The top city in Canada? Calgary

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by looooob

sure, but I think a surprisingly low number of professionals factor climate into their relocation plans...I agree with another poster above that Calgary's climate isn't THAT bad, but when the weather is bad I ask myself briefly why I'm here, but when I factor everything in, its a no-brainer to stay (for me anyways)

I honestly don't understand the complaints about Calgary's climate. Coming from the Maritimes, I'm used to freezing cold winters with monster blizzards, followed two days later by cold rain, which then freezes and turns everything into ice. And summers are unbearable because the moist ocean air causes brutal humidity.

Calgary, on the other hand, gets just as cold in the winter, but two days after a snowstorm instead of rain we get a chinook. The winters are by far more tolderable, and the dry air makes the summers much more pleasant.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Meh. Calgary is a nice place to live, but it's nowhere near the metropolis that New York, London, or Tokyo has to offer. I'd live in those those cities any day of the week, and Tokyo twice on Tuesday's before I live in Calgary.

The problem is it's so easy to live here and make money it's hard to leave, but once you do and you go to a great city, calgary is simply an afterthought.

sure I think everyone agrees Calgary is no London or Tokyo...but this survey likely wasn't capturing the metropolitan aspects of city life...different surveys will obviously give different results. I'm certainly not saying Calgary is the be-all end-all but it appears to be in a position to attract young professionals and their families

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Matata

Isn't a strong Economy and young labour force the only things calgary has going for it? Crap public transportation, a weak arts and music scene, the most uncontained urban sprawl in North America, more murders and gang-related crime every year...

still relevant to ask how that compares to other NA cities

[lifer]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

How bout Calgary's climate, they should have added that to the equation and there's no way Cgy would be number one.


Let the ripping of Vancouver begin!!

Ok. I'll take a winter jacket and a touque over an umbrella and a rain coat any time.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by lifer

Ok. I'll take a winter jacket and a touque over an umbrella and a rain coat any time.

Pfft. Not me, I'd rather it be golfing in rain than scraping ice off my car in a blizzard.

[bradster57]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Meh. Calgary is a nice place to live, but it's nowhere near the metropolis that New York, London, or Tokyo has to offer. I'd live in those those cities any day of the week, and Tokyo twice on Tuesday's before I live in Calgary.

The problem is it's so easy to live here and make money it's hard to leave, but once you do and you go to a great city, calgary is simply an afterthought.

I'd love to visit Tokyo. Not live there though. Too crowded. I'd never live anywhere that I couldn't have a backyard or be 5 minutes from the middle of nowhere.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

I KNOW Saskatoon is a nicer city than Edmonton. This list is wrong.

Calgary is right on the money though, very nice looking city.

According to Forbes Magazine earlier in the year, Calgary is the cleanest city in the world.

http://www.forbes.com/2007/04/16/wor...6cleanest.html

I have no problem with Calgary's climate . . . . but I like being outside a lot, summer or winter. Winter is something you can embrace or have it antagonize you about seven months of the year.

My usual complaint about Calgary, like many people, is traffic but I was driving around California/San Francisco a few weeks ago and the agony there makes a traffic jam on the Deerfoot seem positively laughable.

Cowperson

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Matata

the most uncontained urban sprawl in North America

I havn't seen any statistics. But from actually visiting US cities, Calgary's urban sprawl seems to be pretty minor compared to the large US cities. I mean it doesn't matter if you live in an upscale nieghborhood or a starter home. Your only five feet from your neighbors in Calgary.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by lifer

Ok. I'll take a winter jacket and a touque over an umbrella and a rain coat any time.

Go ahead, I just came from outside wearing a lightweight track suit jacket and I was more than okay. When was the last time you wore a lightweight jacket, unzipped outside in Calgary?? Not even comparable as to what is better. And if it did rain everyday here in Van, I could see ur point, but its not every day, like today, cloudy, with the sun trying to poke out, but its very warm for mid december right now. Perfect winter day in my mind.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by bradster57

I'd love to visit Tokyo. Not live there though. Too crowded. I'd never live anywhere that I couldn't have a backyard or be 5 minutes from the middle of nowhere.

Yeah it's definitely not for everyone, but I've been and I'd love to live there permanently. So much going on, so sophisticated, and incredibly attentive to culture and the arts. It's my type of city.

Calgary is good place to make a bit of money and raise children, but for me, that's about it. Young, affluent graduates with a penchant for travel should at least live in another city before settling in Calgary. Then, you can either enjoy living somewhere else, or appreciate living in Calgary more.

[GreenLantern]

The other problem with Vancouver is that people from Vancouver live there and we all know what they are like.. :/


edit: I should probably add this is a joke before I get into trouble for the comment, I am in no way putting down the people of Vancouver it was pokeing fun at the Canucks and their fans. Please do not get offended :/

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

The other problem with Vancouver is that people from Vancouver live there and we all know what they are like.. :/

That was pretty funny. I'd agree only when it comes to their taste in hockey.

[lifer]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Go ahead, I just came from outside wearing a lightweight track suit jacket and I was more than okay. When was the last time you wore a lightweight jacket, unzipped outside in Calgary?? Not even comparable as to what is better. And if it did rain everyday here in Van, I could see ur point, but its not every day, like today, cloudy, with the sun trying to poke out, but its very warm for mid december right now. Perfect winter day in my mind.

It's not too cold today. The last 3 winters have been pretty mild, and I hope this one does as well. I know it doesn't rain every day in Vancouver, but it does rain there a lot more than it does in Calgary. I'm sure you know that it isn't -25 for 6 months in Calgary too, but it is certainly colder than Vancouver. It's just personal preference. I don't mind wearing a big jacket, I do mind coping with rain. No big deal.
Vancouver has won its share of "most beautiful city in the world" praise. Let us have this one.

[Hakan]

Calgary's a great city to raise a family.

I would never consider moving back there though. Vancouver has a thing called culture.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by lifer

Vancouver has won its share of "most beautiful city in the world" praise. Let us have this one.

NO.....NEVER!!!

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Go ahead, I just came from outside wearing a lightweight track suit jacket and I was more than okay. When was the last time you wore a lightweight jacket, unzipped outside in Calgary?? Not even comparable as to what is better. And if it did rain everyday here in Van, I could see ur point, but its not every day, like today, cloudy, with the sun trying to poke out, but its very warm for mid december right now. Perfect winter day in my mind.

typical....
Have you ever lived in Calgary before?
I have lived in both cities and you have absolutely nothing to gloat about when it comes to weather bro.

Right now its -1 in Calgary and +3 in Vancouver...given how arid Calgary is...it may feel warmer in Calgary right now than Vancouver.

And don't kid anyone it rains just about everyday in Vancouver..Nov '06 - a total of 37 hours of sunshine for the whole month....

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Go ahead, I just came from outside wearing a lightweight track suit jacket and I was more than okay. When was the last time you wore a lightweight jacket, unzipped outside in Calgary?? Not even comparable as to what is better. And if it did rain everyday here in Van, I could see ur point, but its not every day, like today, cloudy, with the sun trying to poke out, but its very warm for mid december right now. Perfect winter day in my mind.

A couple of weeks ago, I ran around the Seawall in Vancouver in some light running gear, even though it was the pitch black of the early morning in a light rain. About an hour and 20 minutes back to the hotel. Beautiful!!!

This past weekend, I was running around Fish Creek Park in Calgary and, upon finishing and heading home, found myself confronting the deep, deep, DEEP agony of de-frosting a certain part of the male anatomy thanks to the minus 13 temperature, aided by a biting wind chill.

In that vein, with a high-pitched voice, I can certainly say that winter in Vancouver, even including the rain, certainly has some advantages over the cold of Calgary.

Cowperson

[STeeLy]

I think Ottawa should be a little higher on the list... but then again, with all the factors that equate into it... it might be right where it should be... but living conditions wise, Victoria, Ottawa deserve to be above Toronto and Vancouver.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

How bout Calgary's climate, they should have added that to the equation and there's no way Cgy would be number one.

I love the distinct seasons here. Well, the somewhat distinct seasons. I love the fact that you can maintain an outdoor rink here from December to early March. I like that it's arid in summer, and even on the odd July or August day when it's over 30 degrees Centigrade, it's typically cool at night.

I even relish those late spring blizzards that make life interesting.

[MelBridgeman]

Lets put this debate to rest about weather.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...s_name=&no_ads=

Province-wide, Alberta has the most comfortable climate in Canada.