U of G Celebrates Homecoming 2009

September 21, 2009 - News Release

Members of the 1984 Gryphon football team celebrate their Vanier Cup victory and the University of Guelph's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) marks its 40th anniversary during Homecoming 2009 festivities Sept. 25 to 27.

Highlights of the weekend include the traditional football game – this year against the University of Western Ontario Mustangs – as well as the 50th reunion of the 1959 Atlantic Bowl champions; class reunions; golf and a gala dinner for hospitality and tourism alumni; a gathering of former players, coaches and friends of the women’s basketball program to celebrate the Ontario championship squads of 1979 and 2004; and a reunion of former residents of Mills Hall.

The schedule of events offers fun for the whole family on game day Sept. 26. At 10 a.m., watch alumni battle it out in the Glory Bowl at the Gryphon Dome. Pre-game festivities at Alumni Stadium include face painting, tattoos, an inflatable bouncer and more in the Kids’ Zone starting at 11:30 a.m. There will also be a special Dog Pound area where the family pet can join in the fun. Chemistry students are invited to a complimentary lunch and free tickets to the game at Chem Connection from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Landscape Architecture Building.

Organizers of Sustainability Week will be at the stadium with a tanker truck offering free refills of water, so bring your reusable bottle. Plus, four lucky fans at the game will get a chance to compete for two flights to Europe and two Eurail passes courtesy of Travel Cuts.

Kick-off time for the Gryphons-Mustangs game is 1 p.m. Fans aged 19 and over can purchase an exclusive VIP package that includes a ticket to the game, access to a licensed tent in the end zone, a pre-game barbecue lunch, a Guelph Homecoming scarf, and access to a post-game gathering at the Brass Taps in the University Centre. A limited number are available; order on-line or by calling 519-824-4120 ext. 56934.

The reunion gets under way Friday night for members of the 1984 Vanier Cup champions, who will get together for dinner at the Cutten Club followed by a pub night at the Bullring. There they will get a chance to meet and relive glory days with the 1959 Atlantic Bowl squad. On Saturday, the pre-game warm-up starts at 11:30 a.m.

Several events are planned for HTM’s 40th-anniversary celebrations. The schedule includes exclusive tee times at the Cutten Club on Friday and Sunday, a mix-and-mingle reception in PJ’s Restaurant in the Atrium, a pancake breakfast, an “iron chef” luncheon and a gala at the Delta Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre.

The women’s basketball reunion gets under way on Saturday with a friendly scrimmage at 10 a.m. and wraps up with a dinner and social at the Hampton Inn starting at 6 p.m.

Recent engineering graduates are encouraged to come out and reconnect at the Young Alumni Engineering Reunion. The annual general meeting of the Engineering Alumni Association is at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the Thornbrough Building followed by a kick-off event in the Bullring at 11 a.m.

A reception for graduates of the School of Languages and Literature runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre.

The OAC Class of 1989 has a reunion dinner planned for Saturday evening in Room 442 of the University Centre.

Alumni who lived in the formerly men-only Mills Hall residence between 1970 and 1980 are invited to visit their old dorm and reconnect with former roommates. Tours of the now co-ed residence and a reception will follow the Homecoming game.

Tickets to the game are $8 if purchased online, $10 at the gate on game day. VIP packages are $35. To register for a reunion event or for more information, visit the Homecoming 2009 website or contact the Homecoming co-ordinator, Mary-Anne Moroz, at 519-824-4120, Ext. 53170, or mamoroz@uoguelph.ca.

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120