Useful information for those living off campus

If you’re not living at home or staying in residence, you’ll need to know more than just how to get to class or the SLC. We know a new city can be intimidating, so we’ve complied a quick reference guide to everything you’ll need to know about your first few weeks in Waterloo.

Grocery stores:

Possibly the most important place you’ll be going outside of class, there are several options for grocery shopping near campus. If you’re just running out for milk, 7-Eleven on University Ave. at King St. or Farah Foods on Westmount Rd. near University Ave. are good bets. For larger shopping trips Sobey’s is located on the corner of Columbia St. west and Fischer-Hallman Rd. Zehrs markets has two locations close to campus, one at Conestoga Mall and another on Fischer-Hallman Rd. near Erb St., and also offers 10 per cent off for students on Tuesdays. To get the discount, show your WATcard when you check out.

Garbage pickup:

Once you and your roommates decide who’s turn it is to take out the trash, where and when should you put it? If you live around University Avenue, in uptown Waterloo, or near Columbia Street West, your garbage and recycling pick-up days are either Tuesday or Wednesday. Items for pickup must be put out at the curb before 7 a.m. and must be packaged appropriately; in containers and bags designated by the region. Waterloo Region participates in green bin compost collection, as well as blue bin recycling. If landlords have not provided bins, or you need a replacement, they can be picked up at waste collection sites on Erb Street or Lexington Court. More information, including what can be put in each kind of container, can be found on the Region of Waterloo’s website.

Laundry:

Living in residence or at home has the added perk of not having to search for a place to do your laundry. If you’re using public transit or a cab, you don’t want to have to haul your dirty clothes too far from home. If you’re living close to campus, Bob’s Wash n’ Fold in Campus Court Plaza on University avenue is the place to go. It has the added bonus of being located close to food outlets, coffee places and even a pub or two. For those special occasion clothes, or those things you just don’t want to clean yourself, walk over to Reese Cleaners next to China Garden on University Ave. at King St.

Walk-in Clinics:

It’s the middle of October, you’re stressed out, tired and sacrificing sleep for extra study hours. When the inevitable cold hits, it’s 2 a.m. and health services is closed, so where do you go? If it’s a serious illness or injury, head to the ER at Grand River Hospital on King Street in Kitchener. It’s located on both the iXpress and number 7 bus routes. To avoid clogging the ER with non-urgent issues, or to steer clear of wait times, which have been known to regularly exceed five hours at peak times, try one of several walk-in clinics located in Kitchener-Waterloo. The closest to campus is The Doctor’s Office, located next to Sweet Dreams Tea Shop in University Plaza. Other listings can be found on UW’s student medical clinic website.

Dollar stores:

 The staple of any student’s Halloween costume, dollar stores can provide cheap essentials. There are three close to campus, at Weber and Bridgeport, Phillip and Albert and Fisher Hallman at University. More are located in Kitchener near Fairview Park Mall, at the end of the iXpress or number 7 bus routes, which also has a Walmart.

GRT quick guide

200 iXpress Conestoga Mall/Ainsle St

Main roads: King, University, Bearinger, Charles, Conestoga, Hespeler, Ainslie

Useful destinations: Conestoga Mall, UW, Laurier, Uptown Waterloo, Grand River Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Charles Street Terminal, Fairview Park Mall, Cambridge Centre and Ainslie Street Terminal

201 iXpress Forest Glen/ Laurier

Main roads: Fischer-Hallman, Columbia, Block Line, Hazel, University

Useful destinations: UW, Laurier, Forest Glen Terminal, Sunrise Centre

7 Mainline

Main roads: University, Columbia, King

Useful destinations: UW, Laurier, Charles Street Terminal, Fairview Park Mall, Uptown Waterloo, Downtown Kitchener

8 University/ Fairview Park Mall

Main roads: University, Weber, Courtland, Franklin, Belmont

Useful destinations: UW, Laurier, Charles Street Terminal, Fairview Park Mall

9 Lakeshore

Main roads: Hazel, University, Northfield, Cedarbrae

Useful destinations: UW, Laurier, Conestoga Mall, Northfield Sobeys

12 Conestoga Mall/ Fairview Park Mall

Main roads: University, Westmount, Davenport, Block Line, Bleams Road

Useful destinations: Conestoga Mall, UW, Laurier, Fairview Park Mall, Forest Glen Terminal

13 Laurelwood

Main roads: Columbia, Laurelwood, Erbsville

Useful destinations: UW, Columbia/Fischer-Hallman Sobey’s

29 Keats Way

Main Roads: Keatsway, Erbsville, Ira Needles

Useful destinations: UW, Laurier, The Boardwalk

31 Lexington

Main roads: Columbia, Lexington

Useful destinations: Conestoga Mall, UW, RIM Park