Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

An unfortunate fact of life in the western provinces except the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. :(

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Vancouver: Close to mountains and ocean. Warmer winter but set world record of raining consecutively 29 days. Will get 2-3 snow storms /yr, city crew doesn't plow but wait for the snow to melt in a weeks time so causing traffic chaos. Vancouver police response time is the longest in Canada, a national survey indicating break in call would normally take 1 hr 45min to respond or ignoring the call in some case. Maclean Magazine anncunced in Jan 2008 that 11 of top 20 crime areas are in the greater vancouver area. Crime, legalizing drug, gang gun shooting occur almost on daily basis. 28 ppl killed in 80 days in 2008.

Housing is $$$, half million for a small 50 yr old house with structural problem. Lots of leaky condo here, poor workmanship due to the hippie culture. Ski hill often have wet snow or no snow during the warm winter time. Salary is 15% lower than Calgary. Property tax is 150% to 200% higher than Calgary.

Lots of taxation authority: Province, cities, regional districts, transit authority, school boards, they are collecting taxes from you.

65% people working even in such an economy...lots of wealfare collecting people. A laid back, even lazy crime filled traffic signal every 250m city.

Calgary: Bitter cold in winter, but with warm chinook can have up to 20C. Sunnist city in Canada. Police responds to crime within 15 - 30 minutes. Crack down on pot, grow-op, etc. Significant police presence every where.

Housing still affordable, around 350K you can have a 15 years old town home. Property tax mostly below $2000/yr. Excellent infrastructures, hospitals, highways, etc. University does not sell land to developers for profit, vice versa in Vancouver. Close to world class attractions such as Banff, Lake Lousie, Jasper, Waterton, Drumheller, etc. Ski hills have dry real (not like powders in Van) snow. Ski facility within city limit. Cheaper gas at $1.14/L vs $1.28/L.

Just the province, the cities are collecting the taxes.

Gov't has emploment center to help residents find jobs (free fax, photocopy, internet, book on interview, etc).

78% people working, except old people and children. It is a conservative, safe, work hard play hard wealthy new city.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Way to dig up an old thread:thumbsup:

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

If you can’t be bothered going into details a CALGARY or VANCOUVER will suffice!

Cheers

Brin[/QUOTE]

I don't know anything about the police force, i do know its expensive to live in Calgary and as a driver its either really cold or wet when i get to Vancouver. Been here now 7-8months and think we're going to settle around Calgary, maybe even Lethbridge. There are loads of property realters that have webs which could give you a price idea. I have noticed though quite a lot of people have signs in gardens saying for sale by owner no fees. probably no help just thought :thumbsup:. Btw Canada is fab

Lisa

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Consistently voted "most livable city in the world". I think we've got a Calgary realtor in our midsts.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Nah, not a realtor. From Calgary, but I got a 3 years contract with a company in BC moving around Kamloops, Vancouver Island and Vancouver. Kamloops and the Island are fine. Small towns, lots of space not too crowded.

Vancouver is ...nah I lost my peace when I moved down here. From crime, drug to traffic and the # of signals they pack in a 500m stretch of road. In a 5km commute to my office, there is 23 set of signals - not in coordination at all and they are going to add more for access to condo parkades...

Still renting. soon move back to Calgary.

Vancouver, good for a 2 day visit then head to Victoria for real enjoyment there. Calgary is for settle down family if you don't want ur garage got break-in every couple month, you kids smoking pot in ur balcony, or bullets accidentally hit your wind shield.

One more thing, bcuz of the rainy winter days, people suffer from Seasonal Sleeping Disorder even depression in the lower mainland. % way higher than other provinces.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Vancouver don't need road work, they have signal every 250m to faciliate traffic. One of the best phenomenon is the sign "Construction Use Alternate Route" while they have only 1 bridge that you can safe cross the river or an alternate route that adds 3 hours to your commute. Vancouver rocks. The best place in the world.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

That bullets through the windshield thing is a real bugger. It costs me a fortune in deductibles.

By the way lololo, the guy in the Calgary Chamber of Commerce asked me to let you know that your cheque is in the mail.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Erm... why not decide for yourself AFTER you visit? If you miss something or it doesnt resolve itself with a visit, then the good folks here can fill in the gaps, but really, visit and it will probably become obvious to you which you prefer.

Otherwise you will just get a bunch of strangers banging on about there own personal prejudices...

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Presumably by people who don't live there.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Still, from your post I think we can infer that the teaching of English is not a high priority in Calgary. "you kids smoking pot in ur balcony" indeed.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

The various surveys seem to be a mixture of polling local people and conclusions drawn up by people like the Economist Intelligence Unit. Most people I've met really seem to appreciate living here, but they tend to be middle-class well-educated people who can afford to do the fun stuff and rarely need to deal with the shittier side of things.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Bunch of knob-rot.

You can a palce in a fairly decent area for ....oh.....let's say $800k.

;)


R.

Re: Calgary or Vancouver - That is the question?
 

Frankly - I agree with Iaink...

They were the 2 cities I'd decided upon, but having visited, I really know now which is for me.

Frankly if I was in different circumstances, that may have changed.

So indeed, you will only know yourself after visiting and if you have narrowed it down to 2 places, a reccie will pay for itself in peace of mind, and probably any moving if you made the wrong decision.

You can't realistically expect total strangers to pave your future. No one in the right mind would listen to them.

At the start of my journey I asked the very same question, and looking back now, can't believe how niaive (sp) I was.

Good Luck and sorry I cna't help on the job front!

B