By: Piper Howell
After last year’s uncertainty surrounding Rail Jam, BU Snow is looking ahead to this year with a new executive team, new events, and another Rail Jam. The club is looking to build on last year’s support to continue fostering the BU Snow community.
The future of Rail Jam at Bishop’s came into question last November, when the university dropped its support for the popular event. The announcement prompted a quick response from the BU Snow club and students who consider Rail Jam an integral part of the Bishop’s experience. The club put together a peaceful protest, in hopes of changing the administration’s decision.
Photo courtesy of BU Snow
The upset became the topic of a March article on The Campus website, “History is Rhyming, Are You Listening?”, which explored the proposed changes to Winterfest and the broader idea that students have a large influence in shaping university decisions and campus traditions.
Despite initial uncertainty, Rail Jam did end up happening in February 2026. The event’s confirmation further solidified the expectation for student involvement in keeping important campus traditions alive. Rail Jam is confirmed to return this winter, giving students another opportunity to come together and foster community at Bishop’s.
For BU Snow, this year marks an opportunity to build on last year’s momentum. With a new and bigger executive team, the club is looking to bring fresh energy to the campus community.
According to BU Snow Marketing and Junior Co-Lead, Zara Khonsari, the response from the Bishop’s students last November played an important role in demonstrating the event’s significance. “With the controversy surrounding Rail Jam, the amount of support from the BU community proved to the administration how important this event is to us, and the number of people who showed up last year has just led to this year being one of the most supported years for Rail Jam,” Khonsari said.
Last year brought uncertainty to the future of one of Bishop’s favourite winter traditions. This year, the focus shifts to building on student support and bringing fresh events to campus life.
The response to the potential cancellation showed how students are willing to speak up for the traditions they value, and how student participation helps shape campus traditions.
Events like Rail Jam offer students a chance to connect through shared interest and contribute to creating an atmosphere that makes Bishop’s campus life distinct and special.
