City Spotlight: Calgary, Alberta

City Spotlight: Calgary, Alberta

Most people visiting Canada flock to the Big 3:  Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver (all very great cities and we will spotlight each of them on our blog).  There is one young city earning a great reputation for itself: Calgary!

Calgary has grown a tremendous amount over the years, thanks to a strong economy and profits from the oil & energy sectors.  It has a young population:  41% of Calgarians (people from Calgary) are between the ages of 20-44.  The average age in this city is only 36 years old.  If you are looking for an up-and-coming experience in a young city, this may be the right choice for you.

Source: Statistics Canada

As the population changed, so too did the tastes of Calgarians.  As such, new restaurants, galleries, high-end lifestyle and recreation opportunities and hotels began popping up all over the city.  There are many study opportunities in this city and a large earning potential for those authorized to work in Canada.

Calgary by Skeeze

Best time to visit? Between May and September. Outside of these months, you may find nice weather, but you may also experience a true Canadian winter with VERY cold temperatures.  If this is what you would like to experience, another reason to choose Calgary.

Situated between the Rocky Mountains to it’s left and the prairies to it’s right, Calgary weather benefits from Chinook winds.  These are warm winds that bring lots of sunshine to the city. The city actually boasts that they have the most sunny days than any other city in Canada!

Snowboarding by Pexels

It is also the gateway to the Rockies so if winter sports are your thing (or something you want to check out), you will have the opportunity to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, bobsled, toboggan, and more!  If you’re more of a hiker, the summer will provide you with many opportunities to explore the natural landscape in and around the city.

Things to check out in Calgary:

Sait Polytechnic

Schools:

• Alberta College of Art and Design
• Bow Valley College
• SAIT Polytechnic
• Mount Royal University
• University of Calgary
• GEOS (English as a Second Language (ESL))

Telus Spark Science Centre by Small Time Visionary

Arts, Culture and History:

• Glenbow Musuem
• Fort Calgary
• Heritage Park Historical Village
• Aero Space Museum
• Arts Common

Farmer’s Markets:

• Symon’s Valley Ranch
• Calgary Swap Meet
• Calgary’s Farmers’ Market

Calgary Zoo by Pixel1

Attractions:

• Calgary Stampede
• Calaway Park
• Kartworld (Go-Karting)
• Calgary Tower
• Telus Spark Science Centre
• Calgary Zoo
• Fish Creek Provincial Park
• Inglewood Bird Sanctuary

Shopping:

• Stephen Avenue
• CORE
• Kensington Village
• CrossIron Mills (outlet shopping!)

CFL football in Calgary, AL CHAREST/POSTMEDIA

Sports:

• Calgary Flames (NHL Hockey)
• Calgary Stampeders (CFL American Football)
• Windsport Canada Olympic Park

If you have an interest in studying or working in Canada and you require assistance, contact us today! One of our consultants would be happy to assist you.