Time to be Jealous of Edmonton

[V]

Okay, I'll bite...

Yeah, I'd agree with all of that except for 4. I don't think Calgary has culture going for it when you contrast with the big three.

As you wrote, Calgary is a tier II city in a small country. It has a long way to go before being considered world class.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Don't know about world class, but Calgary is a step above Edmonton in most, if not all ways. There has always been a decent gap. Growing up North of Edmonton it was never an impressive site or place to visit, minus the mall. The first time I was in Calgary as a youngin, it was just better. Cleaner, the skyline (even then) and the view of the mountains almost anywhere in the city.

I'd say in the last 4-5 years, the gap has only grown and at this point Calgary is easily the better place.

Just drive into both cities and you'll quickly realize what I'm saying. Calgary has a wow factor with impressive buildings already there, and going up. Edmonton just feels like a lower quality of it, no "wow" there as you enter.. it's actually a lot of "oh... wow..yuck".

This. There was a time when Calgary and Edmonton were closer, but that time has long passed, and even when we were close Calgary was still the better city.

Now a days when I go to Edmonton I just think "Man, Calgary sure is growing up nicely and coming here twice a year really drives that point home".

Edmonton is a good gauge of how Calgary is growing up, as it is like the benchmark of Calgary in 2001. So you go there, hang out for a bit, then drive back to Calgary and realize how far we've come since 2001.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by V

Yeah, I'd agree with all of that except for 4. I don't think Calgary has culture going for it when you contrast with the big three.

As you wrote, Calgary is a tier II city in a small country. It has a long way to go before being considered world class.

Yeah, we're so close though. I think that's the difference between Calgary and Edmonton. I won't include all cities, but here's how I kind of see it. I really think Calgary is unique and fits into it's own category in this country at this stage, and I think in 15-20 years we'll be in Tier 1.

Tier 1
Toronto
Vancouver
Montreal

Tier 1b
Calgary

Tier 2
Edmonton
Quebec City
Ottawa
etc

[V]

I think Calgarians would be best served by not comparing Calgary to Edmonton. Onwards and upwards.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by V

I think Calgarians would be best served by not comparing Calgary to Edmonton. Onwards and upwards.

This is true. It was Oilstain that tried to drag us down with Edmonton.

I really do like the High Level bridge though. There's actually quite a few dramatic valleys around Edmonton that make for some nice breathtaking bridges. You know where that ski hill is? That area is pretty cool for dramatic valleys.

[OffsideSpecialist]

I think Ottawa and Quebec City belong in the same tier as Calgary, for sure.

When I talk to people internationally, everyone knows of three Canadian cities, obviously Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. So as far as I'm concerned, those are the only ones that can be considered world class for sure. It was hit or miss if people knew of Calgary, Ottawa or Halifax.

[jayswin]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've heard, on a business level across the world Canada is starting to be known for Toronto and Calgary, then Vancouver and Montreal.

[V]

Originally Posted by flameswin

This is true. It was Oilstain that tried to drag us down with Edmonton.

I really do like the High Level bridge though. There's actually quite a few dramatic valleys around Edmonton that make for some nice breathtaking bridges. You know where that ski hill is? That area is pretty cool for dramatic valleys.

I like the HLB too.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've heard, on a business level across the world Canada is starting to be known for Toronto and Calgary, then Vancouver and Montreal.

For business, Calgary would certainly make sense. I can't think of many business that would be in Montreal or Vancouver relative to Toronto or Calgary. I think Ottawa is known on a similar level simply due to being the capital.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by V

I like the HLB too.

It lights up nicely.

Why don't you bring your talent to Calgary? Calgary's the wave of the future.

Wave of the future!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

For business, Calgary would certainly make sense. I can't think of many business that would be in Montreal or Vancouver relative to Toronto or Calgary. I think Ottawa is known on a similar level simply due to being the capital.

Yeah, I guess that's part of my argument for it being in it's own unique, tweener tier. On the world business stage we are very well known, that has to count for something.

[V]

I brought my talents to Calgary and stayed for 10 years. How do you think Calgary got to tier 1b status? You guys are screwed now though.

[jayswin]

V: Bringing cities to tier 1b status since 2001.

[HOWITZER]

Originally Posted by flameswin

1. Since when has Calgary not embraced ourselves as city with a theme for access to skiing/camping/quading etc? We've pushed that theme to the max in attracting visitors for as long as I've lived here.

2. That's exactly what the city has been doing for the last few years. We're starting to see the results now. It's fine if you think we're not there yet, but your post seems to imply that you're bringing it up as something they aren't currently doing.

Agreed with the rest though.

I guess it just doesn't come across that pronounced to me. I've never lived in Calgary, so I wouldn't know how the city embraces itself. As an outsider though, when Calgary comes up, "what a cool outdoorsy outgoing city that is" ought to be the first thought that pops into my head, and I just don't feel that yet. But it excites me that you say that that is what they are pushing for. It just means it will get adopted by the wider community that much sooner which is awesome because like you said in another post, Calgary is a 1B city.

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

I think Ottawa and Quebec City belong in the same tier as Calgary, for sure.

When I talk to people internationally, everyone knows of three Canadian cities, obviously Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. So as far as I'm concerned, those are the only ones that can be considered world class for sure. It was hit or miss if people knew of Calgary, Ottawa or Halifax.

I don't know so much about Ottawa, Quebec I could almost see. Ottawa is just so government 9-5 focused. If you're going to be a world city in the 21st century, the city needs to always be alive, picture Rio. Ottawa has the beauty of being the nations capital, but outside of parliament hill, and a couple cornerstone national monuments and museums, it's no Washington DC architecturally. It needs to be more than just the capital. It's one thing when you're the capital of a country that proclaims to be the leader of the free world, and another if you're anyone else.

Quebec I could see being there though. Has the elegance, old-quebec is beautiful and is the most european city in NA. Has the culture, it just needs attention. A stronger draw of people. With more recognition of Quebec's current "world class assets" it could easily move up the ranks.

I can't speak to Halifax because I've never been there.

[jayswin]

The language barrier in Quebec city will always keep it tier 2, imo. Montreal's got it going right with English speaking Canadians and tourists being able to come in and get by.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by flameswin

The language barrier in Quebec city will always keep it tier 2, imo. Montreal's got it going right with English speaking Canadians and tourists being able to come in and get by.

It's really not a problem in Quebec City to get by on English either. It's only the countryside in the province where you should know some French. Anywhere you go in the world though, it is rude to not at least know a little bit of the local language for brief interactions.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by HOWITZER

I don't know so much about Ottawa, Quebec I could almost see. Ottawa is just so government 9-5 focused. If you're going to be a world city in the 21st century, the city needs to always be alive, picture Rio. Ottawa has the beauty of being the nations capital, but outside of parliament hill, and a couple cornerstone national monuments and museums, it's no Washington DC architecturally. It needs to be more than just the capital. It's one thing when you're the capital of a country that proclaims to be the leader of the free world, and another if you're anyone else.

I do think Ottawa is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The locals are certainly very outdoors focused, and it has world renowned white water rafting apparently, not that I know very much about that. A very good place to hit up patios in the summer and the ByWard Market is always lively. That being said, I don't think it holds a candle to Quebec, which is probably my favourite Canadian city so far (I have yet to visit Halifax of St. John's)

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

It's really not a problem in Quebec City to get by on English either. It's only the countryside in the province where you should know some French. Anywhere you go in the world though, it is rude to not at least know a little bit of the local language for brief interactions.

That's with me never having been to Quebec City and just going by what others have said. I was always under the impression that Montreal was much more English-friendly than Quebec City.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by flameswin

That's with me never having been to Quebec City and just going by what others have said. I was always under the impression that Montreal was much more English-friendly than Quebec City.

Probably not as English friendly as Montreal, which has one of the largest and most world-renowned English speaking universities in the country right downtown, but it is not not English friendly whatsoever. I wouldn't let a lack of French knowledge turn you off of travelling to Quebec.

Once you get to Levis across the river (where beer is cheaper) the knowledge of English is not at the same level as Quebec itself.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

I do think Ottawa is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The locals are certainly very outdoors focused, and it has world renowned white water rafting apparently, not that I know very much about that. A very good place to hit up patios in the summer and the ByWard Market is always lively. That being said, I don't think it holds a candle to Quebec, which is probably my favourite Canadian city so far (I have yet to visit Halifax of St. John's)

Halifax is pretty cool to visit. I do think it gets a bit of "bigger city" status in Canada due to being the only big city on the east coast. It only has like 400k, which to me would automatically put in a tier 3 category.