Get involved

English Conversation Programs offer multiple ways to connect with other students, practice conversational English and learn about different cultures.

Conversation partners

This program matches an English Language Learner (ELL) Conestoga student and a volunteer fluent English-speaking Conestoga student to meet weekly for one hour to discuss a variety of topics and practice conversational English. Students involved in ECP get to learn about other cultures and languages, develop communication and leadership skills and share their experiences in Canada and at Conestoga. Recruitment occurs during the first month of each term.  

Conversation Cafés

Conversation Cafés are great opportunities to connect with other Conestoga students from around the world, share and gain familiarity with Canadian culture, and practice conversational English language skills. Conversation Cafés are scheduled on reoccurring days of the week each term.  

If you are looking to develop or refine your leadership skills, Student Engagement has many opportunities to both learn about and practice these important life skills. 

Leadership Workshop Series

These free interactive leadership workshops are designed to assist you in developing the essential leadership skills necessary to effectively participate in a rapidly changing workforce and world. These workshops focus on enhancing self-awareness, strengthening core leadership competencies and inspiring you to become leaders of positive change. Visit the Events & Activities page on the Student Success Portal for more information and to register for upcoming workshops.  

Student committees 

Student committees play a key leadership role in the planning and facilitation of special events and awareness campaigns at the college. Becoming a committee member is a short-term volunteer commitment that will allow you to develop your event planning, community development, business administration, and team building skills. Committees run at different times throughout the year, and include:  

• International Women’s Day Committee 
• Degree Student Committee, and
• African, Black, Caribbean Student Committee.
  

The Conestoga community is dynamic, diverse and continuously evolving. Student Engagement offers a variety of community development initiatives so that students can develop a sense of belonging and connection with the Conestoga and wider community.

Experiential events and volunteer opportunities

Community initiative opportunities change every term based on expressed interest and feedback from Conestoga students. Check out the Student Success Portal throughout your studies for details on community events happening that term. Some examples of past and current events include: 

• Community Action Day – Visit a local community organization with fellow students to learn about their services and volunteer. 
• Human Library – Check out a ‘human book’ to have a one-on-one conversation with an individual in your community to learn more about their unique lived experiences. 
• Let’s Explore Canada – Are you an international student curious about Canadian culture? Attend a Let’s Explore Canada workshop to learn about Canadian holidays, celebrations, recreation and cuisine.
• Experiential trips – Join fellow students and the Student Engagement team on experiential trips within the community. Past trips have included Niagara Falls, the Grand River Powwow and the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival.

Community partnerships

While you are a Conestoga student, you are also a member of the wider community of your campus of study. We partner with community organizations to provide students with experiential and professional development opportunities, as well as the chance to learn more about your community and ways that you can act as a leader of positive change. 

• Conestoga Consent Culture is an initiative focused on ending sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Each term we offer a series of five workshops facilitated by experts from the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC) which teach students the importance of consent, how to challenge norms that uphold rape culture, and provide information on college and community resources. 
• To further foster your connection with the wider community, take advantage of off-campus events, volunteer opportunities and workshops offered by local community organizations, found on the Events & Activities page on the Student Success Portal.

Student Ambassadors are upper-level students employed by Student Engagement that can help you learn more about college services and find opportunities to get involved in the Conestoga community.

Connect with a Student Ambassador by: 

• Attending a Speaking from Experience virtual drop-in session to learn tips and tricks on the college experience (find upcoming sessions on the Events & Activities page on the Student Success Portal). 
• Chatting with them in-person at the Kitchener - Doon, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Downtown Kitchener campuses. 
• Following Student Engagement on Instagram to find out what Student Ambassadors are up to this term.

Interested in becoming a Student Ambassador? Job opportunities are posted throughout the year on MyCareer. You can also follow us on Instagram to find out when we are recruiting.