From empty nesters to professionals to students, the community members of University District share an appreciation for the sense of belonging, convenience, safety, and opportunity U/D offers. Meet Emma, Jane, and Ethan, and learn what brought them to this community.
Meet Emma
Emma is a university student who lives and works in U/D. She is a born and raised Calgarian who lived in Hillhurst prior to moving to U/D in May of 2021.
Tell us about yourself, Emma!
“I am currently in school for digital media and journalism. I am also the assistant manager over at OrangeTheory University District and have been with them since their early pre-sales! I love to hang out with my friends around U/D and go climbing!”
What made you decide to move to U/D?
“Honestly I was desperate to get out of a different place that made me feel unsafe. Since coming here I have loved every moment and feel the safest I have in an apartment ever! I also was looking for a walkable community. Having my work, grocery, liquor and entertainment all within walking distance has definitely improved my quality of life, especially as a working student.”
Can you tell me about the first time you visited or heard about U/D?
“The first time I heard about the U/D was 2020. My brother spent a few months in the Alberta Children’s Hospital and I would meet my dad at the Save-On-Foods Starbucks for a visit. Having a space separate from the hospital yet still close enough where I could see my family was so helpful during that time. I know this community is a huge asset to families in the hospital and purely having a grocery store within walking distance is a game changer.”
Meet Jane
Jane is an active senior resident of University District who loves the diversity and walkability of living in the community. She moved to U/D from a seniors residence in Cochrane about two years ago
Tell us about yourself, Jane!
I’m retired. I enjoy walking my dog and I enjoy that the Save-On-Foods is so close to everything. I still have a car and can drive, however if there comes a time when I can’t, I can walk to everything.
What made you decide to move to U/D?
“I was in a seniors’ home and I thought, I don’t want to be around these old people, even though I’m probably older than most of them. I like renting in U/D because there is a lot of variation and different kinds of people from all over the world. Lots of university students, who are all great, and there’s also seniors, middle-aged people, kids and dogs. The versatility of so many different people in the area- I like that.”
Meet Ethan and Paige
Ethan is a recent university graduate who moved to U/D at the end of 2022. Paige works in U/D and is a frequent visitor of the area.
Where did you live before moving to U/D?
Paige: “I work at PlantLife in University District and I live in Harvest Hills, so Ethan is the one that lives here, but honestly we love the neighborhood. We love that we can walk down to Save-On-Foods and grab some food and Village Ice Cream here is really good!”
Ethan: “We really love the area, lots of friendly dogs too which is always nice for us. I think that if we do move away from here that’s something that our dog is really going to miss. The socialization aspect of it too, all the nice people who stop and say hi to him and all the other dogs. It’s nice just to have everything in one spot. For the most part, we don’t have to go anywhere to pick stuff up. Groceries are right here and if we want to go out to dinner we love Borough – everything we need is within a 5 minute walk.”
Where did you live before moving to U/D?
Ethan: “I was kind of in the area – I was in Rosemont which is east of McMahon Stadium. So not too far, but I remember this area when I was in high school it was just fields. None of these buildings were up and it was just an empty space. It’s cool to see how fast it’s gone up.”
What made you decide to move to U/D?
Ethan: “I was shopping around for a comfortable spot to be, because we knew we were going to be between homes for a little bit while we were renovating the new spot. When my parents started to see the amenities that were popping up it pushed them to pick U/D. It was the prime location mixed in with all the nearby amenities that are in this area.”
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