I am working on my application for grad study at the University of Calgary (history dept.), and given the good graces of many Canadian members on the degreein.com board - perhaps especially from Western Canada! - I though I'd be remiss not to solicit opinions upon the subject. I have yet to visit the province of Alberta, nor have I gone that far North (although I threatened to do so last year on the board - for summer vacation). Oc course, I do remember the 1988 Winter Olympics, which was held there. My thanks in advance to all who venture an opinion! --Orson
Having been to Calgary many times (and Denver also) it is a cleaner, prettier Denver, with more majestic mountains, and friendlier people.
The University of Calgary is a large provincial university that offers many comprehensive programs, including medicine etc. Around these parts a degree from there would be very well received. I went to the U of Alberta, in Edmonton, so I would normally claim it to be superior but to someone seriously looking for advice I would say they are both pretty good. Calgary, a city of about a million, sits on the prairie but is only about half an hour away from some fine mountains. The city is rapidly growing and oozes confidence. Oil and ranching are big business and cowboy culture is probably like it was in Texas some years ago. Many years ago I remember sitting with a few, non-local friends in a gay bar in Calgary. One says "do you notice something strange? No women" Another says "and the guys aren't jocks" Another one says "and I went to the bathroom." We less than liberal prairie boys hit the trail. Via Condios
Thanks Dennis. Perhaps you could update me on the satellite TV situation up North - something that, I know, frosted many people a while back! http://www.workopolis.com/servlet/Content/qprinter/20020427/USATTN --Orson PS Are all Alberta universities as young as Calgary? (i.e., from the 1960s?)
Alberta became a province in 1905. The University of Alberta was founded in Edmonton in 1908. The University of Alberta Calgary Branch was started in 1951, and became autonomous as the University of Calgary in 1966. http://www.ualberta.ca/ARCHIVES/About/UAhistry.htm http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/supplements/16/index.php?sid=3165 After I got my Bachelor's from the U of A, my first job was at the U of C. I can't tell you anything about the History Dept., though: I was in the Arctic Institute. You'll find that these universities have less "school spirit" than American universities. Having sung in the U of A Mixed Chorus, I am one of the few U of A alumni who know the U of A cheer song! The cheer song dates from about 1920. (Even in the U of A Concert Choir, we never learned it. The Concert Choir is under the auspices of the Dept. of Music; the Mixed Chorus is autonomous.)
School cheer song??? Next thing you're going to tell me is that they have a football team. Orson Prior to Canada licensing home-grown satellite distributors, many dealers sold American packages less than legally. When 2 Canadian distributors were licensed they didn't like the competition and have strived to shut down the American invasion. We only watch Canadian TV when forced to do so by law. Not to fret, most of the stations on the Canadian distributors are, you guessed it, American.
Thanks guys... I understand that if I want to watch the US public affairs channel (US senators boring people to death ALL DAY), I may have to go without up North! But there will be offsets: French instead of Spanish channels, Parliament (Ottowa) and lots of left-wing talk-a-thon programs... It sounds like Calgary is a lot like Denver 30 years ago - oil, gas , timber, agriculture... But Salt Lake City sized, minus majority Mormons (and conservative Catholics). (OF course, I don't mean to smite or neglect the essence of Canada: Scottish ethnicity and British roots.) --Orson PS Dennis: so that means I can still become a proud law-breaker in Canada if I want to (ie, get illegal satellite TV)? - I'm a rebelious American admirer of US' founders, you see...so I'm used to piously breaking the law now and then! ("At little rebellion now and then is a good thing" - T. Jefferson)
Actually Calgary is head office city - second only to Toronto. CP Rail, historically the great nemesis of Western Canadian farmers is now headquartered there. Every time there is a hiccup in Quebec a few more major companies move and they wonder why their economy is in the toilette. Alberta is EXTREMELY business friendly and growing like mad. Of all the provinces we have so far missed the socialist experiments. Too much money to risk it.
Sorry, Orson, I tried to respond to your privately, but it says your mailbox is full. Calgary and Edmonton are pretty darn similar (although they make fun of each other, calling each other "Cowtown" and "Edmonchuk"). U of C's campus is a bit more secluded from the rest of the city than U of A's. For fun, I mostly sang in choirs (including Calgary's French choir and Edmonton's Ukrainian choir). You should be able to find people for most social activities. But be prepared to cultivate indoor interests. In Canadian winters, there's not much to do outdoors besides ski or skate. U of C's library is adequate. (The Arctic Institute, where I worked, was actually on an upper floor of the library tower.) U of A's is somewhat bigger, and has more old books.
But then Canada had the greatest opportunity for English culture, French cuisine, and American technology. But ended up with American culture, English cooking, and French technology.
