Rianna Ostrosser – Editor-in-Chief

Bishop’s University is set to welcome back students, alumni and community members for its annual Homecoming celebrations, highlighted by the Gaiters’ football showdown against New Brunswick’s Mount Allison University on Saturday, Sept. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Coulter Field, where the Gaiters will look to build on their early-season momentum against the visiting Mounties. The game is expected to draw one of the largest crowds of the year, with alumni, families and fans packing the stands for a highlight of the Bishop’s calendar.

Photo courtesy of Public Domain

Homecoming activities will be in full swing long before the teams take the field. A tailgate party will run from 10 a.m. until the start of the third quarter in the Coulter Field parking lot, offering food, music and a chance for generations of Gaiters to reconnect. The Saturday schedule extends beyond football. The Gait, Bishop’s University’s student-run bar, will host a Homecoming Happy Hour from 3 to 7 p.m., giving fans a chance to celebrate after the game in a lively campus setting. But Homecoming is more than just one afternoon. The entire week features events across multiple sports, showcasing Bishop’s varsity programs and bringing the campus to life.

The action begins Thursday, Sept. 25, with a lacrosse matchup against McGill University at Coulter Field. Opening faceoff is set for 8 p.m. and the game will run until 10 p.m. Friday promises to be packed from start to finish, beginning with the women’s hockey team hosting an exhibition game against l’Université de Moncton at the Jane & Eric Molson Arena, with puck drop at 12:30 p.m. The action continues on the pitch, as the women’s soccer team takes on Université du Québec à Montréal at 4 p.m. at Coulter Field. Later that evening, rugby fans will be treated to a doubleheader under the lights, with the women’s team squaring off against Carleton University at 6 p.m., followed by the men’s team hosting Université du Québec à Montréal at 8:15 p.m.

Alumni programming will also play a central role throughout the weekend, with special events organized to honour former Gaiters. Bishop’s traditionally uses Homecoming to celebrate its tight-knit community, with many alumni travelling long distances to return to Lennoxville. The weekend is as much about celebrating the university’s history as it is about enjoying the present, reinforcing the sense of community that defines Bishop’s.

As the football team prepares for a long-standing Atlantic University Sport rivalry matchup with Mount Allison, anticipation continues to build for an intense game at Coulter Field. Yet the energy of the weekend extends far beyond a single game. With events stretching from Thursday to Saturday, the celebration is set to highlight the spirit of the community in a full weekend of your very own Bishop’s Gaiters.