At Queen’s, clubs aren’t just for hobbies—they’re where friendships and communities are built.
On Sept. 4, Queen’s Athletics & Recreation Centre (ARC) teamed up with the AMS to host the annual Tricolour Open House, featuring over 300 AMS clubs and more than 30 ARC clubs. The event drew a large crowd of incoming and returning students eager to join clubs, with sports clubs taking center stage—giving seasoned athletes a chance to continue their hobbies and newcomers an opportunity to try something new.
Speaking with numerous club officials, one theme stood out—not skill or competition, but community. Most sports clubs emphasized creating a welcoming and connected environment.
Amid reports of exploitation and alienation of international students, many club officials are hoping that their clubs can help some of Queen’s 3,000+ out-of-country students find community during their time in Kingston.
Queen’s Table Tennis Club President, Xin Li, HealthSci ’28, highlighted the importance of welcoming international students in the club’s second year of operations, including messaging to students in Chinese and a QR code to join a group in WeChat—the top Chinese social media and instant messaging app.
“We noticed that a lot of these international students are segregating themselves and not integrating into the greater Queen’s body,” Li said in an interview with The Journal. “We found this club served as an environment for them to socialize and make friends, and therefore, we wanted this environment to become more friendly and accepting towards every community.”
For Vansh Kapoor, CompSci ’27, the president of the Queen’s Cricket Club, the same principle was apparent. In an interview with The Journal, Kapoor discussed the sense of community that his club creates for international students, namely those in South Asia, where cricket is considered a “universal language.” At a time when many South Asian students are alienated in Canada, Kapoor’s club is offering a community for newcomers.
Kapoor points to cultural and language barriers as factors that restrict international students at Queen’s. “International students coming here from South Asia do not feel very culturally connected here, or they feel like they are not able to talk to people,” he said. “With the introduction of the Cricket Club and many more clubs from that area of the world, they can feel a similar sense of belonging and pride that they feel in their own country.”
“When they play cricket with us, their bond with each other increases, and they are able to feel comfortable and at home,” Kapoor added.
Alongside cricket and table tennis, other clubs echoed the same message, and it’s one that applies to all students at Queen’s. For Bryson Stuart, Sci ’27, a safety officer with the Queen’s Powerlifting Club, the club isn’t just about chasing numbers on the barbell. Instead, despite the intensity of the sport, he says the highlight is finding and building a community.
“Powerlifting is one of the few sports where your biggest competitor will be cheering you on while you compete,” Stuart said. “It’s a place you can really feel confident about your lifts, whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced lifter. Everyone’s going to support you no matter what. No one judges you based on numbers. They just judge you if you show up or not.”
Across all sports, Queen’s clubs prioritize helping students build connections, regardless of background or interest. For many, the Open House is just the first step in finding a community that will enrich their experience at Queen’s.
Tags
Cricket, international students, Powerlifting, Table Tennis, Tricolour Open House
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