Saturday, Sept. 1 will be an exciting and busy day in Kingston, as over 4,500 first-year students move into their new homes in Queen’s University Residences. This is a change from previous years when move-in was Sunday. The change is designed to help accommodate the introduction of a new Fall Term Break for students.

Move-In Day is a big part of the transition to university life for incoming students. Over 95 percent of first-year students choose to live in residence, and the activities planned for Move-In Day help ensure a welcoming experience for students and their families and supports. To make these activities happen, hundreds of volunteers will be on hand to help with everything from providing directions, to helping to move luggage, to answering student and family questions.

Along with moving in their belongings, students participate in their first residence community meeting, eat dinner together, and take part in a welcome celebration with all first-year students.

With so many students arriving on campus and using the downtown streets around Queen’s, it is critical that the Move-In Day process is carefully coordinated. A working group of representatives from the university, the City of Kingston, and Kingston Police have been meeting for months to carefully plan out traffic flow, transit routes, and communications to all stakeholders. In keeping with previous years, there will be road closures, parking restrictions, and other traffic changes around campus leading up to and during Move-in Day.

“We are excited to welcome new and returning students to Queen’s and to Kingston,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “We are working closely with our partners to make the residence move-in process as efficient as possible and to minimize any disruptions to the Kingston community.”

There have been some changes to the Orientation Week schedule to accommodate a two-day Fall Term Break in October. These changes stemmed from the recommendations of the Fall Term Break Task Force, which was formed by Senate and issued its final report in 2017.

Following Move-In Day on Saturday, Sept. 1, and University Orientation activities, including the Gaels football home opener on Sunday Sept. 2. Faculty orientation activities run Monday through Wednesday. Classes start on Thursday, Sept. 6, and orientation activities will continue with faculty events on Sept. 8, and campus events on Sunday, Sept. 9.

The new move-in date and the orientation week schedule have been communicated to students, city partners, campus neighbours, and the broader Kingston community.

For the most up-to-date information on Move-in Day, visit the Queen’s Residence website, and for information about orientation activities, visit the university’s Orientation website.

Move-In Day Logistics

In keeping with previous years, there will be road closures, parking restrictions, and other traffic changes around campus leading up to and during Move-in Day. These include:

Overnight Parking Restrictions (beginning at 6 pm on Friday, Aug. 31):

• Albert Street between Union to King.
• Stuart Street between University and Albert.
• Bader Lane (also closed to non-Move-In Day traffic).
• Collingwood Street between Union and King (local traffic only).

Roads scheduled for closure* at 7 am on Saturday, Sept. 1 include:
*Access will be available for residents. Street parking will not be permitted.

• Arch Street at Union Street.
• George Street at Stuart Street.
• O’Kill Street at George Street.
• Queen’s Crescent between Beverley Street and Collingwood.
• Beverley Street between Union and King.

Streets designated one-way for Saturday, Sept. 1:

• Albert Street, southbound between Queen’s Crescent and King Street.
• Queen’s Crescent, westbound from Albert to Collingwood Street.
• Bader Lane, westbound.
• Stuart Street, westbound between University Avenue and Albert Street.
• St. Lawrence Avenue, southbound from Stuart Street to King Street.
• Collingwood Street, southbound from Union Street to King Street.
• O'Kill Street, eastbound from George Street to Barrie Street.
• University Ave, southbound from Union to Stuart Street.