As graduate students, its easy to get caught up in all the work and lose the sense of the work-life balance. The Isabel Bader Centre is the perfect spot to do something fun or even to just do your work in a different space. Despite being so close to the university, a short 15-minute walk or a 5-minute bus ride, I haven’t seen nearly that many students using the space. The lobby of the Isabel can serve as a great study space as there are tables and chairs and large windows with a view of the water. There is also a seating area right by the water, making it easy to stay longer to enjoy the breeze and the views. While this is hard to do in winter, it was something I really enjoyed during the summer. Right next door is also the Juniper Café which has a lovely patio right at the water.
The venue itself is gorgeous. There are two floors of seating and the chairs are quite comfortable. What’s particularly nice about the Isabel, is that the stage feels very intimate and personal despite the number of people that it can accommodate. Especially when sitting in the floor seats, the performers are basically at eye level, so you can actually see the faces of the performers/people on stage.
Since I started at Queen’s University in September, I have had the opportunity to be at the Isabel Bader Centre for three events. My experience so far does a good job of showcasing the breadth of events that are hosted here.
The first was the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative, hosted by Queen’s University, which was a panel discussion featuring two Nobel laureates, Martin Chalfie and Arthur McDonald, as well as the Chief Science Advisor of Canada, Mona Nemer.
The second event I attended was a musical performance featuring the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the European Union Youth Orchestra. I love listening to live band and orchestra, and the intimacy and excellent acoustics, of the Isabel Bader Centre, heightens the experience.
The third event I attended was Raising the Barre for Cystic Fibrosis, which was a recital of dance and musical performances showcasing talents of both the Queen’s and Kingston communities. I had the privilege of being able to perform on this stage with the QSalsa Performance Team!
The Isabel Bader Centre is the perfect spot for a night out with a date, with friends, or even just by yourself. Further, students get discounted tickets for most of the shows! And even further, SGPS (School of Graduate and Professional Students) frequently offers additional discounts and sometimes even free tickets!! These are typically offered through the SGPS newsletter. The Isabel Bader Centre is a wonderful, affordable, theatre experience that can help with the work-life balance of being a graduate student. I hope to attend many more events at the Isabel Bader Centre during my time in Kingston.
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