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Speak Up

First up, before you hit the road, the Fredericton Police force offers some tips on staying safe.

Staying Safe

Fredericton Police Const. Duncan Lombard said safety starts with choosing a safe neighbourhood.

"The main thing is they make some inquiries about the neighbourhood," he said.

"We could provide students with general information as to if that's a crime-free neighbourhood or not."

Lombard said students should keep their doors locked because thieves often target expensive items like laptops.

Students should avoid walking alone late at night, Lombard said, especially on walking trails.

"They should take advantage of the safe ride programs and escort programs the universities offer," he said.

Lombard said students who drink should do so responsibly.

UNB campus security offers additional safety tips on their website: http://www.unbf.ca/security/safety/index.html

Now that you're ready to roll

Getting around

City Transit: Buses in Fredericton run from 6:15 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The 11 Prospect and the 16 Prospect run through or close to the university campuses.

All passengers pay $2 per ride or can purchase 10 tickets for $18. Student monthly bus passes cost $40 and can be purchased at City Hall and at the welcome centre in UNB Student Union Building.

Until Oct. 15, passengers can ride the bus for 50 cents after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays.

St. Thomas University participates in the U-Pass program. Students pay $75 in September and get unlimited bus rides all year round.

Taxis: Six taxi companies operate in the city. Prices vary by company. A cab from the Student Union Building to the Regent Mall can cost between $5.50 and $7. To go downtown, the cost ranges from $5.50 to $6. There is typically an additional $1 charge per extra passenger.

Getting out of town:

Buses: Acadian buses operate daily and make connections all over Canada and the United States. Students who show student I.D. get a discount.

Airport: Located minutes outside the city, the Fredericton International Airport features four airlines - none of which offers student discounts - that fly to selected cities and countries. It costs about $20 to take a taxi to the airport from the Student Union Building.

Remember to refuel

Eating:

Restaurants: From fast food to fine dining, the city features hundreds of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacking options. Scattered throughout the city are fast-food and pizza chains as well as restaurants specializing in Asian, Indian, Mexican, Caribbean, and Italian cuisine. Many pubs in the city offer food and many coffee shops and cafes offer soups, sandwiches, and baked goods.

Grocery Stores: There are two major grocery store chains in the city. Sobeys has a location on Regent Street near Dundonald, a location on Prospect Street, and one at the Brookside Mall on the north side. The Atlantic Superstore is located on Smythe Street and on Main Street on the north side. Mini marts, meat markets, Walmart and convenience stores offer a limited selection of grocery items.

There are also a handful of fresh meat, vegetable, market style shops, including Victory Meat down on King, on the north side there is Peter's Meat Market on Main Street. There are also M&M Meat Shops on both sides of the river.

Farmer's Market: The Boyce Farmer's Market is open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and has plenty of food options, including fresh meat and produce, baked goods, and ethnic food cooked on the spot.

Having fun

Entertainment venues

The Playhouse is a popular performing arts centre in downtown Fredericton featuring music, theatre, and comedy.

The Playhouse has a student RUSH program which allows students to purchase tickets two hours in advance of a show for $12, as long as the show isn't sold out and as long as the show is RUSH-friendly. A RUSH logo will be posted on a show`s event details on the Playhouse`s website if the event is RUSH-friendly.

The Playhouse also offers student discounts on most shows.

Live bands play at other venues like the UNB Student Union Building, the Musiplex on the north side, and in many clubs around the city.

The Aitken Centre and the Lady Beaverbrook Rink host hockey games and other sporting events throughout the year.

Galleries and Studios

There are several art galleries in Fredericton that feature paintings, prints, and sculptures. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery and Gallery 78 are both on Queen Street.

The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame on Queen Street showcases exhibits, artwork, and thousands of artifacts and photographs of New Brunswick's most celebrated elite athletes.

Nightclubs

Those 19 years or older can choose from pubs with live bands to dance clubs. King Street is home to many of Fredericton`s clubs.

Festivals and Events

Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival: Every September, world-class musicians and fans flock to downtown Fredericton for the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. For six days straight, the performers showcase their talent on dozens of stages. This year`s festival will take place Sept.15-20.

Fredericton Exhibition: Every September, the FREX takes place on the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds on Smythe Street. The event features many carnival rides and games as well as agricultural shows. This year's FREX will take place from Sept. 6-12.

Winterfest: For one weekend every winter, thousands of people find their way to the Winterfest Kingdom on Sunset Drive to experience the thrill of gigantic ice slides, a giant snow maze, ice and snow sculptures, polar bear golf, and other fun-filled winter events. Admission is $3 per person.

Activities

There are lots of exciting things to experience in Fredericton, including TreeGO, a popular rope course in Mactaquac, which stays open until mid-October, paintball fields which stay open until the end of November, and a laser tag facility at Kingswood Family Entertainment Centre. Xpert Tees on Brookside Drive has an indoor simulated golf course. Northside's Willie O'Ree Place has two NHL-sized rinks, an indoor walking track, and an indoor skateboard park. Outdoor skateboard parks are located on Kimble Drive and Henry Street. There are 10 outdoor skating rinks, including one in Queens Square and one in O`Dell Park.

The many sides of shopping

Uptown

The Regent Mall has 115 shops and services, including clothing, department and jewellery stores, sporting goods shops, and hair salons. The mall is also home to Chapters, Empire Theaters a Star Bucks and many more great shops.

Within walking distance of the Regent Mall are the Corbett Centre shops, including: Home Depot, Winners, Dollarama, Michaels Arts and Crafts. The Uptown Centre stores: A Rogers store, Staples, Pet Unlimited, Future Shop, Zellers, Sobeys, NB Liquor.

Downtown

Downtown Fredericton offers 120 shops and services, including many specialty shops that offer handmade crafts like jewellery and pottery and authentic items imported from all over the world.

King's Place is also a shopping centre with clothing stores, a convenience store, a coffee shop, a drugstore, and a bank.

Student Price Card

The SPC is a popular discount card that students can purchase for $8.50. With the SPC, students can save between 10 and 15 per cent of their purchase at thousands of participating shops and restaurants across Canada.

Staying Healthy

Avoiding illnesses

To avoid the flu and other common ailments, Dr. JoAnn Majerovich, physician and director of the UNB Student Health Centre, offers a few tips.

"It starts with proper handwashing, staying home when you're sick, not sharing personal items like cellphones and lipsticks ... (as well as) regular sleep, regular exercise, a balanced diet, not overdoing it in terms of alcohol, and cutting out the (cigarette) smokes," Majerovich said.

UNB is also taking measures to minimize the risk of H1N1 outbreaks. Measures include more rigorous cleaning of high-touch areas, like door knobs and keyboards. The university will educate students via communication and poster campaigns on prevention and treatment methods.

Mental Health

Students who need help overcoming personal or emotional struggles can take advantage of UNB and STU's counselling services.

Telecare

1-800-244-8353 When you call Tele-Care, you will be asked to describe your symptoms and answer questions to best assess the seriousness of the problem. Based on the assessment, the registered nurse will provide information, education, advice on self-care, or can help you decide whether to make an appointment with your doctor, go to a clinic, contact a community service or go to a hospital emergency room.

Clinics

Students who don't have a family doctor or can't get an appointment with the student health centre have the option of visiting one of several clinics in the city. After-hours clinics, generally open evenings and weekends, include the Fredericton Medical Centre Walk-In Clinic on Regent Street, the Pharmasave clinic on Prospect Street and the New Maryland Highway Medical Building Walk-In Clinic. The Dr. B. Tingley clinic in the Brookside Mall is the only daytime walk-in clinic. It is located on the north side in the Brookside Mall.

Hospitals

There are two hospitals in the regions. The Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital and the Oromocto Hospital.

Fitness

The city is home to many fitness centres with weight rooms, exercise classes, and personal trainers, as well as many yoga and pilates studios. Many offer student discounts.

Fredericton is known for its extensive network of more than 85 kms of trails. The trail system is a great place to walk, run, and bike.

Eating healthy

Majerovich says it's important for students to eat healthy in order to avoid illnesses and to stay alert in classes. The key, she said is to follow Canada's food guide and make better choices.

"So instead of having the fries, even at McDonald's you can go for a salad," she said.

She said students should avoid energy drinks because they can do more harm than good.

"They can make you kind of wired and anxious, so your attention isn't necessarily as good as it could be. It may seem like you're focused and buzzed and charged but it can also be very detrimental, because you often crash."

She said students should bring snacks to class and eat regularly throughout the day so they don't make unhealthy choices in the evenings.

Educational Resources

Universities offer resources to students who have fallen behind in their work or who simply need help getting on the right path.

Academic advisers help students choose majors and ensure they take all the courses they need to graduate.

Tutors and help centres are available for students having difficulty with courses.

Student advocates provide consultation to students who need advice on issues like appealing a grade, or who are having problems with professors or university administrators.

There are two sides to every river

North side:

Make sure to take some time to explore Fredericton's north side. Home to many trails, parks, schools, unique restaurants and shops including the new shopping district at Two Nations Crossing, the north side has much to offer. It is after all half of the city!

Welcome to Fredericton if you are new here, and if you are returning, welcome back!

- Compiled by Jody Nabuurs