Calgary - First Impressions
The city of Calgary is unlike any city I have encountered in my time in Canada. People call it "Little Texas" and I understand why - at first glance, it truly feels like you are in an American city.
Coming from a "small" town on Vancouver Island (not as small as some, but quite small compared to most major cities), Calgary feels SO hugely different. I know that we will adjust and get used to a lot of things but I wanted to capture what first struck me as we left the cozy, wild, beauty of the rugged west coast, and settled into the prairies beyond the mountains. Those who know me, know that this is one of the biggest changes I have ever experienced. I've never had a major move. I've never lived outside of B.C. I've never really spent time in the Prairies. I've never lived in a city bigger than Kelowna, BC. First impressions are great to look back upon, once the dust has settled and life feels a little bit more normal again.
My first impressions (and keep in mind, these are my very first observations) are this:
Calgary is BIG!
The last time Dan and I had visited was nearly 10 years ago, and the past 10 years have been an explosion of development. The city went from 700,000 to 1.2 million in that time and is still growing to keep up with the influx of immigrants and Canadians moving to the city. It is big and sprawling, with houses as far as the eye can see from most directions. The infrastructure is huge and when you drive there are freeways all over, and it feels like you're driving on the I-5. That is something I definitely have to get used to. Luckily, because of its efficiency, it really doesn't take long to get anywhere. We live in the south and we can reach any area of the city in under 30 minutes.
Calgary is GROWING!
We live in the southeast of Calgary, which is rapidly developing at such an incredible pace. Everywhere you look you see construction - new neighbourhoods popping up and roads being built to accommodate for them. As you drive around Calgary, you see development all over! It is boggling at how the city can keep up such a rapid pace of growth, but it seems like they know what they are doing. Additionally, the median age of Calgary is 36 years old. It is a city filled with young people, and the energy and orientation to growing families is vibrant!
Calgary is MULTICULTURAL!
One thing that we love is that at every turn you see different cultures and hear different languages. Nearly 30% of the population of Calgary is immigrants. That's a high number! We joke that on Vancouver Island, our kids were seen as "exotic" because they are mixed race, but here in Calgary, they are just like every other kid on the block. What feels a bit different than Vancouver is the diversity of cultures you see. The majority of immigrants in the past 6-8 years are from the Philippines, India, China, Pakistan and Nigeria. It is so great to go shopping or be at the park and see such a great representation of ethnicities.
Calgary is SO much different than our small city on Vancouver Island, but I can already tell there are things that I am going to love immensely. It can hardly even be compared when you experience how different it is, and maybe for us that is a good thing. It feels like we have a clean slate to start our lives afresh on. It is somewhat overwhelming to be in something so different, but it is completely exciting too.
Coming from a "small" town on Vancouver Island (not as small as some, but quite small compared to most major cities), Calgary feels SO hugely different. I know that we will adjust and get used to a lot of things but I wanted to capture what first struck me as we left the cozy, wild, beauty of the rugged west coast, and settled into the prairies beyond the mountains. Those who know me, know that this is one of the biggest changes I have ever experienced. I've never had a major move. I've never lived outside of B.C. I've never really spent time in the Prairies. I've never lived in a city bigger than Kelowna, BC. First impressions are great to look back upon, once the dust has settled and life feels a little bit more normal again.
My first impressions (and keep in mind, these are my very first observations) are this:
Calgary is BIG!
The last time Dan and I had visited was nearly 10 years ago, and the past 10 years have been an explosion of development. The city went from 700,000 to 1.2 million in that time and is still growing to keep up with the influx of immigrants and Canadians moving to the city. It is big and sprawling, with houses as far as the eye can see from most directions. The infrastructure is huge and when you drive there are freeways all over, and it feels like you're driving on the I-5. That is something I definitely have to get used to. Luckily, because of its efficiency, it really doesn't take long to get anywhere. We live in the south and we can reach any area of the city in under 30 minutes.
Calgary is GROWING!
We live in the southeast of Calgary, which is rapidly developing at such an incredible pace. Everywhere you look you see construction - new neighbourhoods popping up and roads being built to accommodate for them. As you drive around Calgary, you see development all over! It is boggling at how the city can keep up such a rapid pace of growth, but it seems like they know what they are doing. Additionally, the median age of Calgary is 36 years old. It is a city filled with young people, and the energy and orientation to growing families is vibrant!
Calgary is MULTICULTURAL!
One thing that we love is that at every turn you see different cultures and hear different languages. Nearly 30% of the population of Calgary is immigrants. That's a high number! We joke that on Vancouver Island, our kids were seen as "exotic" because they are mixed race, but here in Calgary, they are just like every other kid on the block. What feels a bit different than Vancouver is the diversity of cultures you see. The majority of immigrants in the past 6-8 years are from the Philippines, India, China, Pakistan and Nigeria. It is so great to go shopping or be at the park and see such a great representation of ethnicities.
Calgary is SO much different than our small city on Vancouver Island, but I can already tell there are things that I am going to love immensely. It can hardly even be compared when you experience how different it is, and maybe for us that is a good thing. It feels like we have a clean slate to start our lives afresh on. It is somewhat overwhelming to be in something so different, but it is completely exciting too.
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