Listen, there are a lot of very good reasons to go to McGill. McGill is a good school, but there are many  good schools in Canada. When I was applying, I didn’t care about the programs, the professors, or the opportunities. I cared about the city. On one visit to Montréal with my mom, I instantly fell in love with its beauty and character. I went home, applied to McGill, and months later, I packed my bags and moved. 

Here I am, four years later, and I still love it. I’ve since taken off the rose coloured glasses of a tourist. Don’t get me wrong, I think those walk up stairs are beautiful, but they terrify me when covered in feet of snow. Now, my favourite parts of the city are my go-to Indian takeout, late-night poutine, and the legions of cafés to spend a morning pretending to study in. I love McGill campus in the fall and the way every resident makes the most of the summer because it's so much sweeter after a long winter. 

While I could clearly wax lyrical about Montréal forever, I wanted to find out what other McGill students loved about the city. The majority of students are from outside the city, so everyone explores the city their own way. I asked friends, classmates, teammates, coworkers, and strangers on McGill campus what they liked about Montréal. Here were some of their responses:

1- There’s always something to do. ​​
One is never in want of something fun to do when in Montréal. During the summer the city puts on rotating free events in Place Des Arts, from Francofest and Jazzfest to Juste Pour Rire and the First Peoples Festival. There are also plenty of activities and cool places to explore (try bouldering and grab a coffee at Cafe Bloc!). Montréal closes several shopping streets down to cars over the summer so residents can enjoy walking the beautiful neighbourhoods. Friends also mentioned they loved that people are always downtown for a good night out and with tons of bars, clubs and restaurants to try. No matter what time of year, students take advantage of McGill’s downtown location to go out. 

“[T]he way you can simultaneously be a part of a big city and also feel connected to nature is super nice.”

2- The food. 
If there is always something to do, then there is even more to eat in Montréal - maybe too many things for one student to try. McGill students are spoiled for choice with delicious restaurants downtown, expertly poured lattés to bring to class, and takeout for a late night session in the library. Only a short walk or bike ride from campus, Chinatown is a crowd favourite. Respondents also loved Cheskies, the beloved Jewish bakery in Mile End, and the city’s various cafés, like Café Osmo. I can’t hope to make an exhaustive list here, but I can say I will be downtown trying new coffees this semester.

3- The vibes. 
Montréal is no doubt a beautiful city. The students I interviewed mentioned how they loved its atmosphere and history. McGill campus in itself is beautiful and in my opinion, especially so in the fall. It's universally accepted that Birks Reading Room and the Islamic Studies Library are must-see buildings for their architecture. That said, I know most students end up in less picturesque buildings for long study sessions. Campus is also super close to Mont Royal and Montréal has countless pretty parks for the green vibes. According to one student, “the way you can simultaneously be a part of a big city and also feel connected to nature is super nice”. 

“At the end of the day, students agreed; the people are the best part of the city. The friends they’ve made here are, “the reason Montréal feels like home.””

4- Accessibility.
Wondering how you’re going to get to all these events, activities and restaurants? McGill students loved that Montréal is so accessible. So many places are close to campus, so  you can easily walk around downtown after class. Montréal has great bikeability too. I personally use the bixis, Montréal’s bike share app, to get everywhere when the weather is nice. Students also get a discounted STM pass, if you’re planning to venture outside the McGill campus bubble and don’t feel like biking in the rain or snow. 

5- The people and the diversity. 
At the end of the day, students agreed; the people are the best part of the city. The friends they’ve made here are, “the reason Montréal feels like home.” The city’s diversity is on display in its neighborhoods (Little Italy, Chinatown, and the Gay Village to name a few) and its people. “People are able to express themselves however they please”, said one friend. McGill students have a plethora of options to find a small piece of home, heritage, and community. Many students also responded by promoting their own cultural clubs for university students looking to connect with others in their community and for other students looking to learn more about another culture. If it’s Montréal culture you’re looking for, don’t forget the city is truly bilingual. Students moving in from other parts of Québec may be daunted by the unique Montréal Francophone slang and Anglophone students might be nervous to make their first latte order in French, but I recommend jumping in - the city’s linguistic and cultural diversity are part of what makes it so unique and special.

Main Photo Credit: Nathalia Segato on Unsplash