Is Calgary an international city?

[kn]

Obviously Toronto and Montreal are global cities. I'm not sure about Vancouver or Ottawa. I don't travel internationally so I'm not sure if Calgary is well known or perceived as an international city.

That being said, I was watching CNN tonight and they mentioned that Bush's new job is speaking on a lecture circuit at $150k a pop. The talking head said his first visit will be in "Calgary". Not "Calgary, Alberta" or "Calgary, Canada", or "Calgary, Alberta, Canada".

Considering most of CNN's audience is American, does Calgary have enough of a stature that people know where it is? I'm guessing CNN thinks so or they would have changed it to something like Bush's first stop would be in Canada.

[BlackArcher101]

When I describe where I live to foreigners by saying "Just north of Calgary" they understand where I am. So I say yes, it is international.

[ricosuave]

well, we did host the olympics. Im sure that helped. And the G8 summit near here, etc.

[Kybosh]

Yep, almost everyone I've met on my travels knows Calgary. Why don't you think Vancouver or Ottawa are international cities?

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

When I describe where I live to foreigners by saying "Just north of Calgary" they understand where I am. So I say yes, it is international.

Why don't you say just south of Edmonton?

[4X4]

I dunno. Depends on who you're talking about/to. Yes, Calgary is an international city. We had the Olypmics... We're a million+. 'THE' downtown of oil country in the free world.... But I spent a year in Europe. Very, very few people had heard of Calgary that weren't of NA or british empire origin. I remember telling one wop that I was from Calgary and he excitedly told me that he was also from there. I rolled my eyes and bailed and related the story later to my other friend. He laughed at me and gently told me that there's an Italian city (the largest city on the island of Sardinia) called Cagliari. Said in italian,that'd be cah-Lyee-ah-ree.

[Bagor]

I would say more so than Ottawa which IMO is just a government town.

[Daradon]

I would say yes, if you define it as knowing where it is without mention the country or province, or being the most well known Calgary (there are others, one in Texas I believe, go figure). I would think most (many/enough) people have heard of it.

I think we still have a way to go to be more metropolitan or cosmopolitan though.

Vancouver definitely is. Ottawa probably only is because it's the capital.

[killer_carlson]

Having travelled extensively in my lifetime, I can say with confidence that Calgary is an international city.

It started with the Olympics, and continued to get play when it was the hub for Canadian Airlines. Since the turn of the millenium, the oilpatch and regards as the oil capital of Canada has garnered the momentum. The Calgary Stampede and the festivities of the business community during Stampede also contribute to the reputation.

100%, Calgary is an international city.

[HelloHockeyFans]

From my experience, people internationally recognize Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. Very few knew about Calgary except for Americans.

[troutman]

17th Ave SE - "International Avenue"

[HotHotHeat]

World city? No. We may be known internationally, but there are only a hand full of world cities.

[kn]

The only reason I was hesitant about Vancouver is because I've come across Americans who think I'm referring to Vancouver, Washington. The Olympics may change that though.

And anyone in the resource sector and related businesses obviously knows Calgary but I'm not sure about average citizens around the world or the US.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by kn

The only reason I was hesitant about Vancouver is because I've come across Americans who think I'm referring to Vancouver, Washington. The Olympics may change that though.

And anyone in the resource sector and related businesses obviously knows Calgary but I'm not sure about average citizens around the world or the US.

Lol, those are Americans. Ask others. Vancouver is easily more well known than Calgary.

[macker]

"From Bankok to Calgary" Death Cab for Cutie thinks Calgary is Int.

[Phanuthier]

I don't think so, no. From my travels, I've asked "Do you know where Calgary is? 1988 Olympics? Rocky Mountains? Banff? No? ... yeah, sort of near Vancouver... sort of..."

[RT14]

Yeah, definitely not many people in China that have heard of Calgary. 95% of conversations go like this:

Random Chinese Person: "Where are you from?"
Me: "Canada"
RCP: "Oh, Canada very good! Very beautiful, yeah?"
Me: "It's a great country, yup."
RCP: "What city? Vancouver, Toronto?"
Me: "Calgary"
RCP: "Ca-what?"
Me: "Cal-ga-ry"
RCP: "Where is that?"
Me: "Alberta. Western Canada."
RCP: "....so, close to Vancouver?"
Me: "....sure"

[enthused]

When I was living in France and I told people I was from Calgary, it was kind of hit or miss whether or not people had heard of it.

These are all responses I actually did receive:

Me: "I'm from Calgary"
Random #1: "Oh yeah, 1988 Olympics!"

Me: "I'm from Calgary"
Random #2: "Oh yeah, the Calgary Stampede!"

Me: "I'm from Calgary"
Random #3: "I SAW COOL RUNNINGS ONCE!"

Me: "I'm from Calgary"
Random #4: "WTF"

Me: "I'm from Calgary"
Random #5: "You dirty Quebecois"

[Clarkey]

I've found that Toronto and Vancouver are the 2 most recognized Canadian cities internationally.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I haven't traveled enough to judge, but some interesting responses.
I think Vancouver is clearly "ahead" of Calgary in being an international city, and I would say Calgary is not there yet based on my limited experience.