Stuck in ‘Sauga? See What The City Surrounding Campus Has To Offer This Summer
Here are some ideas to help you find ways to get out under the summer sun
While waiting on the end of another waning winter, it’s easy to preemptively make plans for when the weather heats up. The end of April will bring sunnier skies, warmer winds, and tons of free time following exams, and every week after that will bring so much more daylight that it may be daunting to think about what to do with all of it. Fortunately, The Medium is here to bring a small, local list of suggestions to help students seize each summer day before fall rolls back around.
Some of the best places to travel to on sunny Mississauga days tend to be along the coast of Lake Ontario. Port Credit especially needs little introduction for local residents. The port, its famous lighthouse looking over the harbour, sits at the mouth of the Credit River and near the south end of Mississauga Road. The area and its surroundings contain many parks and trails that stretch over the sparkling waters. And at Port Credit Memorial Park on June 7, participate in the 5th annual Hazel McCallion Walk for Health, a 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. event that collects funds for local health care and caps itself off with the Family Fun Festival.
Speaking of Mississauga summer festivals, look closer to the city centre for weekly fun at Celebration Square. Once the ice melts and the fountain in Celebration Square starts flowing, the City of Mississauga typically announces a schedule of cultural events and festivals hosted each week altogether under the title “Summer at the Square.” Some festivals announced for the upcoming summer include “Mississauga’s only Wellness and Arts Festival” running June 26 and 27, the Japan Festival Canada on August 15 and 16, and the Mississauga Italfest the subsequent weekend during August 21 and 22. Additionally, recurring events at Celebration Square have included Movie Nights and open-mic nights called Amphitheatre Unplugged.
Mississauga also houses several fascinating homes of local history. One of them, The Grange, is located along Dundas Street West and is only a 12 minute walk from the perimeter of UTM. The Grange was initially home to Sir John Beverley Robinson, the first Chief Justice of Upper Canada. Since 2004, the location has held the offices of Heritage Mississauga, who not only offer tours of The Grange’s exhibits but have also curated several self-guided “Heritage Tours” in areas all over Mississauga to highlight history hidden in plain sight.
Warm weather can also be enjoyed closer to campus through spring and summer events offered by the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) clubs. Kick off the sunny seasons with Spring Picnic & Play, a collaborative event hosted right next to UTM in Erindale Park by the Student Association of Geography and Environment (SAGE). On April 24, SAGE invites students to “Enjoy a variety of fun-filled activities/games, good food, sustainability initiatives, and a relaxed space to spend time with students from different departments and clubs as we celebrate the close of the semester together!” Follow SAGE on Instagram [@sage.utm] to learn more details about the picnic as they are announced.
According to UTM students, generally getting out with friends or family is one of the best ways to spend a summer. “My favorite activities are going to the beach with my friends, sleeping in,” said second year student Tinniyah McIntosh about their summers. First year student Bani Rangar expressed something similar while listing several types of places to visit. “I usually like to go out with my friends,” Rangar said, “Maybe some trails or movies or a mall. I don’t really go out that much, like in the sun. But yeah, mini walks with family and all that type of stuff.”
For fifth year student Andre Bautista, there are plenty of places around the city to enjoy. “I play a lot of volleyball,” said Bautista, “So I usually go to [Pakmen Volleyball] for Friday or weekend drop-ins. There’s a lot of golfing places nearby the school. There’s also a karaoke spot: Young St [Karaoke]. Yeah, just a lot of fun activities here.”
Year-round pastimes like shopping and eating out can also be improved under the sun by attending outdoor markets or dining on patios. Whatever the choice is each week, be sure to enjoy the summer as much as possible through activities unique to the season of high heat. Even on campus, students can witness a new side of UTM when its greenery is in full growth regardless of whether they are enrolled in the summer semester or not. UTM likely will not have gone anywhere by the start of the 2026-27 academic year, but refer to this brief guide for ways to ensure you won’t be saying the same about yourself this fall.
