Commuter Students, Making The World Your Classroom

Unlike many universities that began as a residential institution and later added commuting options, Lakehead Orillia was intentionally designed to serve students from across Simcoe County and beyond. Its residence capacity is small; fewer than 250 students can live on campus, meaning the majority have always been commuters. That makes commuting the norm for Orillia. 

Although the university does not provide official figures on commuting students, enrollment and housing, data points to a clear trend. With residence space for less than 250 students out of more than 2,000 enrolled, it’s reasonable to conclude that the majority of Lakehead Orillia’s student body consists of commuters from across Simcoe County and neighboring regions. For many students, this structure defines not only how they attend classes, but how they experience university life itself. Many make friends, connections, and share experiences based solely on their commutes. 

In my first year, I experienced this firsthand. Like many other students, I chose to live and home and drive each morning. Some of my closest friends I’ve made at university are all because of the shared experiences of commuting. Carpooling, discussing the trip up highway 11 or even planning some study time together. While students at larger universities might gather for parties, and go to every event put on by the university, commuter students, especially those at Lakehead are more likely to be seen quietly studying with friends while waiting for the next class. It’s a charming difference, but it doesn't tell the whole story. 

Commuting comes with its challenges. Students often balance part-time jobs or family responsibilities alongside their coursework, which can make campus involvement difficult. Events scheduled in the evening, after lectures end, are much harder to attend for those who have long drives home. Commuting to Lakehead Orillia isn’t always just a drive either, especially in the winter. A unique trait about Lakehead Orillia is that the city lies in the heart of Ontario’s snowbelt, an area known for heavy, lake-effect snow and unpredictable weather conditions. For commuter students, the morning drive can mean unpredictable weather conditions: ice, low visibility, or an accident closing the highway, it's all out of a student's control. 

Lakehead Orillia may be small, but its culture stretches far beyond just our campus. Ours is a university built on roads, extending up and down highway 11, across cities and towns, and into the homes of every commuter student.