Statistics Canada Reports II

[harls]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Considering Calgary's dizzying population growth, the city doesn't actually have that many high-rises under construction. There 15 currently and the tallest is only 32 stories.

I know this is a skyscraper forum, but who cares if they don't have 'that many highrises' under construction? If anything, it will benefit the city to have some girth.

[ZeDgE]

Originally Posted by harls

I know this is a skyscraper forum, but who cares if they don't have 'that many highrises' under construction? If anything, it will benefit the city to have some girth.

Thats what she said.

[MolsonExport]

whatever happened to that vaunted "Can Do" attitude?



woot?

[jc_yyc_ca]

Originally Posted by ZeDgE

Thats what she said.

[jc_yyc_ca]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Where Calgary seems to be building the most are mid-rises between 5 to 10 stories. I actually prefer these ad they tend to fit in much nicer especially in more established neighbourhoods. They stick out like a sore thumb but rather blend in well with the community. There is a place for everything but I think Calgary is getting a far better balance than most.

Originally Posted by harls

I know this is a skyscraper forum, but who cares if they don't have 'that many highrises' under construction? If anything, it will benefit the city to have some girth.

Agree 100%. It used to be on SSP Calgary section years back people would foam at the mouth over tall buildings, but it's almost the opposite now. The mindset is more in favor of lowrise buildings, with many even disliking taller buildings.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

whatever happened to that vaunted "Can Do" attitude?



woot?

Kidding aside,
When I lived there a wild amount of infrastructure and big city projects were completed or underway.
My best friend that visited me stated: It feels like most of the city is either under construction or infill is happening in every neighbourhood we've been. Calgary has an exciting energy vibe and "newness" feeling with cranes everywhere. He also commented that downtown felt like Sim City with numerous twin skyscrapers, and even quadruplet towers.

- the West LRT line of CTrain was completed and the newest Siemens S200 cars were getting delivered, all platforms were upgraded to accept 4 car trains (the limit for the downtown transit mall on 7th Ave)
- the ring road highway was also substantially completed
- many skyscrapers were completed including the former tallest The Bow trophy tower was built as Western Canada's tallest, only to announce an even taller tower, Brookfield Place that was completed when I was gone.
- Telus Spark Science Centre was built.
- Studio Bell/National Music Centre was being built
- the award winning new Central library plans were underway.
- the Core shopping centre was revitalized and its huge glass roof installed
- new Devonian gardens indoors were completed on the top floor of the Core as a place for anyone to enjoy flora (and koi ponds) inside away from the cold winter weather

It truly seemed like a crazy amount of infrastructure was built.

Now Calgary is upzoning and there's infill and increased densification throughout the city. Which to me is better than the trophy towers.
I just wish the Green Line (North-South) LRT project was substantially completed. City council and the provincial government have failed Calgarians on not getting that done.

TL;DR while it seems like Calgary used to get substantial projects done (with that Albertan 'can do' attitude) in a timely manner, now the city is still improving with upzoning and densification which will make the inner city areas much more vibrant and lively. Calgary is growing up more than sprawling out like the past. I look forward to seeing an improved, more mature more urban city whenever I visit again.

[Wigs]

Population of Calgary when I moved there to now

2009/2024 estimate

City 1,107,714/1,569,133 +461,419
Metro 1,220,888/1,778,881 +557,993

Sources:
Statistics Canada. Table 17-10-0155-01
Population estimates, July 1, by census subdivision, 2021 boundaries
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710015501

Statistics Canada. Table 17-10-0148-01
Population estimates, July 1, by census metropolitan area and census agglomeration, 2021 boundaries
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710014801

[giallo]

Calgary will be hitting 2 million people before we know it.

Here's a visual map of Metro Vancouver's municipal populations and densities.

[jc_yyc_ca]

Originally Posted by giallo

Calgary will be hitting 2 million people before we know it.

[rdaner]

There is an article in the Toronto Star reporting updated stats for NA metro population stats and the GTA came in #1 again.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Here is the list from the Toronto Star

[Pavlov]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

Here is the list from the Toronto Star

Crazy that four of the top ten are in Canada.

[rdaner]

I am wondering if this is new info or a rehash of January’s data?

[Chocolite]

Originally Posted by Pavlov

Crazy that four of the top ten are in Canada.

It is cool to see, though once immigration numbers drop, I expect Toronto will be the only Canadian city in the top 10.

[P'tit Renard]

Originally Posted by Pavlov

Crazy that four of the top ten are in Canada.

It's perverse that Toronto is growing at this rate, given how over-burdened our infrastructure is.

[jc_yyc_ca]

Originally Posted by P'tit Renard

It's perverse that Toronto is growing at this rate, given how over-burdened our infrastructure is.

Toronto's growth, as well as the other Canadian cities will see slowdowns the next few years.

Originally Posted by Chocolite

It is cool to see, though once immigration numbers drop, I expect Toronto will be the only Canadian city in the top 10.

Sounds about right.

[niwell]

I suspect Toronto has slowed down a fair bit already. Construction starts are way down, and anecdotally traffic doesn't seem quite as hectic as it was a year ago, though a significant increase in transit usage may account for some of that.

[ssiguy]

We are already seeing a complete collapse of our population growth which we desperately need. This is already being exemplified in rising rental vacancy rates and falling real estate prices.

[P'tit Renard]

Originally Posted by niwell

I suspect Toronto has slowed down a fair bit already. Construction starts are way down, and anecdotally traffic doesn't seem quite as hectic as it was a year ago, though a significant increase in transit usage may account for some of that.

Really? On my end traffic downtown and on the highways is getting worse than ever, and lately it seems to be getting even worse with stricter RTO mandates. There is no transit alternatives to 905 offices, and stupidly the majority of large MNCs in Canada are headquartered in the 905.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by P'tit Renard

Really? On my end traffic downtown and on the highways is getting worse than ever, and lately it seems to be getting even worse with stricter RTO mandates. There is no transit alternatives to 905 offices, and stupidly the majority of large MNCs in Canada are headquartered in the 905.

In the West End it doesn't seem quite as bad, though 90% of my driving is either surface streets in the area or Gardiner/DVP to 401 and East to Napanee. Traffic patterns may have adjusted some after the Gardiner construction - while the wait is still significant it's not as bad as when it first started. Similarly the largescale streetcar track reconstruction in the West is now done. To be fair I don't really know anyone who works in the 905 though as it's either in the broader downtown or 100% remote.