Albertan Universities - Which is best?

[August1991]

A few people or parents of people (all francophones) who want to study in an anglophone university have asked me what to do. They are undergraduate students who want to live in residence.

When I have suggested Saskatchewan, PEI and Memorial (in Newfoundland) or St. F-X and Mount Allison (in NB and NS), they ask about Alberta (and Vancouver). I think they are intrigued about Alberta because it is Alberta and far from Quebec.

So, all things considered, where in Alberta is it better to be an undergraduate student in residence? Edmonton, Calgary or Lethbridge? Given that most students move out of residence in their second or third year, where is it better to live? Which university/city offers the best education/diploma/lifestyle and openess to a francophone who wants to perfect their English?

By my memory, the U of A in Edmonton was a wonderful campus and Edmonton was an open city. The University of Calgary was an abandoned warehouse, on the side of a town filled with expressways. Then again, Calgary is closer to the mountains. (Most people in Quebec have no understanding of mountains except the Laurentides... ) I remember Lethbridge as a small city like Sherbrooke - easy for an outsider to discover, but boring.

There's also the question of reputation. What's Lethbridge's reputation? Calgary has a reputation. Bear in mind that these are francophone students from Quebec who will go out into the world with an Albertan university degree on their CV. Which university is a good calling card?

Opinions?

Edited January 18, 2008 by August1991

[Kitchener]

A few people or parents of people (all francophones) who want to study in an anglophone university have asked me what to do. They are undergraduate students who want to live in residence.

When I have suggested Saskatchewan, PEI and Memorial (in Newfoundland) or St. F-X and Mount Allison (in NB and NS), they ask about Alberta (and Vancouver). I think they are intrigued about Alberta because it is Alberta and far from Quebec.

So, all things considered, where in Alberta is it better to be an undergraduate student in residence? Edmonton, Calgary or Lethbridge? Given that most students move out of residence in their second or third year, where is it better to live? Which university/city offers the best education/diploma/lifestyle and openess to a francophone who wants to perfect their English?

By my memory, the U of A in Edmonton was a wonderful campus and Edmonton was an open city. The University of Calgary was an abandoned warehouse, on the side of a town filled with expressways. Then again, Calgary is closer to the mountains. (Most people in Quebec have no understanding of mountains except the Laurentides... ) I remember Lethbridge as a small city like Sherbrooke - easy for an outsider to discover, but boring.

There's also the question of reputation. What's Lethbridge's reputation? Calgary has a reputation. Bear in mind that these are francophone students from Quebec who will go out into the world with an Albertan university degree on their CV. Which university is a good calling card?

Opinions?

I think you've pretty much nailed it. U of A has a lot of cultural stuff for students to do and see right near campus, besides just drink (though of course that's plenty possible, too). U of C has its virtues, and Calgary's transit system does a lot to make up for the isolation of the campus, but I'd say Edmonton over Calgary with confidence. (For students -- not a general remark on the cities, necessarily.)

One disagreement: Sherbrooke is much prettier and less boring than Lethbridge, though I know what you mean. Neither place is a hotbed of excitement.

[Hydraboss]

August,

If you're being asked to recommend which school for people to send their kids to, be very careful. UofA is VERY left wing orientated and most student activities are centered around the campus itself and Whyte Ave (the bars and funky shops). A res student doesn't really have to go much more that five or six blocks when in session.

Calgary has more that is centered off campus.

That being said, if these students are from Kwebek, they may not find the warm and interesting welcome they're hoping for. There can be a VERY agressive attitude towards Kwebekers in general in this province, but it is much more noticeable in Edmonton and Calgary. While the school may accept them with open arms, the community at large is not always so understanding.

U Vic is much better as they are much more liberal (small L) and the students may be much happier.

Just a thought.

[geoffrey]

I'm a Haskayne (U of C) guy so I'm a little biased. But honestly, both the UofA and UofC have ups and downs. It depends on what your taking.

So, all things considered, where in Alberta is it better to be an undergraduate student in residence? Edmonton, Calgary or Lethbridge?

Lethbridge is 24/7 party, Edmonton is pretty decent (no McGill or St.F-X though) and Calgary is sleepy at best.

Given that most students move out of residence in their second or third year, where is it better to live? Which university/city offers the best education/diploma/lifestyle and openess to a francophone who wants to perfect their English?

Lethbridge is cheap. Edmonton is relatively cheap. Calgary is ridiculously expensive. A livable 1 bedroom is going to cost you over $1,000 here.

That said, Calgary is developing a bit more classy of a nightlife, Edmonton has more to do, but it's rowdier and more blue collar. Either way, niether is 1% of Montreal. Calgary is way better for active people. Way way better. I'd venture it's the best city in Canada for active people, ahead of even Vancouver.

By my memory, the U of A in Edmonton was a wonderful campus and Edmonton was an open city. The University of Calgary was an abandoned warehouse, on the side of a town filled with expressways. Then again, Calgary is closer to the mountains. (Most people in Quebec have no understanding of mountains except the Laurentides... ) I remember Lethbridge as a small city like Sherbrooke - easy for an outsider to discover, but boring.

The UofC is pretty central now, Calgary is much bigger than you must remember it. And we don't have expressways, only one, and it's mediocre. Edmonton is a great campus, and full of great people.

Calgary's campus is boring and plain. Again, you don't go to Calgary for a good time and a good liberal arts education. You go to the UofC to make money.

If your going for the experience, Edmonton. If you want industry connections and nice starting salary out of a business, engineering or earth sciences education, go Calgary.

There's also the question of reputation. What's Lethbridge's reputation? Calgary has a reputation. Bear in mind that these are francophone students from Quebec who will go out into the world with an Albertan university degree on their CV. Which university is a good calling card?

Like I said, Calgary for business, engineering and earth sciences (geophysics, geology or stuff like that). Maybe Calgary has an edge for computer science. Edmonton for anything else. Especially arts. Don't go to Calgary if your looking at a liberal arts education. You won't get it.

There is no better place for a professional to start out right now than Calgary. I've made it pretty good, pretty fast. All without even finishing up my degree yet. You can have whatever you want in Calgary right now. How long that will last, I'm unsure.

Depends on the person is what this all really comes down to.

[fellowtraveller]

That being said, if these students are from Kwebek, they may not find the warm and interesting welcome they're hoping for. There can be a VERY agressive attitude towards Kwebekers in general in this province, but it is much more noticeable in Edmonton and Calgary. While the school may accept them with open arms, the community at large is not always so understanding.

Sorry, but this is patently ridiculous when applied to Edmonton or the U of A.

There is a very large foreign student contingent at the U of A, and has been for decades. There are no problems with a warm welcome on or off campus for anybody from Quebec or anywhere else.

If it makes any difference, the U of A has ranked ahead of Calgary in uni polls forever. It is also a large and pleasant campus, set on the riverbank. Public transit to the campus is good, and with the LRT you can live cheaply off campus and get to school cheaply. Last year they implemented a program whereby every student has a transit pass incorporated for cheap into fees.

Edited January 20, 2008 by fellowtraveller

[August1991]

Bump.

[wyly]

Bump.

I'd back geoffrey's post, Calgary is the nicer city but the priority is an education so it depends on what degree you chasing...I disagree with about the arts degree in Calgary, Calgary has the Alberta College of Art and Design(ACAD) which is stronger than the U of C's fine art program...

Then there is Calgary's newest university, Mount Royal-I don't know much about it's academic strengths sorry...

If someone was to consider Edmonton they'd be making a serious error not considering a similar prairie city Saskatoon the U of S , excellent Engineering, Science, Agriculture and Medicine, good night life lower cost of living than either Edmonton or Calgary ...skiing sucks though if that's your thing...

[Molly]

Edmonton and Saskatoon are both darned well COLD in winter... wickedly, unendingly cold, with no breaks from it.

Winters in Calgary or Lethbridge are a lot easier to take.

[wyly]

Edmonton and Saskatoon are both darned well COLD in winter... wickedly, unendingly cold, with no breaks from it.

Winters in Calgary or Lethbridge are a lot easier to take.

that's true but then there is the compensation of longer summers in Edmonton and Saskatoon...summer evenings which you can be outside in T-shirts and shorts in Saskatoon quite common, in Calgary not so much...

[fellowtraveller]

another plus for Edmonton is the existence of a large Francophone community, both recent emigres from Quebec and from the numerous communities founded by the French in the area. They are represented at the U of A by the school Faculte St Jean

Check it out.

As a city, Calgary has no equal in butt-ugliness with the obvious exception of Regina.

Most summers, it is the colour of toast, too dry to grow anything. There are very few trees except those that are planted and tended. The river valleys are flat, shallow and boring.

[wyly]

another plus for Edmonton is the existence of a large Francophone community, both recent emigres from Quebec and from the numerous communities founded by the French in the area. They are represented at the U of A by the school Faculte St Jean

Check it out.

As a city, Calgary has no equal in butt-ugliness with the obvious exception of Regina.

Most summers, it is the colour of toast, too dry to grow anything. There are very few trees except those that are planted and tended. The river valleys are flat, shallow and boring.

I have checked it out...I've been to every city in western Canada and long before I moved to Calgary I'd already assessed Calgary as a more attractive city than Edmonton ...I'd put Calgary on par with Saskatoon....Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg equal for the yuck factor...and Lethbridge falling somewhere between the two groups...Vancouver and Victoria would top all though...

Edited September 14, 2009 by wyly

[fellowtraveller]

Winters in Calgary or Lethbridge are a lot easier to take.

?? Edmonton is colder for longer than Calgary, but Calgary has far, far more wind and nasty sudden weather in every season.

[fellowtraveller]

I'd already assessed Calgary as a more attractive city than Edmonton

It is true that Calgary has many more square kilometers of vinyl covered boxes sitting on treeless plains, but that is an unusual metric of 'attractive'.

What part of Calgary compares to the river valley in Edmonton?

[wyly]

?? Edmonton is colder for longer than Calgary, but Calgary has far, far more wind and nasty sudden weather in every season.

I'll take milder winters over those of Edmontons thanks, I grew up in that and worse, it's a relief to be somewhere more temperate...wind and weather change goes with being near the mountians and why it's mild, Chinooks are awesome, there's nothing like being able to walk around in T-shirt and shorts in January...

[wyly]

It is true that Calgary has many more square kilometers of vinyl covered boxes sitting on treeless plains, but that is an unusual metric of 'attractive'.

any new subdivision lacks trees even Edmonton(yes I have been there many times)...any older neighborhood is fully treed so I don't know where that idea comes from...and the view of the mountians is spectacular no matter how many times you see it, is there any home in Edmonton that add $50-100,000 to it's value merely for having a mountian view?

What part of Calgary compares to the river valley in Edmonton?

, it's subjective... Calgarys river valley is much deeper but broader than Edmontons so I don't know why you feel that's the mark of superior river valley...it's obvious you've never visited Calagary's TWO river valleys and I don't know how many creeks...

[geoffrey]

It is true that Calgary has many more square kilometers of vinyl covered boxes sitting on treeless plains, but that is an unusual metric of 'attractive'.

Hmm, yes, suburbia is bad here. But nearly as bad in Edmonton now as well, so I'm not so quick to use that as a distinguishing factor.

What part of Calgary compares to the river valley in Edmonton?

The west end of Fish Creek park is much nicer than the river valley in Edmonton. Or the mountains in Bragg Creek, 30 minutes from the south end of town.

[wyly]

The west end of Fish Creek park is much nicer than the river valley in Edmonton. Or the mountains in Bragg Creek, 30 minutes from the south end of town.

then there are Weasel Head, Baker Park, Edworthy Park...all different than the River valley in edmonton, is one better than the other ? it's subjective...

[fellowtraveller]

any new subdivision lacks trees even Edmonton(yes I have been there many times)...any older neighborhood is fully treed so I don't know where that idea comes from...and the view of the mountians is spectacular no matter how many times you see it, is there any home in Edmonton that add $50-100,000 to it's value merely for having a mountian view?

, it's subjective... Calgarys river valley is much deeper but broader than Edmontons so I don't know why you feel that's the mark of superior river valley...it's obvious you've never visited Calagary's TWO river valleys and I don't know how many creeks...

the river valleys in Calagry are deeper........that is subjective......

You'll need a snowblower to move that mountain of crap.

I've always enjoyed the many freeways consuming the Calgray valleys, and of course the odd tree somebody planted. Otherwise, a brown wasteland with vinyl boxes and strip malls.

Ugly.

Prosperous.

But undoubtedly very ugly.

[Bonam]

Tell them to go to Vancouver. UBC has a wider reputation than any of those other universities, and Vancouver is a far far nicer place to live.

[wyly]

the river valleys in Calagry are deeper........that is subjective......

You'll need a snowblower to move that mountain of crap.

I've always enjoyed the many freeways consuming the Calgray valleys, and of course the odd tree somebody planted. Otherwise, a brown wasteland with vinyl boxes and strip malls.

Ugly.

Prosperous.

But undoubtedly very ugly.

subjective no it's not, from where I live on the highest bank to valley bottom is a drop of 500ft probably more, Edmonton's 100ft tops ...but that's not something I consider as important as you do...

[fellowtraveller]

must give a lovely vista of brown sagebrush and brown dirt and freeways........

[Alta4ever]

must give a lovely vista of brown sagebrush and brown dirt and freeways........

why are you going to university for the veiw? You should be going for the book training necessary to get an entry level job in your chosen profession.

Calgary is the better school.

[wyly]

why are you going to university for the veiw? You should be going for the book training necessary to get an entry level job in your chosen profession.

Calgary is the better school.

it all depends on what the chosen studies the student is interested in, U of A for some, U of C for others

[wyly]

must give a lovely vista of brown sagebrush and brown dirt and freeways........

ahh the brown myth...Calgary is as green as any city in western Canada I've been through every one of them...the myth comes from a lack of winter snow as ground cover(because it's WARMER here), remove Edmonton's snow and what colour do you see???brown huh who woulda thought it!...and Edmonton doesn't have freeways, yeah right, tell us some more stories...

[fellowtraveller]

ahh the brown myth...Calgary is as green as any city in western Canada I've been through every one of them...the myth comes from a lack of winter snow as ground cover(because it's WARMER here), remove Edmonton's snow and what colour do you see???brown huh who woulda thought it!...and Edmonton doesn't have freeways, yeah right, tell us some more stories...

who is talknig about winter?

Calgary is normally burned brown and ugly in the summer.

The Edmonton river valley is a lovely place, full of parks on both sides.

Calgary? Deerfoot Trail, concrete, brown, noisy, smelly, ugly.

No wonder people go to the mountians.

Why are Fairmont and Kelowna stuffed to bursting with Calgarians? Because the city is just too ugly to abide.