Tucked in the small town of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, McGill’s Macdonald campus sits along Lac Saint-Louis, filled with students studying for midterms.
Sainte-Anne’s is covered in large sugar maple trees, delicate leaves, and the gentle sounds of chirping crickets. The charming nature accounts for the campus’ best known department: the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The faculty is home to both its very own farm and computerized greenhouse with temperature control, drip irrigation, and more, creating a perfect environment for research. Outside of academics, Macdonald campus has unique clubs, societies, and even their own restaurant bar, the Ceilidh. The lively pub not only serves food, drinks, and desserts every weekday from 10am-3pm, but transforms into a vivacious bar Wednesday and Thursday nights. From Line Dance-Thursdays to their famous mechanical bull-riding nights, McGill students can be found flocking to the Ceilidh.
Out of the many things Macdonald Campus has to offer, picking a favourite aspect is a big ask. The Bull & Bear had the chance to speak with Philippe Leblond, the President of McGill’s Bioresource Engineering Society, about why he loves the campus: “The community – it’s very tight,” he shared. “Everybody knows each other – it’s a great way to make friends and everyone’s very nice.”
While the campus community has a lot to offer, the areas just outside of campus have their own unique charm. Each Saturday from 9am-2pm, the town lights up with Marché Ste-Anne, a farmers and art market a short walk from campus. The market is filled with local fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and charming art cards. If the nature around campus isn’t enough, Sainte-Anne is also home to Montréal’s only outdoor zoo, the Ecomuseum — a hub of wildlife education and conservation where you can meet animals like river otters, an American porcupine, foxes and more!
Though Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue sits on the edge of the island (about 30 kilometres west of downtown), McGill offers a free shuttle bus down to the campus during the week. On weeknights and weekends, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue can be reached by the 211 STM bus.
Whether you find yourself sitting along the lake lost in a book, exploring the NOVA thrift shop, or learning how to line dance in the Ceilidh, you are guaranteed to have an escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Macdonald campus is filled with community, charm, and natural beauty, all just one shuttle bus away — and if you’re lucky, you might just set a bull riding record for the night.
