Getting into the holiday spirit at the Ban Righ Centre

Getting into the holiday spirit at the Ban Righ Centre

By Candice Pinto, Intern, Division of Student Affairs

December 18, 2017

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Many students who use Queen’s Ban Righ Centre are mothers who can’t always afford to give their children multiple presents for the holidays and some of these students do not celebrate Christmas, but their children hear about it at school.

The daughter of a Queen’s student pick out donated presents for the holiday season ( Candice Pinto Photo)
The daughter of a Queen’s student picks out donated presents for the holiday season, during the Winter Bazaar at the Ban Righ Centre. (University Communications)

To help everyone enjoy the pleasure of gift giving for whatever reason they choose, the centre recently hosted its second annual Winter Bazaar.

The event is held for students with children, to build community, share a meal, and give the kids a chance to visit the university campus. The basement of the Ban Righ Centre is filled with new and slightly used toys, jewelry, and household items that have been gifted or donated by Queen’s staff, faculty, the Society of Graduate and Professional Students and some local businesses.

Children are able to go shopping and make purchases for a quarter each for gifts for their family and friends. Their parents and caregivers visit upstairs in the living room area, while the children select and wrap their gifts together, making new friends and playmates.

“Oftentimes, mothers who have returned to their studies after a break do not have a lot of time to socialize or meet other parents on campus,” says Carole Morrison, Director of the Ban Righ Centre. “In particular, international students, and other non-traditional students, may be attending Queen’s away from their existing social networks and support systems. We want to host and promote events that are child-friendly, that celebrate the diversity within our student population, and leave the children and their parents knowing that they belong and are welcome.”

Rosie, a Fine Arts student, arrived at the bazaar for the second year with her son, and noted the impact the event has had on her family.

“For us, even though my whole family is in our home country, the Ban Righ Centre is very family-oriented and is a welcoming space for us,” she says. “At the centre, we are all non-traditional students, but still feel supported and have a place to call home.”

To learn more about the Ban Righ Centre, visit: http://banrighcentre.queensu.ca/