The Great Canadian Skyline Thread! II

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by kool maudit

it's not exactly the chrysler.

No other building is. What´s your point ?

[Martin Mtl]

Once again, great selection of pics. Thanks.

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Crack Cocaine by Empty Quarter, on Flickr


Daylight Saving Time by mooncall2012, on Flickr


Facing the sun, on King Street West, Toronto. by michaelleckman, on Flickr


Layered by Jack Landau, on Flickr


bay / adelaide by ronnie.yip, on Flickr


Citywide by Robert Greatrix Photography, on Flickr


Toronto, Canada by Len Theivendra, on Flickr

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Allan83

I’m reluctant to carry this on, but .... don’t you think people in Ottawa go to hockey games in Montreal too, and football games, and soccer games, and major concerts? How many people from the Ottawa area do you think go to Just for Laughs, or any of the many music festivals in Montreal? Just because some Montrealers come to Ottawa for certain reasons doesn’t mean that there aren’t more people going the other way.


Yes, this is what I’m saying.


No, it isn’t. It’s only a two hour drive away. You can easily take a day trip from Ottawa to go shopping.


I didn’t say that, but it seems that this idea bothers you. It would be a difficult comparison because they're two very different cities, one a government town and the other a major business centre.

Both Calgary and Ottawa have things the other doesn't have (so much of) and that can make it seem slightly larger than the other, at least from a particular perspective.

And proximity to Montreal (and also to Toronto and the NE US to some degree) can actually be a plus for Ottawa in some respects, and does not necessarily take away from its big city feel at all.

[Chadillaccc]

As can Calgary's proximity to Edmonton, and vise versa. If one of the two cities didn't exist, the other would be much larger and have more services undoubtedly. As can be said for Ottawa in relation to the major centres near it. However, having two major metropolitan centres with services, amenities, and urban development usually found in much larger centres is pretty cool to have in one province.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by Allan83

Maybe you missed the part where Razor himself admitted that he does it? It’s a common thing to do and it won’t be surprising at all to most people.

I'm not saying it's impossible that anyone does it, but unless you have some actual stats to back up the claim "It's a common thing to do" then I'm still skeptical.

Originally Posted by Allan83

Heck, there are people in the Toronto area who commute almost that far every day. (What is it, an 1 ½ hours from Guelph?) It’s also a nice divided highway the whole way so it’s an easy drive, as long as you miss rush hour in Montreal. Also note that it’s just about 200 km on the dot between the two, so it’s a short two hours.

All of those things apply in NS as well, but that still doesn't make it common.

[The_Architect]

Originally Posted by Darkoshvilli

I assumed everyone on a skyscraper forum knew the name of the 1000

Meh, understandable considering it's an address instead of an actual name.

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Both Calgary and Ottawa have things the other doesn't have (so much of) and that can make it seem slightly larger than the other, at least from a particular perspective.

And proximity to Montreal (and also to Toronto and the NE US to some degree) can actually be a plus for Ottawa in some respects, and does not necessarily take away from its big city feel at all.

With respect to which city is bigger, there’s no doubt in my mind about that. Calgary seems like a much bigger city, but with respect to which one is more important I think that’s hard to say, because you’re comparing the nation’s capital with a major business city, two very different kinds of cities.

While I’m sure that being so near to much bigger cities does draw many big city amenities way from Ottawa to the bigger cities, I think the one area where it can help is when Ottawa hosts a major event that the others don’t have. Winterlude, for example, draws a huge number of people, and I’m guessing that some people come from Montreal and perhaps even Toronto. The Jazz festival may be another, and Canada Day, and perhaps the Tulip Festival. But apart from these specific events Calgary generally has more, bigger, and more international type festivals and events. We have numerous Olympic World Cup events in the sliding, skiing, freestyle, and speed skating sports, for example. We have a number of major international events at Spruce Meadows every year. We've got a top international bike race, and a PGA Champions tour event. And then there's the Stampede, the Folk Festival, Sled Island, Expo Latino (which draws 60,000), the One Yellow Rabbit High Performance Rodeo, and more.

[Chadillaccc]

I really need to get myself into festival mode next year. The only ones I went to this year are the Stampede and the Strathmore International Gay Rodeo.

As everyone knows or would expect, I also think Calgary feels like a significantly bigger city than Ottawa, having also lived in both. However, Ottawa is older and currently has better urban bones than Calgary. I don't think anyone can make the determination of which city is more important though. As Allen said, Ottawa is the capital, Calgary is the major business centre of the western half of the country. Without the oil logistics which Calgary provides, who knows what effect that would have on the economy. Likewise with Ottawa's government powerhouse. Both are extremely important in completely different ways. To say "Calgary being more important than Ottawa isn't even worth a comment" is being pretty snide. I'm not saying it is, because there's no way to determine that, but to dismiss it outright is pretty ridiculous.




Look a skyline!!!


http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/habataku/2449

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=848582&page=3

[kw5150]

I love these festivals listed below. They are almost reactionary festivals that make themselves completely different than the redneck stuff...

Originally Posted by Allan83

............................. the Folk Festival, Sled Island, Expo Latino (which draws 60,000), the One Yellow Rabbit High Performance Rodeo, and more.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Allan83

With respect to which city is bigger, there’s no doubt in my mind about that. Calgary seems like a much bigger city, but with respect to which one is more important I think that’s hard to say, because you’re comparing the nation’s capital with a major business city, two very different kinds of cities.

While I’m sure that being so near to much bigger cities does draw many big city amenities way from Ottawa to the bigger cities, I think the one area where it can help is when Ottawa hosts a major event that the others don’t have. Winterlude, for example, draws a huge number of people, and I’m guessing that some people come from Montreal and perhaps even Toronto. The Jazz festival may be another, and Canada Day, and perhaps the Tulip Festival. But apart from these specific events Calgary generally has more, bigger, and more international type festivals and events. We have numerous Olympic World Cup events in the sliding, skiing, freestyle, and speed skating sports, for example. We have a number of major international events at Spruce Meadows every year. We've got a top international bike race, and a PGA Champions tour event. And then there's the Stampede, the Folk Festival, Sled Island, Expo Latino (which draws 60,000), the One Yellow Rabbit High Performance Rodeo, and more.

I happen to think that Calgary is pulling away from Ottawa on most fronts and pretty soon it will be no contest.

But keep in mind also that there are 125 million people within a day's drive of Ottawa. Obviously only a tiny fraction of them come to Ottawa in a given year, but it's still a huge potential population to draw from. There are lots of people in town in Ottawa from all over northeastern North America every single day, not just for festivals.

This does have a decent effect on Ottawa's "busy-ness".

[Chadillaccc]

That's a good point. Though, the same can be said for any major city in Eastern North America. I would guess the largest possible amount of people within a day's drive from Calgary (I'll just use Winnipeg in the east, Victoria in the west, Fort McMurray in the North, and Denver in the South [including Seattle, Portland, etc]) is about 30 million (11 million in Canada, 20 million in the US). This is within a 16 hour drive (Denver being the farthest city mentioned). Interestingly enough, San Francisco is only a 21 hour drive from Calgary. Though, I would hardly call that a "day's drive".

[niwell]

Bluesfest in Ottawa is worth mentioning as well, which is a large and well-known music festival. People do travel to Ottawa for it.

I haven't looked at this thread in a few days, but the discussion a few pages back about neighbourhoods and want to second this quote:

Originally Posted by ac888yow

Try as I might, it's pretty hard to take serious someone who states:

- The special part of Westboro is a "bagel shop",
- Old Ottawa South is "all residential",
- Little Italy is "a few blocks long".

Ottawa can seem a sleepy bureaucrat town in some respects, but still does have a lot going on. Go to the market area on a summer weekend and see how busy it gets. Also can't ignore that Gatineau is across the river which adds its own unique amenities.

[Chadillaccc]

Yayyy look at how civil everyone is being! This is nice

[vanatox]

I live in Gatineau for 5 years now and I find that the metro area has greatly improved during that time and feel more busy. I think that Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton are all at the same stage where they start having more and more big city stuff. To compare the cities, it's not enough to have lived in both. They are evolving too fast and you would start comparing city A in the present vs how city B was 4-5 years ago when it was smaller and less busy.

[north 42]

Originally Posted by Razor

Wild when you think about it. Was Gretzky hoisting the cup in a London sized Edmonton? Having said that, I get that Edmonton was more dominant when it was the size of London..Still crazy how some solid Ontario mid sized cities are coming up...Windsor is another one when it bounces back...I always liked London btw..NIce looking green city...University town.

I think that our city really will take off in the near future with all the restructuring that has taken place in our economy over the last decade. We have an amazing mayor and a supportive city council, a great location, and pretty good weather for Canada, so hopefully we can break away from our automotive dominated past, and really grow to our potential. I'm so sick of waiting though!

[Chadillaccc]

Considering how quickly Calgary is developing versus Ottawa's slower pace though, I think the comparison still carries a bit of weight. Can't really speak for Edmonton though, their period of massive development is still in its infancy. I can see it giving both cities a run for their money in the coming years with all of the cultural and infrastructure projects underway/imminent. Edmonton also has the interesting distinction of being a cross between Calgary and Ottawa. A large business centre but with a huge government presence, not to mention the amenities that come with being a provincial capital; the royal provincial museum and art galleries, etc.

[niwell]

It's a bit hard to characterize, but I'd say that in some respects Calgary has "skipped ahead" to having some actual big city stuff. Certain high-end stores, probably restaurants, the downtown core in general etc. Ottawa doesn't have this to the same extent but makes up for it with more walkable, urban neighbourhoods and certain types of cultural amenities (at least IMO).

[Chadillaccc]

I'll agree with that for sure. That's not to say that Calgary doesn't have a good amount of walkable neighbourhoods though. Ottawa just has more, and older.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

No other building is. What´s your point ?

Some buildings are known, world-wide, simply by name.

In Canada, we have one that I can think of.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

That's a good point. Though, the same can be said for any major city in Eastern North America. I would guess the largest possible amount of people within a day's drive from Calgary (I'll just use Winnipeg in the east, Victoria in the west, Fort McMurray in the North, and Denver in the South [including Seattle, Portland, etc]) is about 30 million (11 million in Canada, 20 million in the US). This is within a 16 hour drive (Denver being the farthest city mentioned). Interestingly enough, San Francisco is only a 21 hour drive from Calgary. Though, I would hardly call that a "day's drive".

From Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto, with a 16-hour drive you are moving in on 200 million people I'd say, and really not that far from Minneapolis, St. Louis and Atlanta.