Community Building Within VCFS

The VCFS team is composed of small teams and portfolios that all work together throughout the year to bring creative visions to the theater stage. Welcoming designers, models, musicians, and dancers - the team includes over 150 members, and is one of the largest student clubs at Queen’s University. 

This year, VCFS is partnered with Pathways to Education, a non-profit organization in the Kingston area that commits to empowering youth to succeed in work, life, and school by providing youth with tools, community-based programs, and meaningful relationships to help them be their best. Leading up to the charity fashion show in March, various socials and events are organized throughout the year to collectively fundraise. 

With so many students interested in blending the creative arts and philanthropy, the community within VCFS is built from the shared work and passion that goes into the show and charity initiatives throughout the year. Katarina Bojic, Co-Head of Socials and Events  at VCFS, explained that “you have to take advantage of the opportunity to bring people together when you have such a large group of people interested and passionate about the same thing”. 

“The team has students from various years of study and different academic programs”, said Katelyn Tigchelaar, one of the Socials and Events interns at VCFS, who highlights the opportunity to meet people outside of your academic program.

Cultivating a community takes meaningful collaboration. Katerina Minski, Co-Head of Socials and Events at VCFS, expressed that “partnerships with other Queen’s clubs and local businesses who support our events and creative projects also helps us bring people together”. 

“Wanting everyone to have fun, feel safe and included, and finding activities to participate in as a big group” are some of the important goals Minski explained the socials and events team strives for when promoting group engagement. 

The importance of community and community building goes beyond campus as many students on the team also volunteer for Pathways to Education weekly with various programs they run. Minski notes that “the charity team has done an amazing job connecting Pathways to Educations and VCFS this year, and they have taken initiative to plan social events for people to connect, especially expanding beyond just the student body and campus”. 

While the COVID-19 year has impacted the VCFS community in past years, the 2022-2023 show year appears optimistic for a return to normal. Having a larger cast and crew than the previous show, Bojic explained that “students are taking the opportunities and are inclined to meet people again”. After periods of social distancing and isolation, creating a community for students to express themselves creatively with peers is important in feeling connected to others and making friends. 

“Having an arts outlet on campus is important because students want a place to be connected to their creative interests outside of their academic life,” said Bojic. 

To stay up to date on events and socials VCFS organizes throughout the year, follow @vcfs_queens on Instagram and Facebook.