It’s move-in weekend at Carleton University with thousands of students returning or arriving for the first time. For Ava Barone, it’s the start of a new chapter, moving all the way from Sault Ste. Marie to study health science. “I haven’t lived on my own, so this will be the first,” Barone says. “I do have a roommate, who came with me from Sault Ste. Marie, so that’ll be nice to have people who are close.” Barone was greeted upon her arrival by a few of the more than 650 staff and volunteers, helping students move into one of 12 residences. “It was a long way to get here and packing, I am a bit nervous, but everyone here is really nice and welcoming, and they really get you settled in,” she says. According to staff they are welcoming in more than 3,800 students across the weekend. Executive director of housing and residence life at Carleton, Laura Storey, says the addition of the new 450-bed Rideau House residence has helped alleviate some living concerns for first-year students. “It opened this week, and we’ve invited students in there and it’s helping out not only because of the extra beds, but the amenity spaces that will be opening in that building and the new residence desk available there,” Storey says. Off-campus housing has been a concern for returning students, with many having to move further away because of a lack of availability within the city. Storey says because of the addition of Rideau House, there are some extra spots available in residence. “We’ve been able to accommodate everybody that is asked for a space,” Storey says. “People are obviously chomping at the bit to get into Rideau House, so we don’t have any spaces left there, but we do have a few spaces left in rooms around campus so if people are interested, they should reach out.” Storey adds move-in weekend wraps up on Sunday, with classes slated to start after Labour Day.
