“Being back at Queen’s — and in Kingston — was very much like coming home. Like other milestone reunions, this year was a wonderful reminder of the camaraderie of Queen’s Law.” Those are the words of Kate Manning, Law’96, one of many alumni who returned to reconnect and make new memories during Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 16–17.

Law events started in the afternoon of Oct. 16, when for the first time the Grand Moot was incorporated into Homecoming programming, giving alumni an opportunity to watch the school’s top student advocates compete before Federal Court of Appeal Justice David Stratas, Law’84. 

Following the Grand Moot, alumni gathered at Jack Astor’s in downtown Kingston for the traditional Friday evening networking social.

“Strolling the streets of Kingston, we were reminded of why it was such a remarkable place to spend three outstanding years in the ’80s,” says Stuart O’Connor, Law’86, an entrepreneur, lawyer, and engineer who chairs technology services company Arcurve Inc. and the Calgary Stampede. “While we had not seen some of our classmates for at least a decade, in the blink of an eye, it was so easy to reconnect with everyone and fall into our familiar patterns — just like it was yesterday.” 

The morning of Oct. 17 began with a breakfast hosted by Dean Colleen M. Flood in the Law Library, where she shared updates on the Faculty. These included the news that Queen’s Law now ranks among the top 100 law schools in the world, the hiring of Professors Preston Lim, Stanley Nweke-Eze, and Maroussia Lévesque, and the expansion of intensive courses for professionals that now cover emerging issues in AI and privacy law and international trade.

“Dean Flood let us know of all the amazing initiatives she has ongoing at the school in this truly dynamic and changing world of legal education,” says O’Connor. “And we were hosted by impressive law students at every turn.”

That hosting included students guiding alumni on tours of the Law Building, visiting classrooms where Queen’s Law Clinics Executive Director Blair Crew and student caseworkers discussed their work at the clinics, and Professor Samuel Dahan and Conflict Analytics Lab students and alumni showcased their AI and Law projects.

In the evening, alumni gathered for class dinners across Kingston, where they shared more memories and had long-overdue catch-ups.

“From the first day of law school, I have always been grateful I chose Queen’s,” says Manning, a founding partner of DMG Advocates LLP in Toronto. “The class I was part of was friendly and welcoming from the start and that has continued at our reunions. We had such a fun time together this year celebrating 30 years and I can’t wait to gather again.” 

Law’86 shared the same sentiment after 40 years. “When we were leaving town the next day and comparing notes with classmates about how great it was to see everyone again,” O’Connor says, “we started planning our next reunion.”

Relive some of the weekend’s best moments — explore our Homecoming 2026 photo gallery.