December 6, 2024

By REYHAN ENVER

The first step to getting involved is knowing how to do it.Another Get Involved Fair was held on Jan. 18 and 19 to encourage students to do just that.
The first day of the fair consisted of on-campus clubs and services that students could either volunteer for or join. The second day offered students the opportunity to get involved with outside community organizations as well. Thirty agencies set up booths for students to visit in the atrium and E-wing.
“The Get Involved Fair is a chance for us to promote ways for students to get involved on campus,” said Ryan Connell, Student Life programmer. “Hopefully new students that don’t know how to get involved are able to learn about it by coming to the fair. Students can sometimes feel intimidated about volunteering, but it’s a great way to meet new people and build skills that you might not be learning in the classroom.”
Some of Conestoga’s clubs that were set up for newcomers were Campus Gamers, Aboriginal Student Association, South Asian Student Association and Right to Play.
Even if students did not want to join a club, they could get involved by visiting the booths and learning about what’s going on at Conestoga College.
For example, Right to Play is a group that fundraises to collect money to buy sports equipment for kids across the world who cannot afford it.
As well, Aboriginal Services may no longer have funding after March. They are currently awaiting word from the Ministry of Education on the situation.
“It’s something we knew was coming, but we’re trying not to panic,” said Amy Duguid, a general arts and science student who is a member of the Aboriginal Student Association at Conestoga.
“Having it taken away; the impact would be tremendous. In what other club can you find your identity?”
Just because the Get Involved Fair is over, doesn’t mean students can’t still join a club or get involved. For more information go to www.conestogac.on.ca/studentLife/index.jsp.