7 Reasons to Love Calgary
By Elisa Krovblit Keay
June 25, 2014
June 25, 2014
Calgary certainly has earned its place in the sun. It’s a great city that has much to offer its residents and has rapidly grown from a small city to a hub of activity. There are a number of things that set Calgary apart, offering an exceptional quality of life and making it an easy choice to call home.
01 NATURE AS A NEIGHBOUR.
While the beautiful Bow River runs right through it, cleaving north from south, some of Canada’s most majestic landscape surrounds Calgary. Fresh air and greener pastures are a rare find in any urban area, but Calgary keeps nature accessible to its inhabitants. Whether it’s camping at Mount Kidd, ski weekends at Sunshine or a simple stroll along the Bow, the options are all easily accessible and offer much to enjoy – in all seasons.02 FINANCIALLY SOUND.
While Alberta has no provincial sales tax – making it an affordable place to live – Calgary has an enormous number of corporations headquartered here, offering an impressive selection of job opportunities. The variety of industries flourishing in the city has given rise to great prospects. The unemployment rate for Calgary in May 2014 was sitting at 5.4 per cent, well below the national average of seven per cent, and far better than other major centres such as, Montreal at eight per cent, Ottawa at 6.7 per cent and Toronto at 7.8 per cent. The Conference Board of Canada pegs Calgary to be among the top cities in Canada for economic growth in 2013. Calgary also claims the most millionaires per capita in Canada.03 VERMIN FREE.
Alberta holds the unique distinction of being rat-free. Though there are rumours, lore, sightings, even perhaps the occasional sabotage, Calgary doesn’t have any level of Norwegian rat infestation to menace residences and businesses. Rat-free is a beautiful thing.04 A MAJOR HUB.
Whether it’s business or pleasure, there are a lot of people travelling to and from Calgary annually. In 2012, Calgary International Airport (YYC) saw 13.6 million passengers, and for the year ending in July, 2013, 13.9 million people came in for a landing. This doesn’t account for the massive number of people visiting by land who travel by train and automobile through the majestic Rockies on their way to Calgary.05 A WELL-PLANNED CITY.
You can’t argue that Calgary is one city that planners got right. Its simplicity and straightforward layout makes it easy to travel to and navigate. There’s no focal point of gridlock and no area has grown uncomfortably beyond its infrastructure.06 WEATHER.
Yes, winters in Calgary can be cold and harsh. When the mercury drops to the minus-40s, there’s no denying it’s cold. But it’s not a long winter, nor is it overly harsh. While there may be a lot of snow and a lot of low temperatures, it is, as they say, a dry cold. It’s more palatable than when there’s a windchill factor or dampness. If you dress properly, the cold is perfectly tolerable. And the frequent Chinooks provide a reprieve and replace the chill with warm breezes. Summers are lovely and the idealistic spring and fall temperatures monopolize the better part of the year.07 ARCHITECTURE.
Yes, the winters are cold. That’s why the “+15s” are so great. Designed in the 1960s, Calgary’s core boasts the ingenious idea of Harold Hanon. Business carries on with walk-overs, called +15s, connecting buildings. There are currently 59 walkways. Just look up – about 15 feet up – and you’ll see them when you wander around anywhere from 9th St. SW to 3rd St. SE, starting at about 2nd Ave. SW/SE and ending right around the railway at 9th Ave. SW/SE.About Elisa Krovblit Keay
Elisa Krovblit Keay is a NextHome contributor.