Transit News: Extra Exam Buses

The TCSA has been working with Peterborough Transit to bring extra buses to get students to campus for scheduled weekend exams during the December exam period.

We are happy to inform students, staff, and faculty that on Saturday, December 13th and Sunday, December 14th there will be the following extra buses running in addition to regular scheduled routes:

  • Saturday, December 13th:

    • One (1) extra bus leaving the downtown terminal at 2:00pm and arriving at Trent University at 2:20pm

  • Sunday, December 14th:

    • One (1) extra bus leaving the downtown terminal at 2:00pm and arriving at Trent University at 2:20pm

    • One (1) extra bus leaving from Water Street at Parkhill Road at 2:30pm and arriving at Trent University at 2:45pm

Please leave extra travel time to travel to campus for your exams, and check @ptbo_transit on X (formerly Twitter) for any news and/or updates to Transit routes, including inclement weather updates.

TCSA Gives Back on Giving Tuesday

GivingTuesday is a global movement that envisions a world rooted in shared humanity and radical generosity. This year, it takes place on December 3, 2024.

In celebration of GivingTuesday, we are thrilled to support our students and our communities by covering grocery expenses for five Trent undergraduate students, up to $200 per student, in our continuous aim to combat food insecurity amongst Trent students. Additionally, the TCSA will match the total amount reimbursed to students, and donate it to a Peterborough-based charity that supports green initiatives and sustainability.

How to Participate:

  1. Submit a clear photo of your itemized grocery receipt. Ensure the date and items are legible, as only grocery items are eligible for reimbursement.

  2. Groceries must be purchased between December 1st and December 17th, 2024.

  3. You must be a Trent University Peterborough undergraduate student to qualify.

Click here to submit your grocery receipt. Student who are selected will be contacted on December 18th, 2024. 

TCSA Collaborates with Trent International to Create a New Student Bursary

The Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) is happy to announce our collaboration with Trent International (TI) to create a new bursary for international students to obtain photo identification while they reside in Ontario. This bursary aims to aid students who may not have an Ontario driver’s license or health card, and wish to apply for an Ontario Photo Card (OPC).

The TCSA recognizes the importance of an Ontario identification card for international students as it pertains to housing, employment, and access to community services. We have created this fund in partnership with Trent International to assist international students who are in financial need and are facing the barrier of the cost associated with obtaining their Ontario Photo Card.

If you are looking for information regarding obtaining your Ontario Photo Card please use the following website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-photo-card.

One application may be submitted. This fund is only available to the members of the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA), which includes all full-time and part-time undergraduate students at the Peterborough Campus. Approved Applications will receive a $30 reimbursement towards the cost of their Ontario Photo Card. 

All applications are received by the President, who will present your application to the Finance & Operations Committee for approval. If you have any questions about this bursary or the application process, please email finance@trentcentral.ca

Statement from the TCSA re: proposed budget cuts for the City of Peterborough

The Trent Central Student Association denounces the City of Peterborough's 2025 budget cuts as presented for consideration on November, 4th 2024 to Peterborough City Council. 

These cuts are intended to reduce a proposed increase in homeowners property tax while failing to recognize that homeowners are inherently more privileged than the majority of the Peterborough community who will be most adversely impacted.

This budget will impact downtown Peterborough businesses, artists, creatives and the overall sense of community in the city. Furthermore, these prospective budget cuts will significantly impact those who are low-income, students, renters, un-housed, survivors of sexual violence, newcomers to Canada and minority groups who are the most vulnerable members of our community.

We stand in solidarity with community organizers and call on Peterborough City Council to re-evaluate their financial priorities and re-affirm their commitment to essential community services and organizations.

Yours in solidarity,

Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) Executive and Staff
Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) Local 71


TCSA Fall By-Elections Update

Notice to the Membership: 

The TCSA Elections Committee has received information that the Fall 2024 By-Election ballot has been compromised. Due to this, the Association will be rehosting the voting period after Reading Week from October 31st to November 7th, 2024. 
Any questions or concerns regarding this can be sent to the Elections Committee at elections@trentcentral.ca.

Transit: Temporary Service Changes to The Link Rural Bus Service

Please note that the James A. Gifford Causeway in Ennismore will be closed overnight to all traffic except for emergency vehicles on weekday nights (Monday to Thursday). Closures began Monday, October 7th from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM and are expected to end Thursday, October 10th at 7:00 AM. This closure will affect The Link bus service on Route 32 to Ennismore. Service to Ennismore will be suspended after 5:05pm on the specified days.

The Link Route 32 will continue to operate, as per the normal route and schedule between Bridgenorth and Trent University. Full service is expected to resume once the Causeway reopens.

TCSA Launches New Student Funding

The Trent Central Student Association recognizes the high cost of on-campus parking, and the barriers it creates to accessibility and equal access to education. As a result, and after consultation with the TCSA Board of Directors, we have created a new parking bursary for students in financial need who struggle to afford the cost of a campus parking pass. 

This fund is only available to the members of the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA), which includes all full-time and part-time undergraduate students at the Peterborough Campus. The Association will reimburse:

  • $150 of the year-long parking pass

  • $75 of the semester-long parking pass

  • $100 of the 8-month-long School of Education parking pass

Individuals may apply once per year with an annual parking pass, or once per semester with a semester-long parking pass. Those who have purchased the month-long parking pass or the premium parking pass are not eligible. This funding line is available on a first come, first served basis, until the funding line has been exhausted.

More information about this bursary, as well as the Parking Bursary application, can be found here. All applications are received by the TCSA President, who will present your application to the Finance & Operations Committee for approval. If you have any questions about your application or the application process, please email finance@trentcentral.ca.

An Update on Our Punch-A-Lunch Program

Due to an overwhelming response to our Punch-A-Lunch program, we have decided to administer our cards on an appointment basis only. We appreciate feedback about the program administration and look forward to making this change to ensure all students have equal opportunity to participate in our Punch-A-Lunch program.

We are no longer accepting walk-ins. Students are required to book a time slot/appointment to pick up their card. You will need to present your student ID to pick up your card. Click here to book your time slot.

Please note this service is open to undergraduate and graduate students at the Trent University Peterborough campus.

The TCSA's collaboration with Trent Food Services: "Punch a Lunch" meal cards:

This program provides aims to help combat food insecurity for students throughout the academic year, supporting a total of 800 students monthly. This program provides students with $5 off any meal at an on-campus dining hall, including Traill College, and at The Seasoned Spoon. The cards can be redeemed five (5) times for $25 off your meals. Simply hand your card to the cashier and a discount will be applied to your meal.

To make this program widely available to students, Punch-A-Lunch cards are also available at Trent International, FPHL, or your college office. Please check in with these offices to see how they will be distributing their cards.

We appreciate Trent Food Services' financial contribution and support of this program.

Transit: Campus Service Changes for Thursday, September 26th, 2024

Please be advised of the following temporary changes to buses servicing Trent's campus this Thursday, September 26th, 2024:

Between the hours of 12:30pm and 4:30pm, any buses coming to campus will be using the Woodland Drive (back) entrance of Trent University. The first stop will be by Trent Conferences at Lady Eaton College (across from Bata Library), followed by the regular bus stop across from Blackburn Hall.

During this time, the following bus stops on campus will NOT be in use:

  • Northbound Blackburn Hall coming into campus

  • Northbound Athletics Centre Stop across from Trent Day Care

  • Bata Bus Loop Stop

  • Trent Day Care Stop (across from Trent Athletics)

Please leave yourself extra travel time to reach your destinations this Thursday, September 26th if you are travelling to and from campus between the hours of 12:30pm to 4:30pm. There will be signage placed at the transit stops to remind students and community members of these temporary changes.

Transit News: #2 Chemong Returns to Trent Campus

We are pleased to announce that the Peterborough Transit route #2 Chemong will be returning to Trent’s Symons campus beginning Sunday, September 1st, 2024.

This city transit route travels from campus to the areas of Chemong Road, Lansdowne Street, and back to Trent. Route maps and schedules can be viewed on the Peterborough Transit website, the TCSA app, or on Google Maps.

Your Trent Transit Pass can be used on all Peterborough Transit routes, as well as The Link rural bus routes servicing the areas of Bridgenorth, Ennismore, Lakefield, Selwyn, and Curve Lake.

Questions about transit or your transit pass? Email bus@trentcentral.ca.

Transit News: Temporary Re-Location of Blackburn Hall Bus Stop

Due to construction on Trent University Symons campus, please be advised that the transit stop at Blackburn Hall will be moved temporarily north (in-bound) to the three-way stop sign by the Athletics Centre driveway.

The transit stop at Blackburn Hall will be covered, and a temporary transit stop will be placed at the three-way stop. This temporary re-location will begin on Monday, July 29th, 2024 and last approximately two weeks.

Questions? Contact bus@trentcentral.ca.

Transit News: Trent Convocation Bus Detours

Due to 2024 Convocation ceremonies from Tuesday, June 4th to Tuesday, June 11th, the following transit routes that travel to/from campus will be using Blackburn Hall as the pick-up/drop-off/turn-around point. These Routes will not pick up/drop off at Bata Library.

  • Route #3 Park

  • Route #6 Sherbrooke

  • Route #8 Monaghan

  • Route #31 Curve Lake

  • Route #32 Ennismore

There will be signage placed at Blackburn Hall and Bata Library as a reminder; please allow yourself extra travel time this week.

Statement from the Association re: Trent University Health & Wellness Director

The Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) would like to express our condemnation of the actions of Trent’s Student Wellness Centre Director, Stewart Engleberg, during and immediately following the Students 4 Palestine Trent Protest on May 14th, 2024. This includes the filming of student demonstrators, and inflammatory comments made via Instagram.

Every student has the right to peacefully demonstrate their political beliefs without fear of retribution from the Trent University administration. They also have the right to access healthcare and other on-campus services without fear of political or religious discrimination. The actions of the current Wellness Centre Director do not reflect these rights. Student activists should not have to fear who has access to their personal information.

The TCSA stands in support of equitable access to healthcare without fear of discrimination or retribution, as well as the right of any student to peacefully protest.

Trent University Administration must condone the actions of faculty and staff who attack the religious and political affiliations of any student in such a public and demeaning manner. The TCSA calls on Trent University Administration to conduct a formal investigation into the Director's actions to assess his ability to effectively continue his role as a student healthcare administrator. Discrimination has no place in healthcare and post-secondary education. 

Yours in Solidarity, 

The Executives of the Trent Central Student Association


Job Posting: Services Manager, Full-Time

The TCSA is hiring for the position of Services Manager, Full-Time.

The Services Manager works in close collaboration with TCSA part-time staff and other full-time staff members while overseeing the Association's services and promotion of Association services to TCSA members, including but not limited to, student funding, the One-Stop Chop food pantry, Direct2U and Wrapped N’ Ready orders, consignment books, and more.

Click here to view the full job posting and details regarding how to apply for the position. Applications will close on Sunday, June 2nd, 2024 at 4:00pm.

Statement Regarding Canada-wide & World-wide Student Protests

The Trent Central Student Association would like to reaffirm its support for student protests across Canada and the world. Student protests have long been crucial to the democratic process, ensuring marginalized voices are supported and uplifted. University institutions have always been a space for open dialogue and exchange of ideas. We encourage students to continue peaceful, non-violent protests, free from hate speech and intimidation. The Association remains hopeful that a ceasefire will be adopted.

The Association further demands that the federal and provincial governments, as well as individual institutions, protect student autonomy and the right to protest. The Association would like to voice our support for the peaceful sit-in that will occur on May 15, 2024, on Trent's campus. We have been in contact with the Students for Justice in Palestine Nogojiwanong/Peterborough to support their event in the most effective way possible.

If students seek to further their knowledge on association stances regarding global conflict, protests and policing, we encourage them to read our recently passed policies regarding Policing & Militarization and Decolonization.

TCSA Presidential Appointment Update

The Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) Presidential Appointment Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Riya Jaykar as President for the summer term. 

Currently serving as the TCSA's International Students Commissioner, Riya is an active member of the Trent Business Students Association (TBSA) and the President of the Trent International Students Association (TISA). She has extensive student leadership experience and has played a key role in spearheading several initiatives at TISA, such as the Essential Eats Student Bursary and the planning of Cultural Outreach.

We look forward to Riya joining the executive team for the summer term. 

The position of President will be open for the upcoming 2024 fall by-election. For any inquiries regarding TCSA elections or our Board of Directors, please contact boardresource@trentcentral.ca.

Transit: Extra Exam Buses

The TCSA and Peterborough Transit have scheduled extra buses to travel from the downtown terminal to campus to ensure you can easily get to and from campus during peak exam hours.

These buses will be running in addition to any regularly scheduled buses that currently travel to and from campus.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 (8:00am exams) - 1 extra bus

  • Departing downtown terminal: 7:00am

Saturday, April 13, 2024 (3pm exams) - 3 extra buses

  • Departing downtown terminal at: 2:00pm | 2:10pm | 2:20pm

  • Departing Trent University Bata Library at: 5:30pm | 6:15pm

Saturday, April 13, 2024 (7pm exams) - 3 extra buses

  • Departing downtown terminal at: 6:00pm | 6:10pm | 6:20pm

  • Departing Trent University Bata Library at: 9:30pm | 10:15pm

Sunday, April 14, 2024 (3pm exams) - 6 extra buses

  • Departing downtown terminal at: 1:40pm | 2:00pm | 2:20pm | 2:30pm

  • Departing Water St. @ Parkhill Rd. towards Trent University at: 2:20pm | 2:35pm

  • Departing Trent University Bata Library at: 2:20pm | 5:30pm | 6:15pm

Saturday, April 20, 2024 (3pm exams) - 3 extra buses

  • Departing downtown terminal at: 2:00pm | 2:20pm | 2:30pm

  • Departing Trent University Bata Library at: 5:30pm | 6:30pm

If you have any questions about these buses or transit in general, please email bus@trentcentral.ca.

We're Hiring: BIPOC Student Organizer

Join the TCSA team!

We are currently hiring for the part-time position of BIPOC Student Organizer. Working in anti-oppression and anti-racism frameworks, this position is responsible for organizing Association-sponsored initiatives and events in partnership with BIPOC constituencies within the Trent community. As a central point of contact for BIPOC support initiatives by the Association, this position is also responsible for being a resource to BIPOC students to ensure equitable access and engagement with Association resources and services.

Interested candidates can read the full job description here. Applications are due by 11:59pm on Sunday, April 7th, 2024.

TCSA Elections: Voting Open

The TCSA holds general elections each spring to elect our Executive Team and our Board of Directors, as well as to hold a general vote of our student membership through referenda questions pertaining to student fees, by-laws and policies, levy groups, etc. Visit the TCSA website to read the candidate and referenda platforms.

Voting in the 2024 TCSA general elections has officially opened, and we invite all Trent University undergraduate students to vote. Your voice matters!

To vote, simply log-in to your Trent Outlook email, and click on the “Other” inbox tab. Find the email from “TCSA Elections Committee”, which contains your official and confidential elections ballot questionnaire. Voting only takes two minutes to complete, and at the end of the ballot, you can enter your email address to participate in a draw for a chance to win one of three $100 Trent Cash prizes.

Questions about your ballot? Email tcsaelections@trentu.ca.