Top 10: Party Universities In Canada

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Number 8

UBC

Just outside Vancouver, UBC has an enrolment of about 40,000 students. On a regular basis, UBC ranks among the top universities in Canada and the world according to polls by Newsweek, Maclean’s, The Times Higher Education Supplement, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. With more than 300 student-run clubs and 13 different student-run media outlets, the UBC campus life is very active. Because UBC is outside Vancouver, an intimate, almost isolated setting for students to play in has been created. Students are also surrounded by a number of beaches and mountain views, and are separated from the city by the beautiful Pacific Spirit Regional Park.



Best time of year to visit: UBC is home to the Museum of Anthropology, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, and Pacific Spirit Regional Park. But as is the case with many party universities that feature beaches and parks, the best time to visit is when it’s hot. With this in mind, September and March are when you’ll find the majority of the student bodies catching some sun and fun on the beach. Be sure to dress appropriately.



Number 7

Concordia University

Located in Montreal, Concordia has an enrollment of close to 30,000, and while you won’t see Concordia’s name mentioned in Playboy or on a list of the top academic schools in Canada, it has made Maclean’s top 10 universities for the total undergraduate experience.

Concordia’s most significant "party" reputation is that of a political university. While it is well known that students hold annual elections in which two parties run against each other, Concordia’s political nature doesn’t stop there: The school has made local, national and international media headlines for issues involving politically active students since the SGW computer riots in 1969. Another notable incident occurred on September 9, 2002, when a visit from former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was canceled after protesters and police clashed inside the building — a number of students were arrested and pepper sprayed during the incident.

Best time of year to visit: With most of the campus activity centered on politics, the usual toxins featured at other party universities don’t apply. So if pepper spray and mace are more your pace, be sure to attend during an election time, political event or protest.



Number 6

University of Western Ontario

Located in London, Ontario, Western has often been touted as one of the nation's infamous party universities, but it has worked hard to curb that reputation in recent years and reemerge as an academically focused establishment like its G13 peers. However, the party-school image was revived in October 2005 when striptease pictures at a university residence appeared on the internet. The most important aspect of the incident was the ruling: Western took the position that the participants were willing, and that the activities were not forbidden in the housing rules and regulations.



Best time of year to visit: Western is generally known as a fun university that is very proud of its athletic teams. However, during the month of September and into October, Western holds two events: O-Week and Homecoming. During this time, there are a variety of activities and parties held on campus. But be careful: You never know who is watching or streaming to the internet.

If you like bars and pubs, then check out party universities in the Maritimes...