Calgary or Edmonton?

Calgary or Edmonton?

steve_american

#1May 19th, 2009

Greetings fellow Canadians,

I am new to CC, my handle is steve_american. I hold citizenship in the U.S hence the name, although I am also a Canadian citizen, born and raised, and my roots lay deep within this frozen tundra.

Edit: I see now it has been asked, but I'd still like your recent opinions!
--
I must apologize as I am unsure if this question has been posted before. However, which city do you like the most, Calgary or Edmonton?

At 18 I left my town, Gibsons, B.C, to find a job on an oil rig in Alberta. My best friend and I moved to Red Deer initially, although I was the only one to stay. After working in a slaughterhouse I did have a lot of fun on an oil rig all summer long and some of early fall, where I eventually realized I could not last through the winter at this job. Living in central Alberta allowed me to explore nearly the entire province. It has been a pleasure. Driving up and down from either Edmonton or Calgary back to Red Deer, following the lights of the surrounding towns on Highway-2 was such a great experience.

Recently though, I have found a new home in Calgary while I'm attending college. I have fallen in love with Calgary, and the province of Alberta, where I've met not only people from Gibsons, Vancouver, lost cousins from Cape Breton (even sharing the same last name), and many more smiling, cold, frozen, faces.

Despite Vancouver holding the title of world's most livable city and the province being beautiful as it is, you cannot ignore the constant rain and the reflected attitudes. So after I go back to the rainy coast to reorganize myself, I'd like to have an idea of which city is best. Cuz I'm probly comin' back!

So, Canada, which Albertan metropolitan hub do you like the most? We have Edmonton at the top of the corridor, and Calgary at the bottom, resting beside the Rocky Mountains. While I have been to Edmonton a dozen times throughout the summertime, I know litte about the city except that Whyte Ave. looks like a party strip and they have a big ass mall.. What do you think?

Thank you very much for your opinions.

Cannuck

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 19th, 2009

Calgary is a nicer city in the winter but Edmonton is best in the summer. Not just the cities but the areas. I live in Southern Alberta and my parents live in Edmonton. I far prefer summers north of Red Deer but I laugh at them all winter long.

captain morgan

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 19th, 2009

Edmonton is fantastic in the summer. The river valley, the festivals, Whyte Ave, et al... All great. Winter, however, is colder than sh*t and the opportunities in town dry up really fast.

In terms of your question re: which city is better/offers more.. I live in Calgary.. My opinion is highly skewed.

Cannuck

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 19th, 2009

Edmonton at least has a hockey team.

captain morgan

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 19th, 2009

Really? Are the Coyotes relocating to Edmonchuck?

Cannuck

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 19th, 2009

That just reinforces how difficult it is to be a hockey fan in Calgary....when one considers the Yotes a hockey team it's apparent that standards are awfully low.

JLM

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 19th, 2009

I like Cowtown, spent a lot of time there with family over the past dozen years. Haven't really had much to do with Edmonton, just passed through it a number of times on the way north. Edmonton's weather isn't as erratic as Calgary's. In Edmonton in the winter you get winter, in Calgary at any time you can get all four seasons within a day or so. Calgary seems to be easier to drive in, although the driving habits of many Calgarians leave much to be desired. For instance when you want to merge into another lane, they will do everything in their power to stop you.

VanIsle

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by steve_american

Greetings fellow Canadians,

I am new to CC, my handle is steve_american. I hold citizenship in the U.S hence the name, although I am also a Canadian citizen, born and raised, and my roots lay deep within this frozen tundra.

Edit: I see now it has been asked, but I'd still like your recent opinions!
--
I must apologize as I am unsure if this question has been posted before. However, which city do you like the most, Calgary or Edmonton?

At 18 I left my town, Gibsons, B.C, to find a job on an oil rig in Alberta. My best friend and I moved to Red Deer initially, although I was the only one to stay. After working in a slaughterhouse I did have a lot of fun on an oil rig all summer long and some of early fall, where I eventually realized I could not last through the winter at this job. Living in central Alberta allowed me to explore nearly the entire province. It has been a pleasure. Driving up and down from either Edmonton or Calgary back to Red Deer, following the lights of the surrounding towns on Highway-2 was such a great experience.

Recently though, I have found a new home in Calgary while I'm attending college. I have fallen in love with Calgary, and the province of Alberta, where I've met not only people from Gibsons, Vancouver, lost cousins from Cape Breton (even sharing the same last name), and many more smiling, cold, frozen, faces.

Despite Vancouver holding the title of world's most livable city and the province being beautiful as it is, you cannot ignore the constant rain and the reflected attitudes. So after I go back to the rainy coast to reorganize myself, I'd like to have an idea of which city is best. Cuz I'm probly comin' back!

So, Canada, which Albertan metropolitan hub do you like the most? We have Edmonton at the top of the corridor, and Calgary at the bottom, resting beside the Rocky Mountains. While I have been to Edmonton a dozen times throughout the summertime, I know litte about the city except that Whyte Ave. looks like a party strip and they have a big ass mall.. What do you think?

Thank you very much for your opinions.

You were born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and you are willing to give it up for Calgary or Edmonton?

Were you there today? Did you shovel snow there today because both cities got their fair share. Yes, we got a little wet but - sun was shining until dark and it's supposed to be quite lovely for the rest of the week. Live at home.

VanIsle

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by captain morgan

Really? Are the Coyotes relocating to Edmonchuck?

The Canucks beat them all!

karrie

#10

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

any place you move will be what you make of it. Seek out the good stuff... let the annoying stuff slide, and you'll do just fine. Find the place that fits you best for real estate and work, family and friends, and just enjoy it, regardless of how other people want to trumpet about how their home cities or areas are superior.

YukonJack

#11

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

steve_american, your question is akin to asking Dallas or Houston?

wulfie68

#12

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

I was raised in small town Northern Alberta (where a trip to the city meant a trip to Edmonton) and I've lived in Calgary for the past 9 years. My personal preference would be Edmonton but its not a run away choice and others would disagree with me. A big part is the pace: Calgary runs on caffeine, nicotine and adrenaline from about 7:00 am until 6:00pm then crashes hard. Where Edmonton has a slower but more constant pace. But like I (and others have) said both cities have a lot to recommend them.

L Gilbert

#13

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

Edmonton: the only city I've ever seen with 4 sections to the same street broken up by river, gully, and river again. I guess they didn't like the idea of naming each section by something different.
Calgary is sooo easy to get around in. It's further south and is a little better in winter than Edmonton even though it can snow in July there. It has the Husky/Calgary Tower where from I once took a pic of a lightning storm at night and got 7 different strikes in one pic.

Hockey & football teams don't care where you live.
Other than that, where you get work and find a home are probably most important factors.

VanIsle

#14

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

any place you move will be what you make of it. Seek out the good stuff... let the annoying stuff slide, and you'll do just fine. Find the place that fits you best for real estate and work, family and friends, and just enjoy it, regardless of how other people want to trumpet about how their home cities or areas are superior.

I don't necessarily agree that any place you move is what you make it. I've lived in a lot of places and you get friendly places and the not so friendly places. Things like weather and how you accept them are what you make it. It's like living where I do. Some people say they hate the rain and they need more sun. Then you can read a weather report right across Canada and we are either having the same weather as everyone else or maybe even a little better. Some people hate snow and every flake just represents another bad day. My preference is warm dry weather so I guess I should be living in another country in reality but we all know that other things factor in. At least for most of us. We want to live where there is family so for the most part, the weather is a moot point. At different ages in life weather doesn't matter to most people. Jobs matter. I think in the end, for the average person, a job dictates where you will live. If you enjoy where you live, you will tout it as the best place on earth. I like where I live but even though I have said it's a great place to live, given the choice, I would live in the Okanagan. It's hot there and you really need air-conditioning but that's what I like. If our kids and their families lived up there so would we. I think it's better to feel your city is superior than to hate it.

karrie

#15

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by VanIsle

Jobs matter. I think in the end, for the average person, a job dictates where you will live. If you enjoy where you live, you will tout it as the best place on earth. I like where I live but even though I have said it's a great place to live, given the choice, I would live in the Okanagan. It's hot there and you really need air-conditioning but that's what I like. If our kids and their families lived up there so would we. I think it's better to feel your city is superior than to hate it.

which is exactly what I said. If you seek out where your family or friends are, where a job you love is, then the rest falls into place and other issues don't matter. It is what you make of it. But chasing someone else's ideal city is a good way to end up miserable.

L Gilbert

#16

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

.... or at least disappointed. lol

steve_american

#17

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

See below.. lol

steve_american

#18

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by VanIsle

You were born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and you are willing to give it up for Calgary or Edmonton? Were you there today? Did you shovel snow there today because both cities got their fair share. Yes, we got a little wet but - sun was shining until dark and it's supposed to be quite lovely for the rest of the week. Live at home.

I was actually born in Sydney, Cape Breton. But I was raised on the coast. And where am I supposed to go when I'm bored? Sechelt, Earl's Cove? No thanks.

steve_american

#19

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 20th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by YukonJack

steve_american, your question is akin to asking Dallas or Houston?

Is this how they speak in the Yukon?

VanIsle

#20

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 21st, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by steve_american

I was actually born in Sydney, Cape Breton. But I was raised on the coast. And where am I supposed to go when I'm bored? Sechelt, Earl's Cove? No thanks.

I knew you would come back with that because they are small towns and you've probably known them all your life. Some people love the big cities and if you do, then go for it. I hate huge cities but like you, I was raised in a small town. Oddly enough, while we are across the water, Nanaimo is still part of the Sunshine Coast. Have you ever been over here?

JLM

#21

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 21st, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by steve_american

Is this how they speak in the Yukon?

I'd say Houston is a little more subject to hurricanes but you can't watch live
N.H.L. hockey there- so there is quite a difference. But we digress.

steve_american

#22

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by VanIsle

I knew you would come back with that because they are small towns and you've probably known them all your life. Some people love the big cities and if you do, then go for it. I hate huge cities but like you, I was raised in a small town. Oddly enough, while we are across the water, Nanaimo is still part of the Sunshine Coast. Have you ever been over here?

I haven't been to Nanaimo. It was always that terminal at Horseshoe Bay that nobody really cared about unless the vending machines were closed in the Langdale terminal. =p

I've been to Victoria but not much time spent on the Island. Seems like a lot of people from the coast go to Kelowna, that's also where my buddy wants to go. I'm highly considering Kelowna as well.

I'm not sure if I like big cities, I know I miss my town, but there sure is a lot going on here. I haven't been to Kelowna yet because it's a drive off of highway-1. I'm going to check it out though, sounds like a place I might want to settle. It sure is cold in Alberta, though.

L Gilbert

#23

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

Kelowna is a Vancouver wannabe and it has growing pains. Used to be a really high producer of food but the good land is being paved over. I find it easier to get around in Vancouver than Kloneville.

YukonJack

#24

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

steve_american sorry for assuming that you were worldly enough to have ventured South of the Mason-Dixon line. My mistake.

So let me rephrase so that you can understand:

Asking for a difference between Edmonton and Calgary, is like asking: "What is the difference between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Or Seattle and Spokane."

GET IT??? Have good trip South of the Mason-Dixon line when you give up being CHEAP!

karrie

#25

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

The point of the conversation yukon is that he knows there are differences, and wants other people's perspectives on it.

His decision isn't helped by throwing out the names of American cities that also differ from one another. They're totally irrelevant.

YukonJack

#26

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

kerrie, since IS an American, examples of American cities is more illustrative to his question.

If you don't mention/quote something comprehensible, it is like trying to explain colours to a blind person, or extolling the beauty of the music of Mozart of Beethoven to a person who is deaf (acustically/hearingly challenged??????).

Last edited by YukonJack; May 22nd, 2009 at 09:38 AM..

karrie

#27

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by YukonJack

kerrie, since IS an American, examples of American cities is more illustrative to his question.

Oh, I see... so you didn't bother to actually read his OP. Might I suggest you give it a whirl? Born and raised in Canada, holding a dual citizenship, doesn't make him an American except on paper.

YukonJack

#28

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

"Oh, I see... so you didn't bother to actually read his OP. Might I suggest you give it a whirl? Born and raised in Canada, holding a dual citizenship, doesn't make him an American except on paper."

Oh, I see... Someone's admission (by the very monicker he/she uses on this forum) to be an American is to be ignored in the name of political correctness.

If he/she is a dual citizen, why does he/she need the advice of a motley crew of forum contributors? When I EARNED my Canadian citizenship (not born into, like so many sanctimonious people here) I needed no help to know what I needed to know about Canada.

Inscidenally, I DO know quite a bit about America, too.

That was the reason I offered my helpful advice.

karrie

#29

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by YukonJack

That was the reason I offered my helpful advice.

that's what confuses me.. what advice did you offer? You simply stated some American cities that are different too. Does that help him decide between Calgary and Edmonton?

And I'm not dismissing his dual citizenship. I was simply listening to what his post said about his well of experience, and it didn't include the US.

steve_american

#30

Re: Calgary or Edmonton?

May 22nd, 2009

As far as I can tell there aren't many differences. If I had to choose, it would be Calgary. In my honest opinion, Edmonton has a much nicer feel at night (driving) and in the summer. It's May now and it just stopped snowing here in Calgary.

Heck, maybe I will try Seattle.. only 5 hours back to Gibsons. *sigh* so much to choose from.

Thanks Karrie, thanks all.

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