Facilities

Accessing the Campus

St. Mary’s University is located on a historic site in Southeast Calgary at 14500 Bannister Road SE. The campus can be accessed by foot, by car or by transit. 

By Foot

Take a walk in Fish Creek Provincial Park and find the trails up to St. Mary’s University. Located steps from Fish Creek Provincial Park, we’re easy to get to from Macleod Trail and an overpass connects us to the Fish Creek–Lacombe transit station.

By Transit

Exit the C-Train at the Fish Creek-Lacombe station and take the overpass across Macleod Trail to our campus. Enjoy the mountain view on the way.

By Car

From Macleod Trail South, take the Bannister Road exit. The campus can be accessed either using Bannister Road or 146 avenue.

Parking FAQ’s

As part of the 24/25 budget, the Board of Governors has approved the introduction of paid parking on our campus for all staff, faculty, students and guests to campus. This decision was not taken lightly as we understand that nobody likes increasing costs. However, the university had reached a point that we needed to implement paid parking in order to:

• ensure the continued maintenance of our parking facilities, which currently cost about $60,000 per year, which comes out of tuition;
• provide an additional revenue stream for the institution to balance our budget;
• address pressure from the Ministry of Advanced Education to cover a greater amount of our costs;
• be consistent with the cost of neighboring parking as well as parking at all of the Post Secondary Institutions across Calgary; and,
• to promote sustainability goals of using transit or other means of transportation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What is now the cost of parking?

Parking rates at St. Mary’s University will be as follows:

• Daily Rate: $7
• Monthly Rate: $70
• Yearly Rate: $700
  *An hourly option for parking is currently being explored with parking providers.

When will paid parking take effect on campus?

Paid parking will take effect on September 1st, 2024

Will there be reserved spots?

Only the spots currently reserved on campus (visitor, accessible parking spots) will be reserved. We will still be reserving the location for the Access Bus to pick-up and drop-off students who utilize that service.

Will there be a grace period for pick-ups and drop-offs??

Yes. There will be a grace period of 20 minutes for pick-ups and drop-offs on campus.

Will the parking lot remain in its current state?

There is a significant paving project taking place during the summer of 2024. With the implementation of paid parking on the St. Mary’s campus, we will no longer have to utilize tuition revenue to cover parking lot maintenance and upkeep.

Are St. Mary’s parking rates comparable with other Calgary post-secondary institutions??

St. Mary’s University’s parking rates are lower than the other post-secondary institutions located in Calgary. Daily parking at the U of C on campus is $9 to $24 per day depending on the lot, $494 to $600 per semester and $1,482 to $1,925 per year. Daily parking at the MRU on campus is $7 to $19.00 per day depending on the lot, $394 to $600 per semester and $1,380 to $1,800 per year.Daily parking at Ambrose is $14 day and $125/month.

What process was followed for the implementation of paid parking?

Parking fees were part of the 2024/25 budget process which was approved by the St. Mary’s University Board of Governors in mid-April 2024.

Who does the parking fee apply to?

The parking fee applies to all faculty, staff, and students of St. Mary’s University as well as all visitors to campus.

Where can I direct my questions or concerns regarding this matter?

Please submit all questions or concerns regarding the new paid parking policy or other parking related issues to parking@stmu.ca.

Can you register multiple plates?

Yes. A monthly or annual parker may register multiple plates.

How can people purchase parking permits?

Parking permits can be purchased online or through on-site pay machines (for daily parking). Details are currently being finalized with the parking service provider and will be shared at a date closer to the launch of this initiative

Can parking be done by payroll deduction for staff and faculty?

Only annual parking passes can be done through payroll deduction, resulting in $35 per pay-cheque for 10 months.

Where can I park with my new parking permit?

With your St. Mary’s University parking pass you are able to park in any spot not labelled as visitor or accessible parking.

What kind of enforcement or penalties will be levied against those who park without permits?

At launch, St. Mary’s will take more of an educational approach for the community as we all get used to this new policy. As we progress, tickets will be issued to cars that have not paid for parking.

Bike Parking

One of the benefits of St. Mary’s University’s gorgeous location is the incredible views. If you’re riding your bike to school, you can find bike racks at the rear of the classroom building or at the administration building. 

Building Hours

The St. Mary’s University campus is accessible Fall and Winter semesters during the following hours:

Administration Building: Monday-Friday, 8:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M.

Heritage/Le Fort: Monday-Friday,  7:30 A.M.-9:30 P.M.

Classroom Building: Monday-Friday,  6:45 A.M.-9:00 P.M.

McGivney Hall: Monday-Friday,  7:30 A.M.-8:30 P.M.

Student Association: Monday-Friday,  8:30 A.M.-6:30 P.M.

Campus Map

Use a map below to help you navigate or find a specific location on campus.

Food & Drink

St. Mary’s University’s Daily Cafe is serving up delicious food and beverages to fuel your studies. You can find the Cafe in the Le Fort Building and is operated by Visionary Catering. 

Follow them on Instagram for specials and information:

The St. Mary’s University Daily Cafe is open Monday-Thursday, 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M and Fridays from 8:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

Please note that the Cafe is closed for holidays and school closures.

For a quick snack on the go, visit one of StMU’s two vending machines in the west hallway of the Classroom Building and the main entrance of the Le Fort Building.

Report an Issue

To report an issue with the StMU facilities like cleanliness, repairs or other upkeep issues, please contact StMU Security:

Email: security@stmu.ca

Phone: 403-671-4357

For any concerns about campus safety or major damage, visit the St. Mary’s Safe app to make a report.