Albertans "smug" and "condescending"

[flames_1987]

The quotes are from 4 years ago, this article has no value. The only thing I dislike about these articles, is how it's met with just as equally dumb and similar reactions towards Toronto and Vancouver. People who so openly bash Toronto and Vancouver but then speak with such superiority when someone says something negative about Calgary. I moved to Toronto this year and the reaction towards coming from Calgary and Calgary as a city has been nothing but positive especially with the election of Nenshi.

I celebrate my country and the differences between our major cities. Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto all have great and different characteristics that make them special. I've lived in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto and I always hate when people need to find a way to talk more highly about their city, by putting down one of the others.

I've never understood the hate for Toronto besides the fact that Ontario was in power for so long and because it's such a big city which people always seem to hold some contempt for ie. New York City. Growing up in Calgary, I had to hear every bad thing about Toronto and it's people. Then I actually visited Toronto myself and was blown away by how friendly the people are, how safe it is for such a big city, the beautiful diversity, culture, sports and things to do. And vice-versa I've had friends come back to Calgary with me from Toronto and be blown away by the mountains, Banff and how it's nothing like it's painted out by some out east.

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by Dion

What's stopping you from visiting Alberta?

Well, I'm trying to plan a long trip to visit Alaska, Arctic circle, Baanfffffff etc and it's not happening right now..;(


That being said, i find the rivalry between Canadian cities amusing in a good way.

[Street Pharmacist]

To give an perspective from a transplanted Albertan, there is some truth to this. I get some Calgarians in my store who believe Kamloops is some backwater hick town, but most are great. All the Albertans I identify with are "salt of the earth" type people. Usual stereotypes of Albertans: Drive big pick ups when they don't need them and put balls on them, don't care about the environment, think the wealth they have makes then better than everyone else when they actually live in an ugly place while exploiting it's resources, etc.

To me it sounds like a whole lot of jealousy. I cannot count how many times people move to Alberta for work, then come back and talk about how ugly it was, like they made the mountains here or something.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think it's funny that the accusation about being "smug" and "condescending" was followed by some defending comments that are sort of "smug" condescending".

As someone who has lived for at least two years or longer in BC, Alberta, Ontario, as well as Manitoba, I have experienced many of the regional idiosyncracies that lead to some of the stereotypes you hear about. In general though, I think people are pretty much the same anywhere you go. It does seem like Albertans care a little bit more about what people think and get very defensive. It's like they always feel like they need to prove their status.

I certainly never got the idea from anyone in Ontario that I talk to, that they feel the need to promote themselves as the best, or even great. In fact, when I tell them that I moved from out west, they typically respnd with things like; "why would you leave there to come here?". I will say that many people here are ignorant about the west and about the communities there, but they come by honestly about it.

[Mtt48]

Originally Posted by Lobotroth

Smug and condescending? "Bonjour!" says Quebec.

Having lived in Quebec for quite some time I can say that those characteristics absolutely do not apply to Quebecers.

[GreenLantern]

As an outsider, I agree.

But Calgary is the biggest city in Saskatchewan, so I guess I can't talk.

[Red Ice Player]

I never actually notice any difference between Torontonians and Albertans when I go down east. Its just the Toronto Star running a completely pointless, meaningless non story about a non issue. Consider the source, the smug and condescending Toronto Star.

[NomNomNom]

Holy ####, don't even get me started on the people that were born and raised in Vancouver. Arrogant and self titled - "we have the mountains, the ocean and the best hockey team in the world. We're better than the rest of Canada"

[HPLovecraft]

I don't know about smug, but definitely the most provincial people in Canada after Quebec.

[Resolute 14]

The people of Vancouver and Toronto simply don't like having the shoe on the other foot.

Ontario: Want more respect? Stop being welfare whores and get your province out of have-not status. You have no reason, other than gross fiscal incompetence, to be there in the first place.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The people of Vancouver and Toronto simply don't like having the shoe on the other foot.

Ontario: Want more respect? Stop being welfare whores and get your province out of have-not status. You have no reason, other than gross fiscal incompetence, to be there in the first place.

That, and unionized everything. I would NEVER start any sort of business in Ontario that relies on any sort of trades. I was just having a similar conversation at the Car show with a big shot from Chrysler Corporate. Ontario is now the most expensive place on the face of the Earth to produce an automobile... reason, the UAW.

[flames_1987]

Ontario's economy, it's politics are a mess right now. Still doesn't take away from the amazing city that is Toronto and it's citizens.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by Dion

What's stopping you from visiting Alberta?

Creepers.

[WesternCanadaKing]

The comment section of that article is ridiculous. Got a chuckle out of one Easterner reacting to all the Albertans coming into the comment section of a Torontonian newspaper, saying it was evidence of how "Ontario obsessed" Alberta is. How can you miss the massive irony of saying this under an Ontario article about how people view Alberta?

[CaptainCrunch]

Sorry I can't hear them over the sound of all of this money slowly fluttering to the floor

[Dion]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Sorry I can't hear them over the sound of all of this money slowly fluttering to the floor

You forgot about the bonus i'm giving you

[Yasa]

Condescending? Smug? Hardly. I try not to listen to the plebs when they squeel.

[Aegypticus]

I remember my first trip to Vancouver when I was in my early teens. We stayed with some distant relatives I had never me before and we went to meet and visit some other relatives, including a kid around my age. The first thing he ever said to me was, "so you're from Calgary? I heard it sucks there." Talk about condescending.

[Mass_nerder]

I do find that Calgary can be a pretty unfriendly place, but I think it's due to the 'work-first' attitude a lot of people have. They move to Calgary from all over Canada to cash in on a booming economy, put their head down and work and don't bother to enjoy the city.
"I'm here to make money, who cares about the city, I'll be gone in 5 years".

[Flames89]

There is no doubt the culture of Calgary has shifted in the last 10 years.