to September 2. This year’s theme is “The Polished Stars of DDS”.  

OWeek logo

“O-Week was one of the best weeks of my first-year,” says Ng. “We built so many friendships with our classmates during the week and knew we would share these memories for the next four years together.  I am so excited to organize O-Week for the incoming class and see their friendships form!”

The 96 students will be divided into eight groups with two O-Week leaders per group. The first day will kick off with a welcome event with speakers including interim dean Laura Tam, director of advancement, Selina Esteves, and direct of student life, Richard Rayman. Students will grab ‘swag bags’ including a backpack, water bottle and other fun giveaways, and head to the park to play ice breakers and get to know the people they will be spending the next four years with. The day will conclude with a barbecue provided by the Dental Students’ Society (DSS). 

The rest of the week will include an evening boat cruse with a beautiful view of the Toronto skyline, a CN tower dinner, the White Coat Ceremony, a pancake social, a trip to the CNE, and the annual “Amazing Race”. 

“The Amazing Race was my favourite part of O-Week last year,” says Ng. “I loved exploring the city and doing challenges all the way from the ROM, racing down to Harbourfront, and back to the faculty with my new classmates.”

The week will cap off with a Centre Island day so students can explore the island and compete in different events with their DSS House. Points will be awarded for each event and are counted toward the House Cup, awarded at the end of the academic year. 

Financial assistance and planning for O-Week was supported by the student services office, the office of student life and the alumni office. 

Photo: O-Week 2022