Edmonton versus Calgary
 

Hi guys

We may have a job offer in Edmonton but always wanted to live Calgary ...
I (Wendy) don't really like Calgary, so when we visited Edmonton last week , my initial impression was it was a lot nicer.

What do you lot think the pros and cons are of both places, Id be interested to find out.

When we visited Edmonton last week we only had 30 hours there, we had a quick look at houses, schools and the mall.
My husband lived in Calgary for 2 years so knows it really well hence his idea to settle there, but im undecided.

So what do you think?

Wendy

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

This has been discussed before and opinions will, of course, vary. :sneaky:

My opinion is that Edmonton is OK - from the few visits I have made - there is not much between the two to be honest. Edmonton is described as having a more blue collar feel to it. Neither are particularly attractive (in that North American way) but have certain areas that are scenic.

I think Calgary has the upper hand - Rockies visible across much of the city - and the fact that it is nearer to stuff you might want to visit (ie, USA, touristy bits of Rockies, BC, etc). However, as is said very often on this forum, you cannot eat the scenery - so go where the job is!

Edmonton is three hours from anywhere, and then you start your journey to where you want to go.

Edmonton gets a warmer summer with more frost free days, but I would suggest a more specific longer, colder winter (lack of warming chinook winds).

Edmonton, or certainly the eastern side of the city, is pretty industrial.

Calgary has a more glossy, high rise, downtown business centre.

There we go - very technical. :)

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

I'd agree that there is very little between the two.
The only edge Calgary has, IMO, is the distance to the mountains.

As mentioned above, we dont get the chinook winds that Calgary gets, but that means we dont get the frozen ice on the sidewalks also. Edmontons winters are cold, but at least you know what you're getting. It's almost always sunny here.

Calgary has held on to it's cowboy heritage, so has more of a "western" feel, but neither downtown area is particularly busy after office hours.

There are more head offices in Calgary, but Edmonton is the capital, so more governmental offices here.

Calgarians and Edmontonians like to claim their own city is superior, but to the man off the street, they're practically the same.

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

I think I might speak up for Edmonton a bit:

Edmonton is still only 2.5 hours form Jasper National Park which is stunning and has some good skiing if you like it - much less crowded than the Banff resorts.

Edmonton has a better cultural centre than Calgary (theatre/arts), but neither is amazing in that department if you ask me.

The University of Alberta craps all of the University of Calgary in pretty much every department/faculty if that's a consideration.

Agree with Ann M about weather differences.

Calgary doesn't have a horrendous 1970s/1980s mall that it still brags about, but then Calgarians pretty much brag about everything else that their city has (or doesn't) ;)

Both have NHL teams. Oilers in complete disarray the past few years; Flames not a lot better to be honest.

What else? Agreed with Ann M again - see where you get a job!

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

Hmmm.... if you're talking about the western most Edmonton boundary, and the very entrance to Jasper, maybe you can do it in 2 and a half hours.
It's nearly an hours drive in to Jasper town even after you enter the national park.

But from most places in Edmonton, to Jasper town, it's getting on 4 hours....

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

4.5+ after the obligatory stop at Tims in Edson.

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

I have always found that it is Edmonton that brags or needs to shout about how great it is all the time. Calgary, for the most part, is secure in its own status.;)

How do universities crap over one another?:p

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

Hmmm... That's honestly not how it appears to an outsider like me. Edmonton comes across as far less "up itself" than Calgary :rofl:

I think both cities are OK - but if I had to pick one over the other to live in, I'd definitely choose Edmonton. In the half a dozen times I've driven in and around each city, Edmonton was always less congested and the drivers were more polite (probably as a consequence.)

I only have a pretty small sample of visits to work from, though, so maybe we've just been unlucky with our Calgary experiences?

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

i live in edmonton and its ok..not a patch on any uk city i have lived in or been to though.

i been to Calgary a few times..now i cant stand anything to do with country and western so this place is my worst nightmare come true!!..try visiting the cross iron mall like walking through the gates of hell!

Btw i travel alot to jasper with my work and i can do sw edmonton to Jasper town centre in 3hrs 15 mins.

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

Edmonton - for me - is like going back to the 70's. Drab, grim brown and grey buildings and even the fashion...or lack of it. It's just like walking into a black and white movie. Everyone shuffles around looking miserable, the airport is in a field somewhere in between Red Deer and Edmonton, which is just bizarre. It has nothing around it and the mountains are a long trek away. I went once with work and vowed never to go back there. It sends a shiver down my spine thinking about it.

Calgary has awesome weather (and chinooks through the winter), cool, modern architecture and a generally young, vibrant population...an awesome clean downtown river, a stone's throw from the mountains, an airport that's actually in the city, far better stores, bars and restaurants, a superior hockey team, lots of development...and it still feels like a small town to me.

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

Apparently "Brutalism" was the big idea in architecture when a lot of buildings in Edmonton were built. This is according to a friend who works for the city there. So that might explain the ugliness of DT Ed.

I quite like Edmonton. Been there a few times. people are nice, much nicer than Van imo. It has it's own scene going on. They are actively trying to get get people to live downtown - encouraging the building of condos over retail ala Vancouver. But otherwise your typical sprawling highway-bound north american prairie city.

Can't comment on Calgary.

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

I live in Calgary and have a nice life here but, as cities go, I'd say it's fairly uninspiring. I've visited Edmonton a couple of times and it seems equally uninspiring.

I suspect day to day life could be fairly similar in both cities BUT Calgary's proximity to The Rockies makes it a worth while place to live. It is very rare for us to spend a full weekend in Calgary. I don't think I'd enjoy life here if we had to travel for hours to reach anywhere of interest.

We did nearly end up in Edmonton and I'm glad we didn't.

MrsDV

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

Now that post should surely win an award for the most complete and utter bollox written on this particular thread... :rolleyes:

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

I'd agree with the comments along the lines of the main attraction for Calgary being it's proximity to the Rockies and other places of interest.

Re: Edmonton versus Calgary
 

LOL, what a loads of bollocks!:rofl:
Still, Calgary does it for me.