Attend Winter Welcome workshops to connect with your peers, develop new skills, and learn about resources to help you succeed.

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 2024. Running throughout January, the events provide you with the opportunity to start the winter term off strong.

Workshops are 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 8, 9, & 10
time: 12 pm – 1 pm
location: Student Connect Desk (unc second floor)

Join your Graduate Community Facilitators in kicking off Winter Orientation with our Campus Tour. Bring your walking shoes and meet other new students! Recommended for new undergraduate and graduate students to UBC; however, all students are welcome.

 

date: January 10, 2024
time: 12 pm – 1 pm
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
time: 5:15 pm – 7 pm
location: UNC 200

Start your semester right with a fun dinner and refresher of on-campus resources! Join our campus partners in the UNC Ballroom on January 10th at 5:15 PM for an informative session about campus resources and services and a student panel to learn how to set yourself up for success! Recommended for all new undergraduate and graduate students. Students are welcome to bring their spouses/children.

date: January 11
time: 11:30 am – 1:00 Pm
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.

This workshop is hosted by the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office and is part of the Social and Cultural Awareness Credential.

date: January 12
time: 10:00 am – 10:45 am
location: lib 111

Are you a graduate student and new to UBC? This orientation will provide an overview of the people, services, spaces and collections available to you through UBC Library. Learn about tools to support your research, discover resources specific to your discipline, and explore how to effectively use UBC library for graduate level research.

date: January 12
time: 6 pm – 8 pm
location: ASC 460

Let out your artistic side with your Graduate Community Facilitators by painting and personalizing your tote bag! Drop in before, between, or after your classes at our graduate collegium ASC 460 on January 12th from 6 PM to 8 PM, and paint alongside your peers. Complimentary snacks and drinks will be available, and students are welcome to bring their spouses/children.

date: January 15
time: 5 pm – 6:30 pm
location: UNC 207

“What are your next steps in your grad journey? How can you take the first steps towards your goals? How can you move from possibilities to goals?”

Join the Career Development Office for a fun-filled career exploration experience. We will be using the “Who You Are Matters” game to reflect on your experiences and stories, in order to clarify your strengths, desires, interests, personal qualities, and influences. With all this information, we will help you set your first goals to move towards a more intentional career.

date: January 16
time: 1 pm – 2 pm
location: online

The Okanagan Nation’s history with UBC dates back to the inception of this campus in 2005. Join Indigenous Programs and Services on an interactive journey through the evolving relationship with UBC and the unique programming offered here.

This workshop is hosted by Indigenous Programs and Services and is part of the Social and Cultural Awareness Credential.

 

 

date: January 16
time: 2 pm – 3 pm
location: LIB 111

Researchers! Meet your Okanagan research support team: Research Computing, Library, and Office of Research Services. The Centre for Scholarly Communication (CSC) will be hosting weekly drop-ins to help answer your questions and guide your research.

You can stop by LIB 111 every Tuesday from 2pm-3pm throughout the term to learn more about the ways the CSC can help researchers maximize their effectiveness.

By coming together weekly with experts from Research Computing and Research Services and the UBC Okanagan Library, the CSC seeks to connect researchers with the friendly faces who are always there to support the solutions for their scholarly communication and digital or data-intensive research needs.

No registration needed, just stop by for a beverage or snack. Come to chat, learn more, or ask your questions!

Questions?  Contact csc.ok@ubc.ca

date: January 17
time: 11 am – 12 pm
location: online

Embarking on the journey of writing your thesis or dissertation? This online workshop offers valuable tools and techniques to support your thesis writing process. We will discuss the fundamental components of a thesis or dissertation with suggestions for organization, and we will guide you in finding exemplar theses for reference. You are encouraged to bring any questions you may have to the workshop.

Although primarily tailored for those who are starting to write their thesis or dissertation, this workshop is suitable for graduate students across all disciplines.

This workshop qualifies for the Scholarly Research, Writing, and Publishing Credential offered through the College of Graduate Studies.

Register

date: January 17
time: 11:30 Am – 1:00 pm
Updated location: Online

Join the Global Engagement Office for a presentation on the services and programs offered through the International Student Advising team at the Global Engagement Office. During the session, students will learn about immigration documents, health insurance, accessing health services in Canada, working in Canada, and other related topics for international students. The session will consist of a presentation and an optional opportunity to ask questions to and meet International Student Advisors who work at GEO.

Register

date: January 17
time: 12 pm – 1:30 pm
location: LIB 111

Social science research often treats statistics and it’s models as a series of black boxes. This can lead us to using incorrect tests and misinterpreting their results. Instead of treating math a set of abstract methods, this workshop will focus on reading math as a language with a specific focus on assumptions, probability, and linear models (t-tests, ANOVA, linear regression, etc.). This is a minimal-math introduction to interpreting math for social science researchers who want to feel more comfortable with the tools they use in every study.

Leader: Magpie Winslow

Register

date: January 17
time: 4 pm – 5:00 pm
location: Gym

Join your fellow graduate students for a well-rounded yoga class that is great for beginners, but also offers options for the seasoned yogi to feel challenged. Develop breathing techniques while improving your balance, flexibility, core strength, and endurance through various postures and breathing techniques. Participants will enjoy a satisfying workout while practicing a flow of postures to create internal heat while developing strength and concentration.

Register

date: January 20
time: 1 pm – 6:30 pm
location: Meet at parking lot F

Join us for a fun day of tubing at Big White Ski Resort! For a ticket of $12, you will receive a bus ride to Big White and back along with a tubing pass with unlimited rides! There are six specially groomed lanes, as well as a slow lane and fast lane for the enjoyment of all riders. Make some new friends and enjoy an easy & fun winter favourite! Simply sit back and enjoy! We will depart from Parking Lot F at 1 pm and return by 6:30 pm.

Accessibility info

The sun will appear much brighter as it reflects off of snow. Make sure to bring sunglasses/ski goggles if you are sensitive to bright light

The tube lift to the top of each hill will require standing for several minutes

Make sure to dress for the weather; bring a jacket that will be warm enough and boots that have good grips on the bottom, so you don’t slip on any ice. Many stores in town sell winter gear, and Walmart has many affordable options.

Registration is now closed

date: January 23
time: 10 am – 11:30 am
location: LIB 111

date: January 25
time: 10 am – 11:30 am
location: Online

Have you experienced or witnessed linguistic gatekeeping during your studies? This workshop will focus on code-switching in academic settings, and the colonial, patriarchal, and exclusionary language barriers that graduate students often face.

We will discuss how to navigate the university’s expectations around language while still asserting our own voices, and how we, as TAs and instructors, can support other students in navigating these questions themselves. This session will be offered twice, once in-person and once virtually.

Suitable for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows from all disciplines.

Leader: Emily Comeau

Register

date: January 23
time: 1 pm – 2 pm
location: online

Join our online workshop, where we’ll unveil strategies for crafting the methods and results sections of your thesis. We welcome your questions and aim to provide expert guidance. While this session is beneficial for graduate students across all disciplines, it shines brightest for those delving into quantitative research. Don’t miss out on this invaluable opportunity!

This workshop qualifies for the Scholarly Research, Writing, and Publishing Credential offered through the College of Graduate Studies.

Register

date: January 23
time: 1 pm – 2 pm
location: online

The most important tool for academic success is your personal wellness. In this presentation 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 personal wellness care kit. Participants will complete self-assessments related to individualized stress responses and areas of personal wellness (emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual) where they are thriving, as well as identify those areas that may need greater attention. Participants will leave this presentation with an action plan for achieving lasting personal wellness.

Please complete the Recognizing our automatic stress responses to stress assessment activity on pages 8-12 in “From Surviving to Thriving” and UMatter Wellness Self-assessment activity on pages 4-7 in “Healthy Habits Workbook” in advance of the workshop, so that we can discuss your results during the presentation.

Register

date: january 23
time: 2 pm – 4 pm
location: Online

A healthy relationship between yourself and your supervisor is key to your success and wellbeing as a graduate student. Attend this workshop to learn about practical approaches to building a productive relationship with your supervisor. Students will be given the opportunity to 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 graduate school experience.

Register

date: January 24
time: 10:00 Am – 12:00 pm
location: unc 200

An enormous, 25-by-35-foot, Indigenous territorial map of what we call Canada will be on display in the Ballroom (UNC 200) on January 24 from 10 am to noon for UBC Okanagan students, faculty, and staff to view to further their learning about the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples and relevant historical events.

The Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples of Canada Atlas “re-maps” and “de-maps” (Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada, 2023) colonial versions of traditional Indigenous territories to decolonize maps and mapping, providing an opportunity to view the geography of what we call Canada from the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples.

All are welcome and no registration is required. 

Questions? Contact Naim Cardinal, Education Facilitator in Indigenous Program and Services.

date: January 24
time: 11:00 Am – 12:00 pm
location: Online

Are you in the process of applying for ethics approval for your research? This online workshop will discuss how to write an informed consent form for your ethics application with a focus on writing for a non-specialist member of the public to read and understand. This workshop is co-facilitated by the Office of Research Services and the Centre for Scholarly Communication, and is most suitable for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who are writing an application for ethics approval.

Register

 

date: January 25
time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
location: lib 111

Looking for data for your graduate thesis or post-doctoral 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.

Suitable for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows from all disciplines.

Register

date: January 27
time: 6 pm
location: Stuart Park Ice rink

Grab some buddies and join the Graduate Community Facilitators for a fun evening of ice skating! Bring winter cheer and meet us at Stuart Park on January 27th at 6 PM.  

The university will not be providing ice skates. Please bring your own if you have a pair, or you can rent one for $7 cash-only at Stuart Park. Please dress for the weather; it can get very cold when the sun sets, so wear a good jacket. Gloves are strongly advised! 

All graduate students, spouses, and children are welcome to join the event. 

Register

date: January 30
time: 12 pm – 1:30 pm
location: Online

If you are a graduate student involved in research that engages with the community, or if you have a strong interest in improving your community, you may find this tactical urbanism workshop appealing. The workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of tactical urbanism by discussing its concept and presenting examples from international and Canadian contexts. Furthermore, we will have a collaborative environment for brainstorming ideas and strategies to integrate your research with tactical urbanism, encouraging impactful discussions on this topic.

Leader: Fatima Canales

Register

date: february 1
time: 2 pm – 3:30 pm
location: OM2

Escape from winter with our tropically themed open house.  Meet members of the College of Graduate Studies and Research Computing, and see our space. Wear your favourite tropical shirt and sunglasses, and enjoy some tropical treats!