Ahhh what a great thread, especially for a transplanted Calgarian (been in Southern Ontario for 11 years now)!
Growing up in the NW in Ranchlands we were definitely near the edge of the city but developments in Arbour Lake and Crowfoot were springing up by the time we left in 1994 when I was just 11 but when I came back this February it was just amazing how much change has occurred particularly in that part of the city.
Some of the things that I miss most about Calgary from memories of growing up there in the late 80s and early 90s:
- being able to see the mountains in the horizon from my bedroom window
- 7-11s and slurpees .. Sev's are a rarity here and we have to settle with Macs'
- Esso Plaza and their cheap movies .. so many memories!
- Biking with friends near Edgemont and NoseHill Park
- Cochrane Ice Cream!
- Downtown shopping malls .. ie. Eaton Centre, the Bay, Devonian Gardens ..
- Going to get my haircut with my dad at this Barber somewhere in Charleswood (near Brisbois?) then getting a slurpee from the 7-11 across the street
- Ed Whalen on 2-7 and his "Heeeeeeeeellooooo hockey fans!"
- Sports at 11
- the fress mountain air ... not the chemicalized stuff we inhale here!
... theres lots more that have either already been said or are at the back of my mind. Just out of curiosity to some of the old-timers .. what year did they start building the Deerfoot? Before Deerfoot did Highway 2 to Edmonton just end at the north end of the city? Was there even a highway 2?
Man do I miss Calgary .
Azim