Frequently Asked Questions

• More than 13,000 alumni are eligible to cross the stage in May. Registration in Phase 1 will help us determine how many graduates to expect from each faculty.
• After Phase 1 we were able to determine how many ceremonies to schedule in order to safely accommodate all graduates and guests.

• If you did not sign up for a guaranteed seat in Phase 1, please email convo@sfu.ca with your:
  • Student Number
  • First & Last Name
  • Date of birth
• Until April 6, if there is space, we will email you with the opportunity to register for your ceremony. 

After you have confirmed your attendance, you will need to rent your regalia from the Gaspard rental company. The reservation portal will reopen soon and close on May 1.

If you didn't reserve your regalia immediately after registering for your ceremony, you should visit the Gaspard website and follow the instructions. You will be prompted to add your information, review your order and submit payment

If you have any problems or concerns regarding renting your regalia please call Gaspard at 1-866-949-5703 Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (pacific time), email alphaomega@gaspard.ca or use the contact form on their website. When sending an email to Gaspard please include your name, institution name, student number and order number.

• Grads were able to invite up to two guests with a possibility of adding more guests to a waitlist. We have released a limited number of guest seats on a first come, first served basis. Registered alumni were sent an email with a link to register additional guests. If you did not recieve this email, check your junk/spam folder then email convo@sfu.ca. Guest limits are required to follow fire regulations and health and safety guidelines as per the regional and provincial health authorities.

Please visit www.sfu.ca/alumni/forms/student-number-request.html

• Ceremonies will take place May 4-6 2022.
• If you reserved your seats in Phase 1, you will have received an email in the second week of March with your ceremony date and time. These can be also found on the schedule page.

• Ceremonies will be organized so that you will cross the stage with graduates from your faculty. You will only be able to attend the ceremony that is scheduled for your faculty.

Yes.

No.

Yes, alumni who completed their programs in Fall 2019 and did not get a chance to cross the stage in June 2020 are invited to the May 2022 event. You should have received an invitation if we have your current email address in our records.

• Depending on your country of origin, you will need a valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) in order to enter Canada. If you have a valid TRV/eTA, you may be able to enter Canada providing you comply with the current travel restrictions and exceptions. Please visit the IRCC website for further details. You may be required to provide proof of your Convocation ceremony upon entering Canada to help demonstrate your purpose of travel.  
• If you are applying for a TRV/eTA from outside of Canada, you may be asked to state your purpose of travel in your application. In this case, we recommend that you create your own Letter of Explanation and attach supporting documents like SFU's Convocation Confirmation. 
• For more information on how to apply for a TRV/eTA, please visit IRCC's website. 
• Please connect with an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist if you have any questions about what you require in order to travel to Canada.
• Note: please check Canada’s website for the most current information on the requirements to travel to Canada from your country: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

SFU's International Services for Students has prepared a guide for inviting your family members and guests to join you for convocation: https://www.sfu.ca/students/isap/resources/guides.html 

The specific advice for inviting family members can be found here (PDF)

If you are an alumnus with a disability and you require assistance at your ceremony, please complete the Application for Convocation Assistance Form (PDF) and return it by email to convo@sfu.ca before April 26, 2022. 

Please note: only certified service/guide animals may accompany alumni with disabilities to cross the stage.

• The Artona Group Inc. is open for photography and processing orders. If you would like to go to their studio, the University has provided a set of academic regalia for all Simon Fraser University degrees to the Artona studio in Vancouver. Please contact their online support team directly through live chat at artona.com or email csr@artona.com. You may also book your photo session directly with Artona: https://artona.com/schools/USFU.
• At convocation, Artona will be photographing alumni as they cross the stage and taking an additional “standing” photo during the ceremony. They will also have a separate mini studio on the North side of Freedom Square where you can take seated photos. Those photos can be ordered from https://artona.com/schools/USFU.

• Please contact Gaspard, by email to frontdesk@gaspard.ca or call 1-800-380-8214.

Yes.

Yes.

You should be on campus to pick up your parchment and regalia between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. for a morning ceremony and between 12:45 and 1:45 p.m. for an afternoon ceremony.

• You received your official SFU parchment by mail when you graduated. You will not receive another parchment at the May Convocation event. Please consider bringing just the blue folder with you for photo purposes.You received your official SFU parchment in your Convocation gift box. You will not receive another parchment at the May Convocation event.

• Please bring the blue folder that holds your SFU parchment (you can leave your parchment at home if you prefer). This folder is often used as a prop for photos as you cross the stage or take photos with your family and friends. We will not be providing additional blue folders during May Convocation.
• All graduates in the ceremony will need to bring valid photo ID such as a driver’s licence or student ID card for verification purposes. Public health orders may also require us to check your vaccine passport.

This question will be updated as we get closer to Convocation.

Unless following your cultural protocol requires you to carry a symbolic item, graduands should not be carrying anything but their parchment as they cross the stage.

Only certified service/guide animals may accompany graduands and guests with disabilities at convocation.

Guests who bring balloons need to ensure that they are not blocking the line of sight for other guests while in Convocation Mall. Ushers may request that they're stored outside of Convocation Mall until after the ceremony.

Unattended stroller parking is available at the back of Convocation Mall. Due to fire and safety regulations, seating aisles must remain clear. Strollers cannot be parked in the aisles next to your seat.

At SFU we encourage mask use on our campuses and particularly in spaces where we are in close proximity. Please be understanding and compassionate of people’s individual circumstances and individual choices about masks as we continue to cultivate a community of care.

Many members of our community will continue to prefer to wear masks in indoor spaces.

All on-site event staff and volunteers will be trained on convocation event health and safety protocols. If you have concerns regarding health and safety at the event, please notify one of the on-site event staff or security guards.

• There will be free parking for alumni and guests in the North and Central parking lots at the Burnaby campus. If your guests require accessible parking, they may proceed to the Central lot underneath Convocation Mall.

• Please print your guests’ Eventbrite tickets or bring them on a phone to check in at Convocation Mall. We will scan the QR code on the ticket and admit your guest(s).

• Guests will be seated in the covered Convocation Mall, right behind the graduating students' seats. Family and friends should find their seats well before the procession begins.

• Your guests should dress appropriately for the weather. Convocation Mall is under cover but open on both ends, and can be breezy, so audience members should dress warmly.

• Elderly guests and anyone with special needs regarding seating should identify themselves to any of our ushers in Convocation Mall.

• We will be scanning the QR code on your guests’ Eventbrite tickets but we will not be double checking it with their personal identification. Please ensure that you only have one guest per ticket as we will only admit the first person on each ticket’s QR code. Each QR code can only be used once. (Once guests have been admitted, they will be able to get their hands stamped to exit Convocation Mall.)

• If you or your guest(s) can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket in Eventbrite or email convo@sfu.ca. This will ensure others who need more guest tickets will get them.

Morning ceremonies begin at 9:45 am and afternoon ceremonies begin at 2:30 pm. Your guests will be able to check in 60 minutes before your ceremony begins. Please ask your guests to be seated 15 minutes before each ceremony begins.