Sell me on Calgary

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Table 5

If you’re trying to sell someone on Calgary, I’m not sure February is the month to do that.

What’s not to like about brown grass and hard black gravelly snow?

[Snuffleupagus]

Stay put, Seattle not only is a nicer city with water, it's getting a hockey team that'll probably win the cup before we do

[Erick Estrada]

Calgary is a nice city for the most part. If you are acclimated to a milder climate, the biggest adjustment will be the weather. The summers are usually nice but very short and there's not much of a spring or fall season so you are looking at essentially 8 cold months of the year.

[Cheese]

The weather! If you like weather you will see LOTS of it at all times of the year!

[AnonymousStranger]

Having visited Seattle many times, I gotta say Seattle is a waaaaaaay nicer city than Calgary. I would even say Seattle is nicer than Vancouver in many respects. The only bad thing about Seattle might be the huge homeless camps, but I don't know if that issue has been fixed by the city or not by now. Calgary's homeless and vagrant situation ain't perfect either.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by AnonymousStranger

Having visited Seattle many times, I gotta say Seattle is a waaaaaaay nicer city than Calgary. I would even say Seattle is nicer than Vancouver in many respects. The only bad thing about Seattle might be the huge homeless camps, but I don't know if that issue has been fixed by the city or not by now. Calgary's homeless and vagrant situation ain't perfect either.

Seattle is an actual city where Vancouver is basically a seaside town. Seattle is much better than Vancouver. Calgary has a different feel than both. As many have said already, affordability is a salient fact about Calgary which can't be ignored.

Also, Vancouver also has large, violent homeless camps.

[Bigtime]

Calgary has the added benefit of not sliding into the ocean when the Cascadia plate goes, unlike Vancouver and Seattle (although the Yellowstone super volcano would get us I believe).

[tvp2003]

I would sell Calgary by selling Canada — friendly people, no Trump, and free healthcare depending on your work/immigration status.

Once you decide yes on Canada, Calgary is a great option. Lower cost of living/housing compared to other cities like Vancouver and Toronto, but still lots of amenities. Yes we’re in recovery mode right now, but that means there is lots of opportunity for you and your family if there is a job opening in your field.

[Scroopy Noopers]

The best part about Calgary winters is how sunny they are. Ontario is gloomy most of the winter.

Sunny -25 day in Calgary, and your car gets warmed up a bit in the sun. Loved that.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Forest Lawn
Forest Lawn High School
Marlborough Mall
Whitehorn
Number 58 bus

[Weitz]

Calgary is an ok place to work and make a living. But I would be shocked if I or any of my friends retire here.

I think that sums it up well.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Choosing a city based on retiring there is a terrible way to rate a city. Otherwise Arizona and Florida would be the most desirable places to live in NA.

[jmac98]

Just spend a night in Edmonton first.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Travis Munroe

- Potential to be a part of the market upswing and this city is a lot of fun when things are going well.

I'm a born and (mostly) raised Calgarian and it annoys me I've never experienced this..moved away in 2004 and came back in 2013, was gone for the fun prosperous years. Ever since I came back, it just feels like this city is slowly dying more and more every year. The amount of people DT noticeably shrinks every time I'm down there.

Have a feeling I'm not even going to be living here anymore in another couple years which is a sad thought. I love this city, but this isn't an ideal time to be coming here. If I had an opportunity to work in Seattle I'd probably take it.

EDIT: The location to the Rocky Mountains are prime though, so there's that. The rugged landscape is beautiful around here

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by slcrocket

What are the biggest selling points of Calgary as you see them?

My wife is American, and we both moved to Calgary about 8 or so years ago. It took a bit of adjustment coming from NYC, but my wife is really comfortable and really likes living here. Especially since we've had kids she's really integrated into the community and sees the big difference between here and the US...especially when she goes back and sees how life is for moms back in NY.

The biggest benefits we've found is the general increased quality of life and the lower cost for the big things...education, healthcare, property taxes (the first two especially). My friends back in NYC pay about 20 grand a year per child for schooling (K-12), and 2-3K month for family health insurance, and often 15-20k in property taxes. Yes, house prices here arent cheap either, and our wait times to see a doctor are longer, but I don't have quite the same level of financial worries. I remember doing the calculations once and realized I would probably need to make about 80-100K more in salary per child to have the same level of schooling/care back in NY. We'd both also need to be working, and having kids in NY is hard as hell. Obviously thats not necessarily applicable to a comparison Seattle, but that was our experience.

Generally, I think life here is also a bit easier. People complain about traffic, but it's nothing compared to what you get in Seattle or an American city. There is crime here like anywhere, but you don't get the vast extremes of disparity like you do in the US. Politics too...there's not quite the massive divide between people (although I do think its growing somewhat). I've found the best way to enjoy Calgary and Alberta in general is to become an outdoor person. Do as much skiing, biking, hiking, etc as possible, and you will love it more. If you and your wife are outdoorsy people, it can be an awesome place to live.

What sucks? Shopping/shipping is terrible compared to the US, Doing business here is not as easy, customer service is generally poor, "spring" time, flying in Canada is expensive, the Flames always find a way to suck.

[jwslam]

Originally Posted by nik-

Stay out of our city, parasite!

Is this for Airdrie folk to drive in do park & ride into downtown?

[peter12]

I think Table 5 nailed it.

My partner and I are looking to get out of Vancouver but heading south. We are looking at one of Portland, Denver, or Austin. Trying to find that medium between higher salaries and cost of living.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Forest Lawn
Forest Lawn High School
Marlborough Mall
Whitehorn
Number 58 bus

Dude, Circle Route FTW

[troutman]

Almost everyone I know that moved here from Europe, would never go back.

[Winsor_Pilates]

You're moving from the US, so:
-No Trump
-No (few) mass shootings
-Healthcare

On Calgary specifically as someone who moved and now lives in Vancouver. I miss:
-The Sun
-Much more affordable housing (and more affordable everything, ie: no provincial sales tax)
-Generally friendlier people
-Big city enough, but still feels calmer and smaller than an actual big city. Traffic etc are much worse in Vancouver.
-Less hippies, less petty crime, less drug/homeless issues (compared to Vancouver)