Meet a Nobel Prize Recipient
Queen's Nobel Prize recipient Art McDonald has hung out with the cast of the hit TV show Big Bang Theory. Now you can hang out with him during Homecoming.
Dr. McDonald will deliver the opening remarks at Graduate Student Research and Showcase Luncheon. Come out on Oct. 15 at the Donald Gordon Centre and learn about Queen's research.
Maybe Dr. McDonald can recreate his This Hour Has 22 Minutes sketch and tell the crowd why neutrinos are like Timbits.
View this video on YouTube
Wish Queen’s a Happy 175th Birthday
Queen's is celebrating its 175th birthday with events throughout the 2016-17 academic year but Homecoming actually coincides with its birthday this year.
On Oct. 16th, 1841, Queen Victoria issued an Imperial Royal Charter to officially create "Queen's College at Kingston."
Sadly, no automatic notification will pop up in your Facebook feed on Oct. 16 to remind you of this historic birthday. So the Queen's University Alumni Association is asking people to post birthday messages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #Queensu175 or #Queensu.
Or take your 175th message to the next level but snapping a picture at the special birthday photo booth at the Alumni Meet & Greet in Grant Hall on Oct. 14-15.
March With Queen's Bands
Drop by Grant Hall between 10-11:30 am for the Pep Rally and meet student clubs, grab a pancake for the road, pick up your pompoms and get your face painted.
At noon, the Bands will start to preform and then lead the Alumni Parade to Richardson Stadium for the big game.
Alumni -- watch for volunteers holding decade signs and march with your class or group.
Watch a Pumpkin Explode
All charitable fundraisers should include exploding vegetables.
Every year Queen's Engineers Without Borders raises money for charity by dropping a 500 pound pumpkin from a crane.
We haven't seen a large, orange explosion this big since Donald Trump's last campaign speech about building a wall. RIMSHOT!
View this video on YouTube
See a Rembrandt Masterpiece
Queen's latest masterpiece went on public display at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre in April. Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo – painted by Dutch artist Rembrandt in 1658 – was donated by Alfred and Isabel Bader.
"It is the best Rembrandt in Canada, and Queen's is the best university in Canada. It is very fitting," Alfred told the New York Times about his family's latest donation to Queen's.
The Baders have donated more than 200 paintings to Queen's – including two other Rembrandts. The New York Times said Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo is the most significant gift of art so far.
The art centre will be open on Homecoming weekend and admission is free.
Sing a Lot of Oil Thighs at the Football Game
Every time Queen's scores, we sing. Let's hope for a lot of "Cha Gheills!" when the Gaels play the Windsor Lancers.
There is only one problem – it's been a few years since some alumni have yelled "Oil thigh na Banrighinn a'Banrighinn gu brath!"
For those who have forgotten the words – do not worry. We are here to help. Watch this video for an Oil Thigh refresher.
View this video on YouTube
High five a member of the Tricolour Guard
The Tricolour Guard is a special group of alumni – people who graduated from Queen's 50 years ago or more. They receive special recognition during Homecoming, including a Tricolour Guard Dinner & Reception.
Attention Class of 2016 – this will be you in 2066.
Last year Shirley Purkis, Arts'41, was back on campus for Homecoming -- 74 years after her graduation.
Cheer on a Non-Football Gaels Sports Team
Couldn't get a ticket to the Queen's-Windsor football game? We feel your pain. The Homecoming game sells out every year.
Good news – there are other Gael teams to cheer for during the weekend.
The other tricolour sports action to watch includes women's hockey vs. Nipissing and York, men's soccer vs. UOIT, men's hockey vs. Nipissing, and men's rugby vs. Brock. There is also an invitational men's and women's basketball tournament taking place all weekend.
Let's root for Queen's as the Gaels go in and win.
Dance in the Street with Several Thousand Students and Alumni
Kudos to the Alma Mater Society – after only two years, the ReUnion Street Festival has emerged as one of the signature events of Homecoming weekend.
Union Street will be filled with people dancing to an amazing yet-to-be-named musical act.
The headliner is top secret – the AMS announces the band a week before the concert. The previous bands were the Arkells and The Sheepdogs.
Dress Your Kids in Tricolour
Alumni parents who came back to Homecoming with their children have a job to do. It's called Tricolour Brainwashing.
Get your kids to wear your old tam, buy them a Queen's scarf, and give them a Tricolour pompom for the football game.
Queen's Athletics even has Baby Gaels gear so infants can look like future students.
Instill your child's love for Queen's now. If you don't do it today, they may grow up and apply to Western or McGill. Don't allow your kids to make that horrible mistake.
There are lots of activities happening over the Homecoming weekend.
Take a tour of the Isabel Bader Centre of the Performing Arts Centre. Test your trivia skills. Attend a welcome back reception at your former faculty/school.
For the complete list of Homecoming 2016 activities, visit the Queen's Homecoming calendar of events.