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Latin American stories from Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada's capital, is home to a richly diverse community. This reality makes Ottawa great. However, it can also make it difficult for Canadian citizens, residents, and newcomers to know where to start when looking for a community. For the winter 2025 Latin America and the Caribbean class, we endeavoured to inspire our students to explore this diversity through ethnographic interviews. Over thirteen weeks, our students interviewed friends, family, and Ottawa's Latin American and Caribbean community members and the surrounding areas. Our ultimate goal is to create an archive of stories that the Latin community can access at any time, preserving knowledge and promoting their cultures. We invite you to browse the stories collected by our students, listen to the audio recording, and read transcripts and biographies of those interviewed.
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uOttawa Time Capsule 2025
The culture of the University of Ottawa can be understood through the everyday objects that define student life. It begins with the uOttawa student card, the first sign of belonging. Paired with a Gee-Gees lanyard or a bilingual business card, it reflects the university’s bilingual identity and its position as a meeting point between English and French. This duality shapes how students learn, communicate, and represent themselves both on and off campus.
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Student culture at uOttawa is also reflected in what people wear. Levi’s jeans, University of Ottawa hoodies, sherpa jacket, and Telfer sweatshirts show how clothing blends comfort, pride, and practicality. The 101er Frosh T-shirt and Shine Day shirt add another layer of meaning, symbolizing both community and philanthropy. Frosh week introduces students to campus life, while Shine Day connects them to broader causes like Cystic Fibrosis Canada. Together, they show that school spirit at uOttawa extends beyond academics.
The academic side of university life is seen in objects like the Apple products, headphones, notepaper, laptop stickers, syllabus, water bottles, and criminology string bags that fill classrooms and study spaces. These represent both creativity and routine. The Tim Hortons coffee cup might seem simple, but it captures a familiar ritual across campus. Coffee runs are part of the rhythm of student life, a shared pause in busy days.
School pride and social life also find expression in items like Panda Game tickets and the Pedro Panda Trophy. These objects represent one of uOttawa’s biggest traditions, a yearly football rivalry with Carleton University that brings students together in celebration. Moments like this create a strong sense of community, even among a large and diverse student body.
The Orange Shirt acknowledges the atrocities and suffering experienced by those who attended residential schools in Canada as part of the national Truth and Reconciliation mandate to honor Indigenous peoples.
Finally, artifacts such as the U Cup mug, beer glasses from Father and Son's, a Prusa 3D printer, and even O-Frango’s—a popular student food stop, represent the blend of innovation and everyday culture. They show how uOttawa combines research, creativity, and social connection in a way that feels uniquely its own.
Taken together, these objects tell a story about identity and community. The culture of uOttawa is defined by hard work, inclusivity, and pride, but also by small moments of connection. From the student card to the Panda Game, each item reflects how students experience and shape university life every day.