Moving to calgary, a good or bad idea?

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Karen C

Are you immigrating or coming on a working holiday? Either way, you will have to go through the government's gauntlet. You can go here to see what that might entail:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp

There is crime everywhere but "rampant" is not a word I would use for anywhere in Canada. The guy who wrote that needs to look the word up in a dictionary. I lived in Calgary for close to 40 years and drove a cab at night while I went to school. As cities of the world go, Calgary, like most Canadian cities, has a relatively low rating in the crime arena.

It does get cold but it also gets Chinooks and the air is dry so that combination makes it rather pleasant most winters. Dry is the definitive word I think. I felt warmer at minus 36C in Calgary than I presently do in Ottawa when it goes to minus 20C and it is the dryness that does that. And I have pictures of Calgary in 1988 during our Olympics of Calgarians out running along the river in shorts while our southern visitors died of the heat in their fur coats.(I keep and show those pictures often to explain the Chinook to easterners who have never experienced one.)

Alberta is Canada's gas and oil center and Calgary has become a huge gas and oil city with the head offices of many large associated businesses residing there. The huge boom it experienced in the 70s and 80s brought it right up to par with any major eastern city such as Montreal or Toronto very quickly so you have all the very best restaurants, bars and grills, concert halls, theatres - it even has it's own Philharmonic Orchestra.

It is 80 miles or there abouts from Banff - ski and tourist mecca.

Calgary has a very good university, a very good Technical school and several excellent colleges. It has good hospitals and has attracted some excellent doctors. It is not just big; Calgary has personality!

The people are great. Since the boom it is a mixture of westerners and easterners and of immigrants from all over the world. I think you are more apt to have a Calgarian smile and wish you good morning 'just because' it is in Calgary than anywhere else.

Toronto - I have to admit, I do not like it. And being a Montrealer originally that is to be expected of my generation. You would have to understand the dynamic at play in those days between the two cities and it all revolved around hockey (there used to only be 6 teams, not the preponderance that exists now). I will leave telling you about Toronto to Torontonians. They do a very good job here at Yahoo of promoting their city and my biases would get in the way. :o)

pinkpiglet126

Calgary is awesome. Finding jobs is not a problem here. We have scenery and mountains, lots to do. Those in Toronto who think they area better place for young people have never lived here. I grew up here and loved it.

I've been to Toronto, it's too crowded and busy for me.

orangebegonia

Not sure where the idea that Calgary has rampant crime came from. It's a big city, so sure, there is crime! And there is no shortage of places to party in Calgary or not if you don't want.

Calgary is dry and has a lot of sunshine year round where Toronto is humid and doesn't get the same amount of sunshine. Calgary is close to the majestic Rocky Mountains. Toronto is close to the lush lakes of the cottage district. Calgary gets Chinook winds which warm the city up in the middle of winter. Toronto is close to Niagara Falls. Calgary and Toronto both have huge expat communities from all over the world meaning loads of lovely food from many cultures. Calgary is relatively new to being a significant city where Toronto has been on the field for some time. Calgary sometimes still thinks it's a small cowboy town. Toronto would be horrified by cowboys. There are loads of jobs in both for certain professions, but check which city might suit you better depending on yours.

Either way, you're likely to experience good Canadian hospitality and if a city is the way you want to go, you're not likely to go wrong either way. Just remember, both cities are expensive...maybe not London levels, but way on the upper end for Canada.

Best answer usually the simplest

Calgary -secure your job and place to stay "before" you move otherwise you will be out on the street. The market is that "tight". And it is costly.

Radiosonde

Calgary still seems to be a very good choice for people starting their careers.

http://www.calgary-city-maps.com/relocating-to-Canada.html

in spite of costly housing.

Sanjay S

Professionally calgary will be better, but socially Toronto. At yourage, if interested in challenges and more travel, then choose Toronto, but if u like peaceful life with steady income, calgary would be more suitable.

Pasta Humes

Toronto is a good place, although getting crowdy and more expensive. Calgary can get too cold in winters, but theres millions of jobs, especially if you are an engineer, doctor, finance professional, or have some other technical qualification/experience. Plus the province of Alberta has low income tax.

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