My Calgary Home?

[BubberMiley]

Homeless people falling out of trees?

[geoffrey]

Homeless people falling out of trees?

Yup. I was driving down a side street in the Saint Boniface area, near the hospital, (where I was born) and this guy falls a good 20 feet into the middle of the road right out of an overhanging tree. I narrowly avoided him and called an ambulance as this guy was in pretty rough shape. The one thing I was impressed with is the response times in Winnipeg... it took 45 minutes for an ambulance to respond to my dad's heart attack in Calgary (the fire trucks were there in 5 minutes thankfully)... but the ambulance actually beat the fire trucks and the police to the scene.

Very impressive Winnipeg, very impressive.

Needless to say though, I shook my head at the obviously homeless man and remembered what Winnipeg was all about, high unemployment, poverty and crime.

[BubberMiley]

Needless to say though, I shook my head at the obviously homeless man and remembered what Winnipeg was all about, high unemployment, poverty and crime.

Winnipeg has the lowest unemployment rate west of Alberta.

http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/lfss04h.htm

The crime rates aren't great, but they're better than, say, Vancouver or Victoria.

And there aren't a lot of homeless people either--probably a lot fewer than Calgary. It's easy to find a cheap place to live, and nobody survives the winter unless they have shelter.

[jdobbin]

Very impressive Winnipeg, very impressive.

Needless to say though, I shook my head at the obviously homeless man and remembered what Winnipeg was all about, high unemployment, poverty and crime.

I won't get into a debate between cities here. Calgary and Alberta as a whole have had great growth over the last several years. It has been a remarkable amount of development since 1946.

Winnipeg has been a slow growing city in the same timeframe. Overall unemployment (as has been mentioned) is among the country's lowest. Part of that has been the export of workers to other provinces but it also because Winnipeg has had steady but not glamourous growth over many years.

The Conference Board of Canada paints a bright picture for the next years and to be sure there are some major projects that will stimulate further growth. We also might take a few hits. The future of Agricore and the Wheat Board could mean the loss of over a thousand jobs.

http://www.cme-mec.ca/mb/media.asp?ID=970

nterprovincial out-migration should slow dramatically this year as the greener pastures of Alberta lose their lustre and better opportunities keep more young Manitobans at home, the Conference Board of Canada says.

The latest Metropolitan Outlook report from the Conference Board is forecasting out-migration to decline by two-thirds this year -- from a record of close to 6,000 in 2006 -- and continue to decline for the next four years.

Mario Lefebvre, one of the authors of the report, said, "People don't move for the fun of it. They move because they think there are better jobs elsewhere. But the opportunities are better in Winnipeg than they were before."

The Conference Board pegs Winnipeg's economic growth at 2.8 per cent last year and 2.6 per cent in 2007 -- good for eighth place both years.

The board's report showed Winnipeg's economy has firmed up around a hot construction market, strong consumer spending and continued balanced stability across the city's vaunted diversified economy.

"In addition to the good things that are happening in Winnipeg, Alberta is becoming less attractive," Lefebvre said. "In the past, if a Calgary employer offered a Winnipeg worker a $10,000 bonus, chances are they would have been successful. But now people are finding how expensive it is to live in Calgary and it just might not do it anymore."

There are certainly things that people might not like about Winnipeg but some of the things said like philosopher Mark Kingwell's "a place I've come to think of as Plague City. Winnipeg makes an effective backdrop for a personal struggle to understand how a benevolent God could have created such a hostile universe. It seems to me the most afflicted city in North America, maybe the world."

Sadly, over the top loathing from former Winnipeg residents seems to say as much as how these residents are trying to be accepted in their new communities than it does about Winnipeg.

I have no problem people speaking highly of their communities but do they have to run down other communities to do it?

[Fortunata]

There are only two things the matter with Calgary: the Flames (ok I KNOW they are in the playoffs and the Oilers aren't but I stand by my Oilers) and the Stampeders. Otherwise it's a great city and as friendly of people as you can get in the hectic environment that Calgary has become.

[guyser]

I have no problem people speaking highly of their communities but do they have to run down other communities to do it?

Dobbin, it will always be thus. What can you do? I guess you could pick on Regina , or Brandon.

Hey, move to Toronto , cuz, ya know, nobody complains about TO..... well they do but its all just jealousy.

There is a movie opening next week titled "Lets All Hate Toronto" by one of the guys in the Vancouver band DOA. And when it opens, this city will ...I mean really...positvely absolutely..................shrug their shoulders.

[jdobbin]

Dobbin, it will always be thus. What can you do? I guess you could pick on Regina , or Brandon.

Hey, move to Toronto , cuz, ya know, nobody complains about TO..... well they do but its all just jealousy.

There is a movie opening next week titled "Lets All Hate Toronto" by one of the guys in the Vancouver band DOA. And when it opens, this city will ...I mean really...positvely absolutely..................shrug their shoulders.

I won't say that I haven't been critical of other cities from time to time but I don't subscribe to the loathing or boosterism of tarring the neighbors.

I certainly don't hate Toronto. I'd like if the city was less centric than it is because it is often reflected in the media that we all have to live with across Canada. But that comes my belief that Toronto is better from looking at its place in Canada rather than how it is reflected within its own city limits.

Winnipeg's rivalry with Regina is more about football than anything else. And I rarely hear a bad word about Brandon.

[guyser]

. I'd like if the city was less centric than it is because it is often reflected in the media that we all have to live with across Canada.

Yes well I certainly understand a fair amount of the animosity.

When I played junior hockey in BC the daily paper was filled with TO this and that, and I always found it a bit off putting. I would wonder why the hell dont they fill their papers with their own news?

[blueblood]

People like their cities the same way they like their hockey teams. I'm not a fan of any city, just a big mess as far as I'm concerned.

[geoffrey]

The crime rates aren't great, but they're better than, say, Vancouver or Victoria.

And there aren't a lot of homeless people either--probably a lot fewer than Calgary. It's easy to find a cheap place to live, and nobody survives the winter unless they have shelter.

Calgary has huge homeless issues. It's actually a major crisis here, alot of them are working poor too. I know Manitoba has a lower unemployment rate than much of the Eastern half of the country, but they do have considerably lower incomes than their Alberta/BC counterparts. That said, the cost of living is cheaper and they have a resturant that has the most amazing perogies (Alicia's) so they win in my heart.

The crime in Winnipeg is a major turn off, but it's not as bad as Saskatoon and the murder rate is apparently less than Edmonton, so that's good. Then again, I wouldn't live in Edmonton.

I'm not 100% sold on Calgary, and I likely won't live here for much longer past my education. The city is borrring and it's pretty much only good for making money, past that, Calgary is a rather dull place (outside of the Red Mile and the Stampede of course). Unfortunately, most Canadian cities are like that.

Yes well I certainly understand a fair amount of the animosity.

When I played junior hockey in BC the daily paper was filled with TO this and that, and I always found it a bit off putting. I would wonder why the hell dont they fill their papers with their own news?

People choose to focus on TO, it's their own fault really.

People like their cities the same way they like their hockey teams. I'm not a fan of any city, just a big mess as far as I'm concerned.

I've lived rural and city and I'd take city I think in the long run. As much as I enjoyed snowmobiling in my backyard and heading out on Lake Ontario from our dock, it's rather isolationist. You don't get to socialise as easily, and the type of people out there reflect that. I'd buy a cottage (or cabin in Western speak) in a heartbeat, but I don't think I'd ever live rural... I'd consider Bragg Creek but other than that. Nope.

[blueblood]

I've lived rural and city and I'd take city I think in the long run. As much as I enjoyed snowmobiling in my backyard and heading out on Lake Ontario from our dock, it's rather isolationist. You don't get to socialise as easily, and the type of people out there reflect that. I'd buy a cottage (or cabin in Western speak) in a heartbeat, but I don't think I'd ever live rural... I'd consider Bragg Creek but other than that. Nope.

I'd say it's way easier socialising in the country than in the city, but that depends on whether your "in" or not and my idea of socializing is lunch at the coffee shop. Mind you I view an area with a pop. over 5,000 as big/urban. Your not stressed out by having people around all the time, you choose when you want contact with people, but that's my opinion.

But I will say this, if you are in your late teens and in your twenties and single, the rural life can be "unforgiving". The night life in the country from what the kids say sucks, unless your idea of fun is driving around drinking with your buddies on the back roads late at night and throwing beer bottles at signs. As far as jobs for educated young people are concerned forget it as well.

[Higgly]

I really like Calgary and I like Canadian culture. People are generally more open, less prejudiced, and dare I say it, better educated than the average American. I definitely prefer the Canadian system of government and that might be the number one incentive for me to move to Canada.

Welcome to Canada!

I don't agree that we have a better system of government though. The American system with its checks and balances and multi-legged stool approach seems to me more robust. Here we have only parliament; if that gets an evil majority government, we are vulnerable. An extreme example of this is what happened in Germany in the 1930s (and no I'm not saying that will happen here). We have the judiciary but we also have a current government under Harper that is doing its best to hobble the judiciary. They are not alone. Panicky Anne McLellan of the Liberals rammed terrorist legislation through after 9/11 that effectively eliminated the entire precendent and appeal processes, as well as the public transparency of the justice system when dealing with threats to national security. We in Canada need more checks and balances.

And I say again... Welcome to Canada!

[MC Squared]

I'm a native Callifornian and my family goes back to before the Gold Rush in Northern California. I no longer live there. I left for business reasons but every time I go back to visit I lament what has happened to the environment and the culture.

Parts of California have become cultural and environmental cess pools and for the first time more people are leaving California than people coming to settle there. Many Californians have just headed north to Oregon and Washington and residents there are not pleased. They have a bumper sticker in Oregon that says, "Don't Californicate Oregon." I don't blame them.

Anyway, this leads to my point about whether Americans are welcome to immigrate to Canada. A friend of mine and I have a vacation compound in the little village of Playa Azul in the Mexican state of Michoacan. We go there twice a year and when we're there we always say how nice it is to be out of America and away from American attitudes. There aren't many gringos in Playa Azul but we occasionally see a few arrogant Americans throwing their money around and treating the locals who wait on them like chattel. And for some reason they're always surprised to learn that all Mexican girls are not for sale.

My friend recently bought a house for his daughter in Calgary. She's a member of the U.S. Olympic junior speed skating team and wanted to go to Calgary University because they have the best oval in North America. She's renting rooms to other speed skaters to pay the mortgage and it's working out fine. When she's through with college my friend and his wife are seriously considering moving into that house and becoming permanent residents. And I'm thinking of getting a place there too.

I really like Calgary and I like Canadian culture. People are generally more open, less prejudiced, and dare I say it, better educated than the average American. I definitely prefer the Canadian system of government and that might be the number one incentive for me to move to Canada.

I don't hate America and it's been very good to me and my family but I'm just weary of its politics and its wars. I don't want to be a part of it any more. I'm sure that statement will provoke some of the American conservatives on this site but I'm used to their rants from participating on other discussion sites.

I've always felt welcome as a visitor in Calgary but I'm not an insider so I wanted to get some feedback from Canadians on they feel about American immigrants. I know there's been some controversy about the immigration issue but I haven't followed it much.

Wow - and I thought *I* was the only one! My wife and I left California and moved up here to Edmonton (North of Calgary, as you well know - but other readers may not. Ha - I surely shouldn't say "Alert, Nunuvut"; I'd loose them all REAL fast!).

Not only is it VASTLY better than California in several ways (economy, crime, friendly people - just to name a fraction), it's far better than the USA in a few ways: Socialized Healthcare. I was prepared for bad medical treatment & long waits, but it's turned out to be FAR better than what I was used to - after having lived in 7 States for 40 years!!! And who would have thought - my Wife developed a hernia. We had it looked at, and her operation was 6 weeks later. I had to wait longer than THAT in California, and I *PAID* for it. Here, the operation, as well as ALL of my doctor visits, are free.

Makes that 6% GST (Goods & Services tax) *worth* it!

And I thought the Winters would be unbearable. They are no different than those I experienced in Connecticut, and Virginia. Colder - sure, but such a low humidity, it feels the same.

I'll be a Canadian citizen next year, and I'll be a PROUD one. Goodbye USA - you have SO much to learn!

[bush_cheney2004]

I'll be a Canadian citizen next year, and I'll be a PROUD one. Goodbye USA - you have SO much to learn!

Are you renouncing US citizenship, or hedging your bet with duality?

Either way, good luck....for every one of you, there are four others going the opposite way to the USA. Seems they have already "learned" enough.

[M.Dancer]

....for every one of you, there are four others going the opposite way to the USA.

Source?

[jdobbin]

Are you renouncing US citizenship, or hedging your bet with duality?

Either way, good luck....for every one of you, there are four others going the opposite way to the USA. Seems they have already "learned" enough.

Talk about a defensive response.

It sounds like this poster's decision to move to Canada was a good one for him. So what if he keeps his American citizenship? The majority of Canadians who get U.S. citizenship keep their Canadian citizenship as well. Does that mean they are hedging their bets?

You have to stop taking things so personally.

[bush_cheney2004]

Source?

Not counting the Canadian illegals or snowbirds, it is easy to demonstrate that far more Canadians leave for the evil USA and seek permanent residency.

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statist...06/table11d.xls

The "brain drain" gap has narrowed, but it's still a net loss for Canada:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/07/30/...us.html?ref=rss

There are reasons why the USA has a population of 300,000,000 and Canada doesn't...just ask some ex-Canadians.

[AngusThermopyle]

There are reasons why the USA has a population of 300,000,000 and Canada doesn't...just ask some ex-Canadians.

I'm sure you're right, I really cant dispute what you say as I didn't bother to read your links. I don't need to, I live here. I live in a place where we have lots of space, we still have space to live and breath. We have wildlife and nature outside our back doors.A place where the only reason for someone to be out of work is because they don't want to work. Even Calgary which is considered a major city is still wide open, full of green areas and trees, not in parks, just areas the city grew around. I think I should mention that I don't live in Calgary, I live in a smaller town farther south, but I do spend a fair amount of time there due to my job. I really don't think population size has anything at all to do with quality of life. Perhaps you might try getting away from that huge population once in a while and just enjoy being somewhere with very few other people in your immediate vicinity. You might just enjoy it.

Easychair, welcome to Canada. Don't worry about the minor gripes in this thread about which city is better. Just rest assured that you are moving to a really nice city in a beautifull part of the world.I recently moved here myself. At first it was a little strange but that soon passed. I still remember the day it struck me how lucky I was to have decided to move here. Where I'm living isn't that far from Calgary, but it's far enough. I can drive for thirty minutes westward and be in the mountains, one hour south and I'm at the border, twenty minutes east and I'm in a good sized town/smaller city. People here are very friendly, they respect hard work and a good sense of ethics.

I find the attitude here is that if you are a good person who works hard and who's word is good you will get along just great. Not to say that this is some utopia, there are problems here just as there are elsewhere. However I think judging by the tone of your initial post you will be welcomed by most that you meet. Once again, welcome.

[Guest American Woman]

A place where the only reason for someone to be out of work is because they don't want to work.

You actually believe that??

[AngusThermopyle]

You actually believe that??

I actually live that.

Sorry if you don't.

When I first moved here I came with nothing, I stayed at a friends house. I had a job the second day I was in town, by 4:00 PM actually. One month later I had found a management position with a good company. Since I've been here I've been accepted into the community and welcomed by most that I've met. Can I ask what is so hard to believe about that?

Do you not believe that I live in a place with such geographic diversity and beauty?

[Guest American Woman]

I actually live that.

Sorry if you don't.

When I first moved here I came with nothing, I stayed at a friends house. I had a job the second day I was in town, by 4:00 PM actually. One month later I had found a management position with a good company. Since I've been here I've been accepted into the community and welcomed by most that I've met. Can I ask what is so hard to believe about that?

Do you not believe that I live in a place with such geographic diversity and beauty?

I've been to Canada. I've seen the homeless. I suppose they're all homeless and begging on the streets because they want to be? And the people searching for employment-- none of them want to work?

I know you don't live in a country where the only reason for being out of work is not wanting to work; which has nothing to do with geographic diversity (you think the States doesn't have geographic diversity??) and beauty (the States are beautiful too, but that's not getting people jobs).

[bush_cheney2004]

It sounds like this poster's decision to move to Canada was a good one for him. So what if he keeps his American citizenship? The majority of Canadians who get U.S. citizenship keep their Canadian citizenship as well. Does that mean they are hedging their bets?

Yes it does. I wished the poster good luck in his/her newfound Canada.

You have to stop taking things so personally.

[Guest American Woman]

The majority of Canadians who get U.S. citizenship keep their Canadian citizenship as well.

I didn't think they were allowed to keep their Canadian citizenship any more.

[bush_cheney2004]

I know you don't live in a country where the only reason for being out of work is not wanting to work; which has nothing to do with geographic diversity (you think the States doesn't have geographic diversity??) and beauty (the States are beautiful too, but that's not getting people jobs).

Agreed...there is plenty of "beauty" in both countries, but that won't pay the bills. There is actually more "diversity" in the USA. More Canadians vote with their feet and pocketbooks, adding to the mix. It's all good....300,000,001.

[jdobbin]

I didn't think they were allowed to keep their Canadian citizenship any more.

As far as I know, Canadians who wish to keep their Canadian citizenship do so.