What do you want to do and where do you want to work after?

Both schools have their own specific flavour but I believe DAL is the better mix of both practical and theoretical.  Don't get bogged down with social things if your goal is to design buildings.  You can't solve world problems with buildings.

I can't say much regarding the education side of things but I do know for a fact that there are a few handful of firms that ONLY hire Dal grads... so it could lead to more networking/ job opportunities once you graduate. UBC students seem to be a bit less experienced in the practical areas but it all really depends on how much you want to push that area of study during your time in school/ co-op.

@GridBubbles
Do you know any of these firms offhand?

I understand that I share the responsibility curbing my education in the direction of study I want–but I also don't want to feel like I'm swimming against the current of the study interest of my peers or faculty if the school doesn't place emphasis on practical approaches to architecture.

@Non Sequitur
"You can't solve world problems with buildings."
I feel this is a disconnect with academia and the practice, I'm an optimist at heart, but I feel that academia has a fallacy with making the field seem more dramatic and full of possibilities than it really is.

@Non Sequitur
"What do you want to do and where do you want to work after?"

Ultimately it all may not work out like this, but I'd like to gain experience working in some practices overseas (US or abroad), before returning to Canada. Eventually, after some time I'd like to open my own small practice focusing on small-to-medium sized projects, with a focus on material research and sustainable construction methods. If all goes accordingly, I'd like to teach from the lens of a practitioner first, researcher second.

Bottom line you aren't going to be fully trained or educated coming out from any school. So pick one that appeals to you, geographically or program wise, personally I don't think it's the schools job to teach you all the technical stuff you need to know ( too much to cover ) I think that comes with practical job experience ie working construction / office work / going and taking technical courses carpentry, passive house, building envelope etc. 

The education of an architect takes years, if not decades, that why we typically don't "come into own" til later in life. It's all part of the journey and there is no right answer

My impression with interacting with Dal grads is that Dalhousie seems to teach you "their way of doing things" whereas for UBC, I think your assessment is correct, it kind of lacks a clear identity - which is not to say that there is less of an emphasis on learning technical skills. 

Instead, diverse faculty interests and backgrounds allows for discovering and articulating your own process and design sensibility. Which I would think entails what you call "a good architectural education."

@boshroni

 Seems like Dalhousie is a better fit for you specifically from what you described as your interest above. Also seems like the education at Dalhousie (from what you described above) produces better designers- which will help you land a job. Not to knock the social/political type of architecture education that seems to be prevalent in some schools is bad, but if you gravitate to the poetic practical way of doing architecture then seems like Dalhousie is a fit for you. Go to the school that facilitates your interests- simple as that.