Canadian cities broken into tiers

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Oil and Gas is the main driver of everything in Alberta. The vast majority of people don't move to Calgary for the climate, proximity to the mountains, etc.

Sure, it's the driver, but it doesn't mean that it's the only reason people come here. Some might actually think it's a pretty good town in other ways.

When my family moved here 25 years ago, the primary reason we wanted to come to Calgary because my dad liked the photo of the mountains in his book about Canada. That and the Olympics made it look like a great city. When I moved back 2 years ago with my wife, it had nothing to do with oil and gas than either. The O/G industry is probably more of a detriment to me as it drives up costs on everything else, and I don't get any of the direct benefits.

Man, I swear Oil and Gas is like the Toronto of the working world. I know it's hard for people in the industry to understand there is life outside your world, but it's true.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Sure, it's the driver, but it doesn't mean that it's the only reason people come here. Some might actually think it's a pretty good town in other ways.

When my family moved here 25 years ago, the primary reason we wanted to come to Calgary because my dad liked the photo of the mountains in his book about Canada. That and the Olympics made it look like a great city. When I moved back 2 years ago with my wife, it had nothing to do with oil and gas than either. The O/G industry is probably more of a detriment to me as it drives up costs on everything else, and I don't get any of the direct benefits.

Man, I swear Oil and Gas is like the Toronto of the working world. I know it's hard for people in the industry to understand there is life outside your world, but it's true.

Oil and gas guys are hilarious that way. I personally enjoy conversations where they appear baffled that every single person in Calgary doesn't have some connection to Oil and Gas.

[_Q_]

Yeah sure Alberta is what it is because of Oil and Gas. But so what?

Detroit is what it is because of automobiles (which isn't saying much these days)

Houston and Dallas are what they are because of Oil and Gas

It doesn't matter.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Yeah sure Alberta is what it is because of Oil and Gas. But so what?

Detroit is what it is because of automobiles (which isn't saying much these days)

Houston and Dallas are what they are because of Oil and Gas

It doesn't matter.

It will in 300 years


More to the point, I think Calgary needs to continue to diversify its economy. Oil and Gas are the main driver, but we also have a financial services sector and is a prairies hub for transportation and logistics (gateway to Pacific Coast markets for Canadian manufacturing). Not to mention we have a solid healthcare and retail sector, as well as budding technology and film/creative industries.

I'd like to clarify something though from what another poster said earlier, I don't think the majority of people necessarily come just for the Oil and Gas; I think they come for the quality of life. High paying jobs, clean and friendly city, and stronger economy than most anywhere else in the country.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

It will in 300 years


More to the point, I think Calgary needs to continue to diversify its economy. Oil and Gas are the main driver, but we also have a financial services sector and is a prairies hub for transportation and logistics (gateway to Pacific Coast markets for Canadian manufacturing). Not to mention we have a solid healthcare and retail sector, as well as budding technology and film/creative industries.

I'd like to clarify something though from what another poster said earlier, I don't think the majority of people necessarily come just for the Oil and Gas; I think they come for the quality of life. High paying jobs, clean and friendly city, and stronger economy than most anywhere else in the country.

Yeah that's exactly it.

There's nothing wrong with that however. It's the reason people uproot their families and emigrate to far away places like Canada. For better opportunities than their homeland. The exception in Calgary's case however is we're mostly talking about internal immigration (for the most part).

The argument that Calgary would be nothing without oil and gas is as silly as the arguments about a decade ago that the Flames would be nothing without Kiprusoff. He was an important part of the team as much as oil and gas is an important part of Calgary's economy.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I'd like to clarify something though from what another poster said earlier, I don't think the majority of people necessarily come just for the Oil and Gas; I think they come for the quality of life. High paying jobs, clean and friendly city, and stronger economy than most anywhere else in the country.

High paying jobs and stronger economy are directly related to O&G. Even if someone didn't come out here explicitly to work in O&G, odds are they are out here indirectly because O&G has made it the economy what is. And that's the primary factor of where anyone lives, jobs and economy. Why else is North Dakota the fastest growing state in terms of population in America? It's not culture because North Dakota is the least visited state in America in terms of tourism.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

High paying jobs and stronger economy are directly related to O&G. Even if someone didn't come out here explicitly to work in O&G, odds are they are out here indirectly because O&G has made it the economy what is. And that's the primary factor of where anyone lives, jobs and economy. Why else is North Dakota the fastest growing state in terms of population in America? It's not culture because North Dakota is the least visited state in America in terms of tourism.

What do they call a supervisor in North Dakota?

Spoiler!

Canadian

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

High paying jobs and stronger economy are directly related to O&G. Even if someone didn't come out here explicitly to work in O&G, odds are they are out here indirectly because O&G has made it the economy what is. And that's the primary factor of where anyone lives, jobs and economy. Why else is North Dakota the fastest growing state in terms of population in America? It's not culture because North Dakota is the least visited state in America in terms of tourism.

That's pretty much what I'm saying - people don't come out here specifically for O&G, but there's a good chance they're connected to it, and the business they end up working in is oiled by the Energy sector whether directly or indirectly.

People go where the jobs go - Energy happens to be the door frame to a high quality of life in Alberta. However, I doubt it's because people target the O&G industry out of pure interest; it's simply a means to an end.

[polak]

lol is this argument seriously happening?

[strombad]

Originally Posted by polak

lol is this argument seriously happening?

Chicken or the egg, it's a classic!

Oil Business or Calgarians.

[_Q_]

Funny how no matter what the debate, it always degrades to discussing how no good Edmonton is.

[polak]

Originally Posted by strombad

Chicken or the egg, it's a classic!

Oil Business or Calgarians.

Haha seriously.

We live in Calgary, it's awesome. Edmonton is No Good.

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