| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/3/2008 5:21:57 PM | | I'm in Altadore, just south or Mardaloop and I find it a nice quiet place to live, bit too quiet when you're single though... Used to live up in mission and I now know firsthand the meaning of SLUM LORD unfortunately. | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/3/2008 5:35:48 PM | Don't let people tell you there are no lakes in Alberta.
I was raised in a small town that had two very good sized natural lakes within 25-30 mins of town. Northern Alberta is littered with lakes. There is a nice big lake out in the Brooks area Sylvan Lake isn't bad and Calgary has a number of lakes. Unfortunatly most of them are community based.
The greater Vancouver area is just as guilty of sprawl and nasty traffic problems, so you might actually find traffic here easier depending on what part of the greater Vancouver area you have experience driving in.
You will miss the ocean especially if you went there often. The smells the humidity, the culture all of those you will miss. Calgary does have its own culture and once you fnd it, it can be very diverse and not nearly as redneck as people think. If you aren't a bar star, there are a lot of cultural events within the city.
There, that is better, I forgot to say anything to the OT, I was so ready to launch mr. miniwheats into a new county. 
Check out calgary.kijiji dot ca if you want more legitimate apartment listings. They have places you can arrange viewings and everything. | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/3/2008 6:33:03 PM | OP
I don't live in Vancouver, but it will take a bit of time warming up to Calgary. There are always quirks with cities that you like or don't like.
Annoyances:
- urban sprawl and long distances to travel anywhere
- stupid drivers (not aggressive, but STUPID)
- people can't park
- FAR to many large SUV's on the road that clog everything up.
- The parking authority are Nazi's.
- Photo Radar hell. 10km over the speed limit is far game in Calgary.
- VERY crowded train system. If you work downtown Calgary, RENT downtown and walk to work. The transit system is inadequate
- A city infrastructure that hasn't caught up to the economic growth but they're trying.
** grand prize **
- slow service and long lines.
I'm sure this is a way of life in Van City, as it was for me in Toronto. Problem with Calgary is it's home to a whole bunch of people from Beltbuckle Saskatchewan that simply can't handle traffic jams or long lines. Their reaction is impatience...like backing up on highways, driving across the median, tailgating, angry outbursts etc. They simply don't seem to have the patience to survive in what is now a real urban centre.
Good things:
- overall, folks are friendly, polite, people talk to you in elevators or in the hall. It's not a city of paranoia like Toronto is.
- There are still a good handful of patient drivers that still stop for pedestrians & let you in.
- Lots of job growth & opportunities.
** grand prize **
Calgary is often labeled as some city full of backwater rednecks that do nothing but like rodeo's and eat steak. It's a stereotype and it's wrong. The culinary choices in Calgary are excellent, you're as likely to eat good sushi here as good steak. Ethnic food is commonplace now & tastes good now. Urban neighborhoods are walkable & compare to places like Toronto. Calgary's come a long way from the "Cowtown" image so many people have of it. It's a modern city that hasn't forgot it's western roots & isn't afraid to have alot of fun. The Stampede is a great example. | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/3/2008 6:43:10 PM | | ^^^ you forgot to mention people who pass on the right side of you on a 2 lane street... absolutely crazy...and I'd like to see ANY driver handbook that says it is totally permissable to pass in a drivers blindspot. | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/3/2008 8:08:54 PM | Good to know about the driving. I am a walker and a firm believer in taking transit to work...but that's because parking in Vancouver is a nightmare and the costs are just stupid. The best and worst part of my move is that I will be working from home 3 days a week with the other 2 days going to visit clients. This means that I won't actually have to drive to too many places...but it also means not meeting as many people during my day as I would like.
I'm decidedly not a bar star but would rather go to a pub with some good live music or a funky art opening. One thing I noticed on 2 occasions was that Calgary has great art gallery parties - well advertised and well organized with great DJ's and Canadian Artists :)
I also predict a lot of trips to Banff in my future...must keep up with the snowboarding! | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/3/2008 8:17:54 PM | If you want walkable neighborhoods, here's a list
Marda Loop/Garrison Woods
Kensington
Inglewood (will require bus to work)
Mission
Cliff Bungalow
Lower Mount Royal
17th Ave
The Beltline/Connaught (stay WEST of 6th street and nearer to 17th Ave than 11 th Ave
Mission has the most direct bus service to the core, Route 3, runs every 5 minutes. Most of those areas (except Marda) are a 15 minute walk to the business core of the city. Do NOT live right in the downtown of Calgary, it's a wasteland at night with nothing going on.
As for live clubs, there are several in Calgary, most of them in the city core, but a few spread out, notably on McLeod Trail (Blind Beggar is great for indie music & the world famous Stetson). Stetson is pretty cool, but it's a far trip from downtown.
Banff is nice, but so is Canmore, Bragg Creek, even Turner Valley & area make for a nice trip to see things. There is also Drumheller, go see the badlands, it's freaky
For all the 411 on entertainment in Calgary, find a copy of FFWD Weekly, it's our arts & entertainment weekly. I'd start with the "Best of Calgary" that was recently published and is on the website. It'll give you ideas of places to go for what you're looking for (food, fun, dance, shopping). | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/3/2008 10:09:14 PM | | Fabulous! New friends are always welcome - most especially when I'm moving to a city where I know about 2 people! | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/3/2008 10:14:27 PM | | Well once you move message me and I can always show you around the city a bit and have a nice chat. I can;t message you cause you are set to close range messages only. | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/5/2008 7:37:53 AM | #1. If you find you dont like the city.. move back. True Calgarians hate people that **** about there home.
#2. Make sure you save a week holidays for the stampede so you can get the hell out of the city or stay in the city to party for the week.
#3. Make sure you investigate where you are going to live before you take a place.. places might look nice during the day.. until everyone comes home and you find out the family next door just isnt a family.. its 3 or 4 families and there are 16 screaming hellion kids.
#4. Plan on taking the C-train?? or transit - have fun with that.
#5. Dont like retarded drivers? dont live here.. with the increase of outside people moving here the general populace of Calgary drivers have turned into mindless sheep. If you speed.. they speed.. if you slow down.. they slow down.. granted I drive nude with no doors on my car.. with a starbucks coffee in one hand.. cell phone on the other doing 120 down deerfoot with a gas pump sticking out of my gas tank.
#6. Calgary sports teams are good just dont go on a rampage after they and if they lose... and dont be a band wagon red mile asshat who cant name more then iginla and kipper on the flames who uses 17th ave as a washroom then complains about the state of the city.
#7. Dont like homeless/panhandlers? dont come downtown its a part of life.. deal with it.
#8. S.W and downtown is where I have lived in the city all of my life in Calgary. Dont like the N.E or S.E much.. N.W is fine but its just not as nice in my opinion as the south.. (way more green/tree's etc etc)
#9. Fish Creek Park - 25km of nature with pathways, creeks,nature, picnic area's , fire pits and places to walk the family pets. (saw a lady walking her swarm of ferrets the other day was just odd) Look up Calgary parks.. theres tons.. and there not all brown or whatever.
#10. You will be living in Calgary.. Alberta Canada.. home of the 1988 "winter" olympics.. it snows here in winter.. it snows here a lot.. please.. be kind.. buy a god damn snow shovel.. shovel your walks or pay the kids in the nieghborhood 5 bucks to do it for your lazy ass.. Also buy a pair of snow tires for your vehicle so you dont end up in the ditch or slamming into somebody. | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/7/2008 3:54:31 PM | Well...I'm super excited about moving!!
I'm originally from Thunder Bay so snow doesn't scare me...shoveling or driving in it...I think I can handle it.
I FINALLY have a few rental properties agreeing to appointments in Mid July for a 01SEP occupancy and I reported the 15 scams I came across to the various online rental sites that I found them on.
I'm going to look at 3 places in the SW and 2 in the NW. One of them seems promising along the Mardaloops area...but yeah...definitely need to see the places with my own eyes before committing. The best news is that Calgary seems to be a LOT more dog friendly than Vancouver - which is awesome as I plan to get a 4 legged furry friend near Xmas time. If I'm going to be working from home most of the week it would be nice to have an excuse to leave the place a few times day :) That and with a dog I'm more likely to be more active.
I can't jump on sports bandwagons. I've lived in Vancouver for 18 yrs and I am STILL a die hard Habs fan. I'm not loyal to any CFL teams because I don't tend to watch too much Canadian Football...the Seahawks have been a favourite NFL team of mine but that just might be because my boss gives me 1/2 his season tickets to the games. | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/10/2008 11:10:26 PM | From one Vancouver girl (I spent the first 18 years of my life there) to another - a lot of the frustrations I have about Calgary have been mentioned.
If you don't like driving the #1 from Van - Langley (Abbotsford...Chilliwack...) because it's essentially a parking lot, avoid the Deerfoot during rush hour at all cost. Being that you're near the park and EngBay you'll likely enjoy being close to the river valley in Calgary. If you're 'green' you'll likely get frustrated with the lack of recycling, but they are working at implementing curbside recycling. Snowboarding - if you don't have time to get to the hills, COP has a great hill for the weeknight fix. There are lots of green areas around the city. Stay on the west if you want the more BC feel. East of town and it's prairie country! It's beautiful in its own way... and you get great sunsets. There are tons of places to explore in and around Calgary. Best breakfast around if you're looking for pancakes and the like - the Chuckwagon in Turner Valley. Black Diamond has its own soda shop. More cosmopolitan, Calgary has it all. The variety in culinary delights rivals the GVRD. Lots of opportunity for cultural activities too. Transit in Calgary is more than a little frustrating when you're used to Translink - even though it has its own frustrations.
When you're budgeting, double or triple your current hydro bill. Power is insanely expensive....not the kWh charge, but add the distribution charge and your bill goes through the roof.
Once you settle in, you'll enjoy it for its own charms. | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/11/2008 10:21:00 AM |
...I hung up my snow shovel when I moved from Ontario to BC, I would like it to stay retired ;)...
Look for one shortly after you get here!! Stampede is almost over, so it can snow any day now!!
Having lived in Ontario and B.C., and now a permanent resident of Alberta, I should advise that you may want to stock up on some moisturizing creams for the first little while!! The air is a lot drier, so you will not get that musty smell associated with humid atmospheres in a closed room. Your clothes will stay dryer longer while being worn, and you have to work a lot harder to get a sweat buildup. Except just before one or our numerous unannounced showers!! You may even get to see the odd funnel cloud without leaving home!
If you did drive, Insurance is cheaper, gas is cheaper, our fruit is from B.C., so not as good as Ontario's and the beef or pork is not as bad as some may say, unless you like high end restaurants!
PoF functions happen nearly every week and we do not set any limits as to how old or young you have to be to attend, if you are over 18, come on down!
Some of the newer communities may not be as nice to live in in the NW as thought, the leaders of the gangs now reside in the North Central part of the City and so one must be cautious how they approach these hard heads.
I personally like the older parts of the City but price is the main consideration. I have a place in the S.E. that is a 10 min. stroll to the river, you can see the mountains, and it is only 4 minutes to the bike path. Calgary has over 600 km of pathways for bikes and walkers, check out calgary.ca, living; there you can read what is in the neighbourhood and have a better idea of where to do your searching.
Don't be afraid to email any locals on this site if you need a tour, we all need an excuse to get out of the house sometime!! | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/11/2008 1:48:36 PM | | ..and don't forget to bring lot's of money. You'll get used to the 7 dollar box of cereal after a while... | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/12/2008 6:28:00 PM | ^^^^ but but but....no PST...things should be cheaper n'est pas??
You guys have been fabulous - thank you so much for all your advice. I can't wait to actually GET there!! | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/12/2008 6:44:08 PM | I think even with paying the PST, things are still cheaper in BC. I was in Vancouver late last year, and was really surprised at how much cheaper things were there, even with the PST!
I think you'll have a bit of a culture shock once you get here, but you'll get used to it quick. Like Duffster said, if you ever need a tour guide.... | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/13/2008 8:09:30 AM | well anything to do with breads/wheats etc etc.. are all going up.. so cereal is no exception due to the fact there having a huge delema with wheat around the world being destroyed by a virus.. countries across the bond are screaming for help..
*shrug* | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/13/2008 10:53:51 AM | | Truthfully I'm more concerned about the lack of hops and barley for beer than I am about wheat for cereal. | |
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funhog
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Joined: 12/15/2007
Msg: 49 | |
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| Moving to Calgary...any advice?
Posted: 7/14/2008 10:37:55 PM | Wow...it's getting more and more real!
I've 2 days in Calgary this week to find a place to live. Thurs and Fri. I fly back to Vancouver Friday night....
I'm sooo esssssiiiited (and nervous!)
I might hit up the Ship and Anchor on Thurs night for a drinkywoo and see the locals in the wild ;) Stop by if you are so inclined - I'll be the chick by myself (though hopefully not for long!) | |
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