SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Learn more about UN SDG 11 and take action
Three of Dalhousie's campuses are located in Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia and the educational, cultural and economic hub of Atlantic Canada. For over 200 years, Dalhousie has been a part of this vibrant city and as a civic university, we are committed to encouraging public access to our university’s activities and facilities to foster a clearly visible connection between the university and the communities in which we reside. You can see this commitment in the transformative role our faculty and students play in our local health-care system; in the programs and initiatives that help propel Nova Scotia’s start-ups and small businesses forward; and in the clinics, summer camps and community spaces that directly link our campuses with our community.
High-impact research
See how 30 Canadian cities stack up on environmental quality with this Dal researcher's scorecard
More than 80 per cent of Canadians live in urban areas and this study is the first to develop a comprehensive portrayal of their environmental conditions. The Canadian Environmental Quality Index (Can-EQI) distills the review of complex environmental characteristics into a single value for each location, with higher values indicating more desirable environmental conditions.
Read more in Dal News
Urbanisation is a global phenomenon with regional significance and local consequences
The Green Infrastructure Performance Lab (GIPL) engages in interdisciplinary research focused on the analysis and design & planning of landscapes to improve human and ecological wellbeing. Their research has wide impact on our communities and engages solutions to the issues surrounding carbon neutral design.
Ask an expert: What's next for Canada's housing market as frenzy gives way to rapid cooling?
Over the past two years, homeowners, buyers, seller, and renters all watched as housing costs across Canada skyrocketed. To better understand, we spoke to Jill Grant, a professor emeritus in Dal’s School of Planning and an expert on planning theory who researches housing and cities. She offered her take on the change in the market and the state of housing in Canada.
Read more in Dal News
DalTRAC
The Dalhousie Transportation Collaboratory (DalTRAC) is a multidisciplinary transportation research unit dedicated to transportation studies, planning and policy analysis. It conducts state-of-the-art transportation modelling, employing remote data capture of transportation activity, and advanced software to interpret and predict demand. Established in 2011, it is sponsored by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Province of Nova Scotia, and Halifax Regional Municipality.
Exceptional student experience
Welcome back to campus! Learn about your active transportation options
Over 1,040 bike spots and over 470 bike racks are located throughout the Studley, Carleton, Sexton, and Agricultural Campuses. All new buildings have bike facilities, including showers and indoor/outdoor bike racks. Bike parking spots for all campuses can be found on the following maps.
Read more in Dal News
Learn how to plan more sustainable and equitable spaces
Community Design is a program for students who care about the character and future of our communities. You'll learn to design better living environments and give communities the tools to make their own choices through real-life and hands-on experiences. You'll do all of this while keeping sustainability and the environment in mind.
Dalhousie’s School of Planning launches new course in housing policy amid skyrocketing prices
Students have the opportunity to study the intricacies behind housing issues and learn ways to inform the future in a new course on housing policy launching in Dalhousie’s School of Planning.
Read more in Dal News
Transform communities
One of the oldest of engineering professions, Civil Engineering is responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of our ever-changing world. Civil engineers are dynamic professionals who build infrastructure such as highways, bridges, marine structures, residential and commercial buildings, water treatment solutions, and more.
Civic university with global impact
A warm neighbourhood welcome: Dal opens arms to North End elementary students waiting on new school
Students of St. Joseph’s-Alexander MacKay elementary, aged 5-12, have been studying in temporary classrooms near Dalhousie while waiting for their new school to be ready. Jalana Lewis, director of African Nova Scotian Community Engagement at Dalhousie, has been volunteering with SJAM for the past year. And a partnership with Dal Athletics ensures the kids could stay active during their school days.
Read more in Dal News
In search of his roots: Residential school survivor Jim Prosper's extraordinary book collection finds new home at Dal
During his retirement, Jim Prosper began curating an impressive book collection — one that has now found a new home at Dalhousie. The more contemporary books in the collection will be found on the shelves in the newly launched Indigenous Community Room, found on the first floor of the Killam Memorial Library in the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space.
Read more in Dal News
Body matters, built environments: Two Dal projects showcased at Nocturne 2022 arts festival
Dal hosted two free exhibitions as part of Halifax's annual city-wide art festival Nocturne, now in its 15th year. One of the projects, “Ephemeral Permanence,” was designed, planned, and constructed by students in the School of Architecture to explore the impact of architecture on community.
Read more in Dal News
David Schroeder Music & Culture Lecture Series
The David Schroeder Music & Culture Lecture Series hosts guest speakers in public lectures. All lectures are free and open to the public and are held in Room 406 (MacAloney Room) of the Dalhousie Arts Centre beginning at 12:00 noon.
Welcoming the community
All of our campuses welcome our neighbours with full access to campus green spaces. In Halifax, the Bicentennial Commons project is developing outdoor public space to draw students, faculty, staff, and the community to the centre of campus. On the Truro campus, a rock garden, along with shade and herb gardens, a butterfly meadow, an apple orchard, and other unique features create quiet havens for visitors.
Foundation for inclusion and distinction
Dalhousie and the community
Community engagement at Dal includes both outreach and invitation. Community Updates are distributed door-to-door and an annual Community Calendar communicates important dates. We've established relationships with community partners, including the YMCA, Halifax Public Libraries, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia, and the United Way. And our Dalhousie Community Experience Committee (DCEC) brings together a network of community developers from across the university.
Set in Stone: How three Dalhousie buildings have forged stronger connections between campus and community over the decades
The Dalhousie Arts Centre, Killam Memorial Library and Life Sciences Centre first opened their doors in 1971 and they share a few things beyond their moment of origin, most notably their Brutalist design. But possibly their strongest common bond is the part they played in reshaping Dal’s relationships with its broader community, making Dalhousie more open, to more people, than ever before.
Read more in DAL Magazine
Dalhousie University is Certified as a Bike Friendly Workplace
Bike Friendly Certification is a recognition and training program for businesses and institutions that support bicycle commuting, bicycle travel and bicycle tourism experiences in Nova Scotia.
SmartTrip Dalhousie
Dalhousie has partnered with Halifax Regional Municipality's SmartTrip program to inspire students, faculty, and staff to engage in alternative sustainable transportation decisions.
Building green
Dalhousie has a green building policy [PDF - 89KB] that recommends all new buildings should be built to LEED® Gold Certified standards or higher and existing building upgrades follow a green building standard [PDF - 177KB]. Dalhousie is a member of the Canada Green Building Council.