Letter of Day in Today's Winnipeg Free Press

[FireFly]

Calgary is officially the third largest city in Canada though.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Calgary is officially the third largest city in Canada though.

well, only technically. if you count the city itself and not the metro, which you shouldnt, then yes we are third. But in realistic metropolitan terms, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are clearly ahead of us. Ottawa too is a little bit ahead of us in this respect, but we are pretty close.

[FireFly]

Which is why I said officially and not technically... According to Canadian census, (which would be the official part) we are the third largest... most people would technically consider the metro around Vancouver as part of Van. I have a hard time believing Ottawa is that large though.

[Inferno]

She can trade places with me anyday. While I dont think Winnipeg is the dump many people on here seem to think it is if I had to choose between the two I would pick Calgary.

[CalgaryDesi]

Why are you letting it bother you? Most people moving to Alberta are doing so because of jobs, not because they want to leave their former hometowns
Some like it, some don't, personal opinion.
Myself - I love both Edmonton and Calgary, but I want to explore the world. Calgary and Edmonton aren't the be-all and end-all. There are tons of destinations around the world that have more to offer. Vancouver, Bay Area, Atlanta, Switzerland, London (Southhall), Austrailia, Hong Kong etc are all destinations that I will consider if I move and the opportunity is right.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Way bigger than anything in Manitoba...

I know what your saying. I'd like to live in a bigger city too. But Calgary is pretty big compared to most of Canada.

Actually, Metro Calgary alone has as many people as all of Manitoba.

And yes, Calgary is the third largest city in Canada. That is not a technicality, that is a fact.

As far as Winnipeg goes, I've been there many times, though since the death of my grandmother in the spring, I will likely only ever visit again if I am passing through on my way to Toronto. It is the largest city in the middle of nowhere.

[CalgaryDesi]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

And yes, Calgary is the third largest city in Canada. That is not a technicality, that is a fact.

That depends on how you define it. Most would consider Vancouver a much larger city than Calgary (double the size) with the metro area. Ottawa's metro area is larger as well.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Table 5

well, only technically. if you count the city itself and not the metro, which you shouldnt, then yes we are third. But in realistic metropolitan terms, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are clearly ahead of us. Ottawa too is a little bit ahead of us in this respect, but we are pretty close.

I hope you guys are just talking about population, because Calgary is the largest (non-metro) city in North America, area-wise.

Calgary: 789.9 km²
New York City: 785.5 km²
Toronto: 629.91 km²

So, yeah, I think it's safe to classify Calgary as a "big city."

Originally Posted by CalgaryDesi

That depends on how you define it. Most would consider Vancouver a much larger city than Calgary (double the size) with the metro area.

Metro is just something people invented to make themselves look bigger than they are.

Vancouver's non-metro stats: 602,231 pop, 114.67 km² area.

Claim denied.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Actually, Metro Calgary alone has as people as all of Manitoba.

And yes, Calgary is the third largest city in Canada. That is not a technicality, that is a fact.

As far as Winnipeg goes, I've been there many times, though since the death of my grandmother in the spring, I will likely only ever visit again if I am passing through on my way to Toronto. It is the largest city in the middle of nowhere.

Yes it is a fact, but in reality, when comparing cities with respect to population, the metro numbers is what counts. We have a long ways to catch up with the 3 other larger centers in Canada, T.O, MTL or Van in a population sense.

Winnipeg is a fun city anytime I pass through. Decent night life, women and a nice beach. Though i dont think i could live there.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Which is why I said officially and not technically... According to Canadian census, (which would be the official part) we are the third largest... most people would technically consider the metro around Vancouver as part of Van. I have a hard time believing Ottawa is that large though.

um, technically and officially are the same thing. Calgary is technically and officially the 3rd largest city. Cities are counted in both ways in the census, as seperate entities and as the CMA's, so we are technically (and officially!) the 5th according to CMA terms, which is definitely a much more realistic way of looking at things.

Calgary is more or less a uni city, where it has swallowed up all its suburbs into itself, as opposed to places like Vancouver, where suburbs such as Burnaby continue to be seperate entities, even though they are clearly part of the same "city". In both instances, citizens share the same shopping malls, entertainment spots, sports etc.

Trying to make Calgary bigger than it is only works in the realm of math. In reality, we are at best the 4th largest city in Canada.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I hope you guys are just talking about population, because Calgary is the largest (non-metro) city in North America, area-wise.[/
Calgary: 789.9 km²
New York City: 785.5 km²
Toronto: 629.91 km²
So, yeah, I think it's safe to classify Calgary as a "big city."

um no. trying to classify Calgary as a big city by comparing it to the land-mass of New York and Toronto is ######ed. Any idiot knowns that New York doesn't stop at the 5 borroughs, but goes on for many many more miles. Trust me man, I live here, and this city goes out into different STATES, never mind counties. Same with Toronto. The GTA goes all the way down to Hamilton.

Trying to think otherwise is foolish.

Metro is just something people invented to make themselves look bigger than they are.

No, Metro is something people invented to realistically guage the size of an actual city in realistic terms. What you are trying to do, equate land-mass with the stature of a city, is something that makes you want Calgary to appear bigger.

This is the difference between Calgary and a place like Vancouver. Calgary barely has any suburbs because it has ammalgmated them into itself, while Vancouver has not. If you really want an honest comparison of what Calgary would be like if it had not done this, go back to the 40's or 50's before Calgary started expanding it's boundaries, and swallowing up communities into the city proper. Now compare that area, to with what the Vancouver numbers are. You would find we are much smaller, and in line with other cities.

Calgary is more or less a uni-city, Vancouver is not. But realistically that doesn't change anything, since these people count themselves as one big city, and utilize the same facilities, road, etc. Do you really think people in a place like Surrey don't go into downtown Vancouver to work, or to GM place to watch a hockey game?

[ken0042]

Edit- NM. Table 5 beat me to it.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I hope you guys are just talking about population, because Calgary is the largest (non-metro) city in North America, area-wise.

Calgary: 789.9 km²
New York City: 785.5 km²
Toronto: 629.91 km²

So, yeah, I think it's safe to classify Calgary as a "big city."





Metro is just something people invented to make themselves look bigger than they are.

Vancouver's non-metro stats: 602,231 pop, 114.67 km² area.

Claim denied.

Where did you find those stats? Because the guy at work hates Calgary so much he constantly brings up the fact that Hamilton is the biggest geographical city in North America. He says he heard it on CJay 92, lol. So it must be true I guess. I'd just like to see the difference if you know what it is.

[Table 5]

According to Wiki:

Calgary: 789.90 km²
Hamilton: 1,117.11 sq. km²

These sort of numbers just show how retarted it is to use land area to guage the stature of a city. I mean does anybody out there really see Hamilton as a bigger and more cosmopolitan city? Unless you count Hamilton as a far away suburb of Toronto (which could be argued, but is sort of stretching it thin), it's not even a question.

[Red]

I wonder what this woman's situation is. She probably came here a few years back, bought a house, had a decent job and now has a chance to sell out and go back to Winnipeg with a truck load of cash. Money is no longer an issue for her. All the others on the other hand....

BTW, this 'going back home' is starting to become a trend now. Just yesterday I found out that my boss is packing it in and going to Regina. He only lived here for about 8 years. He's got enough to go back and semi retire.

[FanIn80]

So... based on the arguments presented here, the next time I go to my bank for a loan, if I use my Metropolitan net worth (comprised, of course, from the holdings of all my neighbours), I should be in more favorable economic territory.

Awesome. Thanks for the tip.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CalgaryDesi

That depends on how you define it. Most would consider Vancouver a much larger city than Calgary (double the size) with the metro area. Ottawa's metro area is larger as well.

Umm, the definition of "city" is very clear and not open to interpretation.

"Metropolitan Area" and "City" are two different things.

Anyone who considers the City of Vancouver to be larger than the City of Calgary (or the City of Edmonton, or even the City of Winnipeg) has no understanding of the difference.

The Vancouver CMA is larger than the Calgary CMA, yes, but that isnt what I said, is it?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by soulchoice

Winnipeg is a fun city anytime I pass through. Decent night life, women and a nice beach. Though i dont think i could live there.

I loved the year I lived in Winnipeg but then again living in a place where counting sorrounding areas the population is 15,000 I would have probably loved living in any city. I probably should have stayed but right before we had to find work experience to complete the course I was taking a computer store opened here which wanted to provide Multimedia services so I decided to come home.

I could very well go back within the next year. Telefilm Canada and the Government of Manitoba just donated a bunch of money to start Fortune Cat Studios which will house three game development teams and provide them with all the equipment they need to create and market and a video game. There isnt much info on their website right now but that's something I'm going to look into.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

I am a born and raised Calgarian and I have never had any desire to leave. I love this city and am proud to be a resident. I have visited many many many towns and cities throughout the country and never been tempted to move away from Calgary.

Honestly, I say to anyone who doesn't like Calgary: Leave. Or better yet, go to Edmonton and then at least you will like Calgary more.

I am in the same boat. I love Calgary and it's a great place to live. I've also been to many cities around the world including Winnipeg and don't think I will never leave Calgary.

I get annoyed from people that moved to Calgary that trash the city. It's my home, I love it and if you don't get out. It's that easy.

[CalgaryDesi]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Umm, the definition of "city" is very clear and not open to interpretation.

"Metropolitan Area" and "City" are two different things.

Anyone who considers the City of Vancouver to be larger than the City of Calgary (or the City of Edmonton, or even the City of Winnipeg) has no understanding of the difference.

The Vancouver CMA is larger than the Calgary CMA, yes, but that isnt what I said, is it?

You're taking the definition of city in a literal sense.

Most people, when talking about the ''city'' refer to the whole metro area.