Guests and Seating
Graduates are able to invite 4 guests to their ceremony. There are no tickets for guests at the ceremony venue and we ask graduates to use the honour system and respect the maximum 4-guest policy. The ceremonies are live-streamed so additional family and guests can watch from venues off campus. Seats at the ceremony venue are assigned on a first-come first-served basis. Please see the Guests section of the FAQ page if you have any questions.
The Venue
Spring Convocation ceremonies are held under a tent on the lower field of McGill University's Downtown Campus, with the exception of the ceremonies for the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which are held at the University's Macdonald Campus, in the Centennial Ballroom. Please use Google Maps to determine the best route to access both the Downtown and Macdonald campuses.
Every year, the Convocation Tent is erected just beyond the Roddick Gates on McGill's lower west field, indicating the beginning of the convocation season. The tent has a capacity of 3,000 seats for graduates, families and guests. With the view of Mount Royal and the scenery of Montreal surrounding them, new graduates will cross the stage and receive their hard-earned diplomas.
Getting to the Venue
Metro/Bus
The McGill metro station is located close to McGill's downtown campus on the green line, providing a convenient option for getting to the university. This is the simplest and most recommended mode of transportation when attending convocation.
Public transportation in the city is handled by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM).
Fares:
$3.50 for one trip; $6.50 for two.
Unlimited evening pass (6:00pm-5:00am): $5.75.
Day pass (24 hours): $11.00.
3-day pass: $21.25.
Unlimited weekend pass: $14.75.
Learn more about STM transit fares.
If you are arriving from the airport on the 747 bus, you will already possess a 24-hour day metro/bus pass. Guests arriving by airplane can consult this website for information on how to get to the city from the airport.
Bike share
Bixi is a public bicycle-sharing program originating in Montreal. The base rate of unlocking a bike for a one-way pass costs $1.25, plus an extra fee of 15 cents per minute while riding a regular bike or 30 cents per minute while riding an electric one. Bikes can be checked out and subsequently returned to any of the hundreds of parking stations in the city, including one just outside of McGill Service Point on McTavish Street.
Parking
The best option is to leave your car at home and avoid the traffic in the city core. Montreal has many one-way streets and traffic customs you may be unfamiliar with. All street signs will be in French. There is no parking on the McGill Downtown Campus.
Accessibility
Convocation is committed to being as accessible and barrier-free as possible for students, faculty, and guests. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs or require accommodations to participate by filling out the Request for Accessibility Accommodation webform.
Both the Convocation Tent at the Downtown Campus and Centennial Centre at the Macdonald Campus are wheelchair-accessible. If required, a ramp is available at both venues for students to enter and exit the stage. For the Downtown Campus ceremonies, we advise that guests with mobility needs be taken to the Roddick Gates- the main entrance to campus located on Sherbrooke street west. This is the closest entrance to the Convocation Tent. At the Roddick Gates, ushers will be on hand to assist guests, and a limited number of wheelchairs are also available.
Please note that there is no parking on campus. We invite you to view the McGill Accessibility Guide for our Downtown Campus and Macdonald Campus for information on access to McGill buildings and accessible washrooms on campus. At the Downtown Campus, there is an accessible washroom attached to the Convocation Tent. At Macdonald Campus, there are accessible washrooms on the 1st floor of the Centennial Centre.
Questions?
Full FAQ Page: https://www.mcgill.ca/graduation/convocation-faq