Every September, thousands of students arrive in Oshawa ready to start a new chapter. Some are moving away from home for the first time. Others are returning for another year of classes, part-time jobs, and late nights at the library. Whatever their situation, they all share one thing in common. They need a way to feel like this city is truly theirs.
That is the whole idea behind Student City Takeover. All month long, students studying at our local postsecondary institutions are invited to explore Oshawa through free events, local discounts, and a whole lot of community spirit. It celebrates the students who choose to learn and live here and invites them to get out and meet their new neighbours.
None of this happens on its own. Student City Takeover comes together through a genuinely collaborative effort between the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce (GOCC), the City of Oshawa Economic Development Services, Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham GTA, the Durham College Student Association (DCSA), and the Ontario Tech Student Union (OTSU). Seven organizations, each with their own priorities and campus communities, working toward one shared goal. They want every student to feel welcomed, supported, and genuinely excited about calling Oshawa home for the school year.
Why a Holistic Orientation Matters
Starting school is about so much more than syllabi and student ID cards. Research on student success has shown again and again that students who feel connected to a community outside the classroom tend to stay more engaged, more resilient, and more likely to finish what they started. A student who knows where to grab a good coffee, who has already made a friend at a trivia night, or who has found a part-time job close to campus is a student who is far more likely to thrive academically.
That is why orientation works best as a partnership between campus and community. Durham College, Ontario Tech, and Trent Durham GTA each do wonderful work welcoming new students through their own in-house orientation programming, and Student City Takeover was built alongside those efforts to extend that same warmth further into the city. Together, they carry the excitement students already feel in their first days on campus out into the small businesses, restaurants, galleries, and public spaces that make up daily life in Oshawa. A student’s academic journey and their sense of belonging in this city are not separate stories. They grow together.
Free Fun All Month Long
One of the best parts of Student City Takeover is just how much of it is free and open to any postsecondary student in Oshawa. This year’s lineup includes a scavenger hunt through the downtown core, a guided tour of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG), a karaoke night at the BOND|ST Event Centre, the always lively Brassquatch Downtown Crawl, a bowling and arcade special at NEB’s Fun World, a trivia night at Torchbearer Taproom, and free ice cream at the Aftermarket, along with plenty of other activities happening at businesses across the city throughout the month.
These events are not just a fun way to spend an evening. Each one is a chance for a student to walk into a local business for the first time, get a warm welcome, and realize this is a place they might come back to again and again. For our business community, it is an opportunity to meet thousands of new customers who will be living and spending in Oshawa for years to come.
The Side Hustle Shuffle
Alongside all the social events, Student City Takeover also includes the Side Hustle Shuffle, a program designed to connect students directly with local businesses that are hiring. Many students are looking for part-time work to help cover the cost of tuition and living expenses, and many Oshawa businesses are looking for reliable, enthusiastic team members. The Side Hustle Shuffle brings both sides together, giving students a straightforward way to discover job opportunities close to campus and giving local employers a chance to meet the next generation of talented, hard-working staff.
Spread the Word
If you know a postsecondary student studying here in Oshawa, whether they are your neighbour, your employee, your child, or a young person you mentor, we would love for you to share Student City Takeover with them. The full calendar of events and all the details on the Side Hustle Shuffle can be found at www.oshawaorientation.com. A quick share on social media or even just a text message with the link could be the thing that helps a student feel truly at home this fall.
Why It Matters to All of Us
Programs like Student City Takeover succeed because everybody involved has something real to gain. Students get a warmer welcome to their new city and a network of local connections that can support them well beyond orientation week. Our postsecondary institutions get students who are more settled, more engaged, and more likely to see Oshawa as a place worth staying in after graduation. Local businesses get introduced to a new generation of customers and potential employees. And the city as a whole gets to keep growing as a place where young people want to live, work, and build their futures.
At the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, we believe a thriving business community and a thriving student community go hand in hand. Student City Takeover is one small but meaningful way we get to prove that: one event, one new friendship, and one welcomed student at a time.
