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.
“A club isn’t just a line on your resumé. It’s where you’ll meet the people who end up shaping your time here, and where you’ll finally feel like you belong.”
Hamza El Mendri
— UOSU student life commissioner
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
uOttawa We Sport
Looking to get active, try new sports and meet amazing people? Then uOttawa We Sport is the club for you! We welcome women of all backgrounds and experience levels to meet, have fun and get moving.
Our mission is to make sports accessible, inclusive and fun for everyone. Last year, we hosted a volleyball tournament, basketball boot camp, running club, boxing sessions and Pilates fundraiser — and we’re just getting started. Come try something new, make friends and find your community!
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or you’ve never played before, you belong here. No experience is required, and there’s no pressure to be perfect. We also prioritize an English–French bilingual community, making our club welcoming to students from different backgrounds.
As we enter our second year, find us at the Club Fair, follow us on Instagram (@uo.wesport) and become a member. Come for the sport — stay for the community!
uoAnime
The University’s very own anime club is uoAnime! We host a variety of events, from in-person screenings and casual meetups to game nights and more.
This year, you can look forward to our annual cosplay contest, our first-ever kaigai idol concert and even a HoYoverse fan event!
Our club’s events are fully bilingual and free for anyone to attend, and our Discord server is a chill, inclusive, safe space for all lovers of anime.
We also offer group discounts to conventions and member discounts at various local businesses. Our club is the perfect way to meet university friends who share the same passion for anything anime. You won’t want to miss out!
University of Ottawa Cooking Club
The University of Ottawa Cooking Club brings students together through a shared passion for food, culture and community.
Our goal is to create an inclusive and welcoming space where students from all backgrounds can connect, make new friends and celebrate the diversity of cuisines represented across campus.
Throughout the year, the cooking club hosts a variety of interactive events, including potlucks, barbecues, recipe exchanges, cultural cooking workshops, bake sales and collaborative food-themed socials.
These events encourage members to share family recipes, discover new culinary traditions and learn practical cooking skills in a fun, supportive environment.
By using food to connect people, we hope to foster meaningful friendships and create memorable experiences that make student life at uOttawa more engaging, affordable and culturally enriching.
Good to know
- Got an idea for a club? Go for it. Applications for club status open three times a year on the Clubs Portal, and there’s more room than ever.
- Every hour you put into your club counts: it can go on your Co-Curricular Record, an official document that shows employers everything you’ve built outside the classroom.
- The Club Administration Service is your first stop for anything club-related. It runs the Club Fair, executive workshops and the Student Life Awards.
- This year alone, over 300 clubs were approved, and more than 10 trained ambassadors reached over 300 students on the ground. It’s one of the biggest pushes the student life portfolio has ever seen.
- This fall, an equipment lending bank is launching. Your club will never again have to buy gear it only needs once.
- A dedicated club space project is officially underway. It’s exploring options like St. Joseph’s Parish, just steps from campus.
- This 101 Week (September 5 to 12) is shaping up to be the most memorable yet, and the Club Fair (September 9 and 10) will have all the space and energy it deserves.
