Being a student is hard. While attempting to balance school, relationships, and yes hormones, one may come to face with their (mildly horrific) financial situation. Many of us may find ourselves pinching pennies (okay, now that the penny has been taken out of circulation, I guess we’ll have to say ‘pinching quarters’ instead) for that movie or shopping trip. Plus, now that summer is finally upon us, many are lacking fun, yet affordable, places to visit. Luckily, these five Calgary locations offer great student discounts with valid ID perfectly handy for a day out with friends.
1. Plaza Theatre
Originally constructed as a garage in the 20s, the Plaza was officially opened as a theatre in 1935. Today, it is Calgary’s last remaining independent theatre. Located in the lovely neighborhood of Kensington, Plaza plays primarily indie films and documentaries that one may stumble across at a film festival. However, in the past they have also screened major blockbuster hits such as 12 Years a Slave, The Lego Movie, and Philomena. A little run-down, but gracefully so, movies at the Plaza rarely break the $10 mark. Plus, by showing your student ID, you can get $3 off admissions. See showtimes and featured movies here: http://www.theplaza.ca/.
2. Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO)
While volunteering at the annual Sun & Salsa festival in Kensington, I was opened up to a new program created by the Calgary Philharmonic called CPOssibilities. By signing up and purchasing a free CPOssibilities membership, individuals aged 14-29 have the chance to receive CPO tickets for only $15. This is such a fantastic program and allows young people to get out in support of the arts. And as if the offer isn’t good enough already, each ticket entitles you to bring a guest of any age. Get registered here: http://www.cpo-live.com/main/cpossibilities.php .
3. Glenbow Museum
From personal experience, I’ve found that though many Calgarians have passed by the Glenbow Museum, not many have actually been in it. Located conveniently downtown, the Glenbow Museum is a great place for people of all ages to get up close with Canadian history and art. Now, with a terrific exhibition from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery (which includes works from Dali, Matisse, and more), you don’t not have a reason to go. Tickets are $9 for youth aged 7-17, and $10 for students that are older. Visit http://www.glenbow.org/index.cfm for more information.
4. Alberta Theatre Projects
Across the street from the Glenbow, one will find themselves at the Martha Cohen Theatre, home of Alberta Theatre Projects. With shows ranging from Tony Award winning Venus In Fur to more homely options such as Charlotte’s Web, Alberta Theatre Projects is a great way to connect to Calgary’s performing arts community. Their infamous That $10 Ticket Thing allows individuals with student IDs to watch live theatre for a fraction of the price. To get more information on the program, and to see their 2014/15 show lineup, visit http://www.atplive.com/.
5. Student Price Card (SPC)
Okay, I’ll admit that this one isn’t really a location… It’s more of a card that will give you student discounts to locations. Many may have heard of this Canadian program that provides students with price cuts on things such as clothing, food, and more. Currently, more than 120 major retailers such as Menchies, Urban Outfitters, and Boston Pizza have signed up with SPC. For only $9 a year, you can enjoy endless benefits to almost every store you shop at! Pretty awesome, right? For more information, visit http://www.spccard.ca/.
Note: Prior to visiting these locations, please remember to bring your student ID and a piece of government-issued ID with your birth date on it just in case!
