For the Queen's University's 139 student dons, their school year starts more than a week before students move into residence.

Dons at Queen’s arrived on Monday, Aug. 21 to spend almost two weeks together, getting to know one another and receiving comprehensive training on a range of topics to ensure they are well prepared to guide and support the first-year students on their floor.

“It’s an intense but exciting time for both new and returning dons,” says Molly Raffan, Residence Life Manager (Education). “We work with partners across the division of student affairs and the university to provide them with expertise, direction and education, so that our dons have knowledge and skills to lead, and respond to our students, whatever they may need.”

The dons are divided into groups and go through several sessions that orient them to residence operations, community standards, and campus resources, and they are provided with in-depth training on their role as student leaders, advisors, and mentors. They attend workshops on leadership, community development theory, human rights, diversity and inclusion, and participate in the KAIROS blanket exercise. They are trained in suicide prevention, the student conduct process, alcohol harm reduction, safety, and wellness.

They also spend time in “Behind Closed Doors” scenario-based role playing. These scenarios allow them to practice the skills they have learned including peer helping, assertiveness, role modelling, conflict mediation, interviewing, cross-cultural competency, and sexual violence bystander intervention.

"Don training is the most critical part to becoming a don,” says Senior Don Trent Holmes. “The relationships and skills that are formed in those two jam-packed weeks set you up for success during the school year. The sessions cover a broad variety of relevant topics, and there's lots of practice role-play. This is my fifth don training and I still get excited about it."

The dons also participate in daily team debriefs, and community-building activities, like attending the Gaels football game on Aug. 26 at Richardson Stadium, BBQs, playing in a don dodgeball tournament, and heading to the outdoor Movie in the Square at Springer Market Square.

Residence move-in day is Sunday, Sept. 3. Visit the Residence department website for information on move-in day logistics and schedule, or to learn more about dons and what they do.