Peer Guide Memory Board
Were you a participant in Western’s International Peer Guide program? Help us celebrate the 30th anniversary! Share your favourite memory, tell us about your experience, or just say hello to your former peer or peer Guide! If you have any photos of your time, please include those too!
Complete this form by April 4, to be entered in a draw to win 1 of 3 Western swag packs!
Submit your Memory
I am grateful for the opportunity to have been both a participant in the Peer Guide program and to be a Peer Guide leader at Western. These experiences were truly amazing and assisted in reducing my anxieties regarding my transition into a new country. It also allowed me to support incoming international students by providing advice on how to navigate and address their fears around attending university in a new country. One of my favorite memories of the program was International Week. I loved learning about different cultures and being educated on traditions I was unaware of. It was a culturally enriching experience, to see the various communities coming together to create five days that celebrated diversity, community, and engagement.
Matthew Cockburn
BMOS'22
Peer and Peer Guide
Karen Lam
BMSc'17
Peer Guide
It is so nice to see that the peer guide program at Western goes on. It is a wonderful program as it allows to get in touch with new people. Studying at Western was my first time travelling overseas. As I was travelling by myself it was great to be part of the program. A very warm hello from Austria to my former peer guide Ana!
Claudia Schmid
BSc'13
Peer
The people that I have met through the PG program have been the most amazing and caring individuals that I call friends and keep in touch with. It's no wonder that this program has thrived for 3 decades. One of my most profound memories is from after I graduated and was living in Barcelona teaching English. Despite being on the other side of the world, the long-lasting connections that started from Western IESC allowed me to see 5 peer guides and 6 peers over a 6 month period in Barcelona! I will be forever grateful for the relationships that formed thanks to the program.
Peter Park
BMSc'14
Peer Guide
Haya Al Haj Turki
MES'18
Peer Guide
I remember it was my "first" job experience in Canada. As an international student myself, I really wanted to help the other international students to adapt the life at UWO, and helped to build the community.
This year is the exact 10 years after I joined the program. Life has changed a lot, I married Jie Sun who is also a mustang and just had our twin daughter 3 weeks ago. Now I am Sr. Director and unicorn AI startup and finishing my MBA at MIT. Looking back, I feel this program is my first step toward the journey to the world. And I miss all the friends here!
Luyang Zhang
MESc'14
Peer Guide
I had so many great times in the peer guide program, from the welcome picnic to various small weekend trips. I met some of my closest friends in peer guides and one of my peers became a great travel friend of mine. I loved being part of the peer guide program at Western and am thankful I got to be involved with it for 3 years!
Julia Walls
BHSc'15
Peer Guide
I remember going to Boler Mountain and for some of the international students it was their first time around a lot of snow. It was such a fun experience and showed that winter isn't all bad!
Jose Javier Pineda
BSc'11, BEd'11
Peer Guide
I would always feel like a relief after a full day of classes, or just in the middle of exams, knowing that I could go to a peer guide meeting and Sandra and Fabiana would be there and they would bring treats, people would share stories, and just chat and relax.
Jimmy Li
HBA'17
Peer and Peer Guide
I always remember the food we used to have - the potluck dinners where everybody shares a dish from their country. That's also something I remember every time I'm trying or tasting something new. I remember these gatherings that we used to have.
Roberto Hernandez-Enriquez
MSs'02
Peer
Being a Peer Guide was such an amazing experience, it provided me the opportunity to connect with others in a safe and welcoming space. My favourite memories include sitting the office and chatting, going to a group bowling event and the potluck in Gibbons park.
Laura Lequay
BMOS'15
Peer Guide
The big peer events, as well as individual or group gatherings were lots of fun. This included going out for food, shopping, or attending local events at Western or in the city. I especially remember our peer guide meetings and global café sessions for the casual conversations that we shared over food! But I cannot forget to mention our amazing end of semester/year events where students performed and celebrate each other's diverse talents and interests. Big shoutout to the PG group from 2017 that put together the awesome dance for the 25th anniversary of the program!
Karen Lam
BMSc'17
Peer Guide
Peter Park
BMSc'14
Peer Guide
I've had so many good memories while being a peer guide. The Peers and the peer guides were and are basically my friends! This photo was during my last day at Western and as you can see we were laughing so hard because of Jamal's sense of humor. He wanted to be helpful by "pretending" to guide us during the process of making the monster pumpkin. We made him a decent pumpkin at the end (the one with the green hat)!
Haya Al Haj Turki
MES'18
Peer Guide
I am so grateful for the many people I was able to meet along the way as a peer. I was inspired by the resilience of the peers who came to Western and the many things they were able to teach me along the way. Even all these years later as a former peer and peer guide leader I have been able to maintain my friendships and I’m am forever indebted to the opportunity that was presented to me in participating in such a rewarding program.
Megan Simpson
BHSc'15
Peer Guide
Niagara falls trip definitely showed me how beautiful Canada is. I enjoyed the school trip so much and met other international students.
Patrcia Feng
BMOS'18
Peer
Oct 2013 - Peer guide group at Covent Garden Market
Julia Walls
BHSc'15
Peer Guide
Jose Javier Pineda
BSc'11, BEd'11
Peer Guide
There are so many memories! We are a community. We are a family. It was more than just a program and more than just a volunteer program. I really felt at home, even in the physical space of the office.
Gem Lee-Herder
BA'06
Peer Guide
