Students from around the world choose Trinity Western Universitiy for its distinctly Christian values, mentored career preparation and whole-person education within a supportive atmosphere.
On December 9, 2021, students from the Richmond campus celebrated Christmas together as a global community.
"This is certainly diversity," said Tati Ortiz, a Trinity Language Centre student from Colombia.
Roughly half of students who study at TWU are born outside of Canada, and the Richmond campus welcomes students from around the world. During the TWU Richmond Christmas celebration on December 9, 2021, the hallways of the University's Lansdowne location were decked with cultural booths representing the spirit and flavours of the campus' cultural diversity.
Seven booths featured food and cultural specialties from Bangladesh, Canada, China, Colombia, Korea, Philippines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Students, staff and faculty gathered to hear Campus Pastor Thomas Goodfellow deliver a special Christmas message. Members of the TWU Worship Collective led worship with songs of different languages, including Hindi, Chinese and English.
"...The pride with which each country shared their traditions was fantastic. There was an atmosphere of celebration and love around Christmas that allowed us all to enjoy, independently of our origin."
— Tati Ortiz, student leader at TWU Richmond
A first Christmas in Canada for many
Kim Chen, Director of Student Life at TWU Richmond shares the vision behind the event, "My hope was for our Richmond Student Life team to host an event that brought the different cultures of our campus communities together."
"Being able to have live worship is not something we normally get to do, so it was such a blessing to fill our space with the sound of voices in different languages," he said. "I was so grateful for each of the students, staff and faculty that made it a meaningful time."
Vera Xiong, Student Life Coordinator at TWU Richmond, notes that the event is particularly meaningful for students who are new to the country.
"For many of our students, this is their first Christmas in Canada. Therefore, hearing worship music, and receiving a Christmas message from Campus Pastor Thomas Goodfellow, have totally enriched their understanding of Christian culture," she said.
Sharing traditions, spreading joy
Tati, who leads the Volunteer Club at TWU Richmond, participated at the Christmas celebration by hosting a table reflective of her country, Colombia.
"I loved seeing so many cultures come together to receive and share different types of food and desserts. Also, the pride with which each country shared their traditions was fantastic," Tati said.
"There was an atmosphere of celebration and love around Christmas that allowed us all to enjoy, independently of our origin," she added.
"I really enjoyed the diversity of the foods from different countries. To me, being a part of the student community entails making new friends and having fun times with old ones."
— Abu Sufian, student leader at TWU Richmond
Abu Sufian is a Master of Arts in Leadership student who leads the Welcome and Friendship Club at TWU Richmond.
He commented on the event, "I really enjoyed the diversity of the foods from different countries. I was very excited and felt jubilant to see so many people together on campus after a long time."
"To me, being a part of the student community entails making new friends and having fun times with old ones."
About TWU Richmond
Located in the heart of the city, TWU Richmond provides programs tailored to the urban and international audience in Richmond and Metro Vancouver. The expansive, modern spaces are designed for students to engage in TWU bachelors degree and masters degree programs. Learn more about TWU Richmond.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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