The top city in Canada? Calgary

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

typical....
Have you ever lived in Calgary before?
I have lived in both cities and you have absolutely nothing to gloat about when it comes to weather bro.

Right now its -1 in Calgary and +3 in Vancouver...given how arid Calgary is...it may feel warmer in Calgary right now than Vancouver.

And don't kid anyone it rains just about everyday in Vancouver..Nov '06 - a total of 37 hours of sunshine for the whole month....

I just looked at calgary and vancouver's 7 day forecasts and in Calgary, the lows are ALL in double digits. In Vancouver, the lows are all ABOVE 0 degrees with light rain mixed in for each of the days. Big deal, a little rain never hurt anybody. Well below freezing, that hurts me just thinkin abou it.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

In that vein, with a high-pitched voice, I can certainly say that winter in Vancouver, even including the rain, certainly has some advantages over the cold of Calgary.

I'd take being cold over wet any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I just looked at calgary and vancouver's 7 day forecasts and in Calgary, the lows are ALL in double digits. In Vancouver, the lows are all ABOVE 0 degrees with light rain mixed in for each of the days. Big deal, a little rain never hurt anybody. Well below freezing, that hurts me just thinkin abou it.

Here, here. I live in Calgary, and I know Vancouver weather would be infinitely better. Who doesn't want greenery all year round? For crying out loud, we're talking about +5 compared to -25!!! Vancouver is a no-brainer for me, I wish I was there.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I just looked at calgary and vancouver's 7 day forecasts and in Calgary, the lows are ALL in double digits. In Vancouver, the lows are all ABOVE 0 degrees with light rain mixed in for each of the days. Big deal, a little rain never hurt anybody. Well below freezing, that hurts me just thinkin abou it.

a little rain? give your head a shake bro...clear winter days trump constant rain.

those low temperatures happen at night..when most people are sleeping, they hardly effect most people.

Also remeber that you can't just look at temperatures.....14 below in Calgary is much more comfortable than 14 below in Toronto...-2 in Vancouver is like -10 in Calgary...

As i discovered living in the lower mainland for 4 years is that there are many "myths" about the area and one of them is the great weather...and it isnt so much the rain as its the total and complete lack of sunshine..even in the summer...

Besides no one in Canada has anything to brag about when it comes to weather...but the differences between Southern Alberta and the Lower mainland are very few...

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Here, here. I live in Calgary, and I know Vancouver weather would be infinitely better. Who doesn't want greenery all year round? For crying out loud, we're talking about +5 compared to -25!!! Vancouver is a no-brainer for me, I wish I was there.

yes because its -25 in calgary all the time....

[BlackEleven]

Saskatoon is better to live in the Montreal? I dunno about that one....

I love living in Montreal, much more than I liked Calgary. It all just depends on how you prioritize the different aspects of urban living -- climate, arts/culture, job opportunity, cost of living, etc...

[Winsor_Pilates]

I knew this would turn into a Calgary vs Vancouver debate.
It's really a matter of opinion.
For me, Van >>> Calgary. The culture, the weather, the scenery, water, lack or rednecks etc. are all things I prefer.

Calgary is a great city in it's own way, but we're comparing apples to oranges when we talk about the 2 cities. Calgary has a lot of growing up to do before the cities are comparible.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

yes because its -25 in calgary all the time....

Well when that's often the case, and it's predicted to be the coldest winter in 15 year, I'd say that's an accurate assumption! =)

[habernac]

LOL! Give me the sunshine of Calgary anyday, you can have your year round greenery in Van City and the depressing rain that comes with it.

[enthused]

When I started going to univeristy in Victoria, I was looking forward to not having to endure Calgary's cold winters. After spending several winters in Victoria now, I will take Calgary's -30 temperatures ANY DAY over endless days of rain and grey skies. The weather there in the winter is so absolutely depressing. Calgary may be bitter cold in the winter, but at least the sun is still out.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I knew this would turn into a Calgary vs Vancouver debate.
It's really a matter of opinion.
For me, Van >>> Calgary. The culture, the weather, the scenery, water, lack or rednecks etc. are all things I prefer.

Calgary is a great city in it's own way, but we're comparing apples to oranges when we talk about the 2 cities. Calgary has a lot of growing up to do before the cities are comparible.

classy..and again typical...

[Matata]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I havn't seen any statistics. But from actually visiting US cities, Calgary's urban sprawl seems to be pretty minor compared to the large US cities. I mean it doesn't matter if you live in an upscale nieghborhood or a starter home. Your only five feet from your neighbors in Calgary.

Calgary is the largest city in North America @ 5,000+ square Kilometers, with a small population for a major city. I've found that in Calgary, its not about where you live, but how close you live to major roads that determines how close you are to anything.

[The Goon]

I don't understand how weather/climate even comes into the conversation. In Canada, the weather's going to suck at some point.

If we were all choosing our residence based on weather, I think we'd all be in Belize by now.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I havn't seen any statistics. But from actually visiting US cities, Calgary's urban sprawl seems to be pretty minor compared to the large US cities. I mean it doesn't matter if you live in an upscale nieghborhood or a starter home. Your only five feet from your neighbors in Calgary.

I've read that Calgary is the same size in area of New York city, but with only 1/10 the population. Our sprawl is really quite large.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Matata

Calgary is the largest city in North America @ 5,000+ square Kilometers, with a small population for a major city.

Calgary's area is actually a little over 700 square km. The metro area is what you are quoting. By comparison Edmonton's area is a little under 700 square km but it's metro area is over 9,000 square km.

Calgary is a long way off from being the largest city in North America in terms of area.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I've read that Calgary is the same size in area of New York city, but with only 1/10 the population. Our sprawl is really quite large.

Calgary does have sprawl issues, that can't be debated, but comparisons to the island of Manhattan are going to make even Saskatoon look bad I"d think

[moon]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Calgary's a great city to raise a family.

I would never consider moving back there though. Vancouver has a thing called culture.

Just out of curiosity what is all this great "culture" that everyone is Calgary is missing out on?

Maybe it is just me but living in Lethbridge which I assume would be considered to have less "culture" than Calgary I have never once thought that I was missing out on "culture."

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I've read that Calgary is the same size in area of New York city, but with only 1/10 the population. Our sprawl is really quite large.

its not even a fair comparison...calgary is a unicity with no constraints on how big it can grow...

New York city is a bunch of islands surronded by political boundairies etc..they have constraints..The reality is the work force in New York lives beyond those boundaries..in New Jersey and Connecticut...take away the political boundaries and different city names...and you have one large city from Boston to Washington DC...

Same for Vancouver...people commute from all over the lower mainland to work in Vancouver...White Rock, Abbortsfords, West Vancouver, New West, Surrey ect...Just because you divided up the urban area into smaller cities doesnt mean there is no urban sprawl...

Calgary gets a unfair rap when it comes to urban sprawl.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by moon

Just out of curiosity what is all this great "culture" that everyone is Calgary is missing out on?

Maybe it is just me but living in Lethbridge which I assume would be considered to have less "culture" than Calgary I have never once thought that I was missing out on "culture."

Ya that is a good question...throwing out the we have culture thing is real stupid....please someone tells us how Calgary has no culture...

[troutman]

Originally Posted by moon

Just out of curiosity what is all this great "culture" that everyone is Calgary is missing out on?

Maybe it is just me but living in Lethbridge which I assume would be considered to have less "culture" than Calgary I have never once thought that I was missing out on "culture."

People from Toronto will often talk about how they can't possibly imagine living anywhere else - as if Toronto was the only city in the world with restaurants, theater, opera, pro sports franchises etc. How often do they really take in these events?

I was just in NYC - sure there's a lot to do there. But, the friends we visit there in Queens don't really go into the city all that often. I think living in the mega-city must be over-rated. I like having the Rockies and my secret fishing holes nearby. CGY has a kind of art scene - what it does not have, you can have when you travel to the mega-cities.