Friday, June 7, 2013

Find the right fit!


Each of our residence buildings has their own individual qualities and characteristics.  We are sure that there is bound to be a space that we offer that you can eventually call home!  Living in residence will provide you with unlimited opportunities to make friends and get involved.  We cannot stress enough that residence is more than just a convenient place to live; it is a learning space that assists in bridging the gap between high school and university.  Whether you want a communal atmosphere, similar to  the one you have at home, or a space that is more private and quiet Rye Rez has got you covered!

We tried our best to capture the essence of all three of our buildings below.  If you have any more questions please feel free to contact us on any one of our social media spots (facebook.com/RyersonRez - twitter.com/RyersonRez) or email us at housing@ryerson.ca!

TRADITIONAL
O'Keefe House
The bonds that tie together the community over at O'Keefe House are rooted in tradition.  Think of O'Keefe House as the perfect home away from home.  O'Keefe House may be the perfect fit for you if you are worried that homesickness will prevent you from adapting to life at Ryerson.  While every one of our buildings have their own united community O'Keefe House upholds a homey feel that really is something special.  O'Keefe House may our smallest residence, but it arguably has the most heart.  O'Keefe students are always an inseparable group.  Upper-year O'Keefers work to sustain the house's traditions by organizing events that the community has put on for years.  Since the O'Keefe crew is not obliged to be on a meal plan you can often find them cooking together in their large community kitchen.  While some may find the communal atmosphere chaotic no one can deny that O'Keefe is everyone's favorite slice of home-life on Ryerson campus.    


UNIQUE
ILLC - International Living Learning Centre
Almost ten years ago, up and coming rapper Chingy teamed up with hip-hop icon Snoop Lion (still known as Snoop Dog at the time) to express to listeners their admiration for staying over at Holiday Inn hotels and resorts.  If you, like Chingy and Snoop, admire the privacy and luxury of a hotel  then ILLC may be the spot for you to reside in your first year.  Every student in this former hotel-turned residence is shacked up in a private room with their own bathroom and television.  ILLC is home to Maggie's Eatery, the newly renovated restaurant which serves some of the tastiest dishes on campus.  The building also features some of Ryerson's most comfortable and stylish study spaces on its main floor (But this a residence student's best kept secret so be sure not to pass that on!)     

 
UNIVERSAL
Pitman Hall
If you have ever seen a movie or television show about university life it more than likely took place in, or featured a residence building that resembled Pitman Hall.  While Ryerson is known for doing almost everything different than other institutions across the country, Pitman Hall offers residence living quarters similar to those available at the school your best friend goes to 3 hours north of the city.  Home to 565 students, Pitman boasts a lively  crowd and active community.  With 4 room styles available Pitman offers a living space to accommodate the rooming preferences of any prospective student. 


Friday, May 31, 2013

Meet your Rez O-Team for the 2013-2014 year!

This week we are going to take the opportunity to introduce all of you to the brains behind #RezOWeek2013.  Your Rez O-Team is a trio of former Residence Advisors who cannot wait to show you a good time when you move in August 25th!


Karina Maynard, Rez Orientation Lead

Hey Rye Rez 2013/2014! I’m Karina and I’ve been working with student housing services for 3 years and this summer I’m busy planning a fantastic Rez Orientation week for all of you! I’ve experienced orientation week 4 times now and it is such a fun and important part of the school year so I’m really excited to be a part of planning it this year so I can show all of you just how amazing Ryerson is!

This summer I’m looking forward to traveling a bunch visiting family and friends, enjoying music, the outdoors and BBQs! I went to Denmark in May for 2 weeks to visit my family, it’s been 3 years since I last saw them so it was really nice to see them again. In June I’m also going to a 3 day music festival in Delaware with some friends and to Alberta for a wedding! In July and August I’m going to escape to my cottage as much as I can and get ready for all of you to move in of course.

We’re spending the entire summer getting ready for you and making sure everything is perfect so get ready for a fantastic year to come! Living in rez has been an amazing part of my undergrad career so I can’t wait for all of you to move in and for your journey to begin. HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE! 




Hannah Van Dyk, Rez Orientation Human Resources and Event Management Lead

Hello future Rye Rez students! My name is Hannah Van Dyk and I am the Human Resources and Event Management Lead for your residence orientation. That’s just a big fancy way of saying that I do a lot of communication management for the incoming residence life staff, I act as the Head ROC (Ryerson Orientation Crew) for residence during O-Week, and I'm planning spirit events for you all to participate in!
A little bit about me and my Ryerson journey - I come from Jarvis, a small town about 45 minutes south of Hamilton. I'm a third year student at Ryerson, going into my first year of ACS (Arts and Contemporary Studies) after two years in the journalism program. I worked in residence last year as a Residence Advisor, and I loved every moment of it. Residence is where I met my closest friends from Ryerson, but more than that, residence has become my second home.

My favourite things include Coca Cola (but I’m not drinking any in 2013), writing, volunteering in Hamilton and Toronto, travel, and cheering for the Ryerson Rams with my best friends on weekends. I’m known for my blue and gold love, my blue and gold striped socks, my blue and gold toms, my Ryerson t-shirt collection (ten and counting...) and for occasionally wearing face paint to class. Blue and Gold Day is my favourite day on campus, and I can't wait for you to all participate in it!
And as my photo demonstrates, I am so excited for you all to be here in residence - rez is my favourite place on campus, and I’m so excited to share the love and spirit I have for Ryerson with all of you. I cannot wait to be cheering with you all at Water Olympics Day, or rocking out at the O-Week basketball game. I hope you are all having a phenomenal and restful summer and I can't wait to welcome you home on August 25, 2013 - only  85 days left!

 

 
Alex McKaig, Rez Orientation Online Community Manager
Hello Rye Rez!  We cannot wait to welcome you with open arms!  My name is Alex McKaig and I am the third member of the Rez O-Team!  As the Online Community Manager I am responsible for establishing and maintaining all of our online communities so that YOU, our incoming students, are acquainted with Rez and our great city before you move in!  I am a recent graduate of Ryerson's Arts and Contemporary Studies Program, however my time at Ryerson has not reached its end just yet!  In the Fall I will be beginning graduate studies in Ryerson's Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration program.  I just want to let you all know that you better prepare yourself for what will sure be one of the best years of your life!  I never got the chance to experience my first year at Ryerson in residence.  After commuting for a year I wanted to get involved!  For the last three years I have lived and worked in Pitman Hall as a Residence Advisor.  I have lived with just over 150 students in my three years and I gotta say...you all are in for something special.  Get ready to meet the friends you are likely to hang on to for years to come!  The community in residence is unlike any other on campus. 
In my spare time, when I am not raving about residence life, you can find me concert hopping (I dropped $200+ dollars on a Beyonce ticket - I have absolutely no regrets), gallivanting about music festivals (heading to Firefly and Osheaga this summer!), and critiquing the films at your local cinema (Yes, I LIKED Spring Breakers). 
See ya'll soon!  
 

               
 
 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Top Reasons why YOU should snag a spot in Rez next year!

In no particular order here are a few reasons why we think you should consider applying to live in residence during your first year at Ryerson!

1)  It's fun!
There's always something going on at Rye Rez. And the best part is…you don't have to wait to be invited! Regularly organized programs are a significant part of the residence experience.  #RezOWeek2013 is only the beginning!

2)  The connections
Living on campus gets you closer to the action. You'll find not only find it easier to participate in groups and clubs, but also find it easier to connect with academic support and resources. And you'll make stronger personal connections simply because you see many of these people all day, every day. We like to think that the relationships formed in residence are especially valuable.  It is very likely that you’ll be able to count on those connections for support for many years to come!
 
3)  Safety and security
Living on campus gives you the benefits of being out on your own with the assurance of safety.  Staff at the Residence Service Desks monitor building access 24/7 in order to ensure our residence buildings are as safe as can be.
 

4)  Support for your education

There are countless opportunities for academic support. At Rye Rez we have live in student-staff who are there to help you succeed!  Academic Links (ALs) are here to help answer any questions you may have about your classes, assignments, and academically-centered resources on campus.
 

5)  Community

One of our main priorities at Ryerson Student Housing Services is to ensure that you feel that you’re a part of the residence community from the moment that you move in.  As soon as you arrive on August 25th you will begin meeting a ton of new people.  Before you know it, Rye Rez will become your “home away from home”. 

6)  Convenience. 
This one is obvious!  The hassle of commuting is non-existent when living in residence.  You are always connected to campus 24/7.  Take advantage of this opportunity: Visit your professors when they are in their office hours.  Take a nap in that hour break between classes.  Forget packing a lunch, as long as you have your One Card on you food is nearby wherever you are on campus!



Below is a link to our online application!  Be sure to get yours in by June 7th in order to be consider for our first round of admissions!
http://www.ryerson.ca/studentservices/housing/resadmissions/onlineapplication/index.html

See you soon!
Only 92 days!


Friday, May 17, 2013

SHOUT-OUT TO ALL 2013-2014 INCOMING RYE REZ STUDENTS!


Summer operations at Rye Rez have officially begun.  As soon as we said goodbye to our 2012-2013 residents we begin major prep for the 2013-2014 year.  Our online application opened May 1st!  Make sure to get those completed applications in by June 7th if you wish to be considered for our first round of offers (which will be released June 21st).  While we still have 99 days to go...we already are so excited to have you all moved in and ready to begin your first year at Ryerson with us!

Of course we couldn't allow you to arrive without giving you a proper introduction!  Fear not!  #RezOWeek2013 is going to blow your mind! While the O-Team may have only settled into their offices a short while ago, they are already working on putting together a week that we are sure that you will never forget.  We are quite confident that by the time the big week is over you will be calling Rye Rez your "home away from home". 

This blog will be updated weekly to tell the stories of Ryerson and Rye Rez.  We hope that this space will enhance your first year experience at Ryerson.  One of our goals this year is to get our students more acquainted and familiar with the city.  Far too often Rye Rez students become too comfortable in the residence bubble and fail to explore the vibrant neighbourhoods that Toronto has to offer.  Building community is one of our primary objectives here at Rye Rez.  Over the summer we hope to connect you with your new city, your new school and your new home so that your transition into your first year will be as smooth as possible.  The blog has got you covered - from introductions to our O-Team and your staff team, to your new favorite hang out on campus... It will all be right here ALL YEAR ROUND!

Be sure to add us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for immediate updates on everything related to the application process and #RezOWeek2013.  Please also use these spaces to ask any burning questions you may have.  We are more than happy to help you! 


https://www.facebook.com/ryerson.residence
 
  https://twitter.com/RyersonRez
 
 
 


THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

 Only 20 days until rez applications and deposits are due!

34 days until first offers are sent out!

AND 99 days until MOVE IN DAY!  We cannot wait to meet YOU!