Hi folks!

We’re so excited for this new school year, welcome to all first years and our returning students.

First, we’d like to introduce ourselves, we are the Ryerson School of Performance Student Union, a group of students whose goal is to make your school experience as great and comfortable as it can be. If you ever need to talk about something that troubles you, if you have an idea for an event, if you want to promote your coming show, we’re here for all that and more. We will be having office hours for you to come talk to us, we also have a contact form and an anonymous contact form. If you see us walking down the hall and we’re not running late for class, come say hi <3

Second, we gathered a bunch of tips for our beautiful first years, so take a look at these deals.

We all love a frisky discount, so these food and coffee places near campus will give you 10% off by showing them your Ryerson OneCard.

• Freshii on College St, right across from Kerr Hall West
• Metro on Gould St, across from the RCC building, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Page One Cafe, on Bond St.
• Good Earth, at Jarvis and Dundas St.
• Basil Box on Yonge St., right next to the SLC
• Boston Pizza on the corner of Yonge and Gerrard
• The Pickle Barrel, on the ground floor of the Atrium on Bay (AOB)
• St. Louis, also at AOB
• Spring Rolls, also at AOB
• Richtree Market, on the lower level of the Eaton Centre (near Queen Station)
• Salad King, right across from the SLC. *You get 20% off from 2-5pm

If you’re feeling like a museum or a show night, we have these discounts:

• The Textile Museum of Canada has a $6 admission for students with their ID.
• The Royal Museum of Canada is free on Tuesdays with your student ID.
• The Art Gallery of Ontario is free if you’re under 25.
• The Carlton Cinema is $5 on Tuesday for students.
• The Canadian Opera Company has tickets starting at $22 for those under the age of 30.
• The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has tickets starting at $16 for those under 35 y/o.

For those new to Tkaronto (“where trees meet the water”), mostly known by its colonial name Toronto, we want to update you on some things.

• Before any celebration, show, or gathering we acknowledge the land in which we stand, it has been under the care of native nations for thousands of years, so take a moment to appreciate being welcomed and accepted in this ancient site and be sure to respect it, its nature and all those who come.
• In the note of respect, as a union, as a university and hopefully as a city, we do not accept any form of discrimination, we will not tolerate intolerance and we ask you to report anything that bothers you or others.
• We have gender neutral washrooms! Here at Ryerson we accept they way folks identify themselves and as a union we celebrate that liberty.
• Due to an increased number of opioid deaths Toronto adopted Safe Injection Sites (SIS). Drug addiction is a health problem and the city has decided to care for it. There’s a SIS on Victoria Street, so it is very likely that you will see some drug users on that street, they’re mostly not aggressive, they are just very high, but if you ever feel threatened or uncomfortable you can always call Ryerson Security at 416-979-5040.
• Since we’re talking about Ryerson Security and Emergency Services, we’ll let you know that they work 24/7, they are just a phone call away so it may be smart to save their number. They also have the WalkSafe Program, where a security crew member will escort you to various locations on campus, to your car or the subway. 

OKAY this just got way longer and intense than expected so it’s time for our final tips

• Get as much sleep as you can! Taking care of yourself, your sleep and eating habits are very important, so don’t let the university rhythm take that away from you.
• Start early on your projects. You may think you have all the time in the world, but boy oh boy time flies, so it is ideal to start on your assignments as soon as possible.
• Be respectful. We are a loving and inclusive community, so remember to share the love (always with consent) and be respectful of your peers, we all deserve it.
• Enjoyment is mandatory. Try to make this year a great experience, care for yourself, sleep and eat properly, you can find support in our community and remember we are always here to help.

See y’all tomorrow!

Lots of Love,

RSPSU