choosing Calgary
 

This is further to the discussion that was generated when someone asked how many people were moving back to the UK. The posts ended up discussing the aggressive driving habits in Calgary. Okay, admittedly, I haven't lived in Canada for 15 years, but when I was growing up in Ontario (Waterloo) it wouldn't have occurred to me to move to Calgary--the basic view in Ontario was "Calgary is full of cowboys and wannabe Americans". Yes, I know I am generalising like crazy and I am sure many people here have made Calgary their home and love it, but I am just commenting on the general view Canadians have had of their fellow citizens. People in Alberta generally considered people in Ontario to be too conservative to waste time with, and I am sure that hasn't changed!

What I am saying (and this is no big news, I know) is that each province, and then each major area in each province has a 'feel' to it, and perhaps Calgary isn't the place where gentle, tofo eating, yoga practicing etc Canadians move to--yes, a terrible generalisation, and as I say I haven't been there for years so things might be totally different, but judging from the comments about driving habits, it doesn't sound likely! When I was in high school, Calgary was the place my classmates went to if they wanted to 'shake the dust off' from their life in Waterloo and get into the swing of things (generally on the ski field). The tofu eaters went to Vancouver so they could explore their inner selves on the beach. The career centred people of course went to Toronto.

I was going to conclude that it is unfair to classify all Canadians as bad drivers based on experiences in Calgary, but then realised that my post is full of sterotypes and generalisations so I had better stir clear of that!

So I will conclude by saying that, like the UK of course, there are certain places in which certain people are going to feel comfortable and it might be a struggle to find that place. I am in the process of moving back to Canada, but am not considering Calgary (or Alberta for the same reasons)--old sterotypes die hard!

for what it's worth....

Re: choosing Calgary
 

Yes you're reply is full of stereotypes and IMO so is you're view of Calgary.

I don't find the driving any worse than London (UK) and my social circle is one of professional people (oil execs, finance types etc) none of whom is a cowboy :)

But if you don't want to move here fine. IMO there's enough people living here already.

Re: choosing Calgary
 

But probably true - I don't think I know anybody like that here, although I had a lot of vegetarian friends in the UK in comparison.

What do my friends do here? Eat steaks, go to rodeos, watch monster trucks, play hockey and vote conservative.

Re: choosing Calgary
 

Yesterday I read your posts mentioning a alcohol ban in your home and your taking your children to church and I chuckled, if I say Alberta is full of neo-con religious nutters CalgaryBlade gets upset, so I'm delighted to have see someone proudly conforming to the stereotype. I think anyone looking to emigrate to North America ought to consider Texas before Alberta, it's politically similar but warmer.

Re: choosing Calgary
 

And I had a few beers last night to celebrate it - I may be a neo-fascist redneck, but I'm only human.
That is an Alberta thing - I also know more people who attend church on a regular basis here than I knew in the UK.
Did I mention I have friends from Texas?

Re: choosing Calgary
 

Well, I thank your God that, while you fit in in Alberta, there's no place for your views in the rest of the country.

Re: choosing Calgary
 

That's a rather agressive and defensive comeback on the poor poster....how long have you been there .... less than 2 years ? Let other people have their opinons without mauling them for what they say 'in their opinion'.

Oh and you don't have to be an Albertan or Texan for your kids to attend church every Sunday. My daughter does and I have to admit I drink regularly, neither of which are related !! :beer:

Re: choosing Calgary
 

No but church attendance and neo-con politics go hand-in-hand in Alberta and Texas. If someone attends church in Quebec it's a fair bet that they're Catholic, in Utah Mormon and in Alberta or Texas the sort of person who cheerily claims to be a redneck facist. George Bush attends church regularly.

Re: choosing Calgary
 

Did I mention George Bush was one of my personal friends?

Re: choosing Calgary
 

Unfortunately what you say is true. However a large portion of the Alberta does not attend church every Sunday and some of us don't vote conservative.

While I love Calgary and Alberta and do not wish to live anywhere else. I cannot in any way say I'm am a supporter of Ralph Klein and his bunch of neo conservative cronies or Harper and his Reform/Conservatives.

However the "eastern attitude" toward Alberta does nothing to deter the red necks among us. For example in today's Calgary Herald there is an article about a poll that says most Canadians want oil nationalized. Even though I'm not a western separatist I can understand their feelings when I see stuff like this. We've already been through the NEP once and sure as h*ll don't want to repeat it.

Re: choosing Calgary
 

I used to read the Calgary Herald and gave up - it really does seem to pander towards anything negative in the redneck psyche.

I stopped reading it after what seemed like endless stream of editorials blaming all the ills of Calgary on immigrants - has that changed any?

If someone commits a crime, do we really have to know how long they've lived here and where they came from?

Re: choosing Calgary
 

As it goes, I have two clients in Calgary, the contacts at those sites are one Indian, one Chinese and one Newfoundlander so I know that not everyone in Alberta conforms to the stereotype. However, I find that enough people do to make me feel uncomfortable there. That's not to say that I think more government is the answer to anything, I vote for which party seems least likely to pass any laws. I'll forgive some corruption so long as they don't try to improve anything else.

Re: choosing Calgary
 

I've only "known" two Albertans in any real sense of the word. One introduced me to the phrase "wagon-burner". The other, straight from the oil patch, once walked by accident into perhaps the gayest pub in Brighton, wearing his normal attire: moustache, cowboy boots etc. When he recounted that to me next day, his description of the place included words like "them", "up" and "string".

Based on a limited survey of two, we have a 100% rate of Albertan redneckness.

Re: choosing Calgary
 

That certainly speaks for the attitudes of 3 million people :D

Re: choosing Calgary
 

Yes, less than two years. Which would appear to be longer than original poster has lived here.

Anyway, how come you're the moderator these days? :)

P.S. I don't go to church, I never mentioned church.