Read on to discover just a small sample of the amazing activities you can enjoy. And be sure to join in the festive atmosphere of colourful signs, friendly faces, freebies and fun activities at the Club Fair along the Kichi Mìkàns and inside the Agora at the Jock Turcot University Centre.
Happy Bellies
Good food has a way of bringing people together, and that's exactly what Happy Bellies uOttawa is all about. Whether you’re passionate about community outreach, event planning, fundraising, advocacy, marketing or food-based initiatives, Happy Bellies offers students a space to explore creative ways of addressing food accessibility challenges. Through fundraisers, community events and partnerships with local organizations, members work together to support both the uOttawa community and Ottawa as a whole.
This past year, Happy Bellies partnered with Cornerstone Housing for Women through a community booth at the Parkdale Public Market, raising over $500 to support its programs. As the club continues to grow, it’s expanding its focus to include initiatives that promote food affordability and accessibility for students.
“Happy Bellies is more than just a club about food. We are a space where students can bring their passions, creativity and ideas together to support their community in meaningful ways. Whether you want to organize an event, build partnerships, or contribute to a new initiative, there’s a place for you at Happy Bellies.”
- Juliana Paul, third-year health sciences student and co-president
SwingUO
Ya like jazz? SwingUO does too! We’re the place to go if you want to learn to dance or meet new people.
Swing dancing is a partnered dance done to jazz from the 1930s and 1940s. We love Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Count Basie! This dance evolved during the Harlem Renaissance in New York. Black American dancers responded to the music of their era and combined it with steps coming from African folk dances. However, the true heart of swing dancing comes from its nature as a joyful, celebratory, social dance. At SwingUO, we strive to embody that through connection and a shared love of rhythm.
Every Thursday we have a lesson covering a different style, like the Lindy Hop, the Charleston, Balboa or solo jazz, followed by a social to practise what we’ve learned. Our classes are open to everyone, from complete beginners to experienced dancers. SwingUO also strives to represent uOttawa through our performances (we love Frankie Manning’s airsteps!) and our events held in collaboration with the swing community and university clubs, like uoSalsa or uOttawa Tango Club.
Everyone is welcome. We can’t wait to see you on the dance floor!
uoPILATES
Come for the Pilates, stay for the community. Make it an experience! UOPILATES is a student-led wellness community bringing movement, creativity and connection together at the University of Ottawa. Our mission is to make Pilates accessible and exciting for every student, whether you’ve been practising for years or have never stepped onto a mat before.
We create a welcoming space where students can take a break from university life, move their bodies, meet new people and prioritize their well-being.
From our signature Glow-in-the-Dark Pilates to slowing things down at Candlelight Pilates, our events turn a traditional workout into an experience students can genuinely look forward to. We also host outdoor classes, themed sessions, wellness initiatives and collaborations that bring students together in fun and creative ways.
What makes uoPILATES special is the community behind every class. There’s no pressure to be perfect and no experience required. Just come as you are! By combining fitness, creativity, friendship and belonging, we make wellness feel less like an obligation and more like something students are excited to be part of.
uoNotes
Do you ever spend more time looking for study materials than actually studying? We’re changing that. UONotes has built a community where uOttawa students can access free course notes, study guides and academic resources created by students, for students.
Behind the platform is a dedicated team of students who collect, organize, review and translate resources, making academic support easier to find in both English and French. UONotes also extends learning beyond the screen through study sessions, note-taking workshops and research events, as well as fun social gatherings and collaborations with sponsors such as Poulet Rouge and Pizza Pizza.
“No student should have to navigate university alone. One person can create a great resource, but when students bring their knowledge together, support one another and build on each other’s work, the impact becomes so much greater. That is what uoNotes is all about: connecting students so we can succeed together.”
- Kiana G. Vazvani, third-year biomedical sciences student and founder-president of uoNotes
SpeakSmart
Ask most students what they’re afraid of and public speaking tops almost everything on the list, including exams. SpeakSmart was created to change that.
As the University of Ottawa’s first club dedicated to public speaking and communication, SpeakSmart treats this not as a bonus skill for resumés, but as a crucial life skill every student deserves the chance to build, one that shapes how well you’re understood in a seminar, an interview or a conversation that matters.
Open to students from every faculty, the club creates a safe, judgment-free space where members are met exactly where they’re at, whether it’s your first shaky attempt to speak up or you’re looking to sharpen skills you’ve used for years. Each weekly session targets a specific skill, while you can expand your skills through special events: an Ice Breaker Speech Night built around spontaneous storytelling, workshops on performing under pressure, panels with professional speakers from across campus and sessions built around something as ordinary and essential as small talk.
“What holds it all together is care. Every session, every event, is shaped around helping members grow at their own pace, because real confidence isn’t rushed — it’s built.”
- Rayan Saddiki, fourth year political science student and president-founder of uOttawa SpeakSmart