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Canada: Carleton University - Student Life

Life in Ottawa

Ottawa is one of the relatively undiscovered gems of North America! It is a beautiful city of parks, rivers, and canals. In addition to the majestic parliament buildings and other governmental facilities, Ottawa boasts some of the finest cultural facilities in Canada including an internationally renowned art gallery and a National Arts Center featuring frequent presentations of well-known names in national and international music, theater, and dance. It has a dynamic downtown center featuring the bustling Byward Market, trendy restaurants, elegant shops, and quaint cafes. Winterlude, a February celebration that attracts a million visitors to the city each year, features a host of fun activities, including skating on the world's largest skating rink. The Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League draw sell-out crowds throughout the winter. In the spring, the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa presents dazzling displays of color throughout the city. On top of all that, Ottawa borders on Quebec and is thus a bilingual city where you can practice - or learn – some French.

Like Washington, Ottawa offers students an opportunity to experience politics at work on a daily basis. Moreover, Canadian politics is far from boring. There are vibrant and heated parliamentary debates on issues of Canadian public policy and Canada's relations with the United States, and the ever-present issue of regional relations within the Canadian federation. Your experience in Canada will also provide you with a unique opportunity to view how the United States is perceived, both pro and con, by its closest and most intimate neighbor and thus oblige you to think more profoundly about U.S. policies as well. So discover Canada - close to home but in many ways farther away and more different than you think!

Housing and Meals

Partner students are responsible for making housing and meal arrangements independently. Upon admission to Carleton, the Carleton International office will provide students with potential housing options. Most international students live in residences that offer a variety of living styles including single gender or co-ed and single or double bedrooms. Rooms are equipped with basic furniture, telephones, and some storage space. Bed linens and pillows are not supplied so students must provide their own. As for meals, students living in residences receive two meals a day, seven days a week.

Schedule

• See Carleton's Academic Calendar