For many prospective Queen’s students and their families, a campus tour guide is the first university representative they meet.

The Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment Office recently brought the 67 student guides for 2017-18 together to get to know one another and start the extensive training they receive to prepare them for this important role.

“More than 17,000 people tour the Queen’s campus every year,” says Stuart Pinchin, Executive Director, Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment. “We are always so impressed with the high level of enthusiasm and professionalism the guides bring to the position. To many families, these students are Queen’s, because they are so often the first point of contact.”

The two-hour tours are offered almost every weekday, twice daily (11 am and 1:30 pm), and on selected Saturdays throughout the year, starting at Gordon Hall. The tour guides also act as campus ambassadors at major recruitment events in the fall and spring, on campus and across Ontario.

New guide Bilal Shaikh (ConEd’19) is looking forward to sharing his love of the campus and the university.

“I’m excited about being a tour guide because it is something that I have dreamed of doing since I first arrived at Queen’s,” he says. “My tour guide and the experience I had on my tour played a large part in why I chose to come here, and what led to me falling in love with the energy and spirit that is always present on campus. To be able to pass that along to other people is something that I will truly cherish.”

The ‘Welcome to the New Guides’ event gives incoming guides the chance to meet the returning guides and head guide. The senior guides have the opportunity to share their experiences with the program, and their “Tour Tips.”  The guides are trained on tour logistics and content, working the tour desk in Gordon Hall, and they receive comprehensive information about each faculty, school and program offered at Queen’s, as well as the student services and resources available. The guides continue to meet monthly throughout the year to get updated on new initiatives and programs.

Learn more about Campus Tours