Nostalgia filled the air at Homecoming 2024.
Memories of the past rose to the surface as the University welcomed over 2,000 alumni on Oct. 18, celebrating milestone reunions for those whose graduating years end in a four or nine. Alumni, their families, and community attended various events throughout the weekend, including the third annual Fall Harvest Gathering.
“Homecoming is a wonderful time to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our alumni and the profound impact Queen’s has had on their lives and the world,” Chief Advancement Officer, Michelle Fuko said in the Queen’s Gazette.Of the 65 official events during Homecoming weekend, one key event was the annual Fall Harvest Alumni Gathering, a family-friendly celebration on Agnes Benidickson Field allowing alumni to enjoy the crisp autumn air and reconnect with old and new friends.
Laughter arose from a group of friends sitting in a circle, reminiscing about being randomly selected as roommates in Victoria Hall during their first year at Queen’s. The friends later moved into a house together and continued to live side by side throughout their degrees, shaping their strongest bond and the lasting friendship that was forged during their time at Queen’s.
The friends shared with The Journal their reflections on their alma mater.
“Enjoy your time to the fullest. It does go by quickly and you’ll make the best friends of your life here,” Peggy Phillips, Comm ’89, said in an interview with The Journal.
“We come back every five years for our reunion, and we notice as we get older, how beautiful the city is and how we did not appreciate it in the same way when we were students, so we really think that Kingston is a great city,” Shannon Valliant, Comm ’89, added.
The Journal also came across a former AMS executive at the festival.
As the Vice-President (University Affairs) from 1999 to 2000, Lisa Mori, ConEd ’99, recalled many memorable experiences, including the 1998 ice storm that sealed the University’s doors for a few weeks, leading many students having to use The Physical and Health Education Centre to shower, due to lack of hot water in residence.
While changes have inevitably been made on Queen’s campus, one notable change is the transformation of the Physical and Health Education Centre, which served as the main sports and recreation facility at Queen’s until it was renamed the ARC in 2009. Otherwise, Mori says most things have stayed the same.
“The school itself and everything feels, as much as things have changed, it feels the same. The atmosphere here and just the energy here is the same,” Mori said in an interview with The Journal.
During her time as an executive member on the AMS, she worked alongside fellow executives, including Owen Minns, Vice-President (Operations), and President Sarah Corman, under the slogan “Everyone has ideas. We have plans.” She recalls having fun being in her position and having the ability to connect with students from campus.
“It definitely added [to her experience at Queen’s]. It introduced me to a lot of interesting different people and gave me an opportunity to leave a legacy behind and be involved in the changing student culture and opportunities for students on campus. But it was also a lot of fun,” Mori said.
Mori leaves students with a lasting message to appreciate the time they have at Queen’s, as they’ll never be able to recreate that experience or be in the same stage of life again. She emphasized saying yes to opportunities and making the most of experiences is crucial to enjoying university life.
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