Calgary population exceeds 1.2 million

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

It really has.

Not really. I live in an area now I can recall didn't exist but it's still more or less the same Calgary to me especially if we are talking about the 90's because that really wasn't that long ago in the timeline of a city. It's sprawled out more and has more high rise condos but I rarely think to myself how much things have changed. The thing I notice most is how much the surrounding communities have grown. Calgary has never been a dump as long as I've been here.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not really. I live in an area now I can recall didn't exist but it's still more or less the same Calgary to me especially if we are talking about the 90's because that really wasn't that long ago in the timeline of a city. It's sprawled out more and has more high rise condos but I rarely think to myself how much things have changed. The thing I notice most is how much the surrounding communities have grown. Calgary has never been a dump as long as I've been here.

Saying it was a "dump" would be a stretch, but many areas, particularly in and around the downtown have materially improved since in the last 20 years. Areas like Kensington, Mission, Beltline, Bridgeland, Inglewood are massively revitalized. Eau Claire was a barren wasteland with a substantial hooker stroll. Stephen Avenue was basically a dead zone with failing businesses. 17th Avenue was a nothing backwater street with little vitality. Victoria Park was a legitimately dangerous community in rapid decline.

On top of that, our cultural scene including cuisine, arts, festivals etc resembled much more of a small prairie town than a large city. We are dramatically more vibrant and interesting today then we were back then.

[Huntingwhale]

Time to start deporting?

[troutman]

Much has improved.

Downtown used to be deserted after 5 pm. The city was unwelcoming for gay people. There was possibly one sushi restaurant. The Flames played in the Corral. Few festivals. The University has expanded greatly - MRU too. The airport was small town.

The negative - more people are in the mountains, crowding the wild places.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jahrmes

even though Calgary has a substantially larger population.

No it doesn't. Metros are within about 15%. Definitely not substantially larger.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I'd also say there's a certain snobby/DB'ness that didn't exist back in the 90s, but I may chalk that up to simply not seeing it back then because I was a student living in the burbs, and now I work in the core. I'm sure downtown has always had its snobby elements. Posted from Calgarypuck.com App for Android

Yeah, I can agree with that. I left in 2002, and came back in 2012, and there was definitely a bit of an attitude adjustment in that time frame that I noticed. Some of it is a good kind of snobbery because I think expectations of quality in terms of things like food have been raised, but there's definitely more of a obnoxious element as well. I think some people forget that while we have grown up quite a bit, Calgary is not exactly London either. There is still plenty of growth to go.

If you're in the right areas it's beautiful though, downtown looks amazing from the River Walk side. Calgary really did grow up in the years I was gone.

I'm lucky enough to have a pretty nice view of downtown here from Bridgeland, and the amount of change I've seen in the last 2 years alone is staggering. The rapid change that's happening down in the East Village / St. Patricks Island area is amazing, and there's still much to come.

[The Familia]

Originally Posted by HOWITZER

How is this any different than someone living in Airdrie, Okotoks, Cochrane, etc. and driving in and out of the city every day? You could also make an argument that people who live in Seton are transient to downtown! Damn those people for going downtown, making their money, and then going home without spending it downtown!

If this is a passionate issue for you, then I'd advise you to get on board with "walkable neighbourhoods" and promote living where you work for all Calgarians. Doing so would go way further in promoting a healthy lifestyle, reducing traffic, pollution, and inner-city development while balancing an increase in population.

It's an exciting time right now to be living in Calgary and I am happy that the city continues to grow. Now if it'd just stop growing as quickly around the edges and focus on re-zoning inner-city land I would be just giddy.

/latte-sipper rant

I'm talking about the people who come from out east (sask, maritimes) and then head home after 5-10 years.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by The Familia

I'm talking about the people who come from out east (sask, maritimes) and then head home after 5-10 years.

Yeah still not following

[CliffFletcher]

There are a lot of people in this city not invested in making it a home long-term. That affects the feel of a place, not to mention the politics.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by The Familia

I'm talking about the people who come from out east (sask, maritimes) and then head home after 5-10 years.

Funny I know a lot of guys who say stuff like that, 10 years later they're still here and when they go visit home they're in love with it for all of a week.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by troutman

Much has improved.

Downtown used to be deserted after 5 pm. The city was unwelcoming for gay people. There was possibly one sushi restaurant. The Flames played in the Corral. Few festivals. The University has expanded greatly - MRU too. The airport was small town.

The negative - more people are in the mountains, crowding the wild places.

I moved to Calgary in 76 and it wasn't that way then. There was lots of night time activity along 7th and 8th aves. Not top class and all legal but it gave the city character. To this old fart, the LRT closing of 7th and the tearing down of old neighbourhoods was a loss.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by troutman

Much has improved.

Downtown used to be deserted after 5 pm. The city was unwelcoming for gay people. There was possibly one sushi restaurant. The Flames played in the Corral. Few festivals. The University has expanded greatly - MRU too. The airport was small town.

The negative - more people are in the mountains, crowding the wild places.

Assuming 1980-83

1)Downtown used to be deserted after 5 pm
Actually downtown was great especially on weekends.

2)The city was unwelcoming for gay people.
Name one north American city who gave a crap about gay rights back then?

3)There was possibly one sushi restaurant
Your probably wrong but so what?

4)The Flames played in the Corral.
Absolutely the best venue in the modern history of the NHL to watch a hockey game.

5)Few festivals.
Back then we had Bluesfest, Winterfest, Once Upon A Christmas Fest, Artism, Greek, Turk and maybe even a freakfest. Sorry but every month there was some sort of festival.

6) The University has expanded greatly - MRU too.
Things happen with expanded population

7)The airport was small town
And like back in then if you live south of 64th ave N everything north was alien....It still is for a lot of people.

[Ozy_Flame]

So happy to watch Calgary go from regional hub with specific stereotypes to bustling major city that caters to many different walks of life. Now all we have to do is expand outwards from our one-trick pony economy and we're cruising for serious world city status and growth.

I am so glad we're shaking this cowboy/conservative perspective, especially in the last 10 years. I had friends wanting to leave back then, but the city has grown so beautifully people are now being convinced to stay.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by T@T

Things happen with expanded population

Isn't that the point everyone is making? That our population grew and "things happened" and now we're a much better city for it?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

So happy to watch Calgary go from regional hub with specific stereotypes to bustling major city that caters to many different walks of life. Now all we have to do is expand outwards from our one-trick pony economy and we're cruising for serious world city status and growth.

I am so glad we're shaking this cowboy/conservative perspective, especially in the last 10 years. I had friends wanting to leave back then, but the city has grown so beautifully people are now being convinced to stay.

Why are you so glad to shake the cowboy heritage of the city? I think it's wonderful that Calgary has a unique identity and kept it's traditions.

I hope Calgary never "shakes" the cowboy image and heritage. It's not like you are forced to be a cowboy to live in the city. But you should respect the fact that cowboy culture is in Calgary's roots and don't try to extinguish it just because you don't necessarily like it.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Why are you so glad to shake the cowboy heritage of the city? I think it's wonderful that Calgary has a unique identity and kept it's traditions.

I can't speak for the poster but I think they may have been alluding to a hesitancy toward embracing new styles and letting our identity evolve. It's okay to reflect our Western heritage in some of our public art installations but does every piece have to include a horse?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Addick

I can't speak for the poster but I think they may have been alluding to a hesitancy toward embracing new styles and letting our identity evolve. It's okay to reflect our Western heritage in some of our public art installations but does every piece have to include a horse?

I think you're giving Ozy too much credit. It is just another "waaaah, people like things I don't and I hate that" whine. There are a few people here who are of that viewpoint with respect to our western motif.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think you're giving Ozy too much credit. It is just another "waaaah, people like things I don't and I hate that" whine. There are a few people here who are of that viewpoint with respect to our western motif.

Aren't you now whining about people not liking the western motif?

The western identity can be overbearing in this city. Its hardly the absolute definition of what Calgary is, or what all of its citizens are all about.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Addick

I can't speak for the poster but I think they may have been alluding to a hesitancy toward embracing new styles and letting our identity evolve. It's okay to reflect our Western heritage in some of our public art installations but does every piece have to include a horse?

Let's face it, some people are just very uncomfortable with change. They want Calgary to be defined by mostly white people, oil, cowboy hats, and conservatism. Anything outside of that is scary. Even bike lanes are scary.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think you're giving Ozy too much credit. It is just another "waaaah, people like things I don't and I hate that" whine. There are a few people here who are of that viewpoint with respect to our western motif.

You can have my cowboy hat if you want it. I never use it between Stampedes, because I'm not a rancher or an oil baron. And 99.9% of the rest of Calgary isn't either.

Just keeping you in the loop.