Residence Unique Spaces

Residence offers several unique spaces that reflect the inclusiveness of our community and provide a comfortable environment for residents to have a great experience at Dalhousie. 

Single Gender (Female-Identified-Only)

The Residence Office recognizes a student's right to self-identify their gender and/or gender identity. As such, students are assigned their room based on their self-identified gender and/or gender identity, not their assigned sex at birth.

We offer a Single Gender (Female-Identified-Only) space in residence at Dalhousie, located in Shirreff Hall. Only students who self-identify as female, non-binary, or transgender can indicate on their application that they would like to live in this area. 

Within this area we aim to create an environment where those who are living there feel comfortable and safe as a female identified, non-binary, or trans person sharing spaces with others who indicated that they wanted to live in this unique area within residence. This includes sharing washrooms and shower spaces, hallways, elevators, and stairwells. 

This may include assigned roommates, neighbours, and assigned student leaders who also identify as female, non-binary, or transgender.

Please note: There are no restrictions or limitations on the gender or gender identity of guests to this assigned living area, or to the Dalhousie employees, support staff, and emergency services who may be present. 

Quiet Floor

Regular quiet hours in all Dalhousie residences are from 10:30 p.m.-8 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 1 a.m.-8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Extreme noise is never permitted in any residence area. All our communities expect a reasonable level of quiet to be able to sleep and study and we require all our students to respect the needs of others.  

We offer Quiet Floor spaces in Howe Hall, Risley Hall, Shirreff Hall, LeMarchant Place, and Glengary Apartments. The Quiet Floor community can expect 24 hours of quiet, with relaxed hours from 8:30pm-10:30pm daily. 

This expectation will also apply to all guests who visit this floor and to respect the residents in this community.

Substance Free

We offer a Substance Free space in residence at Dalhousie, located in Howe Hall. 

This option is for all students who voluntarily commit to live in a residence community that is free from substances, which include alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, drugs and/or drug paraphernalia. This community is intended to always be consumption free creating an exciting environment to learn and grow in. 

All residents who live in this community will be encouraged to participate in community meetings and social development opportunities that do not focus on or revolve around substances as a social tool. 

This expectation will also apply to all guests who visit this floor and to respect the residents in this community.

Queer Community

We offer a Queer Community space in Residence at Dalhousie, located in Risley Hall. 

This option is for all students who self-identify as queer and/or part of the 2SLGBTQI+ community and would like to live in a unique area of residence dedicated to support and the shared experiences of queer people. This may include assigned roommates, neighbours, and assigned student leaders who also identify as queer and/or 2SLGBTQI+.

Please note: There are no restrictions or limitations on the gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation of guests to this assigned living area, or to the Dalhousie employees, support staff, and emergency services who may be present.