Steve_P

What she said ^^^^

The highlighted above was/is only one of the major reasons Mrs_P (born and raised in Edmonton) refused to move to Vancouver Island a number of years ago when I had the bug to move there.

We did a number of spring trips to stay for a month (March) and I was convinced that I couldn't live there, and from what I understand Vancouver is worse.

West coast summers on the other hand are usually spectacular.

Some have a problem with the local weather some don't, this applies anywhere in Canada.

mandymoochops

Yup I have to agree with the above 3 posts, the blue sky and sunshine even at minus 30million really does pick you up. I would say Calgary if you had to choose between the two (after all its got Butch and Steve P there )

Butch Cassidy

OI, we're trying to persuade her to come to Calgary. NOT drop a nuclear warhead on it.

Getting There

Vancouver we found to be a fab place to visit but never quite felt like home and in terms of the weather, maybe too much like home! Property would have been something of a compromise - we don't see that we could have afforded there what we could here in Okotoks (or elsewhere in Calgary itself). Vancouver commuting felt to us like it would be fairly troublesome IF work were to take us to downtown Vancouver (which would have been our assumption at the time), not that we're suggesting it's a breeze in Calgary. Despite the snow, we prefer the weather here. Whilst we think the sunshine thing can be a little over-played, there is unquestionably more of it here than in Vancouver and that really can help during the winter. We like the feeling of space around Calgary. By comparison, we find the locals a little warmer in personality than in Vancouver. For us, Calgary and surrounds wins out over Vancouver.

The best advice given above though...come and visit if you can and make your own judgement.

Eamonn & Janet.

Steve_P

Calgary wins...game, set and match Calgary.

See this thread for why. http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=602361

mandymoochops

And as if that wasn't enough, Iginla and the guys will walk all over the Canucks later.

Vancouver never really had a chance did it

Tangram

Location is very personal; stats don't mean a thing. You have to visit a place which is why I tend not to offer opinions on these type of threads 9 besides never having visited either of course ).

Steve_P

That's why I used the happy faces with my "game, set and match" post.

I really do wish we had a tongue in cheek smiley.

Oink

Vancouver for me. Its the only place I'd live in Canada.
I like the weather, there's a few decent restaurants, an airport only 8 miles away, a good uni and fair-to-middling one. A few good shops. Some great places to go to gigs. A nice fresh market within walking distance. A fair bus system. And its by the sea and sailing is my passion so it's no contest for me. There again I don't have kids yet. When I do, I'll go back home to bring them up. Again, just a personal choice nothing against the place so don't jump down my neck.

Steve_P

Not jumping down your neck but I find that a very curious statement considering that a lot of people on this site state that they come here so their children will have a better chance at life.

Yet you say "nothing against the place" but then appear to say Canada is not a good enough place to educate and raise your kids?

Tangram

Sorry Steve I didn't even read your post, it didn't matter to my point.

Tangram

Now that is a curious one isn't it.

gryphea

I think it really depends partly on how you enjoy spending your time

We didn't really consider Vancouver as financially it wasn't attractive, they weren't so desparate for people in OH's line of work and so he might not have got the leave package etc, we didn't want to live in such a large city and we wanted quicker access to a variety of world class skiing. I know loads rave about Whistler - but we don't.

I didn't actually expect to enjoy life in Calgary as much as I do. WE are here on a WP and if we don't get PR- I'll be gutted!

Gryph

dbd33

One of my children is about to go to university in Vancouver, and why not, she's been to university everywhere else. I'd been interested to know is she going to the good one or the fair-to-middling one. Which is what?

triumphguy

I'm a bit ticked with people constantly and glibly stating there's not much to do in Calgary:

Here's some of the live theatres:

• Lunchbox Theatre presents 50-minute shows tailored to the lunchtime crowd
• One Yellow Rabbit
• StoryBook Theatre
• Alberta Theatre Projects
• Theatre Junction
• Stage West
• Jubilations Theatre
• Theatre Calgary
• Downstage
• Calgary Fringe
• Loose Moose
• Alberta Dance Theatre
• The Liffey Players
  Shakespeare in the Park
  

Classical Music:

• Calgary Opera Company
• Calgary Pro Musica Scoeity
• Honens International Piano Competition
• Mount Royal Kantorei
• Cantos Music Foundation
• Early Music Voices Concerts
• Calgary International Organ Festival
• Mozart in the Mountains

Calgary International Blues Festival

That's apart from the Calagry Flames and the Hitmen - both great hockey teams in their respective leagues.

The Calgary Stampeders - championship football (canadian style)
Calgary Roughnecks, lacrosse

Major Rock concerts happen at the 'Dome.

Lots of celtic and folk music venues and festival

Lots of live music festivals

No, it's not London's West End, or the Bolshoi ballet - but it ain't bad, and it's here in town.

Plus Canada Olympic Park
The Olympic Oval

Fantastic (in comparison to Manchester circa "Life on Mars" era) sports and fitness facilites, swimming pools, rock climbing walls, wave pools,

And some of the best skiiing on the planet available within an hour and a half.

And every community association usually offers martial arts, crafts, yoga and/or fitness classes.

The schools are good.
The houses are good.
The wages are relatively high.
There's a Tim Hortons Second Cup or Starbucks on every corner.
There's more Indian Restaurants every year
Brit food is more available than before
There's farmers markets in every quadrant of the city

And blue sky 7 days out of 10.


So it snows and it gets cold - how come 14 year old Calgary girls are able to walk around in flat "pumps" and short skirts year round? They ain't that tough.... really...!:curse: