I know, I know. This thread has the potential to turn into a troll fest (I'll do my best to direct the thread in a direction that's somewhat helpful from the start). Basically I've applied to both UofA and UofC for a graduate level program. I have experience with Edmonton (lived there for a couple of years before the whole recent Downtown "boom" started). I'm originally from Vancouver, but I have a soft spot for Alberta. That said, the roughness of Edmonton really bothered me the last time I was there. I loved the lack of traffic, Whyte Ave., the river valley and the low cost of living, but the city didn't feel like a place I could call home. It lacked a lot of infrastructure (public transportation, bike lanes, inadequate supply of modern buildings etc...). As soon as I left, Edmonton started revitalizing its downtown core. The Ice District, the library and City Centre Mall renovations, some new bike paths etc... I suddenly have a reason to give the city a second shot.
Now on to Calgary. I've had a very limited experience with Calgary. In total I've been to Calgary twice, and only for a few days each time. From what I've seen on YouTube, the city does look a lot more appealing. I went on Realtor.ca and checked out the housing/condo supply to see the condition and type of units I could potentially come across in the city. To my surprise a lot of the units and buildings look just as nice as buildings in Vancouver. The only reason I'm a bit surprised is that in Edmonton there is a very limited supply of modern condo towers. The Ice District is certainly a welcome change, but apart from that the city is riddled with 3-4 floor low-rise wood frame buildings or old 80's era rentals.
Suddenly I'm hoping I get accepted to U of C so I can give Calgary a serious look. Right now I'm waiting to hear back from both universities.
To summarize, here's what I look for in a city:
1) Good public transportation. This is key IMO. I have a car, but I hate driving. Maybe it's because driving in Vancouver is such a hassle half the time, but I much prefer walking, biking and taking public transport. How good is Calgary's system and what is the city doing to improve the system?
2) Bike paths. From the looks of it, Calgary has a very decent bike network (judging from You Tube videos).
3) Modern condo towers. In Edmonton you see a lot of ugly 80's era buildings with punched windows and a lot of wood frame low-rises. Modern condo towers are essential IMO. It might sound ridiculous to some, but modern buildings offer a lot of amenities, they are great to live in, they are centrally located and close to public transportation (for the most part) and the carrying cost is a lot less than a detached house.
If you have experience with both cities, I'm hoping you can give your 2 cents about why you prefer Calgary over Edmonton.
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