Seems like forever since I last wrote...but I'll write more and describe where I go, places i eat, etc. 3rd time I've lived here and I'd never go back "home". Calgary is an awesome, friendly city and while I realize some of my friends back east don't like hearing that, oh well. Deal with it.
Next stop, Ouza in the Mission.........and it's so good.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
The West is Best
Unemployment rates came out today. Looking at the map in the Globe and Mail it's clear that the west is leading the country in jobs & economic growth.
I've been in Calgary now since March of 2007. Putting aside the lousy produce at the store, I've grown to love this city & this province. To be honest, I can't imagine moving back east even if my entire family lives there. The whole scene seems boring & lifeless, tired & old. Calgary's a place where people say hello in the elevator, where people let you in when you're turning in traffic....a place where people are civil and friendly. It's just how you are & it's how you become. The angry road rage I felt back home is long gone...hell now I'm the guy stopping to let someone walk across the road or someone cut in front of me in traffic.
And I've grown to appreciate the independent streak of this province...where people are willing to stand on their own without forever whining to the government for assistance.
But the thing I've most grown sick of is the never ending question I heard from everyone back east "when are you coming back". And the predictable litany of reasons why I should move back, many of them dated stereotypes of Alberta, Calgary & the rest of the west. As if it's somehow some lower form of life. As if Calgary should be some short term stopover for people in need of a job until they "collect their senses" and head back east.
Sorry, really...I'm just not interested in return to eastern Canada & it's miserable, pessimistic mentality.
I am a Calgarian. And pretty damn happy about it.
I've been in Calgary now since March of 2007. Putting aside the lousy produce at the store, I've grown to love this city & this province. To be honest, I can't imagine moving back east even if my entire family lives there. The whole scene seems boring & lifeless, tired & old. Calgary's a place where people say hello in the elevator, where people let you in when you're turning in traffic....a place where people are civil and friendly. It's just how you are & it's how you become. The angry road rage I felt back home is long gone...hell now I'm the guy stopping to let someone walk across the road or someone cut in front of me in traffic.
And I've grown to appreciate the independent streak of this province...where people are willing to stand on their own without forever whining to the government for assistance.
But the thing I've most grown sick of is the never ending question I heard from everyone back east "when are you coming back". And the predictable litany of reasons why I should move back, many of them dated stereotypes of Alberta, Calgary & the rest of the west. As if it's somehow some lower form of life. As if Calgary should be some short term stopover for people in need of a job until they "collect their senses" and head back east.
Sorry, really...I'm just not interested in return to eastern Canada & it's miserable, pessimistic mentality.
I am a Calgarian. And pretty damn happy about it.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
US border doods
The US feds are pissed off at Canada because it's apparently easy to smuggle in bad stuff to the USA.
Perhaps I played with to many chemicals under the sink when I was a kid but isn't it the job of the US to stop people from entering their country from elsewhere?
Perhaps I played with to many chemicals under the sink when I was a kid but isn't it the job of the US to stop people from entering their country from elsewhere?
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
It's time to go home
If you've worked in Toronto you know it's a badge of honour to work late. I spent time working for a huge financial institution in Toronto and I'd see people at their desks at 6 PM on a regular basis.
Here, its different. I often work till 5 15 or so, and I'm the last guy walking out of the building. I do computer consultant so I travel place to place and it's the same everywhere. By 4 30, the place is empty...everyone has gone home. And that's not just the worker ants either, but the senior people.
It's interesting how you become accustomed to working a certain way, as if you're "less" if you don't burn the candle at both ends. There is far more balance out here AND you aren't seen as a slacker if you go home on time. I think that's damn cool and I like it.
Here, its different. I often work till 5 15 or so, and I'm the last guy walking out of the building. I do computer consultant so I travel place to place and it's the same everywhere. By 4 30, the place is empty...everyone has gone home. And that's not just the worker ants either, but the senior people.
It's interesting how you become accustomed to working a certain way, as if you're "less" if you don't burn the candle at both ends. There is far more balance out here AND you aren't seen as a slacker if you go home on time. I think that's damn cool and I like it.
Pay Up
The Stelmach Government has publicly talked about raising the royalties on oil & gas. We're all aware of the high price of oil, but natural gas is really cheap at the moment. For Alberta, that's a bad thing.
It's interesting to see a Conservative government talk about increasing the royalties on tar sands. The government out here has generally been seen as pro Oil and Gas but that appears to be changing. I wonder if that's not some election ploy by the local conservatives to grab onto the hearts of people. Oil and Gas is seen by most people as the "enemy". In fact it's not, it's a huge business out here (obviously) and employs 100s of thousands of people.
But I don't buy the argument that the business will up and walk away. It can't. Alberta has nearly as much oil in the sands as Saudi Arabia. The world needs that goo & it needs it now, so not like these guys can pull out and go elsewhere
And it makes sense of the province to do that. This place is an economic tiger right now, and if this economy diversified it would be a monster. It's got all the right things to make itself a very competitive city & it's a great place to live. Bring on the royalties, just spend them properly.
It's interesting to see a Conservative government talk about increasing the royalties on tar sands. The government out here has generally been seen as pro Oil and Gas but that appears to be changing. I wonder if that's not some election ploy by the local conservatives to grab onto the hearts of people. Oil and Gas is seen by most people as the "enemy". In fact it's not, it's a huge business out here (obviously) and employs 100s of thousands of people.
But I don't buy the argument that the business will up and walk away. It can't. Alberta has nearly as much oil in the sands as Saudi Arabia. The world needs that goo & it needs it now, so not like these guys can pull out and go elsewhere
And it makes sense of the province to do that. This place is an economic tiger right now, and if this economy diversified it would be a monster. It's got all the right things to make itself a very competitive city & it's a great place to live. Bring on the royalties, just spend them properly.
Onterrible
I've heard this phrase a few times lately, it's what BC'ers call Ontario. There has always been a rivalry between Central Canada (known as the east) and Western Canada. For a long time it was about Oil and the Liberal government, but that seems to have ended outside of 50 year olds arguing about it in the Globe and Mail.
Calgary has it's faults and it's annoying at times, but the people here are much nicer than back in Ontario. I say this as a guy FROM Ontario. Calgarians are friendly, pleasant people most of the time. It is ALOT easier to meet people here than back home both at work & just out and about around the city. The level of paranoia seems far less & admittedly, so does the level of snobbery. I'm sure that'll raise the hackles of a few back home, but I'm writing what I see around me. If you're a single guy in Calgary I'd be willing to bet it's A LOT easier to meet someone of the opposite sex. People will talk to you on elevators & even smile at you on the street. In short, eye contact is OK. And for some people even welcomed.
Now..if they could just learn to PARK properly.
Calgary has it's faults and it's annoying at times, but the people here are much nicer than back in Ontario. I say this as a guy FROM Ontario. Calgarians are friendly, pleasant people most of the time. It is ALOT easier to meet people here than back home both at work & just out and about around the city. The level of paranoia seems far less & admittedly, so does the level of snobbery. I'm sure that'll raise the hackles of a few back home, but I'm writing what I see around me. If you're a single guy in Calgary I'd be willing to bet it's A LOT easier to meet someone of the opposite sex. People will talk to you on elevators & even smile at you on the street. In short, eye contact is OK. And for some people even welcomed.
Now..if they could just learn to PARK properly.
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