One of the signature events of Homecoming is the football game, and this year’s event will be the first opportunity for the majority of returning alumni to watch the Queen’s Gaels at the revitalized Richardson Stadium.

A note from Principal Woolf, Artsci’80
Homecoming is a unique and special event for Queen’s – it holds an important place in the hearts of Queen’s community members.

As an alumnus myself, I’ve seen how meaningful it is for our current students and our alumni to interact, and to celebrate one another. As I’ve said in the past, the decision to reinstate Homecoming in 2013 wasn’t made lightly. I have been encouraged by the good judgment the majority of our students have shown in the years since its suspension, and with the relative success of the past few years.
As always, safety for all participating is paramount. I encourage you to take care of yourselves and one another this Homecoming weekend, and to be mindful of the Kingston community by engaging in respectful celebrations. Plans for Homecoming 2016 are the result of extensive consultation and collaboration with students, alumni representatives, and especially with our partners in the community, including local officials and the Kingston Police.
I want to thank our partners, and the staff and volunteers at Queen’s who have worked so hard to bring this year’s Homecoming to life. I look forward to seeing many of you this weekend.
Cha gheill!

The Homecoming game is about more than the action on the field, and the new stadium provides an opportunity to develop new traditions. This year’s halftime show will feature performances by the Queen’s Bands, Cheerleaders and the Pom Team, as well as a musical performance by Logan Brown. In addition, alumni representatives from the classes celebrating milestone reunions will take part in the March of the Decades. Fans will be able to join in the fun as two giant flags – a Canadian flag and another with the Queen’s ‘Q’ – will make their way around the stands.

This year’s alumni parade will be held prior to the game. Along with a pre-game pep rally in front of Grant Hall at 10 am, returning alumni, led by Queen’s Bands, will head straight up Union Street, around West Campus and in through the front entrance of the stadium where they will be recognized by all spectators in attendance. 

Spectators are encouraged to respect athletes as well as their fellow spectators and are not permitted to enter the field of play at any time either before, during or after the game.

Kickoff is 1 pm as the Gaels face the Windsor Lancers. Gates open at 11:30 am.

Organizers ensured that all the changes were addressed with the goal of providing a positive experience for all alumni.

“We really approached that shift like we do with anything to do with Homecoming, which is connecting it to the Homecoming vision – students and alumni connecting, alumni connecting with the university and alumni connecting with the Kingston community,” says Sarah Indewey, Manager of Volunteer Relations and Reunions in the Office of Advancement. “We’ve consulted with various stakeholders and planned with our partners all along to ensure that the shift in parade timing was something that everybody could still take part in and still gave that same feel.

A partnership has been set up with Kingston Trolley Tours for those who cannot walk the route. Accessible Services has also been engaged and a bus will follow to pick up any participants unable to complete the trek.