Queen’s University Homecoming and “foco” wrapped up with an unusually quiet stretch in the University District this year, prompting mixed reactions.
For Bylaw and Kingston Police, the calm was a clear win. Supervisor of Enforcement Dan Hazell called the weekends “exceptionally quiet,” noting no major hotspots and only 13 penalty notices issued during the second weekend, a sharp drop from previous years.
However, while enforcement officials are celebrating, many students and alumni say the subdued celebrations reflect a different issue: the ongoing decision to schedule Homecoming while students are away for reading week.
“The whole point of Queen’s making Homecoming on our reading week is so that we don’t drink and party too much,” said Queen’s undergraduate student Hannah Harrison. “However, it ruins the experience for the alumni…”
In a written response, the university reported strong attendance and a steady increase in alumni engagement. Homecoming is once again scheduled to take place during reading week in 2026.
