How some universities are doing frosh week amid a global pandemic

Frosh week is traditionally a time for thousands of first-year students heading to Canadianuniversitiesandcolleges to settle in, make connections and get to know their campus, but theywill be getting a much differentexperience this fall.

"It definitely challenged our notion of what Frosh week can be," said Gabe Sher, the orientation chair for the University of Toronto's engineering department.

Not only have most students' classes movedonline, so has all the first week fun since most schools have transferredtheir orientation week events online in light of the global pandemic.

"It's exciting to go to campus, have an excuse to get a bit loud and crazy, but everyone's making sacrifices right now and I don't think this is any different," said Sher.

That means the annualritual of dyeing oneself purple at Canada's engineering schools is on hiatus this year. Instead, organizers have sent out some face paint in each welcome package to try toreplicate the experience as muchas possible.

Most Canadian post-secondary schools have also moved their scavenger hunts, concerts and campus tours online. It's happening at a time when many young peopleare entering university without having experienced the rites of passage that high school graduates have taken for granted for decades in this country. They've also had to do without socializing with their peers intheir last year of studies, as the novel coronavirusclosed down secondary schools across Canada in March.

"It's a little bittersweet especially after not getting much of a Grade 12 year without graduation or prom," said Sofia Zamorano, who is starting her first year in chemical engineering at U of T.

She said there will be smaller, distanced group events at parks before the official start of Frosh week on Labour Day and she hopes to meet new people there.

• Why experts worry about students returning to university residences amid COVID-19

At the University of British Columbia, frosh week will have a mix of live and pre-recorded events

At Toronto's Ryerson University, orientation week leaders have tried to create virtual events that are more interactive.

The annual fashion show and concerts will have more participation from performers, according Esther Deng, Ryerson University's orientation events lead.

"Instead of just having someone walk down a runway we have them share their experience and why they chose their outfits ... rather than just someone performing or watching a performance."

As the new reality of the school year sinks in, many students are keeping a positive attitude.

Angelica Voutsinas, who is attending McGillUniversity in Montreal, says she's determined to make the most of the situation by participating in the virtual events and eventually hopes to form her own bubble in the city.

"It's a little disappointing, but no one else is going to be able to say they had their first year of university during a global pandemic."