GBC welcomed thousands of visitors for our biggest and best Open House yet!

They came. They saw. They got the full GBC experience. 

We welcomed over 4,500 visitors to our biggest and best Open House event yet. On April 13, potential new students and their families explored our three campuses and learned about our programs. They got a glimpse of downtown Toronto student life and why we say the city is our classroom

George Brown put on an engaging experience for prospective students, thanks to the hard work of employees, faculty and students across the college. Each campus buzzed with activity, offering an exciting lineup of events tailored to showcase the unique strengths of our programs. Guests had the chance to engage deeply through guided tours and informative sessions, giving them a full understanding of what makes George Brown College programs stand out. Each campus came alive with our vibrant GBC branding and a selection of themed swag items like Raptors gear and our volunteers to provide an enhancing and lively atmosphere. 

Great incentives

We also showcased our new partnership with the Toronto Raptors, with the Raptor available for selfies and Raptors North Side Crew dancers at all three campuses. 

If that weren’t incentive enough, GBC employees also helped potential future students apply on the spot and waived the Ontario Colleges application fee. Open House visitors are also eligible for a $5,000 tuition credit if they are enrolled in a full-time program by September 9, 2024. 

“From every standpoint, this event was an incredible success,” said Dr. Eileen De Courcy, VP of Academic. “We showcased the quality of our programs, faculty and learning environments. Thousands of potential students learned how we are ready to support their academic and career success.” 

Hundreds of faculty, staff and students participated

When it comes to showing future students how great it is to be part of the GBC community, it’s all about the people. Over 475 faculty and staff and 125 students participated on Saturday.

“Thank you to everyone who made this event happen. I am so proud of the warm, welcoming and inclusive community at GBC, and this is what visitors experienced at our Open House,” said Janene Christiansen, Registrar and Associate Vice-President of Strategic Enrolment.  “Our programs and facilities are amazing, but most importantly, so are our people. The information and support our faculty, employees and students provided at the event, along with the on-site application option, strengthened our overall strategic enrolment efforts.”  

More than 10,000 people registered for the event (that’s a record!), and 4,510 attended the Open House.  

“We employed exciting new promotional tactics for the spring Open House that engaged key audiences,” said Sumi Shanmuganathan, Associate Vice-President, Marketing and Communications. “We applied new social media outreach techniques, created eye-catching branding, rolled out murals in subway stations, and crafted effective web content and targeted just-in-time email messaging. I want to extend a big thank you and congratulations to the entire college community on a successful event.” 

Group shot with the Raptor at Waterfront Campus Open House, April 2024