Alberta’s largest city, Calgary, is home to more than 1.6 million Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Calgary is famous for being one of the top ten most livable cities and number seven globally based on the Global Livability Index 2023. An aspect of Calgary’s livability is pointed out by how the city is rated on this list, including its total points of 98.8, the second highest of any city in this nation, and its perfect 100.0 ranking in four various classifications.
In healthcare, stability, infrastructure, and education, Calgary scored a deserving 100. Furthermore, Calgary is also the third most diverse city in Canada, in which residents speak over 120 distinct languages, and almost 25 percent of the city’s present population are settlers. This makes it simple for settlers to align in Alberta’s biggest city.
The guides below offer new immigrants with vital knowledge about living in the Heart of the New West and welcoming its active, sun-absorbed spirit.
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Knowing Calgary and its Main Neighborhoods
Calgary acquires 333 days of sunshine annually, more than another significant city in Canada. This implies that the inhabitants of this city will obtain enough prospects to experience everything Calgary has to offer.
So many major neighborhoods comprise the city of Calgary, some of which will be explained in this article.
Calgary’s city heart is its most city famous community and region, hugely due to this area of Alberta’s biggest city being a center for everything from some of the region’s top-ranked eateries to live entertainment, shopping centers, museums, and iconic memorials such as the Calgary Tower. Providing things to every member of the household to young foreign students, the city of Calgary is one of the downtown’s most famous communities.
The beltline in the neighborhood of Calgary is situated directly south of the city’s heart. It is well-known for its urban entertainment and culture. From its displays of unique arts at the Chinook Arc and at the time of the Beltline Urban Mural Projects celebrations to its wintertime BIG Winter Classic celebrations, which are celebrations of pairing arts and recreations with local art beer. Beltline is, in attribute, an active Calgary neighborhood perfect for the downtown’s rise of youthful population.
Calgary possessed a median age of only 36 in 2021, causing it to be among the youngest cities among every other main city in Canada.
Inglewood, Calgary’s oldest city, is a small village providing to individuals who find pleasure in walking and using bikes around their region. This region of Calgary is a recreation of the hustle and bustle of the town’s most urban areas. Usually described as Calgary’s main city, Inglewood provides a combination of local eateries, stores, and historic constructions that indicate the most special and outstanding things concerning Calgary.
Public Transportation
Calgary Transportation takes care of public transport all over the city, which includes a web of buses and light Rall Transit lines described as the CTrain. In this region, public transportation can be utilized via single-fare buying and ticket piles or permits based on the requirements of various commuters.
The charges for transport fares, tickets, and permits are based on your age at the time of purchase, and Calgary Transit also provides outstanding student charges for young adults who submit their student ID. Furthermore, Calgary Transit provides unique charges for weekend crew day transit permits, monthly discounts, and yearly permits for low-salary residents and older adults.
Successful Industries
Among the most famous successful industries in Calgary is its technology sector. Calgary is a dwelling abode to the fastest technology workforce expansion in North America, implying that Calgary is instantly turning out to be a premier Canadian technology and invention center, perfect for individuals who desire to get employment in the STEM sector.
Alberta possesses more than 38,000 mixed employment openings in the five professional classifications that Canada has selected to prioritize in the national administration’s new classification-based draws. Adding to STEM, these classifications have to do with agri-food/agriculture, healthcare, trade, and transport. Many of these job openings are possibly to be discovered in Calgary, Alberta’s most populated town.
With more than 40,000 tech operators in the city, Calgary has found pleasure in more than 20% employment expansion in the tech sector between 2017 and 2021. Other firms and sectors which are actively available in Calgary consist of:
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Entertainment
Calgary has indicated a dedication to enhancing its role as an arts and culture center in Canada. The Calgary Economic Development webpage shows that the city’s innovative firms sector will expend $566 million on digital changes between 2022 and 2024, creating a path for gaming, animation, esports, visual effects, and immersive technologies to be significant tools of expansion.
Current proof of Calgary’s appearance as an entertainment center can be viewed in the rising famous use of this region as a backdrop for significant television and movie production. For instance, in recent years, Calgary has been utilized as a movie site for Jumanji and other movies.
Agri-business
Calgary holds a major position in Alberta, becoming the third biggest exporter of agri-food items in the whole nation. This is because Calgary is cut-crossed by the Trans-Canada Highway, which includes east and west, and Highway 2, which includes north and south, described as the CANAMEX Aisl. This permits firms to reach millions of consumers within a 24-hour journey, making it simple to enter a wide range of consumer markets in a highly effective pattern.
Emergency Service
Emergency services are one of the most famous regions of attention for new immigrants to Calgary. This is because new immigrants are required to know how they can reach out to support when they demand it, whether they require help from the fire service, ambulance, or the police.
When it comes to emergencies in Calgary, residents are advised to dial 911. This will link them to emergency service givers who can instantly acquire support. The Alberta Health Service webpage consists of major details for residents in the region, including Calgary, concerning emergency services such as programs, hospital establishments, and services.
Education System
Calgary provides many academic choices for parents, including public education and some varieties of private school choices.
Note: This resource can support parents in accurately knowing what their children are being taught in the region’s public school curriculum, which directs the way students learn in publicly financed schools all over Calgary.
Private school choices in Calgary have to do with private institutions and boarding institutions, even though every private choice will require parents to pay for the tuition out of pocket. This is a major disparity between public and private schools in Calgary, as public schools can be attended without fees as they are financed through taxes.
As the academic curriculum in public institutions all over Calgary is supervised by the region, this regional government website summarizes the curriculum the child will go through from kindergarten to grade 12. The post-secondary academic system in Calgary comprises more than 60 DLIs.
Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) are vital for new immigrants who land in Canada as foreign students. This is because international citizens are required to receive a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution before looking for a study permit in Canada. Among the various Designated Learning Institutions in Calgary are famous academic universities, which include the University of Calgary, which was previously the location of learning for outstanding personalities, including Uber co-originator Garret Champ and James Gosling, the inventor of the Java programming language.
Newcomer Services
Calgary possesses a comprehensive web of service givers who are prepared and able to support new immigrants with everything they require. These service givers operate in regions ranging from settlement, integration, and academic to job and public immigrant benefits.
Note: It is crucial to keep in mind that qualification for these services will be based on your Canadian immigration status and the person financing the settlement service institution, which may be either government-financed or private. Reviewing with the particular service giver to verify your qualification for the service is recommended. A list of samples of these institutions is obtainable below:
Note: Contact details and webpages for every institution mentioned can be found below.
- Education: the Immigrant Education Society.
- Newcomer Services for Women: Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association.
- Job: Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council.
Furthermore, many of these institutions in Calgary also service new immigrants in French. These organizations comprise:
- General Services and Community-Based Programs: La Cite des Rocheuses.
- Settlement and Integration Services: Portail de l’Immigrants Association de Calgary.
