Thousands of future George Brown College (GBC) students and their friends and families got an inside look at our programs and experienced what it’s like to study in downtown Toronto at our Fall 2024 Open House.
On November 2, more than 4,000 visitors toured our campuses, experienced our learning facilities and met the GBC community members who are the heartbeat of the college. Casa Loma, St. James and Waterfront campuses buzzed with energy, with more than 500 employees, faculty members and student volunteers rolling out the blue carpet for future students and providing the full GBC experience. Each campus featured vibrant branding and swag giveaways.
“We showcased our innovative programs, learning facilities and what it's like to be part of our learning community. With this event, thousands of potential students got to envision what their bright future of academic and career success with George Brown College will look like,” said Dr. Eileen De Courcy, GBC’s Vice-President, Academic.
“By touring our campuses and experiencing our learning environments, visitors can imagine themselves here. That’s why our open houses are so important,” said Dr. Adel Esayed, Dean of the Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies. “I had a great time meeting our future students and their families and showing them what life at GBC is all about.”
On-site application support and enrolment incentives
The day’s activities showcased what makes GBC programs stand out. Our volunteers led campus tours and information sessions and supported visitors’ Ontario college applications on-site in campus libraries.
And by attending the open house, visitors were one step closer to winning a $5,000 tuition credit. The draw is open to individuals who attended the November 2 open house and who are enrolled in a full-time program by September 9, 2025.
“We are extremely proud of the personalized experience we provided for future George Brown College students. Visitors got a true taste of the downtown college experience and an understanding of the unique strengths of our programs, and many people applied on the spot,” said Janene Christiansen, Registrar and Associate Vice-President of Strategic Enrolment. “Thank you to all the faculty, staff and students who supported the experience.”
“Most importantly, visitors felt what it’s like to be part of the GBC community – a welcoming, fun and innovative learning place. That was made possible by our incredible team of volunteers. Thank you for making this a day to remember!”
GBC swag, art and treats!
The whole event was an awesome example of cross-college collaboration, including the giveaways and other features that included:
- Vibrant Open House branding and installations designed for each campus,
- School of Design student Sara Vargas Nessi’s art installation, The Home I Never Knew, which was featured as part of the recent Nuit Blanche event,
- Student-designed GBC totes for guests,
- Caricature drawings for visitors done by our talented students at the Centre for Arts, Design and Information Technology,
- 3,000 branded t-shirts showcasing GBC’s partnership with the Toronto Raptors and
- Other GBC swag giveaways and cookies made by students from our Chef School.
“Not only was this event exciting, interactive and informative – but it also helped us raise the awareness of what we offer,” said Sumi Shanmuganathan, Associate Vice-President of Marketing and Communications. “The strong turnout is a testament to our vibrant community and the sense of belonging we foster. Thank you, and congratulations to everyone involved in making this a successful event!”
George Brown College President Dr. Gervan Fearon (right) speaking with visitors.
The team at the Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (CHCA) ready to welcome open house guests.
GBC reps getting ready to welcome future students.
GBC reps ready to welcome Open House guests.
Thank you!
A big thank you to all the faculty and staff teams across the college that supported the fall open house led by Olena Shklar, Manager of Domestic Recruitment and Entry Advising. Under her leadership, months of work, planning, and coordination by the Recruitment and Entry Advising team created a successful event.
Our drive to attract visitors was led by the college’s Marketing and Communications team comprising external advertising, email, website and extensive social media promotional efforts to attract visitors. The team also delivered exciting branding and on-site visual elements, including open house t-shirts for employees and student volunteers, Raptors t-shirts for guests, campus signage and printed information, and took point on the guest arrival experience at all three campuses.
And especially to our faculty members, deans, associate deans and employees from our academic areas who make our open houses such a valuable experience for future students — thank you for your contributions!
Thank you to departments across the college that made this a great event, including the following:
- Admissions
- academic divisions staff and faculty
- Alumni Relations
- Athletics and Recreation
- Black Student Success Network (BSSN)
- Campus Stores
- Career Services
- Counselling & Student Well-being
- Facilities
- Financial Aid
- ITS
- Library Learning Commons (LLC)
- Marketing and Communications
- Office of Anti-Racism, Equity and Human Rights Services (OAREHRS)
- Peer Mentor+
- Public Safety & Security
- Registrar’s Office
- Student Association of George Brown College programs: SafeWalk, SNAP (Student Nutrition Access Program)
- Student Life/Student Success
- The George student residence
- Tutoring and Learning Centre (TLC)
