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Calgary

Calgary

  • Calgary is the 4th largest city in Canada, located in the province of Alberta.
  • Calgary is a multicultural city, made up of a diverse population of 1.4 million people, with over 150 different languages spoken in the city.
  • The residents of Calgary are known for their friendly nature and welcoming hospitality to new comers to the city.
  • The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Calgary as the 5th most liveable city in the world, and the Mercer Quality of Living Survey 2010 ranked Calgary as #28 in thw world for its Ecological Environment, based on its quality sewage system, low air popplution, availability of clean drinking water, efficient waste removal systems, and low traffic congestions.
  • Key industries of the Calgary economy is the petroleum industry, high tech, agriculture, retail, aerospace, manufactuing, financial services, film and televison, transportation and logistics, technology, health and wellness, and tourism.
  • It's proximity to the Rocky Mountains makes the city the ideal location to engage in outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, skiing, cycling, and skating.
  • The city of Calgary has a vibrant arts and cultural scene with its nightlife, shopping, restaurants, yearly events and festivals, sports and recreation facilities, and eclectic art scene.
  • Calgary is commonly referred to as “Cowtown” due to its Wild West image
  • Every year, The Calgary Stampede brings in over 1 million peope, and is popularly called “ The Greatest Show on Earth”.
  • Calgary is the biggest urban regiom in the southern half of Alberta
  • Canada was the first Canadian city to host the Winter Olympics in 1988.

Demography

Calgary has an estimated population of 1.4 million residents, most of whom are young, well-educated, community minded and entrepreneurial.

The ethnic breakdown of the city is as follows:

  • European: 59.5%
  • Aboriginal: 4%
  • Indian and Pakistani: 9.5%
  • Chinese: 6.8%
  • Filipinos: 5.5%
  • African: 5.4%
  • West Asian: 3.5%
  • Latin American: 2.6%

Religious affiliations in the city included 54.9% Christians, 5.2% Muslims, 2.6% Sikhs, 2.1% Buddhists, and 32.3% with no religious affiliation.

Geography

  • Calgary is often referred to as the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, nestled within the prairies, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, at the intersection of the Elbow and Bow Rivers.
  • Banff National park is only a 90 minute drive to the West of Calgary, with access to outdoor winter fun such as skiing.
  • Calgary is located 1,048 metres (3,438 ft) above sea level.
  • The total area of the city is 825.29 square kilometres
  • Two river systems and two creeks runs through the city, including the Bow river, which flows from West to South and the Elbow river which flows from south to north, joining with the Bow river at the historic site of Fort Calgary.
  • Due to the region being relatively dry, a heavy concentration of vegetation naturally grows on the slopes of the river valleys, within the Fish Creek provincial park.

Culture

  • More than one third of the Calgary population are foreign born, making the population very ethnically diverse, including a majority of Filipino, Indian and Chinese residents. Due to the city's strong economy, reisdents from other parts of Canada have migrated to Calgary.
  • Calgary has several world-class music venues and dozens of theatres, such as the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, and the Glenbow museum; showcasing historical artifacts from Calgary's rich historical past.
  • Calgary is known for its country music, with many of the Calgary radio stations dedicated only to this genre.
  • Some of the popular sports and recreational activities in Calgary includes soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, football, and hockey; with the city's hockey team 'The Calgary Flames' being part of the National Hockey League franchise.
  • The first Winter Olympics was hosted in Calgary in 1988, resulting in the building of the Olympic Oval for long and short track speed skating.
  • Calgary has a wide-spread network of bike trails, including 550 kms of pathways and 260 kms of street bikeways.
  • If you like to take part in winter sports then you will enjoy bobsledding, luge riding, or skiing at the Canadian Olympic Park in Calgary.
  • The zoo in Calgary is rated as the third best in the continent
  • Some of the most popular sightseeing attractions in Calgary includes Olympic Plaza, Calgary Zoo, Telus Spark, Calgary Tower, Military Museum, Eau Claire Market, The Core shopping centre, Telus Convention centre, EPCOR centre, Prince's Island Park, Glenbow Museum, and the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Climate

  • Calgary experiences four distinct seasons, with overall temperatures being moderate to mild, compared with many other cities in Canada. However, the weather in Calgary is very unpredictable.
  • In the summer, temperatures range between the low to mid-twenties, and occasionally rises above 30 degrees Celsius.
  • Winter temperatures are usually between - 5 to -15 degrees Celsius, with rare occasions when the temperatures can drop as low as -30 degrees Celsius.
  • The yearly average rainfall level is 12.6 inches, while average snowfall is 50 inches.
  • January is usually the coldest month of the year, May is the windiest, while June experiences the most amount of rainfall.
  • The best time to visit Calgary is July and August, the warmest months of the year
  • Calgary experiences around 115 consecutive days of being frost fee (From Mid-May to Mid-September).
  • For 85 days of the year, the temperatures reach an average of 20 degrees Celsius
  • One of the most distinct features of the Calgary weather is the 'Chinook', a warm wind that blows from the Pacific Ocean, and can increase temperatures by up to 15 degrees, which is great during the winter months
  • Temperatures could also be impacted by the 'wind chill factor', with average wind spends of 14.2 kilometres per hour, one of the highest in Canada
  • Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada, experiencing 2,300 hours of sunshine each year.
  • During summer thunderstorms are not uncommon, and usually very severe. Due to Calgary's position within Alberta's Hailstorm Alley, the city is often prne to severe hailstorms every couple of years.

University Education

  • Calgary is home to four primary post-secondary institutions, including The University of Calgary, Mount Royal College, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and the Alberta College of Art and Design.
  • Other public post-secondary institutions in Calgary includes the Ambrose University College, Bow Valley College, and St Mary's University.
  • Calgary also houses campuses of the Athabasca University; which offers distance education facilities, Lethbridge University, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).
  • SAIT Polytechnic, which enrols around 14,000 students each year offer apprentice education and grants certificates, diplomas and applied degrees.
  • Private institutions located in the city includes Reeves College, MaKami College, Robertson College, Columbia College, CDI College, and the Alberta Bible College.

Why study in Calgary

  • In 2018, Calgary was named as the most livable city in North America
  • The Calgary average salary is above the median Canadian wage
  • Forbes.com listed Calgary as the cleanest city in the worl
  • The cost of living in Calgary is low, especially rental and housing costs
  • Calgary has stunning landscapes, inclusive of the Rocky Mountains as its backdrop, several rivers and creeks, and offers plenty of outdoor recreational activities, including its world-class skiing venues during winter
  • Calgary has one of the sunniest climates in the country, with low rainfall levels
  • The cultural diversity of the city and the friendly and welcoming nature of the residents, making you feel like you fit right in

Key Industries

Key performing industries in the Calgary economy includes:

  • Agriculture
  • Manufacturing
  • Trade
  • Finance
  • Business Services
  • Health and Education
  • Tourism
  • Petroleum
  • A majority of Canadian oil reserves are located in Calgary, with many petroleum companies having their headquarters located in Calgary, making it one of the richest cities in Canada. It is renowned for being a leader in the oil and gas industry, with its economy expnading at a faster rate than the overall Canadian economy between 1999 and 2009; 43% to 25% respectively.
  • Increased economic diversification and a resource boom have led to low unemployment rates, high GDP per capita and higher income levels.
  • Calgary is a transportation and distribution hub, with high retail sales levels.
  • By employee count, the biggest industries in Calgary is Trade, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Construction, and Healthcare and Social Assistance.
  • High performing companies in Calgary includes Shell Canada, Nova Chemicals, BP Canada Suncor Energy, Telus, University of Calgary, Calgary Board of Education, and Shaw Communications and Dow Chemical Canada.