The first week in Kingston is dense. Move-in, orientation events, meeting hundreds of people whose names you'll barely remember, and somehow also setting up the practical infrastructure of living in a new city. Things that don't get set up in week one tend to stay undone for months. Here's what to prioritize.
Day 1-2: The Essentials
Banking
If you're coming from another province or country and don't have a Canadian bank account yet, set one up in Kingston. All major banks have Kingston branches: TD on Princess Street, RBC on King Street, Scotiabank, BMO. Bring government-issued ID and your SIN if you have one.
For international students: the BMO and TD newcomer packages are specifically designed for people without Canadian credit history. They waive initial fees and often include student-specific benefits. Scotia also runs newcomer banking programs. Don't wait on this — you'll need a Canadian account for everything from e-transfer payments to receiving student loan disbursements.
SIN Card (If You Don't Have One)
If you're eligible to work in Canada and don't have a Social Insurance Number, apply immediately. The Service Canada office in Kingston handles SIN applications. Bring your study permit (if international) or your birth certificate and government ID (if Canadian). Processing is same-day at the Service Canada office. Without a SIN, you cannot work in Canada legally.
Kingston Transit U-Pass
Your Queen's student card is your bus pass. Make sure your card is activated through the student card office — it won't work on the bus until the U-Pass is loaded. This takes a day or two after pickup; check with the student card office if your card isn't being accepted on buses.
Days 3-4: Getting Set Up
Groceries and Household Supplies
Your first major grocery run: the nearest options to Queen's campus are Farm Boy on Princess Street (pricier, good quality), Loblaws (reasonable, good selection), and No Frills on Bath Road (cheapest, requires transit or a car). For the absolute best prices in Kingston, No Frills is significantly cheaper than Farm Boy or even Loblaws on most staples.
If you're in a house rather than res, buy: cleaning supplies, dish soap, toilet paper, a set of dishes and pots if the house doesn't have them. If other roommates are arriving at different times, coordinate before everyone buys duplicate sets.
Internet Setup
If you're in off-campus housing and internet isn't included, contact your chosen provider immediately. TekSavvy takes 5-10 business days to activate. You don't want to be without internet for the first two weeks of class waiting for installation.
Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP) — If Applicable
If you're a permanent resident or Canadian citizen who has recently moved to Ontario from another province, apply for OHIP immediately. There's a 3-month waiting period before coverage begins — the clock starts when you apply. Students from outside Ontario should understand what their student health plan (Queen's has one through the AMS) covers during the waiting period.
Days 5-7: Getting Comfortable
Walk Your Route to Campus
Simple but overlooked: walk your actual route to your first class before the first day. Know how long it takes, where the building entrance is, and where you're going once you're inside. Queen's buildings are not all self-explanatory. Students who do this feel considerably less stressed on the first day.
Find Your Three Nearest Essentials
Know the location of your closest: grocery store, pharmacy, bank/ATM, and bus stop. These come up constantly. Having them mapped in advance saves decision fatigue when you actually need them.
Connect With Your Program
Most faculties have first-week orientation events. The academic side is less important than the social side — this is how you meet people in your year who will become your study group, your exam prep partners, and your social network. The content is usually forgettable; the people you meet are the actual value.
Things That Can Wait Until Week 2
- Setting up your full course reading schedule
- Buying all your textbooks (confirm in-class before buying — some professors never use the required text)
- Deciding which student clubs to join
- Finding a family doctor (put your name on the Queen's SWS list, then let the waitlist work)
What do international students need to set up in Kingston first?
Priority order: bank account (TD or BMO newcomer program), SIN number application at Service Canada, student health plan activation through the AMS, and OHIP application (3-month wait starts immediately). Getting banking and SIN done in the first week unblocks everything else — employment, e-transfers, and proper healthcare access all depend on these two things.
Where is the cheapest grocery store near Queen's University in Kingston?
No Frills on Bath Road is the cheapest major grocery option in Kingston. It requires transit (Route 2) or a car from campus. For walking distance, Loblaws on Princess Street is more expensive but closer. Farm Boy on Princess is the premium option — good quality, highest prices. Most students split between No Frills for pantry staples and a closer store for fresh items.
