Canisius University is welcoming back Griff Weekend from September 25-27, 2026
All alumni, families, students, faculty, staff, and future Griffs of Canisius are welcome to attend!
Graduates of class years ending in 1's and 6's will also be celebrating their class reunions. That means you, too, Class of 2026!
Presented By:
Additional Sponsors:
Weekend Schedule At-A-Glance
| Friday, September 25, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Who Should Attend | Location | Description |
| Women's Volleyball | 6 p.m. | All! | KAC | Cheer on our volleyball team as they take on Sacred Heart at home. All are welcome to attend! |
| Wehle Business School Alumni Association Reception | 5-7 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Grupp Fireside Lounge | Join alumni and current students of the Wehle Business School for a reception. More details to be shared soon. |
| Desmond Law Society Reception | 5-8 p.m. | Alumni in the legal profession | Lippes Mathias, 50 Fountain Plaza | Join fellow Canisius alumni in the legal profession for the Desmond Law Society Reception, an opportunity to reconnect and engage with members of our legal alumni community. |
| Class of 1976 50th Reunion Dinner | 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. | Class of 1976 | Chester HON '01 and Diane Stranczek Commons in Science Hall | Join your classmates of 1976 for a celebration reunion in the Stranczek Commons located in Science Hall. An open bar and dinner, with a carving station will be served. |
| Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner | 6-9 p.m. | Alumni and Family & Friends of Inductees | Montante Cultural Center | This event is invite only. Please contact the Office of Alumni & Constituent Engagement for questions. |
| Movie in the Quad | 8 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Bart Mitchell Quad | Enjoy some snacks and a classic movie, on the big screen in the Quad! Movie starts at sunset! Movie to be announced soon. |
| Saturday, September 26, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Who Should Attend | Location | Description |
| Check-in | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Alumni & Friends | Richard E. Winter '42 Student Center - 1st Floor | Check-in to receive your lanyard and other Griff Weekend goodies! |
| Fall in the Forest with Forest Lawn | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | All! | Forest Lawn across Main Street | Canisius is partnering with Forest Lawn (our neighbor!) to share the experience of "Fall in the Forest." Experience the beauty of autumn at this annual celebration surrounded by vibrant fall foliage! Guests can enjoy hayrides, seasonal treats, local artisans and vendors, and guided tours through one of Buffalo's most historic destinations. This event is FREE to attend; vendors and activities will have a cost associated with them. Visit the Canisius University vendor table and receive a FREE exclusive swag item! |
| "Heart of the Forest" Walking Tour at Forest Lawn | 11-11:45 a.m. | Alumni and Frinds | Forest Lawn across Main Street | Explore the "Heart of Forest Lawn" with this beautiful walking tour! Meet at the Canisius University vendor table within Forest Lawn to check in! The docent will meet us there and begin the walking tour. Please remember, this is a walking tour, so sneakers and comfortable clothes are highly recommended. (Pre-registration is required for this event.) |
| Golden Griffin Shoot-A-Thon | 12-2 p.m. | All! | Patrick P. Lee Gym (in the KAC) | Join Canisius Women's Basketball for this Third Annual event! Students, alumni, and fans can win prizes, meet the team, and sponsor players at this family-friendly fundraiser. Last year we gave away a 55-inch TV, Bluetooth speaker, and a brand-new electric scooter. Stop by as you cheer on Men’s Soccer and Volleyball! |
| C-Block Pep Rally! | 12:30-2 p.m. | All! | Outside of the KAC | Show your Griffs pride with C-Block at this exciting pregame pep rally outside the KAC! Enjoy food, live entertainment, and Griff gear available for purchase before heading to the athletic events and cheering on our student-athletes. |
| Double Decker Bus Tour of WNY | 1-2:30 p.m. | Alumni and Friends | Outside of Science Hall | This 90-minute guided tour begins on campus and explores some of Buffalo's most iconic landmarks, including the Richardson Hotel, Forest Lawn, Millionaires' Row, the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, downtown Buffalo's historic architecture, Niagara Square, Erie Basin Marina, and the Buffalo Naval Park before returning to campus. Pick up for the tour will be directly at Canisius University, and guests will be dropped off back on campus. (Pre-registration is required for this event. Additional fees apply.) |
| Men's Soccer | 1 p.m. | All! | Demske Sports Complex | |
| Women's Volleyball | 2 p.m. | All! | KAC | Cheer on the volleyball team as they take on Fairfield at home. All are welcome to attend! |
| DIY Screen-Printing Canisius Branded Tote Bags | 3-4 p.m. | Alumni and Friends | Regis Room (in the Student Center) | Create your own custom Canisius-branded tote bag! In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the screen-printing process and print a unique design onto a Canisius-branded tote bag. Registration includes one (1) tote bag and all materials needed to create a personalized keepsake to take home. (Pre-registration is required for this event. Additional fees apply) |
| Fall Fest | 4-7:30 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Bart Mitchell Quad | Join us for carnival games, food trucks, and more! This event is free to attend! |
| Class of 2001 Night Out | 5-7 p.m. | Class of 2001 | Mira on Elmwood | The Class of 2001 will be celebrating their 25th reunion at Mira on Elmwood! Members from the Class of 2001 and significant others are welcome to attend! |
| Campus Tours for Alumni | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Alumni | Meet in the Quad! | Before Blue and Gold Bash, reminisce and see how the campus has evolved on your student-led tour of campus. Alumni are encouraged to attend. |
| Blue & Gold Bash | 7-10 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Dining Hall in the Richard E. Winter '42 Student Center | Catch up and connect with friends, alumni and the Canisius community! Enjoy live music, entertainment, and a photo booth! Food stations will be provided. More details will be shared soon! This celebration will be open to all guests and especially highlight all reunion years ending in 1 and 6. We can't wait to see you there! |
| John Cassidy's Comedy Magic Show! | 9 p.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Montante Cultural Center | John's show is not your typical comedy magic show! It's an original blend of clean comedy, fun magic and amazingly intricate balloon feats! And yes - balloon feats that adult audiences really enjoy! John can entertain ages 5 – 95 with ease. It’s a high energy blend of surprising comedy and magic that will make you laugh out loud. Lots of audience participation with a rapid-fire pace. We hope to see you there! |
| Sunday, September 27, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Time | Who Should Attend | Location | Description |
| Mass | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Alumni, Families, Current Students, Faculty/Staff | Christ the King Chapel | Join us for Sunday service in the Christ the King chapel. All are welcome! |
| Golden Plus Brunch | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Class of 1976 graduates and earlier | Grupp Fireside Lounge | The Golden Plus Brunch celebrates Canisius alumni who have graduated 50 years ago or more. This group includes all 50th-reunion alumni from the class of 1976 and earlier. |
Reddy Bikeshare is the healthy, fun and easy way to explore Buffalo and Niagara Falls. There are four convenient locations near Canisius University
making it easy to get around during Griff Weekend. Ready. Set. Ride. In partnership with Independent Health, presenting sponsor of Griff Weekend.
Sponsorship Opportunities!
Sponsorships are available for Griff Weekend! If you or your company is interested in sponsoring this weekend, please contact Liz Benkovich at @email.
Accommodations
Since there is a home Bills game the same weekend as Griff Weekend, we understand accommodations will fill up quickly. Please make your reservations as soon as possible! We have two hotels with a room block. Please call them to book your room.
Best Western on the Avenue
510 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, (716) 886-8333
Group Name: Canisius University Griff Weekend (you must mention this group name when booking)
Dates: Friday, September 25 for $249 to Sunday, September 27, 2026.
Rates: Friday night is $249 plus tax; Saturday is $285 plus tax.
Please make your reservation by August 27, 2026, to secure the room rate. Please call the hotel to book your room.
*Guests are responsible for all charges. You can visit the website to the hotel linked here.
Additional Accommodations
Canisius University has a partnership with Buffalo Lodging Associates that can offer discounts at multiple hotels across WNY. View the options by clicking the link here and Contact Kayla Clancy, Area Sales Manager, at (716) 566.5125 or @email with any questions or to book.
Alumni will receive a 20% discount to the two hotels below by mentioning their affiliation with Canisius University. Please note that booking is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fairfield Inn Buffalo Amherst/University: Marriott Find & Reserve - Choose Dates, Rooms & Rates
Comfort Inn Buffalo Airport: choicehotels.com/new-york/buffalo/comfort-inn-hotels/ny848/rates?hotel=NY848&pu=no&ratePlanCode=LCANIS
For other suggested hotels, please click here.
Dining Options
Enjoy a variety of dining options on campus. Locations and times will be shared soon!
Bookstore Hours
It's confirmed that the bookstore will be OPEN during Griff Weekend! Make sure to check it out while you're on campus. The bookstore is located in the Tunnel Level of the Student Center.
Friday, September 25: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 26: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 27: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Giving
For class years ending in 1's and 6's the weekend will be extra special as you celebrate your milestone reunions, including the class of 1976 for your 50th!
As part of your reunion celebration, we're asking alumni to participate in making a class gift to the university.
Who's Attending
Below you'll find a list of alumni who are attending Griff Weekend!
2020-2026
Alexis Gioia '25
Erik Schneider '25
2010-2019
Jesse Caulkins '16
Mallory Caulkins '16
Maurisha Harris '17
2000-2009
Amanda Antonik '01
Devin Fialkowski '01
Elizabeth Galameau '01
Nicole Farner '01
Peter Gothgen '01
Michelle Patterson '01
Kelly Raj '01
Lisa Roy '01
Deborah Talarek '01
Amy Weymouth '01
Christopher Yeager '01
Kelly DiFiglia '09
1990-1999
Margaret Croom '91
Tanya Dyce-Lovelace '91
Trey Gardner '91
Lynette Greene '91
Joyce Zadzilka '91
Scott Sroka '94
Nicole Graci '95
Paul Tan '96
1980-1989
Timothy McNulty '80
Robert Pecoraro '80
Lisa Marie Taravella '81
Sharon Givens '82
Diane Dolan '83
Thomas Connors '84
Jon Yormick '87
Janice Herrmann '88
1970-1979
Michael Healy '70
Chester Moyer '70
Kathleen Kolodziej '70
Edward Kolodziej '70
Gemma Donnellan '71
Martin ("Marty") Doorey '71
Dennis Fleischauer '71
Margie Kam '71
Tom Kingston '71
William Rolfe '71
Therese Gorman '72
Catherine Greene '72
Francine Mergl '73
John Michalek '73
James March '74
Paul Riester '74
Katy Allen '76, PhD
Ann Anderson '76
Judith Arslancan '76
Edward Kelly Bartels '76, MD PC
Nadine W. Bartels '76, MBA '84
Neil Burns '76
Stephanie Cilley '76
Albert Deritis '76
James Domres '76
John Drexelius '76
John Gibson '76
Matt Gorman '76
Deborah Greco '76
Gabriel Greco '76
Deborah Gumkowski '76
Douglas Hamberger '76
Stephen Hughes '76
Donna Irene '76
Patricia A. Kiec '76
Pamela Kolmetz '76
Lawrence Korzeniewski '76
Rodney ("Rocky") Krysztof '76
John Langer '76
Christine Marello '76
Patricia Michalek '76
Michelle Norton '76
Stephen Nosek '76
Raymond Nowicki '76
Bill O'Connor '76
Margaret Paroski '76
Kenneth Ronzo '76
Gene Rudzinski '76
James Schultz Jr. '76
Karen Schultz '76
Rhea Simmons '76
Cindy Skrzycki '76
Nicholas Tiberia '76
Dawn Triggs '76
Sue O’Shaughnessy Walsh '76
Daniel Wopperer '76, MD
Christy Wopperer '76
Robert Wunsch Jr. '76
Donald Yager '76
Eileen Nosek '77
1960-1969
David Teloh '61
Robert Greene '66
Francis Lazarus '66
Richard Herrmann '66
Robert Humphrey '68
Bernadette Corcoran Gaffney '69
Jacqueline Lyons '69
Jerome Neuner '69
Mary Lou Tarquini de la Plante '69
Norbert Myslinski '69
1950-1959
James Dolan '56
