Calgary vs. Vancouver: Don Cayo

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I agree with previous posters, why compare the 2 (apples v oranges)

Also, Calgary is not constrained by geography so it grows differently than Vancouver. In Vancouver they cherish Oceanfront, in Calgary some people charish quietness and a back yard of which condo life is not.

EDIT: One question, are North and West Vancouver separate cities like Burnaby etc? I would have thought they are included in Vancouver but the Wiki page only shows a small part as Vancouver (in red).

Yes, West Vancouver and North Vancouver and District of North Vancouver are all seperate cities with their own city halls, and police for example.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

Yes, West Vancouver and North Vancouver and District of North Vancouver are all seperate cities with their own city halls, and police for example.

City of North Vancouver and District of North Vancouver share the same RCMP detachment. I think they also share the same town hall, but not 100% sure on that.

[604flames]

^^ North Van City Hall is off Lonsdale, North Van District Hall is on Queens..

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Also, Calgary is not constrained by geography so it grows differently than Vancouver. In Vancouver they cherish Oceanfront, in Calgary some people charish quietness and a back yard of which condo life is not.

People way under-rate this.

90% of the difference between cities are factors of geography and time. Government types like to pretend it's planning and controls. Worse, they like to pretend there is a 'right' answer and they have it.

It's weird to me. Culture, diversity, and character are celebrated - as long as we're all headed to the same homogenous central planning.

[flames_fan13]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I've lived in Van for about 5 years now, and it's the worst place I've ever lived in terms of making friends and meeting people. There was actually a nice article (in the Straight I think) that talked about this phenomenon in Vancouver, with the writer suggesting it takes about 5 years to 'break in' to Vancouver socially. Having been here for almost 5 years, I totally agree with that. Up until now I've found the city snobby and cold (except for tourists from Saskatchewan), and am only now starting to feel settled with a strong social circle.

So, with that issue resolving itself, my biggest complaint is now the weather. You can go 3 months in this town without seeing your (or anyone's) shadow, and rain curtails so many daily activities. Plus the weather here is boring: no big skies and thunderstorms and temperature extremes.

I think a huge part of Vancouver being so hard to socialize in is due to large number of homeless people. I've worked in downtown for two years and I swear the only people, who i'm not working with and aren't customers, will only talk to me to ask a form of either do you have any change or can i bum a cigerrete? I think this makes alot of people here very reserved in talking to new people. I know when someone talks to me now I'm very guarded and just expecting them to ask for something.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

People way under-rate this.

90% of the difference between cities are factors of geography and time. Government types like to pretend it's planning and controls. Worse, they like to pretend there is a 'right' answer and they have it.

It's weird to me. Culture, diversity, and character are celebrated -as long as we're all headed to the same homogenous central planning.

Civic types and many municipal politicians like to feel important. It pains them to realize that the ultimate determination of how the city's going to look and feel is up to the desires of its residents. Ie if the city of Calgary keeps up the nuisance bylaws (Banning pesticides, drive thrus, and whatever else those pinkos Pincott and Farrell can dream up) and tries to force families into living in condos, then places like Airdrie, Okotoks, and Cochrane will swell to enourmous sizes and the 'footprint' of the Calgary region will sprawl despite the city proper increasing density. This has already played out many times over in many other cities. As long as the Calgary dream is to live in a detached dwelling and it's within the financial means of many residents then that's exactly the type of development that's going to occur. The city needs to decide whether or not they want those people under their tax umbrella or under another municipality's.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

City of North Vancouver and District of North Vancouver share the same RCMP detachment. I think they also share the same town hall, but not 100% sure on that.

Oops, that's correct. West Vancouver have city based police and North Vancouver and District of North Van have the same RCMP detatchments. Kind of funny to note, West Van police can't afford to live there, almost there entire police force lives in other areas of the North Shore, or back in Vancouver/Burnaby.

[HOOT]

Born in Victoria, lived in Calgary, now back in Victoria.

I would much rather have the -30 & sunny then put up with +10 & rain/gray. With the rain and the ocean air it feels like -30 when you get wet anyways.

I have never lived in Vancouver so I can't comment on the city much besides I hate their hockey fans And I found before living in Calgary that Calgary was the easier city to drive around and find your way compared to Vancouver.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Born in Victoria, lived in Calgary, now back in Victoria.

I would much rather have the -30 & sunny then put up with +10 & rain/gray. With the rain and the ocean air it feels like -30 when you get wet anyways.

I

???? Are you swimming in the ocean or something??? You ever hear of umbrellas?? Or walking thru covered areas?? If you get drizzled on, it don't feel like minus 30.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

0 days of rain in July.....suck it.

Thanks a lot a**hole. Right after you decided to brag all we've had is rain.

=|

[pepper24]

If Vancouver wasn't the most expensive city in Canada and didn't have the worst traffic in Canada I'd definitely live there. The rain I could tolerate but I would miss having a Canadian winter.

Regarding Calgary's weather it's not really the temperature I hate it's the length. I could handle snow from mid October to late March with no chinooks. It's snow in Sep, Apr and May that get to me.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Calgary has a better indie music scene. Vancouver has a better club scene. Calgary has better vietnemese food and steaks. Vancouver has better sea food and everything else. Vancouver has an amazing ratio of girls to guys. Calgary's girls are more approachable. Vancouver is more multicultural. Calgary is more friendly.

Wow...there is so much wrong with this statement I don't know where to begin.

First of all Vancouver music scene>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Calgary music scene. I was in Vancouver for five days in April and I found a show to go to every night. The Railway Club always has great live acts as do several of the other bars in that area. Not to mention the venues are way better in Van.

Take a look at FFWD and then compare it with Vancouver's free paper and see how many quality live shows are listed in each. Not to mention the fact that most of the bands in Calgary's music scene generally leave to go find success in other cities.

Secondly, the girl thing. I've been all over North America and have spent time in Italy as well and I find Calgary girls to be some of the most cliquey and unapproachable women in the world. Not saying they're all like that but I've found women to be much more approachable and friendlier in Vancouver and Victoria.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

???? Are you swimming in the ocean or something??? You ever hear of umbrellas?? Or walking thru covered areas?? If you get drizzled on, it don't feel like minus 30.

Sorry I will correct myself...

....it feels like minus -30 anyways. (is that the right shade green?)

It may not be -30 but Victoria cold goes to the bone and can't be covered up, where Calgary if you have a layer of clothing on you are fine. Huge difference IMO

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Wow...there is so much wrong with this statement I don't know where to begin.

First of all Vancouver music scene>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Calgary music scene. I was in Vancouver for five days in April and I found a show to go to every night. The Railway Club always has great live acts as do several of the other bars in that area. Not to mention the venues are way better in Van.

Take a look at FFWD and then compare it with Vancouver's free paper and see how many quality live shows are listed in each. Not to mention the fact that most of the bands in Calgary's music scene generally leave to go find success in other cities.

Totally disagree..i've been an involved musician both in Vancouver and Calgary. Vancouver from a distance seems like it would have a great music scene, but once you are actually here you realize its not what it should be, there are a lot of cliques and a lot of people who try to look like they are musicians, but the real originality is spread pretty thin. As for venues, yes there is a lot, and there are a lot of good shows coming through town (not originating here) because its a major centre on the coast, but that doesn't necessarily equate to local quality. I'm not saying Vancouver is horrible for music, but it isn't what you'd expect.

Calgary on the other hand is like an untapped market. Its still a small enough city to avoid a lot of the stupid cliques and the smaller music community seems more genuine in what they are doing. People seem really interested in making music and not to belong to some social group or something. You can look at people like feist and chad Van gaalen to see that there is some pretty good material being made by Calgary artists. CJSW is a better independent station than anything in Vancouver, by far. Sled Island is gaining steam in Calgary. Calgary folk fest kills Vancouver's stale hippie infested folk fest. Calgary's scene just seems so much fresher and energetic, mainly because the scene there is newer..things have to be created from the ground up.

I see Vancouver as overrated and Calgary as underrated musically.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Thanks a lot a**hole. Right after you decided to brag all we've had is rain.

=|

Hey, yesterday(wednesday) was nice.