Thunder Bay Student Guide

Hey there, Lakehead and Confederation College students, and welcome (or welcome back) to Thunder Bay! As you get to know the city, take a study break or three to build community and connections and make some memories. Here’s our Thunder Bay Student Guide…consider it your crash course on local favourites, getting around, top off-campus study spots, shopping on a budget, and social destinations.

TBay Must-Tries

The city’s Marina Park/Prince Arthur’s Landing on the Lake Superior waterfront is a beautiful way to soak in the TBay vibes. It’s a great place to meet up with friends to take a walk along the various waterfront paths featuring a range of public art installations, get a snack at one of the food trucks, or just kick back on one of the benches to take in the scenery, which includes the iconic Sleeping Giant rock formation (you will see this referenced and rendered everywhere…TBay loves the Giant) as well as sailboats and massive cargoships. The hugely popular Wake the Giant music festival with an all-day lineup of great tunes and celebration inclusivity and Indigenous culture is held here every September too.

TBay is definitely known as an outdoor city, so why not embrace it? There are a variety of gorgeous hikes to do in and around town, as well as exceptional mountain bike trails at Trowbridge Falls and Shuniah Mines. Renting is a wallet-friendly way to try out some gear so consider renting a fat bike or mountain bike at Rollin’ Thunder, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks through the Thunder Bay Paddlesports Club at Boulevard Lake or Wilderness Supply, cross-country skis at Kamview Nordic Centre, downhill skis and snowboards at Mount Baldy Ski Area or Loch Lomond Ski Area, or snowshoes at Chaltrek.

Of course, it’s practically mandatory to try a local classic like a Persian. This cinnamon bun-meets-frosted-cake is an iconic pastry that’s sold a number of places, including Current River Bakery and the Persian Man. Enjoy that sugar rush!

Transit & Getting Around

Thunder Bay’s transit system is a great & cost effective way to get around the city. Pick up a U-pass and download the transit app so you know when your bus is approaching. Each city bus has an exterior bike rack that can hold up to two bikes. Need a direct route? Instead of Uber or Lyft, Thunder Bay has a rideshare app called Uride (an local start-up success story that is now found in 25+ other small Canadian cities as well, thank you very much). There is also a network of 56 km of multiuse trails where you can bike, walk or go for a run, often in really gorgeous surroundings bordered by big trees and rocky rivers. Visit Community Spokes, a free DIY bike repair place that also offers affordable used parts and free instructions for repairing or even building your own bike. And if you’re driving, there’s free two-hour parking all over town for most city parking lots and street parking (four hours at the Marina waterfront).

Local Study Spots

Want off-campus spots to study and work? We hear you. For good seating, extended hours and reliable Wi-Fi, think cafes and other public spaces. The Habit Coffee and Bakeshop is a not-for-profit found in Urban Abbey in the vibrant Waterfront District. A former church, the space is super scenic, with high ceilings, ethically sourced products, great coffee and pastries, and really stunning stained glass windows (note it is closed on Sundays). Calico Coffeehouse is another TBay staple. Cozy and welcoming, it’s in the fun and trendy Bay & Algoma neighbourhood and offers fair trade coffee and homemade desserts served on funky mismatched china (also closed on Sundays). Café Ora on Cumberland is open daily from 9 to 3 or 4 pm, with big tables, eclectic decor and tasty soups, pastries and beverages. The popular Goods & Co. Market at Red River and Court has several free desks and working areas available too, for chic surroundings with an urban buzz (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). Early risers in Fort William should check out Up Shot Coffeehouse, which is known for its welcoming vibe, vegan fare including made-from-scratch soups, and very good pastries, coffee and tea (closed weekends). The city’s four public library locations are worth a visit too—from Mary J. L. Black and Brodie branches in Fort William to Waverley in Port Arthur and County Park at the north end, there’s a location to suit you wherever you’re based.

Shopping on a Budget

Sign up for the SPC (Student Price Card) app so you can grab discounts at a range of national stores, including lots represented in Thunder Bay. Hitting the thrift store is an excellent, earth-friendly way to score some great deals on clothes, housewares, furniture and more. The Community Clothing Assistance on May Street gives students 50% off its already-discounted clothing on Fridays, so just show your student card. SuperThrift in the Bay & Algoma neighbourhood is known for its great prices and wide selection, and while it doesn’t have a student discount, when you bring items to donate you get a $10 coupon off your purchase of $25 or more. (Tip: keep an eye on their Facebook page for daily specials.)

For grocery discounts with a student card, check out Metro’s Grandview location (River Street) for 10% off on Tuesdays, or Bulk Barn on Memorial or Red River Road for 10% off on Wednesdays. Roots Community Food Centre is a beloved local org that has all kinds of great public programs, including a community food market operating at two different locations (Fort William Road and Vale Community Centre), where anyone can snag fresh fruit, vegetables and food at a lower price than regular grocery stores.

Cooking at home is, of course, the time-honoured student way to stretch your budget, so if you’re looking for ingredients for international take-out flavours, stop by one of the city’s small specialty markets, such as Spice World (Indian), Golden Flower (Asian), DenkyMax (African and Caribbean), Bombay One Stop (Indian), Rice n Spice Heritage (Indian) and Savvymart (Indian and Nepali). For vegan and gluten-free options, explore Compass Foods, Canada’s largest vegan grocery store right here in the city.

TBay also has several Italian grocery-delis that have been local favourites for generations because of their freshly made sandwiches at a decent price—discover Agostino’s, Fresco’s and Maltese—while The Commissary has legendary daily specials for subs, soup, pasta, burgers and more for $5-6.50.

Get Social

Craving night life? Head to the Waterfront District for the city’s greatest concentration of bars, concert venues and restaurants. TB Shows and The Walleye are both good sources for details about live music and other cool events happening around town. How about The Hunger (a huge and epic downtown Halloween event with a $20 wristband that gets you into multiple venues), pay-what-you-can professional live theatre shows at Magnus Theatre or Terror in the Bay (a four-day horror film festival in October)? For an alcohol-free night out, Carlito’s Board Game Cafe on Simpson Street is a fun spot to hang out and challenge your friends, or check out some of the classy mocktails on the menu at the city’s top bars

Class, school is in session and you’ve got this. Here’s to a memorable academic year in TBay!