Glam

Right folks,

Here's one for all of you currently living in Calgary with young families. When the sun shines what do you differently from when you were in the UK, or is it that you just have more of an opportunity to do what you did??

We are really torn between Calgary and Kelowna. Earning potential and job prospects, houses, family, airport, lower outgoings etc are all better in Calgary but the main reason for our move is better weather to enjoy the outdoors and life by the lakes is a huge attraction. On the other hand earning potential in Kelowna is less and all costs are higher but it's the lifestyle we think we want!!!

All constructive comments / advice experiences welcome.

Many thanks in advance

Gav.

Mike Gas

Everything apart from employment opportunities the Okanagan wins hands down, much nicer places than strip mall Kelowna though.
And yes I have spent quite some time in Calgary, weather in the is much better in Okanagan, thats what all those tourists from Calgary keep telling me and they all seem to want to retire here.

NorfolkNumpty

Way more rain in the Okanagan than Calgary! Yes it gets cold here but the sunshines 90% of the time and unless it is down in the real low figures people are out and about most of the time. It was -17 yesterday and there were still plenty of people walking in Fish Creek Park.

Calgary has more sunshine hours per year, it does rain and when it does its torrential but its for short periods.

The Okanagan is nice but you'd be moving to what is in effect a british seaside resort.

We do the same sorts of things we did in the UK, only more so due to the lack of rain: we go on walks, down to the lake in our community, go to the park and that sort of thing. Plus you've got the Rockies just over an hour away for amazing scenery.

Glam

where are you in Calgary?. We were looking at some of the lake communities.

Gav

Mike Gas

Thats why the Okanagan is full of Holiday makers and second homeowners from Alberta and Calgary because they are fed up of the poor weather you get been told this Hundreds of times

JonboyE

Eh? The southern part of the Okanagan Valley is a desert. When did Calgary achieve that status?

Eh? again. Have you ever been?

Mike Gas

Historical Weather: Summerland, BC

See monthly weather statistics »
Start : End : Submit
Search Results: From February 6 , 2010 to February 6 , 2011 - Summerland
Max Temp: 35.4 °C
Max Temp.Date: Jul.9 2010
Min temp: -17.7 °C
Min Temp. Date: Nov.24 2010
Precip Accumulation: 227.2 mm


Historical Weather: Calgary, AB

See monthly weather statistics »
Start : End : Submit
Search Results: From February 6 , 2010 to February 6 , 2011 - Calgary Airport
Max Temp: 31.4 °C
Max Temp.Date: Aug.26 2010
Min temp: -31.2 °C
Min Temp. Date: Nov.23 2010
Precip Accumulation: 468.9 mm

Twice the rain -31.2 you can keep that

NorfolkNumpty

Sundance, the lake is fantastic in winter and summer.

NorfolkNumpty

Yes it rained for 3 days whilst we were in Osoyoos.

NorfolkNumpty

You forgot the hours of sunshine.............

Calgary: 2405.3 per year on average
Kelowna: 1954.4

Average Rainy Days:

Calgary: 67.5
Kelowna: 104.6

The Okanagan is warmer yes, but Calgary is not as cold as people think and its sunnier than the Okanagan. When it does rain it rains hard but only for a short period, its very rare that you get days on end where it rains.

I love visiting the Okanagan valley but its a holiday area, Calgary has much more in the way of facilities, education, culture and most importantly job prospects.

JonboyE

Ah well, if it rained while you were then then all those measurements collected by hundreds of climate scientists for decades are obviously rubbish. I mean, it stands to reason. Doesn't it?

There nothing wrong with sticking up for the city, town or area you live in. But, if you are going to rubbish somewhere else it is helpful to stick to opinions, not misrepresent facts.

NorfolkNumpty

I did, couple of posts up with stats.......Calgary has more hours or sunshine and less rainy days per year than Kelowna. Is your mouse unable to scroll up? Also clarified that the Okanagan is lovely as a holiday destination, just like some of the British seaside resorts but I wouldn't want to live there.

Mike Gas

But twice the amount of rain, what culture if you want culture than both places are wrong.
We get 1000,s of people from Calgary here and they all say main reason for coming is the weather and wine.

NorfolkNumpty

According to Environment Canada the average rainfall in Calgary is 320.6mm and in Kelowna its 380.5, I'd say thats wetter. There is only 25mm difference in the average snowfall too.

Yes the weather is lovely in the Okanagan and you have a longer summer that Calgary. However we have more sunshine, drier days and less rain. When its still cold in Calgary in May, its warmer in the Okanagan and I too have visited at that time of year.

There is also plenty of sub-culture in Calgary if you want to avoid the 'cowboyishness' that is a little overwhelming. The folk festival is awesome, we get some great bands playing throughout the year. Awesome restaurants, including one of the worlds top 100, great theatre, ballet & orchestra if thats your cuppa and two major professional sports teams.

But we don't have the vineyards and orchards that the Okanagan has and its great to visit, but work wise it is lacking unless you want to work in the service industry or grow peaches.

It is all about personal preferences after all.

ann m

Yeah, but most of it is of the frozen variety