Before enrolling at Dalhousie and the University of King’s College, my vision of Halifax was Lower Water Street. This was where I had eaten dinner with my family the one and only time I had previously visited the city. After first year my perception had expanded dramatically to include a) King’s campus, b) the McCain Building and c) the new Farmer’s Market. That last one got a little fuzzy after December, though; the one-kilometer walk from my bed to the waterfront was brutal in the winter.
If you are only here (from Ontario? Me too) to buckle down and study, then this article is relatively useless. For those interested in establishing a true connection with a new part of Canada or in electrifying an old relationship with it, get ready to add layers of fun on to your university experience.
Halifax is a striking city with a lot to offer to its students. Given that our lifestyle for four years is built around school—study hard for four months, go home for Christmas, study hard for four months, leave for summer—one could easily leave upon graduation having never really experienced the place at all. And that would truly be a shame. Though relatively small, there is a surprising amount of cultural diversity in the area, which leaves one always pushing for further exploration.
In the South End, Point Pleasant offers a chill retreat into nature—as well as the ocean, if you don’t mind freezing while you swim. If you do mind, hop across the Arm to Chocolate Lake beach, a tiny little lake the colour of tropical resort water. The level of turquoise it achieves is sort of eerie.
The East End, of course, is home to the waterfront, a given hotspot. In the winter, the train station offers a sweet place to people-watch for free. In the West, giant hills and (relatively) quiet residential streets, tapering into leafy suburbs and trails, offer a great area to explore via bicycle.
Finally, the North End—my personal favourite—exemplifies perfectly the dynamism and energy typical of a creative community. If you want parks, restaurants, or locally-made anything, the North End is a fantastic place to start. Take all reports of its violence with a grain of salt: like any part of this city, it has its rough edges and its safe streets. I personally lived across from a fairly well established crack dealer in the South End in my second year. Conversely, I left my key in the door the first night in my North End home. I lived and nothing was stolen. Don’t tell my housemates.
First year is, naturally, a good time to get one’s feet on firm ground in the immediate environment, which is school. If you are not as successful, city-wise, as I was in first year, don’t feel bad. Just feel a little guilty. That way, it will top your to-do list when you return in the fall.
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