Is Calgary an international city?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

We have Stampede Wrestling but I'm pretty sure that is definetely not where professional wrestling began or even a milestone in it's history aside from one family

I don't even think we have Stampede Wrestling anymore, and as far as I know, all of the wrestlers are retired, but the most famous person to ever come from this town was/is Bret Hart.

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I agree with you on this. The actual fair and rides part of stampede actually goes all over the place doesn't it? Doesnt the same crew end up at klondike days in Edmonton and PNE in Vancouver? And the stuff in the roundup centre is basically late night infomercials in person.

The only thing that can be considered distinct is the rodeo and western themed stuff. But then again you can go to Nashville any time if you're a country music fan. And i'm sure there's rodeo in numerous other North American cities, probably more frequent than in Calgary.

As far as Calgary's history and culture goes, doesn anyone go to stampede and really think about Calgary's heritage? Its a big commercial fair with really generic western themes. There doesn't seem to be any genuine culture or history involved in the Stampede anyways.

Exactly. The main economic force of the Stampede isn't to sell the awesomeness of Calgary to the world, but to bring one of the world's most awesome travelling fairground shows to Calgary and sell it to Calgarians. I think ditching the corporate midway and running the Stampede more with a local emphasis would do more for establishing the uniqueness of Calgary, but , unfortunately, it would never fly economically.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

i also thought he did time at Western Canada on 17th Ave?

He may have. I just know he graduated here in Deadmonton at Vic Comp because its a point of pride for some people here, so I've heard about it a few times. Actually that school's had a few famous people graduate there(Leslie Nielson, Robert Goulet, Michael J. Fox)

[ok, ok,....I get it]

I had no idea this dude was from Calgary:

[QuadCityImages]

I like how in the background, behind discussions of croutons, Tommy Chong, and religion, there are still people debating the topic of the thread. Triple derailment with a little bit of the original train staying on the tracks.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

I like how in the background, behind discussions of croutons, Tommy Chong, and religion, there are still people debating the topic of the thread. Triple derailment with a little bit of the original train staying on the tracks.

well here comes some more..

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

This thread is full of win.

can we stop using this tired old line? Not to pick on you.. but this one... pot meet kettle... man oh man. Sometimes this site needs some originality. Bees knees too.

Originally Posted by DESS

Fine. I don't think bears are innocent, that's why. I think they are predatory and innately evil.

Look, you wouldn't think twice about exterminating termites to protect a 2x4 in your house, nor would 99.999999999% of Christians. I'm simply applying that same logic to bears, except I'm not trying to protect dead wood, I'm trying to protect my loved ones from a horrible death at the hands (well paws, lol) of a bear. I don't understand why this is such a stretch for you guys.

you are fantastic. Please keep them coming. You make me laugh everytime. Perfectly destroyed this thread.

Back on topic..

I used to live in Cyprus. One time in grade 4 I was going to an American International School in Nicosia, Cyprus and I walked into Spanish class and BAM! Calgary Stampede poster plastered on the wall. I lost my I was so excited!

Another time I took a cab in SEATTLE. Cabbie asked where I was from and I said Calgary. Where? Calgary, it's in Alberta. Where? Alberta, it's the province beside B.C. Where? ...... do you know Vancouver? Ohhh yeah... Vancouver is in B.C. ..... silence.....

I've travelled a bit... and not many know about Calgary at all.

[Yeah_Baby]

Well I think CP should use its own language. Obviously our entire lexicon is unoriginal.

[justafan]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Calgary is not a world class city despite that being the city's goal. I also have to explain to people it's proximity to Vancouver, because people only know the big 3 Canadian cities.

And the Stampede is nice and no dog and pony show but let's not kid ourselves, it's not a world reknown festival. Carnival in Rio, Lovefest/Parade in Germany, Oktoberfest, Reading and Glastonbury. those are huge festivals.

Well I may agree its not world class in most peoples minds. however. The Stampede, love it or hate is known in many countries, and I have talked to people in England, Scotland and in the u.s. (california) who know of it. Biggest rodeo in north america. When I travel I avoid the proximity to Vancouver and instead tell them Rocky Mountains, and when speaking "american" refer to 'above Montana'...(this was to New Yorkers.)

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by justafan

Well I may agree its not world class in most peoples minds. however. The Stampede, love it or hate is known in many countries, and I have talked to people in England, Scotland and in the u.s. (california) who know of it. Biggest rodeo in north america. When I travel I avoid the proximity to Vancouver and instead tell them Rocky Mountains, and when speaking "american" refer to 'above Montana'...(this was to New Yorkers.)

It's that disparity with it being well-known or having an international reputation and what is really is that is bugging me. It's just the same travelling carnival and commercial products selling convention that travels around North America redressed with some western stuff.

I don't like the idea of my city being famous for something that really is just cheesy carnival rides and As Seen on TV hockers...and throw in a rodeo and a few chuckwagons and a lot of corporate sponsored tents that are nothing but corporate advertising with a few bales of hay lying around with the ridiculous hyperbole of being "The Greatest Show on Earth".

[DESS]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

It's that disparity with it being well-known or having an international reputation and what is really is that is bugging me. It's just the same travelling carnival and commercial products selling convention that travels around North America redressed with some western stuff.

I don't like the idea of my city being famous for something that really is just cheesy carnival rides and As Seen on TV hockers...and throw in a rodeo and a few chuckwagons and a lot of corporate sponsored tents that are nothing but corporate advertising with a few bales of hay lying around with the ridiculous hyperbole of being "The Greatest Show on Earth".

Great thinking. We should market the Stampede as a mediocre, dingy, low-rent carnival that's sort of like Mardi Gras, but about 10% as good.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by DESS

Great thinking. We should market the Stampede as a mediocre, dingy, low-rent carnival that's sort of like Mardi Gras, but about 10% as good.

In all fairness to Stampede's image, I think generally it is more family friendly then Mardi Gras. But I could be wrong as all I really know about it's celebration is the equivalent to the Cowboy's Tent during Stampede but larger.

[Ducay]

Hilariously enough, when I was in Australia, in one of my classes I had to do a report on tourism in Southern Alberta. And it wasn't a topic I came up with, it was one of three topics to choose.
When it came time to present your paper, it was pretty funny hearing all these Aussie's talk about Calgary. Some of the facts I heard were pretty funny. A lot of people talked about Aboriginal tourism and the Chief Chiniki restaurant as if it were a tourist destination lol.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Hilariously enough, when I was in Australia, in one of my classes I had to do a report on tourism in Southern Alberta. And it wasn't a topic I came up with, it was one of three topics to choose.
When it came time to present your paper, it was pretty funny hearing all these Aussie's talk about Calgary. Some of the facts I heard were pretty funny. A lot of people talked about Aboriginal tourism and the Chief Chiniki restaurant as if it were a tourist destination lol.

Did you set them straight?

[DESS]

lol at Chief Chiniki. I've never been there...a friend told me health inspectors don't have juristiction to go there. Now that I say it out loud, it sounds like complete BS, but it's still enough to keep me away.

[Cliche]

Pity the poor souls who come here for the Honen's Piano competition then.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by DESS

lol at Chief Chiniki. I've never been there...a friend told me health inspectors don't have juristiction to go there.

I've been there a few times when I was working on the reserve and it's fine; not exactly haute cuisine but I've been to far, far worse places. I would, however, be extremely disappointed if I came from Australia or Europe thinking it would be some kind of unique experience.

[Muta]

I put this theory to the test (the original question posed in this thread), and asked different types of people if they had ever heard of Calgary before. Not one did. The only ones that did were other Canadians.

In case you're wondering, I'm in Okinawa right now.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Muta

I put this theory to the test (the original question posed in this thread), and asked different types of people if they had ever heard of Calgary before. Not one did. The only ones that did were other Canadians.

In case you're wondering, I'm in Okinawa right now.

I put this question to test in California, and I'm 0/5 so far.

Almost all of the questions are "Is it close to Toronto or Vancouver" still.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I put this question to test in California, and I'm 0/5 so far.

Almost all of the questions are "Is it close to Toronto or Vancouver" still.

Sometimes I just give up and say Vancouver, it's not worth the trouble to explain... Especially in a different language.

If they ask me where in Vancouver, I say I'm from a liqour store in East Hastings. People look at you weird.

[valo403]

As someone who currently resides in the US I'd say it's sort of hit or miss as to whether people know where/what Calgary is. Some people know immediately, some people know by reference (Banff, Stampede etc.), and some people have to be told that it's north of Montana (which occasionally leads to an explanation of where Montana is).

Calgary isn't internationally known in the same sense as Toronto of course, but I'd say that the majority of people who are somewhat worldly are familiar with it.