Calgary advice

[Okieprogie]

I have an opportunity through my company to work in Calgary for 2 years. Leaving the politics aside, does anyone have any knowledge of life in Calgary as an American. Schools? Acceptance in community, etc. Thanks!

[Wat_Tyler]

1. There are about 80,000 Americans living here.

It is the most American city in Canada. Rich and prosperous, great scenery near at hand, unfortunately a little dull.

Politically it's fucked - but less so since the last Provincial Election.

[enigmatic]

15. Edmonton's got a good chunk of expat americans, too..

I'm one; probably 20,000 or so....

Our thrift stores kick ass too, if your into that sort of thing...

[Bill McBlueState]

2. if you're there during the Stampede...

Even if you have no intention of having anything to do with the Stampede, when someone asks you if you're going, say, "Of course I am! I've been waiting all my life to go to the Calgary Stampede!!!" (Make sure that last part really does end with three exclamation points.)

Otherwise, nobody will ever talk to you again.....

[Wat_Tyler]

3. And, as you can imagine, the Stampede is highly overrated.

[u4ic]

18. But Spruce Meadows isn't

if you like the horsie thang.

[HEyHEY]

5. But do you really want Calgarians talking to you?

[Wat_Tyler]

6. They're almost as bad as Pentictonians!

[HEyHEY]

10. touche

The did afterall elect Stockwell Day here

[Wat_Tyler]

7. They're almost as bad as Pentictonians!

[Okieprogie]

22. I was in Calgary...

For one day a few days after the Stampede. Seemed like a very nice city, of course it was warm then. Anyway, everybody asked me if I saw the Stampede.

[HEyHEY]

4. Watch "An American in Canada"

Shou8ld answer all your questions

[Okieprogie]

23. What's that?

Never heard of it.

[American Renaissance]

8. awsome!

Calgary is great, the people who complain about Calgary, or even Alberta being too conservative are spoiled Canadians who don't know what real conservatives are like.

The Canadian conservative party are a pretty sad bunch, utterly harmless, I am from California and even the conservatives in California are more threatening than this gang of losers. There are democrats more scary than Stephen Harper and Ralph Klein is a full blown drunk who makes Bush look like Professor Henry Higgins.

The schools are a mixed bag, most of the catholic public schools are pretty good, the public public schools are a mixed bag. Private schools aren't a very big thing.

Post-Secondary wise, the University of Calgary is absolutly terrible, its basically a dead last choice safety school. But Mount Royal College is very good.

My father brought me to Calgary "temporarily" as a child for a job with CP Air years ago when McDonnell Douglas laid him off, and we are still in Calgary, although I spend alot of time in the US for work.

The only real short comming in Calgary for a city of its size is that for all practical purposes, the public transportation is useless unless you live along the C-Train line. The bus service is completely unusable. You and any older children who don't have school bus service will need cars. Taking the bus isn't an option for most high school students.

[Wat_Tyler]

9. Nah, take it from a long-time Calgarian - it's a pretty mediocre city.

It's very pleasant and wealthy, but it's not Edmonton, Vancouver, or even Winnipeg.

Mount Royal College is good though, that's true.
As far our Conservatives, maybe you haven't run into Ezra Levant or the Byfields, then - they're as bad as any US Repub extremists.

[HEyHEY]

12. Edmonton is more fun thatn Calgary?

I've been to both..Calgary seemed more vibrant. Although don't mention it aloud or I'll have my Vancouver citizenship revoked.

[Wat_Tyler]

13. Better arts scene, certainly.

Which is what I'm usually looking for in a city.

[enigmatic]

14. Edmonton's better...

And I'm not saying that because I live here:)

Much better arts and music scene, and it's a liberal oasis in conservative Alberta...

[American Renaissance]

16. Oh yeah...

Ezra Levant, the token Jew for Jesus who defends racist teachers, and the Byfields, who couldn't run a conservative magazine in a province you guys claim is sooooo conservative.

They are harmless,

The people out here only vote for the Alliance\Reform\"Insert Current Name" because their pissed at the Liberals and eastern tories.

[Wat_Tyler]

19. It really goes far deeper than that.

The worst thing you can do to them is underestimate them. Albertans don't just vote Reform Whatever because they hate the Liberals - there's a strong Christian Authoritarian streak in there.

[American Renaissance]

21. Where?

Christian Authoritarians?

There are bible thumpers everywhere, but the only place in Canada where the uber religious have even token influence is rural Quebec and parts of the maritimes.

Even on gay marriage, you don't have to go far to find liberals against it.

You Canadians don't quite get it, your spoiled really, if you are losing sleep over Ezra Levant, Rob Anders and The 'Broke'fields you have NO idea how good you have it.

Look at Stockwell Day, he was a national joke, in the United States he would have been elected president, the Canadian conservatives can't organize or communicate themselves out of a mime cage. In the US there is a billion dollar media machine behind the conservatives.

I have lived in Canada off and on, but mostly on, since the 80's and am reduced to tears laughing when a Canadian is going off about conservatives in Canada. Go anywhere in the United States and I will give you something to complain about.

[Okieprogie]

24. Thanks for the info. eom

[leftofthedial]

11. the culture shock could be overwhelming

Unlike OK, in Canada, people get to vote and have their votes counted. This usually comes as quite a shock to expat Murkans. Also, their press is actually free to talk about what happens in the world, rather than just read press releases given to them by the ruling junta.

Then there are the mooses. Don't get me started on the mooses.

Oh, and they actually put alcohol in their beer in Canada.

[American Renaissance]

17. culture shock?

The only shock I experienced was stepping off the plane into a -32 blizzard wearing a ghost busters T-shirt and beach shorts.

Calgary, and most Canadian cities aren't a great deal differant than their American counter-parts. Even Montreal didn't feel that foreign.

[leftofthedial]

20. I've spent much time in Toronto

and a fair amount in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton

It's practically Murka

or maybe we're practically Canada

If you read the rest of my post, I think my tongue was planted pretty obviously in my cheek.