I moved to Vancouver in 2017, but was still going back to Calgary often for work (pre-pandemic). The decrease in vibrancy downtown in Calgary was really striking since I had been removed from it. Seeing all the newly shuttered restaurants and businesses, the lack of life on places like Stephen Ave, really sucked. It wasn't that way when I was working and living downtown the earlier part of the decade. It had much more of a pulse.
I think Calgary is one of the best places on earth for a material quality of life for your dollar. But it definitely feels sleepy and repetitive at times. If you want the suburb life I can't think of a better place. Hopefully the economy roars back at some point and the city regains a little bit of atmosphere.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
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