Rad Frosh 2024
Rad Frosh is a three-day long alternative orientation to McGill University and Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) during the weekend of August 23 – 25 organized by QPIRG-McGill. This unique experience will give you the chance to get to know activist and community groups on campus and beyond, while also introducing you to more social justice issues.
We have a schedule packed full of workshops, social events, catered meals, and more! Some of the weekend’s activities include nights out at Datcha and Barbossa, radical guided tours, workshops, a film screening, a community fair. Catered meals will be provided by Midnight Kitchen.
Rad Frosh is open to all McGill students! Contact us for more information:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rad.frosh/
Email: radfrosh@qpirgmcgill.org
This event takes place on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka. The island called “Montreal” is known as Tiotia:ke in the language of the Kanien’kehá:ka, and it has historically been a meeting place for other Indigenous nations who are a part of the Haudenosaunee confederacy. For those of us at QPIRG, acknowledging the keepers of these territories is part of a process of reminding ourselves that our lives are only possible because of the land that we live on, and that most of us benefit from these territories as settlers, and it is also about reminding ourselves of how deeply important it is that our work, as a social-justice organization, be deeply and profoundly informed by the context of colonization. We would encourage everyone to seek out more spaces for learning and understanding the history of these territories. For educational resources, please visit: https://native-land.ca/
Rad Frosh is made possible with funding from the Young Canada Works Program, which funds the Rad Frosh Coordinator summer position.
Registration
Registration
Registration for Rad Frosh 2025 will open in July 2025. You can email us at info@qpirgmcgill.org for any questions related to Rad Frosh.
Registration for Rad Frosh 2024 was $90, with a $30 flex ticket option. Rad Frosh operates to be as accessible as possible, and offers a pay-what-you-can option on the registration platform.
Schedule
Friday August 23rd
On Friday, we start the day off with sign in and group introductions in the SSMU University Centre, room 202. Get to know your facilitators and each other with some fun and games! Then, we will take a radical guided tour of McGill campus and Milton Parc, the community surrounding McGill University. In the afternoon, we will have a workshop on union organization and worker solidarity with the Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE)!
At 5:30pm, we will have a delicious dinner prepared by Midnight Kitchen, followed by a Tatreez Workshop at 7pm. At 9pm, we’ll head out to Bar Datcha for a night out in the Mile End!
Saturday August 24th
We’ll start day 2 with breakfast at 10am from Midnight Kitchen and a workshop with École sans police. Afterwards, we’ll have a Know Your Rights workshop with SSMU and a workshop with the Trans Patients Union. At 5pm, we’ll get to know some student and community groups in Montreal at the Community Fair in SSMU 202.
That evening, we will have dinner at 6pm. Then you can choose between an open mic night at Brique par Brique, or a night out at Barbossa!
Sunday August 25th
We’ll start the final day of Rad Frosh with breakfast, then a choice of two activities: yoga in Parc Jeanne-Mance, or a workshop with the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM).
After lunch at 1pm, we’ll head to a symposium with the Mohawk Mothers and a walking tour that explores McGill’s weapons research and history of conducting MK-Ultra experiments at the Allan Memorial Institute and the former Royal Victoria Hospital.
At 6pm, we’ll have dinner (also prepared by Midnight Kitchen!) followed by a film screening of Off Frame by Mohanad Yaqubi.
Accessibility
Accessibility is a priority at Rad Frosh. Here are some of the measures we are taking to make sure everyone gets the most out of their frosh experience. We’ll keep updating this as planning continues, but please contact us if you have specific questions or requests, we’re happy to chat over the phone or email!
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- Rad Frosh is Pay What You Can, and no one will be turned away for a lack of funds.
- Instructions for making interaction signal badges will be sent to all participants of Rad Frosh prior to the event and their use is encouraged throughout the weekend (the use of interaction signal badges originated at a conference by and for people on the Autism spectrum, and can also be useful for those who experience social anxiety).
- Participants can opt to be in smaller Frosh groups if they prefer (groups as small as 3-5 participants).
- Participants will not be required to have their video or microphone on at any time during our Zoom events.
- To ensure that participants from all time zones can enjoy our workshops and events, most events will be recorded and shared with participants.
Accessibility Measures Available with 2 Weeks’ Notice
To request any of these services, please contact us ASAP – we need at least 1 weeks notice to arrange to provide them! Please contact us with your requests even if you miss this deadline and we will do our best!
We ask that you please request these accommodations by Friday, August 12 so that we can make proper arrangements.
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- Childcare (for participants who are the primary caretakers of children)
- ASL interpretation at selected events.
- French translation at selected events.
Further accessibility requests are welcome and encouraged, and the coordinator will do their absolute best to meet any access needs that come to light.
Help Make Rad Frosh Possible!
Become a Facilitator!
Rad Frosh is looking for facilitators to make our 2023 frosh weekend the best one yet!
Facilitators are non-hierarchical frosh leaders who are essential to the Rad Frosh experience. Facilitators will be paired up and be responsible for guiding a group of frosh participants throughout the weekend. It’s a lot of fun, and a great opportunity to learn more about the amazing work being done on campus and in Montreal!
Facilitators are expected to:
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- Attend a mandatory training sessions at the end of August
- Facilitate a small group chat and check in on participants throughout the weekend
- Be present during programming throughout the weekend of Rad Frosh
- Ensure that participants have a fun, educational, and safe as possible time during the program
- Play a mentorship role for the participants in their group
- Be an active, non-judgmental, harm reductive, and respectful guide for their group of participants throughout the weekend
- When possible, provide logistical support throughout the weekend to help ensure that Rad Frosh runs as smoothly as possible
This year’s Rad Frosh will run from Friday August 25th, 2023 to Sunday August 27th, 2023. Facilitator training is tentatively scheduled for August 17th, 2023 from 5:00PM – 9:00PM. There will be a remote option for training, however all facilitators must be present for the entirety of training. Rad Frosh will be in person.
To sign up to be a Rad Frosh facilitator, fill out the application form here.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Rad Frosh coordinator by messaging our Facebook page or emailing radfrosh@qpirgmcgill.org!