It was years after I graduated that I really paid attention to the rocks for the first time. Boulders really, they sit all along Saskatchewan Drive, between the University of Alberta’s Biological Sciences Building and Tory Theatre [affectionately called the Tory Turtle]. Some are only a foot or so in length, while others are large enough for two people to comfortably sit atop. These rocks, 80 in total, compose the GeoScience Garden, a display that teaches passersby about what makes up the Earth’s crust in this part of the world. Almost all of the rocks have plaques explaining what they are.
The GeoScience Garden is the kind of thing you can find when you go for a summer walk on campus and keep your eyes open.
If you’ve never taken a walk on the University of Alberta campus during the summer, you’re missing out. For one thing it’s less busy than during the academic year. For another, the trees all have leaves, putting emphasis on the “green” part of the U of A’s Green and Gold slogan. The summer is a particularly underrated time to visit North Campus, but there are places to go, relax and walk around outdoors no matter the time of year.
The largest open space on campus is the Main Quad, criss-crossed by paths and home to the Sweetgrass Bear statue and other photo ops. When the weather is warm it’s common to see stereotypical campus sights like friends playing frisbee while in the winter there will inevitably be at least one lopsided snowman. If history is what you’re looking for on your campus visit, look no further than the trio of Assiniboia, Athabasca and Pembina halls — three of the oldest structures on the campus, dating back to the 1910s. Pembina in particular has stories in its past — the one-time student residence was transformed into a hospital to care for victims of the Spanish Flu in 1918.
Beyond the Main Quad you can find the Arts and Business Quad to the east. While less expansive than the primary campus gathering point, this green space has more trees, a water feature that provides a pleasant soundscape for a visit, and the regal architecture of Convocation Hall overlooking the square. The shade and outdoor tables make it a perfect spot to picnic, especially after grabbing a bite from Hub Mall [like from Savoy’s Express], which borders the space on one side. There are photo opportunities here all year, starting with lush greenery in the summer before the same overhanging trees change to a golden canopy in the fall and then finally embracing winter’s chill, providing a frost-covered backdrop. There’s a reason so many engagement and wedding photo shoots happen in the Arts/Biz quad!
All the way on the west side of North Campus, just before the intersection of 116 Street and Saskatchewan Drive, the University Club of the U of A sits in a green space abutted by those two roads, Windsor Car Park and the Biological Sciences Centre. There are fewer picnic benches and formal stopping points than other areas on campus, but there are plenty of trees to sit under and it’s a great spot to stop for a break. Continuing further west into the river valley brings you to Emily Murphy Park, while further east is my old friend the GeoScience Garden and eventually Kinsman Park and 109 Street.
Just off campus, I always make a point to include the houses between Saskatchewan Drive and 87 Avenue [approaching 109 Street] in my walk, no matter the season. Parking at the U of A outside Hub Mall and walking down to the Sugarbowl for brunch or dinner on a weekend is a fairly common occurrence for me. It wouldn’t be complete without a wander past these historic houses, some of which dress up very nicely with a light display during the winter holidays. There are fewer lights and garlands in the summer, of course, it is always worth taking your time and lingering a while on this walk. On campus, you might just find that all those rocks scattered around are there for a reason.
