If you are a Muslim student on campus and need a quiet place to meditate or pray throughout Ramadan, we are holding space on the 2nd floor for this purpose. You are welcome to use the space Monday - Friday, between 9 – 4 from February 18 to March 19.

We have a prayer mat available for use.

For a list of other prayer and meditation spaces at Queen’s, visit the Queen's Faith and Spiritual Life website.

Thinking of someone special for Valentine's Day? Make your own Valentine's Day card at the Ban Righ Centre between February 10-13th from 10am-2pm! This program is for mature women students at Queen's.

Idorenyin's West African Palm Nut Soup

Palm nut is a primary staple in every household in West Africa. Palm nut is also crucial the economy of West Africa through export primarily to the ‘Global North’. Palm nut soup is known by different names across Western Africa.  You can call it banga, Abak, Abentwan, ofe akwu, sauce graine, deku dessi, etc. This soup is very warm and comforting. It has very healthy fat and has the ability to lower and maintain one’s blood sugar house in the village. Her grandmother had a large Atama leaf tree, the vegetable that is cooked along with palm nut soup. Idorenyin’s grandmother had palm plantations and was involved in Palm oil production, processing, and sales, so the ingredients were always very accessible to cook. Idorenyin fell in love with the soup-the texture, warmth and distinct taste it brings.

Idorenyin is a 4th year PhD candidate in Cultural Studies. Her research interest is on socio-cultural impact of the extraction of critical mineral resources in the Niger Delta and the Northwest Territories. Idorenyin sees cooking as an art that is very spiritual--it connects you with your ancestors. For Idorenyin, cooking is a spiritual journey, to create something that warms the body and uplifts the soul. She learnt to cook from the women around her: her mum, grandmother, and aunties. As an immigrant in Canada, cooking her native soup, fosters a sense of belonging and continued connection to home.

Mélinda’s “Soup Joumou”

Soup joumou is a Haitian squash-based dish typically eaten on January 1st to mark Haiti's Independence Day. Once a dish that enslaved people were forced to prepare but forbidden from eating, it has become a powerful reminder of the spirit of the Haitian Revolution and a symbol of freedom throughout the diaspora. Made in large batches and meant to be shared, the soup emphasizes community and togetherness. Every year, my grandmother cooks it from memory, tasting and adjusting as she goes before distributing it to friends and family. While the traditional recipe includes beef, it varies from household to household. This vegan version preserves the core flavors of soup joumou while offering a plant-based take on the beloved dish.

Mélinda Pierre-Paul Cardinal is a PhD student in Gender Studies at Queen’s University. She holds a BFA and MA in Art History and a Graduate Diploma in Communications from Concordia University. Her research adopts a Black feminist framework and interdisciplinary methods to examine contemporary visual art and aesthetics by Black women from across the diaspora, exploring themes of Black survival and liberation. Outside of academia, she enjoys trying new Caribbean restaurants with friends and family.

Amelework and Hiwot’s “Dinich Wot”

The spicy Ethiopian potato stew, ‘Dinich Wot’, is a flavourful, staple, and accessible dish that fits well within fasting cuisine. The stew foundation comes from berbere, Ethiopia’s signature spice blend, which infuses the potatoes with rich warmth and medium heat. Potato stew is served as part of an Ethiopian meal alongside injera, where its bold, spicy character complements the tangy flatbread beautifully. It is culturally significant as the potato is affordable and easy to find in every market, and the stew can be shared among family and friends.

Amelework Emirie is a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Studies. When she was a child, she used to watch her mom and aunt cook. She started cooking simple dishes at the age of 12. Since then, she has enjoyed cooking.

Hiwot Andualem is a PhD student in Rehabilitation Science at Queen’s University. Beyond my academic work, she enjoys cooking simple recipes that remind me of home in Ethiopia. She especially loves preparing dishes that bring back the familiar tastes of her childhood and her mother’s cooking. One of her favourites is Dinich wot—a dish that is loved by almost everyone. It is easy to cook, tasty, spicy, affordable, and deeply comforting, carrying the warmth and flavour of home in every bite.

DROP IN

Have questions about your writing?

Need tips on proofreading & editing?

Join us for our next SASS @ Ban Righ Centre drop-in session, Thursday January 29 from 11:30am-1pm in the BRC Lounge. An Academic Skills & Writing Specialist from Student Academic Success Services (SASS) will be available to chat about any questions you might have about writing or studying.

*event is for mature women students and students mothers @ Queen's

SASS provides academic skills and writing support to Queen’s students at every level. Their staff is made up of experts from across the fields of writing, learning, and education

Casual Conversation

The Writing Struggle: Finding Flow and Finishing Drafts

Whether you're stuck in a draft, revising for clarity, or avoiding the page altogether, this conversation is a space to share tips and talk through the challenges of academic writing. We’ll discuss writing processes (e.g. editing strategies) and how to get writing done/beat writer’s block - or both!

*for mature women students at Queen's

SASS provides academic skills and writing support to Queen’s students at every level. Their staff is made up of experts from across the fields of writing, learning, and education

Applications for the 2026 Spring Awards are due today by 4pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please email applications to Lubna Rahman.

If you need feedback on your application before your final submission, you may email your incomplete draft to Lubna Rahman by February 6, 2026 at 4pm.

Looking for an informal space to relax, unwind, and create? We are hosting a knitting circle on Friday January 23 from 12-1pm. This will be a casual space to bring your knitting (or crocheting) projects to knit in community. Please note that supplies aren't provided.