Graduates

Regalia Pickup

• Pickup your regalia for your morning ceremony beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Canada Life Place, Gate 4.
• Pickup your regalia for your afternoon ceremony beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Canada Life Place, Gate 4.
• You will need your Western ONECard or government-issued photo ID to pick up your Regalia.
• Graduates must rent regalia on-site if they did not preorder and an increased fee will apply. Cash is not accepted for on-site orders. 

Regalia Dropoff

• After the ceremony, you can return your regalia at Canada Life Place, Gate 4 by 6:30 p.m.
• Alternatively, if you'd like to take your time, capture memorable photos on campus, you may return your regalia later at the Dellelce Family Bookstore during store hours or at the drop-off box outside the store after store hours.

Regalia Exemptions

All graduates must cross the stage wearing regalia, however exemptions can be made in the following instances:

• Indigenous students who may opt to wear traditional regalia;
• Active military personnel who may opt to wear their dress uniform;
• Clergy/members of religious orders who may opt to wear their religious apparel.

For questions, please reach out to the Convocation Team.

Lineup

• Your lineup location is inside Canada Life Place. Volunteers will guide you there upon arrival at Gate 4.
• You cannot bring anything with you in to the ceremony. Leave all your belongings with your guests before entering Canada Life Place (you will not see your guests after entering the venue until the ceremony ends). You are only permitted to cross the stage with your Call Card and regalia, and will not return to the same seat once you cross the stage. To keep a phone, ID or small essential items with you, choose clothing with pockets or use a small belt bag or a small crossbody bag with a long strap to wear under your regalia. Do not leave your belongings at your line-up location..
• You must be at your line up location no later than 8:45 a.m. for morning ceremonies and 1:45 p.m. for afternoon ceremonies.
• When in line, you may you may have an opportunity to speak with a Name Reader about the pronunciation of your name.

Crossing the Stage

• Doctoral candidates will be hooded on stage. All Masters and Undergraduate candidates will cross the stage already hooded. Candidates for Diplomas and Certificates will also be congratulated by the President and Chancellor, these candidates may wear a previously earned academic hood.

Ceremony

• If you are earning two degrees (a dual degree) that are being awarded at different convocation ceremonies, you may cross the stage in one or both ceremonies. Both diplomas will be given to you at the first ceremony you participate in.
• If you are earning two academic credentials that are being awarded at the same Convocation ceremony, you may only cross the stage once during that ceremony. Both academic credentials will be given to you at the ceremony
• This is an event to honour each graduate's accomplishments. You are expected to conduct yourself with decorum and in a mature and responsible manner. No photos are to be taken on the stage (i.e., no selfies or selfie sticks).
• Graduates are expected to stay for the duration of their ceremony. The ceremonies will be approximately two hours in length.
• If you have an emergency or require additional support, please find one of the many volunteers and they will assist you with your questions or engage the appropriate personnel to offer support.

Ceremony Dates

• Visit the Secretariat's website to check the Order of Ceremony

Program

• Visit the Convocation Program here.
• View your name program here.

Pick up a diploma frame at Canada Life Place (Gate 4) or at the Dellelce Family Bookstore (lower level, UCC). While you’re there, don’t forget to grab a FREE tassel—while supplies last! View store hours here.

Getting your Free 5x7 Photo if you Pre-Registered

• Students who preregistered for a photo will receive an email from GradImages with a Promotional Code and Customer Number to log in with.
• Open the email and select "View Photos".
• Log in with your Customer Number (located in the email) and select: "Find My Photos".
• Choose your photo and apply the Promotional Code (located in the email) at checkout. The promotional code doesn't cover the cost of shipping.

Getting your Free 5x7 Photo if you Didn't Pre-Register

If you didn’t pre-register for graduation photos, you won’t receive a promotional code. However, you can still view and download your photos by visiting www.gradimages.ca.

• Go to the GradImages Website 
• Log in using your last name, school name (Western University), and your graduation year

For additional help, contact GradImages at ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.

Free Photography After the Ceremony

Complimentary professional photos with instant downloads will be available on your Convocation Day.

June 9

• UC Hill: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Canada Life Place: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

June 10 to 13

• UC Hill: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Canada Life Place: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

It's important to be respectful of all graduates and follow the rules and guidelines provided by the venue.

• Graduates must leave all belongings with their guests before entering Canada Life Place (you will not be reunited with your guests after entering the venue until the ceremony ends). Graduates are only permitted to cross the stage with their Call Card and regalia, and all items must be left with guests. To keep a phone, ID or small essential items with you, choose clothing with pockets or use a small belt bag or a small crossbody bag with a long strap to wear under your regalia. These bags will be subject to a security search upon entry.
• View the guest bag policy here.
• Visit Canada Life Place's website for FAQs and details about their bag policy.

The following items are not allowed in Canada Life Place:

• Aerosol cans
• Backpacks
• Balloons
• Selfie sticks
• Professional cameras or video and audio recording devices
• Drones
• Go-pro devices
• For a list of more items, visit the Canada Life Place website.

Convocation honours the hard work and accomplishments of each graduate. To that end, banners, signs, posters, and flags are not permitted. They may obstruct the view of others and take away from the celebration of these students’ achievements. We are mindful of the distances many of their families have travelled for this momentous occasion in their lives and we ask everyone honour that.