Community Overview

The Mi’kmaq Grand Council flag flying in front of the McNally building with the Nova Scotian and Canadian flags

Halifax and Saint Mary’s: A premiere business and travel destination

  • Nova Scotia’s capital, Halifax is the largest city east of Quebec City and north of Boston and has direct air access from many cities in Canada and the U.S.
  • Halifax has a dynamic music scene and a variety of great restaurants, museums, summer festivals and galleries. The city offers a walkable downtown core steeped in history and culture.
  • Point Pleasant Park: Situated in the south end of the Halifax peninsula, this historic 75-hectare wooded area is a great spot for walking your dog, running, biking, or just sitting on a bench contemplating the ocean. Much of the park is wheelchair-accessible and it is just steps away from the university.
  • Here, you’ll enjoy the best of city life, yet it’s only a 30 minute drive to the beautiful Nova Scotia countryside and award-winning wineries.
  • Nova Scotia has a temperate climate, with an average summer high temperature of 22º C (73º F).
  • Saint Mary’s University is one of Canada’s top 5 undergraduate universities, with over 7,200 students from 113 countries.
  • We are also one of Canada’s oldest universities, with roots dating back to 1802. 
  • We have over 700 residence beds available each summer and 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting and conference space.
  • Our 765,000 square-foot campus is located in picturesque south-end Halifax, on the east coast of Canada. Our campus creates a tranquil, park-like setting for business clientele, or a quiet and inexpensive home-away-from-home for travelers. 
  • All of our main buildings are wheelchair accessible and most are connected by tunnels or walkways. 
  • Cultural opportunities abound on our campus. Take time out to explore contemporary art at Saint Mary’s Art Gallery
  • Campus conveniences: Enjoy a number of on-campus amenities, such as coffee shops, a laundromat, dining halls and cafeterias, a barber shop and beauty salon, ATM machine, and a state-of-the art fitness centre. 
  • Saint Mary’s has three furnished residence buildings. Loyola Residence is a 22-storey high-rise, Vanier Residence is a 4 storey low-rise building consisting of four separate houses, and Rice Residence is a 17-storey apartment-style building.