Convocation Information for Family & Guests

Maps

Please visit our maps page for exact geo locations of the following buildings:

• Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre - location of all convocation ceremonies. A floor plan of the GGAC is also available
• Gryphon Fieldhouse - location of the Convocation Tea event (your first alumni event), and the #GuelphGrad Red Carpet Experience

Driving Directions

For driving directions to the University of Guelph campus, please visit Parking Services.

Maps

Please visit our maps page for exact geo locations of the following parking lots:

• Lot P12 - Accessible Parking
• Lots P14 & P15 - Convocation Parking
• Lot P13 - Overflow Parking

Parking

Complimentary parking is available in lots 13, 14 & 15. There will be signage on campus providing easy to follow directions.

Accessibility Parking

Guests with accessibility needs can be dropped off at the Larry Pearson Entrance.

If you require accessible parking, please contact the Office of Ceremonies and Events to register your vehicle. For parking questions, you can contact Parking Services directly via email questions@parking.uoguelph.ca or phone 519-824-4120 Ext. 52118.

PLEASE NOTE: Lot P12 is not controlled and medical use parking spots cannot be guaranteed. However, if guests requiring an accessible parking spot have made arrangements ahead of time with the Office of Ceremonies and Events, they may park in any available spot in this lot, excluding the Health and Performance Centre spots. Please be advised that marked medical spots are available to those with a valid medical permit only.

Complimentary Shuttle

A complimentary shuttle service will be circulating throughout the day, transporting guests to and from P13, P14 and P15, the loop between Reynolds Walk and the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre, and the Gryphon Fieldhouse. Please refer to the Buildings, Parking and Shuttle Route map.

• Guest tickets are required for all ceremonies.
• Only graduating students may purchase tickets.
• Approximately two weeks before the ceremony, students will receive an email to indicate whether any additional guest tickets (beyond the single purchased ticket from ceremony registration) are available to purchase.
• One week before ceremonies, all electronic tickets will be sent to graduates. Graduating students are responsible for sending their tickets to their guests.
• Once tickets have been issued to graduating students (i.e. emailed to registered grads) they are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Tickets may be printed or scanned directly from a smartphone. Each ticket has a unique QR and alphanumeric code and may be scanned only once for entry to the ceremony. We strongly advise against purchasing tickets from outside of WebAdvisor, as the University will not be responsible if secondary-market tickets are invalid.
  
  Tickets will not be available for purchase on the day of ceremonies.

If guests are travelling from out of town to be part of this special day, please take advantage of the information provided by City of Guelph Tourism. Whether you are looking for a hotel or a special place to get that celebratory dinner, it has the answers for you.

Accommodations for out of town guests that are close to University of Guelph campus include:

• Delta Hotels and Conference Centre, 50 Stone Rd W, Guelph, ON N1G 0A9
• Staybridge Suites Guelph, 11 Corporate Ct, Guelph, ON N1G 5G5
  

• Guest tickets are required for all ceremonies. Graduating students are responsible for sending their tickets to their guests.
• The doors of the Event Centre will only open 1 hour before the ceremony begins.
• Guests enter through the Larry Pearson entrance of the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre and should be seated in the Event Centre 15 minutes before the ceremony begins.
• Each ticket has a unique QR and alphanumeric code and may be scanned only once for entry to the ceremony.
• View virtual tour of the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre.

Please visit Accessibility at Convocation page. If you require accommodations, please contact us.

Immediately following each ceremony the college deans will host a tea in the Gryphon Fieldhouse for our newest alumni members, family, friends, faculty and staff.

Grads and their families will have a chance to walk along the #GuelphGrad Red Carpet and snap photos at a variety of U of G backdrops. Our U of G Ambassadors will be available to escort you along the carpet and take photos with your handheld device - they know all the best angles!

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

Due to the risk of latex allergies, guests are strongly discouraged from bringing latex products, including balloons, into the event venue.

Flowers

Effective February 2020, senate approved a motion to end the practice of holding winter (February) convocation ceremonies. This decision only affects the ceremony. Students who finish their studies in the fall semester will still be able to receive their degree parchment in the winter semester and will be invited to attend designated winter grad ceremonies during summer (June) convocation and formally cross the stage at that time.

Please note, winter graduates will have their own designated ceremony times during the summer (June) convocation. We cannot accommodate winter graduates at any other ceremony, other than the date/time designated to winter grads.

Our campus is tobacco- and smoke-free. Smoking, vaping, and smokeless tobacco are not allowed. For campus boundaries, visit uoguelph.ca/smokefree.