Oshawa Orientation Experience for incoming students back for ’23

A scavenger hunt with big prizes, a big dance party and a job fair to boot – what’s not to like about Oshawa Orientation Experience ’23?

The year one event in 2022 earned the Oshawa Chamber the Chair Award for Innovation from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the party is back September 9 in downtown Oshawa as the City welcomes the new crop of students from Oshawa’s three post-secondary institutions – Ontario Tech, Trent-Durham GTA and Durham College.

The scavenger hunt actually goes from Saturday to September 24, with a $1,000 grand prize from Oshawa Markets, a PS5 from G.A.M.E.S and a one-year membership at Planet Fitness up for grabs.

The dance party, hosted by DJ 4Korners (the official DJ of the Toronto Raptors), Sick & Sane (Bollywood/Punjabi/EDM), DJ FU$E (Afrobeats/Amapiano), and MC Najjah Calibur (international FIFA Host) happens from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Victoria Lane (adjacent to the Regent Theatre).

DJ 4Korners

The student job fair, hosted by Durham Workforce Authority, will also be on the pedestrian-only Victoria Lane from noon to 6 p.m.

The idea of a party in downtown Oshawa for the incoming cohort of new students in the city to make them feel comfortable enough to stay after graduation was born from an Ontario Tech survey that provided “compelling feedback” that new students would value an improved introduction and connection to Oshawa.

The chamber and the Downtown Oshawa Business Alliance were then brought into the discussion and King took the idea to Oshawa Council, who pledged their support, calling it a “good business investment.”

“The strategic view of this event is to look at 2022 as ‘Year One’ of an annual event, which would have the ultimate goal and long-term effect of introducing students to local business and cultural activities to make Oshawa feel more like home, perhaps permanently, for the students,” King said last year of the thinking behind the orientation project.

For more information on the event check out Oshawa Orientation Experience Dance Party.

To take part in the scavenger hunt, download the TurfHunt mobile app.