From September 22-25, 2022 the university celebrated its inaugural U of A Days, hosted by the Office of the Vice-president, External Relations. The events were an open invitation for everyone to come out and celebrate our connection to the Edmonton community and beyond, with a number of events across our campuses.
U of A Days began with “Transforming the Past for the Future: Reclaiming Indigenous Cultural Heritage” — a session on how the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology (IPIA) is changing the practice of archaeology by integrating Indigenous ways of knowing.
Next, Green + Gold Day brought a sea of green and gold to campus and elsewhere. Carnival games, trivia and a pep rally had North Campus Quad bursting with school spirit.
The fun moved to Varsity Field, where the Students’ Union attempted to break the record for most participants in a dodgeball game.
Cap ‘n’ Gown, the traditional celebration of our Golden Grads was back! After a two-year pause, Graduates of the classes of 1970, ’71 and ’72 were invited to don mortarboards once more and collect a commemorative medallion in a ceremony held at historic Convocation Hall.
The community joined U of A alumnus and science communicator Dan Riskin for a talk about how our curiosity and passion for science can influence the world.
Green + Gold Day concluded with a football game where the Golden Bears took on the defending Hardy Cup Champion Saskatchewan Huskies at Varsity Field on South Campus.
At Campus Saint-Jean Dean Jason Carey helped serve hamburgers and hot dogs to more than 500 community members.
The Augustana Campus in Camrose, Alberta also hosted a number of U of A Days events.
First was an evening under the stars at the Hesje Observatory at Miquelon Lake, where attendees learned about the new observatory and were treated to hot chocolate around a fire in the dark-sky preserve.
Augustana Green + Gold Day was celebrated with fun and games on Augustana Quad.
Vikings Women's Soccer took to the pitch twice over U of A Days weekend, hosting the Lethbridge Kodiaks and Medicine Hat College Rattlers at Augustana Field in regular season ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference) action.
A number of campus tours were held throughout U of A Days, including a first look at the the new University Commons building on north campus.
Family Fun Day brought guests of all ages to North Campus Quad for a day filled with entertainment, fun quests and good eats.
U of A Days concluded with a concert at Convocation Hall. The afternoon included popular favourites performed by our elite music students in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble (conducted by Angela Schroeder), University Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Petar Dundjerski) and the Madrigal Singers (directed by Dr. Timothy Shantz).
