What are Winter Welcome Weeks?
Winter Welcome Weeks are a series of workshops and events for all graduate students at UBC Okanagan, particularly those starting in January 2025. Running throughout January, the events provide you with the opportunity to start the winter term off strong.
Past workshops have been hosted by various campus partners including the Student Experience Office, the Centre for Scholarly Communication, Indigenous Programs and Services, Career Development, SVPRO, Graduate Community Facilitators, and many more.
Attend workshops that interest you and connect with your peers! Topics are designed to provide you with the information and resources to thrive this term.
Workshops will continue to be added over the coming weeks, so be sure to check back.
Events & Registration
Virtual workshops and events are open to all graduate students. More events will be posted throughout the month.
If you have questions about the Welcome Weeks, please email gradadmin.ubco@ubc.ca.
date: January 6, 7 & 8 2025
start times: 10 A.m. & 1 p.m.
Meet: unc student connect desk (2nd floor)
Join your Student Ambassadors in kicking off Winter O Welcome with a Campus Tour.
Bring your walking shoes and meet other new students! Recommended for new-to-UBC undergraduate, graduate and Go Global students; however, all students are welcome.
Each tour will be between 40-60 minutes.
Meet at the Student Connect desk on the second floor of the UNC to start your tour.
date: January 6, 2025
time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
location: UNC 200
We are excited to see you at our Winter O Welcome: New Student Dinner. This event is recommended for new-to-UBC undergraduate students, Go Global students, graduate students and their families.
There will be a buffet-style dinner including butter chicken (halal) or butter chickpea, opportunities to build connections with other students, information about campus resources, services, and a student panel to learn how to set yourself up for success.
Please arrive at the Ballroom UNC 200, by 4:15 pm on Monday, January 6, 2025. You will check in at the door by giving your registration information.
Event will begin at 4:30 pm.
Participants can expect there to be a higher level of noise and for it to be busy and a bit crowded at times.
This event is FREE, spaces are limited, pre-registration is required.
date: January 8, 2025
time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
location: UNC 200
Want to learn about the resources available to you on campus? Join us for the Winter O Welcome: Resource Fair! This is an opportunity for you to check out the various services that are offered at UBCO.
This event is intended for new-to-UBC undergraduate and graduate students, as well as new Go Global students, but is open to all students who wish to attend.
This is a drop-in event from 1 to 4 pm. Participants can expect there to be a higher level of noise and for it to be busy and a bit crowded at times.
date: January 8, 2025
time: 9 A.m. – 3 p.m.
location: UNC 227
date: January 9, 2025
time: 9 A.m. – 11:30 A.m.
location: UNC 227
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit number issued by Service Canada, a Canadian government department. You need a SIN before starting work in Canada, to file taxes, as well as access government programs and benefits, if eligible. You will also need to provide your SIN to UBC for tax purposes.
Please come to the UNC 227 Global Engagement Office on January to apply for your social insurance number on-site. First come, first served!
Note: You must bring physical copies of your passport and study permit to the session
date: January 9, 2025
time: 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
location: Online
Join the College of Graduate Studies’ awards team for a question and answer session about funding. Please bring any questions you have about funding and awards to the session. This event is online and is open to all graduate students.
date: January 10, 2025
time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Updated location: ASC 460
The Global Engagement Office’s international student advisors will meet and greet new international graduate students to share important information about settling and thriving in Canada. This will include immigration updates, health insurance, services and other important programs.
date: January 13 & 14, 2025
time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
location: LIB 111 & Online
Working with spatial data can be confusing and challenging, especially when using code-based interfaces such as R and Python. This two-part workshop will introduce essential concepts for working with spatial data in R, such as point and line data, polygons, raster data, and geographic projections. Attendees will learn how to import, crop, combine, process, extract, analyze, and plot spatial data in R while using transparent and reproducible workflows.
This two-part workshop will be offered in a hybrid format. It will be held in person in LIB 111, or can be attended via Zoom, on January 13 and 14, 2025. Attendees will receive Zoom details upon registration.
This workshop is part of our Research Excellence Workshop Leader Initiative.
date: January 15, 2025
time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
location: Online
Join SVPRO for a workshop that explores how to intervene and create an inclusive and safer classroom. Micro-aggressions and subtle comments that reinforce misogyny, rape culture, racism, transphobia or homophobia are overwhelmingly prevalent.
We will discuss how to create a syllabus that centers on inclusion and support; how to handle sensitive topics such as sexualized violence; how to manage dynamics in the classroom between students; and how to support your colleagues.
date: January 16, 2025
time: 10 A.m. – 12 p.m.
location: LIB 111
This workshop builds on the topic of water pipe leak detection. It will help students learn how water transmission and distribution systems work in our city, as well as how to detect leaks using machine learning. The workshop is mainly for undergraduate and graduate engineering students but is open to students from other fields as well. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how city water systems operate and learn how machine learning skills are being used in water pipe leak detection. No prior knowledge needed.
This workshop is part of the Research Excellence Workshop Leader Initiative (REWLI). Learn more and see the full list of offerings.
date: January 16, 2025
time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
location: Online
Join the Academic and Career Development Office for a discussion to help you explore career possibilities and prepare for your career after graduate studies. By exploring the job market, participants will gain insights on how their experiences as a graduate student are valuable to the industry.
Topics include:
- Designing a career plan
- The importance of building industry connections
- Understanding job application processes
This workshop counts towards the Career Readiness & Professional Development credential offered through the College of Graduate Studies.
date: January 16, 2025
time: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
location: Online
The most important tool for academic success is your wellness! Join Campus Wellness & Education to learn healthy habits to set yourself up for success. In this workshop, we will introduce personal wellness, and support participants as they pursue positive physical, mental and social wellbeing. Participants will learn to recognize stress, develop emotionally healthy habits and build their wellness care kit.
date: January 17, 2025
time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
location: OM2-138 & Online
Are you new to UBC? Are you a continuing student who is struggling to effectively communicate with your supervisor? Then this workshop is for you!
A healthy relationship between you and your supervisor is key to your success and wellbeing as a graduate student. Attend this workshop to learn practical approaches to build a productive relationship with your supervisor.
Students will explore:
- Strategies for communicating with their supervisor,
- Best practices for clarifying expectations, and
- Ways to incorporate work-life balance into both their supervisory relationship and their broader university experience.
This workshop is led by Dr. Margaret Reeves and Dr. Paul Shipley, Associate Deans in the College of Graduate Studies.
date: January 17, 2025
time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
location: ASC 460
Join your Graduate Community Facilitators for an evening of crafting in the collegium!
There will be various types of crafts available, including crochet, tote bag painting, colouring, and more!
This event is intended for graduate students and their families.
- There will be snacks provided
- This event is drop-in style, from 6 to 8 pm
date: January 18, 2025
time: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
location: Silverstar mountain resort
Join us for a fun day of tubing at SilverStar Mountain Resort, make some new friends and enjoy a fun winter activity!
Spend a day in the great outdoors – no experience needed! Winter O Welcome is excited to be offering Tubing Tickets and transportation to SilverStar Mountain Resort for a day of tubing. This activity is available for new-to-UBCO students starting January 2025!
Make sure you dress warm for a day in the snow. Please bring a winter jacket, snow pants, warm boots, gloves and toque. If you have goggles, bring those too so you can see where you are going!
- We will depart from Parking Lot F at 11 am and return by 6 pm.
- Tickets are $20.00 plus tax which includes transportation to and from UBCO (Parking Lot F) to SilverStar Mountain Resort.
- Bus leaves F Lot at 11 am and arrives at SilverStar around 12:30 pm.
- Tubing is scheduled for 1 to 3 pm. Your pass is valid for 2 hours and will start once you start your first scan at the tube park.
Bus leaves SilverStar Parking Lot at 4:30 pm. Please make sure you arrive on time as the bus WILL NOT wait and you will be responsible for transportation back to campus via taxi or shuttle.
Spaces are limited, pre-registration is required. This event is intended for new-to-UBCO undergraduate, graduate, and Go Global students.
date: January 21, 2025
time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
location: LIB 111
Looking for data for your graduate thesis or postdoctoral project? This workshop will introduce you to both publicly available and restricted access Statistics Canada data, and how to apply to use restricted access data through UBC Okanagan Research Data Centre.
We’ll look at publicly available Statistics Canada data. Then we’ll introduce the range of census, survey, and administrative datasets available through the RDC. After browsing the Statistics Canada data related to your research interests, we’ll cover how to write a research proposal to apply for access to RDC data.
date: January 21, 2025
time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
location: LIB 111
Attention, graduate students! Come and meet your Okanagan research support team!
At our drop-in, you can meet specialists in areas including Research Computing, Library, and Office of Research Services who are happy to answer any questions you may have about your research needs. We can help answer your questions and find resources about:
- copyright
- research data support and data management
- academic communication and writing your thesis
- graduate funding and writing your scholarship applications
- …and more!
Attend this week’s drop-in and enter to win a copy of Thriving in Graduate School : The Expert’s Guide to Success and Wellness by Arielle Shanok and Nicole Benedicto Elden! Come join us to connect with friendly faces who are always there to support solutions for your scholarly communication and digital or data-intensive research needs.
Come by to chat, learn more, or ask questions! No registration is needed, just stop by for a beverage or snack.
date: January 22, 2025
time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
location: Online
This workshop will cover:
- the importance of research ethics review,
- the Tri-Council Policy Statement,
- the ethics review process at UBC,
- when REB approval is needed,
- tips for writing the ethics application and resources available,
- the behavioural application form, and
- an overview of navigating RISe.
date: January 23, 2025
time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
location: UNC Picnic
Looking for a fun way to meet new people, connect with friends, or discover cool spots on campus? We got you! Join us for Thrive to Survive: A Campus Scavenger Hunt! Race around UBCO, decipher clues that will lead you to hidden gems across campus, and compete to win some awesome prizes! Snacks will be provided.
Registration is required. Students can register as individuals or teams.
date: January 24, 2025
time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
location: stuart park
Join the Graduate Community Facilitators for a fun evening of ice skating! Bring winter cheer and meet us at Stuart Park on January 24 at 6 pm. The university will not be providing ice skates.
- Please bring your own pair of skates if you have them, or you can rent a pair for less than $20, cash only.
- This event is weather-dependent. Please dress for the weather; it can get very cold when the sun sets, so wear a good jacket. Gloves and a toque strongly advised.
All graduate students and their families are welcome.
date: January 28, 2025
time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
location: LIB 111
This workshop will introduce linear models (i.e., one-way ANOVAs), their assumptions, and limitations, in a format tailored towards visual and spatial learners.
By the end of the session, participants should be able to visualize and explain simple linear regression models, their assumptions, and their limitations.
date: January 30, 2025
time: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
location: LIB 111
This session will introduce participants to the foundational concepts of statistical inference, including population distributions and the process of random sampling. Attendees will learn how sampling distributions evolve towards normality as sample sizes increase and will visually explore the Central Limit Theorem.
By the end of the session, participants should be able to visualize and understand population distributions, illustrate random sampling processes, recognize the normalizing effect of larger samples on sampling distributions, and demonstrate the Central Limit Theorem visually.
This workshop qualifies for the Scholarly Research, Writing, and Publishing Credential offered through the College of Graduate Studies.
date: January 31, 2025
time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
location: aSC 460
Join your Graduate Community Facilitators for board games and hot chocolate.
All graduate students and their families are welcome.
- There will be snacks provided
- This event is drop-in style, from 6 to 8 pm