As told to Dawn Morrison

A strong family connection first drew Stefanie Butt to Dalhousie University from her native Montréal — her grandfather was originally from Yarmouth. Although Montréal had a wealth of educational opportunities, Stefanie chose to reconnect with her roots by studying in Nova Scotia. After graduating from Dal in 2007 with a BA (double major in History and French), Stefanie returned to Quebec to study law at Université Laval. She is now Board Logistics Coordinator at SNC-Lavalin, and says choosing to study at Dalhousie was one of the best decisions she’s ever made. Stefanie is co-chair of the Montréal alumni chapter.

Best Networking Spot

“It all depends on the field you’re in. The best place to get started is by getting involved in fundraising initiatives and networking events, like those offered by the symphony, the opera… any kind of cultural event that you’re interested in. The hospitals have many fundraising opportunities as well. It’s about finding the organizations that set out to engage young professionals, and getting involved.”

Best Volunteer Opportunity

“I personally volunteer with the Montréal Children’s Hospital Foundation — I’m one of the organizers for their major events to support the Oncology Department. There are so many charities to volunteer in a variety of areas — culture, children’s charities, health care, food banks, and more. These organizations are always looking for volunteers, and they offer the chance to meet people from all walks of life. It’s a nice give and take — you offer up your time and talents to a worthy cause, and you may also find opportunities to network and connect.”

Best Spot for a Lunch Meeting

“You’ll want to find a place that isn’t too loud. Downtown Montréal has many restaurants where you can hear yourself and your guest, and you don’t have to yell over the noise. There are tons of options for something quiet and more secluded — just don’t go at noon on the dot. Go either before or just after 12 noon to avoid the lunch crowds.”

The Quintessential ‘Montréal’ experience

“Everyone likes Old Montréal, and with good reason: It’s really beautiful. You can also stroll or bike along the the Lachine Canal, or explore the public markets — the Jean-Talon and Atwater Markets are really fun. It’s also great to wander through all the different neighbourhoods.”

What’s it like to Live and Work in Montréal?

“It’s a lot of fun, and very diverse. People come here from all over the world, and it’s pretty fast-paced. Anyone who wants to work in a professional or corporate setting is going to work hard, but there is also time for fun.“

Best Place for Friday Night Fun

“I tend to prefer restaurants to bars. There are a lot of spots on Notre-Dame that are up-and-coming. Actually, most people I know go out for 5 à 7 on Thursdays after work. It’s a great opportunity to grab a bite or a drink with friends or coworkers.”

Best place to eat on a dime

“I love Asian cuisine, so I would say anything in Chinatown and near Concordia University would be good. They offer a really nice quality of food for a reasonable price.”

Best local delicacy

“Schwartz’s for smoked meat and La Banquise for poutine, although I have to say I’m not a huge fan of either of those foods! There are also a lot of craft beer spots opening up and they’re really good.”

Best neighbourhood for newcomers

“The NDG (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce), and The Plateau are always popular. St-Henri used to be a blue collar neighbourhood, and now it’s attracting a lot of young professionals. They’re really quaint and vibrant neighbourhoods to live in, with easy access to downtown.”

For inquiries on Dalhousie’s alumni chapters, please contact Bill Chernin at volunteer@dal.ca.