Belleville, Ontario, March 8, 2023 – Bright colours and joyful music filled Loyalist College campus today as students and staff gathered to celebrate Holi. Known as the Festival of Colours, Holi is a Hindu holiday celebrated around the world to mark the beginning of spring.
Students arriving at noon were greeted with remarks by Mark Kirkpatrick, Loyalist College President and CEO, and Ravi Patel, Loyalist College Student Government President. Event organizers from Loyalist’s Student Life team provided attendees with white Holi themed T-shirts.
The white shirts did not stay white for long, as participants dove into colour throwing, a much-loved tradition associated with Holi. Accompanied by a DJ playing dance music, students and staff began throwing a variety of dyed powders at one another, creating a vivid cloud of colour in the air and producing a unique design on each shirt. Participants also enjoyed dancing, snacks and henna art.
“For many, Holi represents the end of winter,” said President Kirkpatrick. “Here at Loyalist College, Holi also represents an opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures of our students who come from every part of the world. Thank you to our remarkable Student Life team for organizing this event and providing a space for us to come together as a community and celebrate everything that makes Loyalist a vibrant, welcoming place. Our students’ lives are enriched by the connections they make with their peers and the intercultural experiences we share as a community.”
About Loyalist College
Loyalist College is located on the territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, and the Haudenosaunee people. We acknowledge our shared obligation to respect, honour, and sustain these lands and the natural resources contained within. Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $398.9 million annually to the regional economy – based on a November 2022 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit loyalistcollege.com.
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Contact:
Braden Root-McCaig
Director of Marketing and Communications
647-523-4300
brootmccaig@loyalistcollege.com