The University of Calgary enlisted the help of a few community ambassadors to welcome 1,250 student newcomers Sunday, as they moved in to their campus apartments. The Dino Moving Crew -- older students and those community ambassadors -- welcomed the newbies with open arms and helped haul boxes into their new homes for the coming school year. “Being on campus for the first year seemed like the best option because I’ve heard that that’s where lots of people make their friends. To be close to campus and where all the action is, it seemed like a good idea for a first-year,” said Evan Cyre. The 1,250 newcomers make up around 40 per cent of the total students living on campus, which is around 3,000 people. For the thousands of students who choose student residence over other accommodations like off-campus rentals, the convenience and services of campus living are a big draw. “When you live in residence, you have access to a lot of things,” said Micah Ferguson, U of C Senior Community Ambassador. “You can walk to your classes, we have access to the dining centre, (an) incredible meal plan, (and) we also have access to mental health support and academic support as well.” The Calgary rental market has cooled year over year, with a recent report showing a 4.2 per cent drop year-over-year. The report says a one-bedroom apartment is $1,600 a month, and of the 22 cities in the report, Calgary is the 16th most expensive. As for the University of Calgary, its rates with a meal plan range from anywhere around $10,000 to $18,000, which the U of C says is around a two to four per cent increase year-over-year, although some specific plans saw increases of 6.5 per cent. “We’re always checking prices and ensuring that we’re competitive within the market,” said Paul White, the U of C’s senior director of ancillary services. “The markets softened within Calgary recently, but what we’re really about is an experience.” “It’s not necessarily about dollars here,” White said. “We’re providing residence services, community services, and that’s something that nobody else provides outside of the university campus.” “We’ve always got to increase our prices to keep up with the pricing index, and the pricing index in Alberta is 4.2 per cent this year. If we’ve only raised by two per cent, then I think that’s more than fair,” White continued. Best option Even with the U of C increasing its prices, the services and convenience of on-campus living still makes it the best deal and most attractive option for many. Ferguson says in her first year she especially appreciated how easy it was to get used to the university lifestyle while living on residence. “I was from Medicine Hat, so it was my first time being in Calgary, and having those resources to ease into being in a new place and being in university for the first time was huge for me,” she said. The University of Calgary’s website notes compared to five other popular Canadian universities, its rates and meal plans are far more affordable. For example, a trad double furnished is around $4,000 less compared to the University of Alberta. “It’s about the experience in the university, it’s about the security, it’s about the community, it’s about the programs, and all that’s part of it,” said White. For some students, the specifics behind the numbers aren’t top of mind, as the excitement of finally beginning their university journeys is what move in day is all about. “I’m really excited for some personal space and independence and to meet new people and kind of expand my world view,” said first-year student Samantha Stanfield. “I’m very excited. It’s been a long time coming, been thinking about it all summer. It’s very exciting,” Cyre added.
