On a walk through the event, what stood out most wasn’t just the range of clubs but how eager students were to talk about what they do. Nearly every booth was run by people who were genuinely excited — whether they were promoting events, sharing their love of fitness or cooking, or encouraging others to get involved in causes they care deeply about.
Spending two days at the fair reinforced just how central clubs are to campus life at uOttawa. No matter your interests, there’s a space to find community, explore your passions and meet people who are just as enthusiastic as you are.
To see the full list of clubs, check the University of Ottawa Student Union’s Clubs Portal. There are some new arrivals this winter.
In the meantime, here are 11 clubs you might not have heard about.
Unity for Action
If you want to strive for positive change, Unity for Action is a great club to consider. The club supports local organizations through fundraisers like trivia nights, a cultural fair and a popular student-written and -directed musical each spring. They put on incredible performances for charity!
“If you like magic, found family and accidentally starting a revolution to overthrow a corrupt government, come see Shoulder the Sky by Kit Coristine-Anderson, coming to the Alumni Auditorium March 27 to 29!”
- Sage Stapleton, vice-president of events, third-year student in international studies and modern languages
University of Ottawa Boxing Club
The uOttawa Boxing Club aims to share the discipline of boxing with students at every skill level in an inclusive and supportive environment. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your technique in the ring or improve your stamina on the mats, the goal of this club is to foster teamwork, respect and confidence.
Club president Anumita Chatterjee says it’s a great time to try their training courses, since they’re now free.
“The club was recently awarded a $5,000 micro-grant as part of the Youth Leadership for Change program, which is funding free courses for the 2025–2026 academic year and brand-new, quality equipment.”
- Anumita Chatterjee, president, fifth-year student in life sciences with minor in psychology
Pipetting Hot Tea
Pipetting Hot Tea is a student-led podcast and media initiative at uOttawa. It brings science out of the lab and into conversations you want to listen to. Club members find cool professors, researchers and students and then break down their work into content that’s accessible, relatable and genuinely interesting.
“From highlighting cutting-edge research happening on campus to unpacking scientific topics in a casual, friendly way to sharing tips for navigating university life, Pipetting Hot Tea is all about making research feel less intimidating and more human. So, if you’re looking for research and want to get involved, you know where all the tea is spilled.”
- Sharon Gill, co-founder and director of social media, fourth-year student in biotechnology
University of Ottawa Cooking Club
Connect through cooking! Celebrate the exchange of recipes and the discovery of new cultural cuisines while enjoying good food. The club hosts potlucks, barbecues, recipe exchanges, workshops and other events involving food. Yum!
“We do a lot of stuff. We have a lot of members who don’t cook or bake, and they get to meet a lot of new students.”
- Miwa Hayashi, co-president, fourth-year student in health sciences
“Our events are so diverse. You can fit in very well, even if you don’t know how to cook. We’re all connected by one of the most common things — a love for food. You’ll never see such a wide range of people.”
- Emre Isler, vice-president of communications, third-year student in criminology
University of Ottawa Board Game Club
The uOttawa Board Game Club is a social club for all who enjoy playing board games. Weekly board game nights on campus are open to all students. The club even has its own custom-made game, “Colour Wordle” (it’s sort of like Mastermind).
In the game, you get seven attempts to guess a hidden pattern in six circles. After each guess, you’re told how many circles are the right colour and in the right position, and how many are the right colour in the wrong position. With only that limited feedback, you have to determine the exact sequence. It’s definitely not easy!
“If you enjoy playing any board games — from cards to Catan to Civilization to The Campaign for North Africa — this is the place to be. Join us, grab a game and play!”
- John Scales, president, fourth-year student in physics
“We have board games and free snacks. What else could people want to do with their Friday nights? Study? Come on, man, let’s be real.”
- Ben Murray, vice-president of communications, second-year student in education
University of Ottawa Bioethics Association
Join a passionate community of students who enjoy exploring the complex and ever-evolving ethical challenges in health care. The club fosters discussions, promotes research and engages with the broader public on issues that shape the future of health-care ethics.
If you enjoy debating and exploring new ideas, check out their events. You don’t need prior knowledge. Each event begins with a presentation researched and prepared by club executives to bring everyone up to speed.
“It’s important to keep conversations about bioethics alive and to create a space where curious people can speak their minds. I encourage people to come out and get involved in discussing things that could very well affect them one day.”
Catherine Tucker, co-president, fourth-year student in biomedical science
University of Ottawa SpeakSmart
SpeakSmart is dedicated to empowering the voices of today’s students. The club believes that strong communication is the foundation for academic success, leadership and professional growth — and that every student deserves the opportunity to develop that strength.
Through workshops, guest speakers, mentorship and interactive activities, SpeakSmart provides students with real tools to improve their public speaking, presentation skills and overall confidence. Whether you’re preparing for a class presentation, leading a group project, practising for an interview or simply hoping to express your ideas more clearly, this is the space for you.
“SpeakSmart welcomes students from all faculties and levels of experience. If you’ve ever wanted to improve how you speak, connect more confidently with others or sharpen your professional voice, SpeakSmart is your place to grow, express and lead! It’s important for everyone to learn about public speaking.”
- Ryan Saddiki, president, third-year student in political science
University of Ottawa Multiple Sclerosis Club
This club focuses on raising awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis (MS). It’s an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating of the nerves in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
Canada has some of the world’s highest rates of MS, yet many people are unfamiliar with it.
“Our club mostly holds events. On January 22, for example, the club held an event with the Crochet Club, and we crocheted neuron coasters and MS awareness ribbons. Our largest event, the Neuro Health Awareness Conference, takes place in March. Specialists in neuro-health will share their research, and students will display poster presentations. Poster submissions and tickets will be available soon!”
- Jove Kresan, co-president, fourth-year student in psychology
- Maggie Divok, co-president, fourth-year student in health sciences
The GymBro
The GymBro is a student-run fitness and wellness community that’s pumped up to help students train smarter and stay consistent. The club runs workshops and seminars (on training, nutrition and technique/posing), fun fitness challenges (like pull-up challenges) and community meetups that make the gym feel more welcoming.
It also offers two separate supports. The workout-buddy matchmaking service pairs students with compatible gym partners so no one trains alone. And the personal trainer program provides members with guidance from certified trainers at zero cost.
“GymBro club makes fitness less intimidating — whether you want workshops and challenges, a gym buddy or support from a certified trainer, we’ve got you.”
- Farnam Parcham, president, fourth-year student in biomedical science
University of Ottawa Stem Cell Collective
The University of Ottawa Stem Cell Collective is dedicated to raising awareness about stem cell donations and increasing sign-ups to Canada’s national stem cell registry. Through campus events, education initiatives and donor registration drives, the club empowers students to learn about stem cell research while making a tangible impact on the lives of patients with blood cancers and disorders.
The club is striving to build a more diverse donor registry. Currently, the registry lacks representation from many ethnic backgrounds. Patients of some ancestries often struggle to find a match.
“Joining the Stem Cell Collective is a chance to be part of something bigger than yourself — whether you’re interested in science, community outreach or simply want to help save lives, every new donor registered has the potential to be someone’s cure.”
- Victoria Moghadam, co-president, fourth-year student in human kinetics
Women in International Security (WIIS) uOttawa
The Women in International Security (WIIS) University of Ottawa Chapter is a club that promotes women’s leadership in international peace and security. The club provides members with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of international security, with a particular focus on the role of women and the issues that affect them.
They offer professional development opportunities through mentoring, networking with professionals in the field, research excellence and peer-to-peer exchanges.
The field of international security is more important than ever given rising geopolitical tensions. Women have historically been under-represented in this area, so expanding their participation is essential to strengthening the field and ensuring a wider range of perspectives in global decision-making.
“You should join the club if you want to build a network and join a community of like-minded students interested in international security.”
- Katanan Touré, president, third-year student in political science