I grew up in Edmonton and moved to Calgary 20 years ago. As someone who just turned 50 and has asthma/allergies for 45 of them, I find the climate here is excellent for those conditions. I think the Economist ranks us the best in the world for the cleanest air and water. I know I haven't had a serious asthma attack since we moved.
Since the price of medication was mentioned, I have been taking the inhaled steroids for about 25 years, and with my medical coverage I pay about $70 for a little more than three months of use. My Ventolin inhaler costs about $18 with my coverage.
Plus, there's additional savings through Innovicares (essentially run by the drug manufacturers) that will pay the difference between your coverage and getting their original drug instead of a generic one. My daughter needs Concerta for ADHD, and we haven't paid for it at all in several years.
Yes there's some definite gloom around here because of our biggest industry, but Calgary probably still has the highest standard of living in the world. You really don't appreciate it until you travel to other places.
There's a huge history of volunteerism and charity here compared to other places. I also find that Calgarians are very proud of coming from or living here.
Coming from Edmonton, I find people a lot friendlier, drivers are WAY more courteous/better, and the attitudes of people here are WAY more positive. We moved on January 2, 2000. When we left Edmonton it was -18 C, and when we got here it was +6 C. After a week of living here, my wife said to me 'there's no way I'm moving back'. People from Edmonton compare their city to Calgary, Calgarians don't really compare themselves to... anyone. I think that means we have it pretty good.
|