The Great Canadian Skyline Thread!

[caltrane74]

I was recently in Montreal recently and I was very impressed with how big city the subway felt. Every station seem packed and it was very easy to get around. So the subway was one of my most favorite things about Montreal. As for the skyline, I would say Montreal has a quaint skyline; if there is such a thing. The skyline for me is the prototype of the mid sized North American City, it was the first city skyline here even before Toronto of modern designed buildings in the 1950's and 1960's when Toronto, was just getting into the game.

[Dmajackson]

Halifax with and without the harbour.

Halifax with Water by Urban_Halifax, on Flickr

Halifax without Water by Urban_Halifax, on Flickr

[Mrs Sauga]

Toronto is Canada's big city, Montreal second, Vancouver third. So if Calgary is able to match any of them in certain categories, I think its something for Calgarians to feel excited about. I don't think they are thinking that as an overall city, Calgary is on their level.

Love those Halifax shots.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

^ meh, I don't really care that much, a city's skyline doesn't necessarily reflect the appearance or greatness of a city (except here on SSP). Tourists don't really care that much about skyscrapers really...

Calgarian forum members are always really excited about their new skyscrapers and all, and I don't blame them because some of them are really nice, but Calgary, with or without huge skyscrapers, comes nowhere near the density, culture and big city feel that Montreal has. I mean, Calgary doesn't even really have suburbs... It remains a fairly small big city.

I'm not a Calgary hater or anything but some Calgarian members always need to point out how they have surpassed Montreal in height, airport stats, etc. It's annoying. I know you guys aren't necessarily trying to blast Montreal, but it kinda looks like that. Airport stats show nothing when your city is located in the middle of nowhere...

You Montreal guys are really thin-skinned. Every single time someone makes the suggestion that our skyline could be bigger/nicer than yours, you can't help but bring up the "all the other things that make a big city" line. Even though nobody else made any comparison except in terms of skyline. And this in the friggin' skyline thread.

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

You Montreal guys are really thin-skinned. Every single time someone makes the suggestion that our skyline could be bigger/nicer than yours, you can't help but bring up the "all the other things that make a big city" line. Even though nobody else made any comparison except in terms of skyline. And this in the friggin' skyline thread.

Sure, but why the need to compare at all? Why not just admire what you have instead of comparing it to other cities? All Canadian cities are different...

[G.S MTL]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

You Montreal guys are really thin-skinned. Every single time someone makes the suggestion that our skyline could be bigger/nicer than yours, you can't help but bring up the "all the other things that make a big city" line. Even though nobody else made any comparison except in terms of skyline. And this in the friggin' skyline thread.

Lol ok...I won't argue ! I'll say it again...Calgary, for a city of its size with a skyline that big is very impressive! BUT just because you have a few buildings taller than Montreal, doesn't mean a damn thing! That Mount Royal shot of MTL skyline kicks ass! Sorry...and don't forget we have 5 towers going up! and as mentioned before, a skyline does not make up a city! Calgary is definitely getting up there but it's still a "young" city.

The problem with some Calgarians here is that they compare their city skyline with the "whole" Montreal lol quite funny. I guarantee you that most of you have never ever been here! Lol it's irritating how many of you compare a city with a skyline. It's sad to say, that no matter what, Calgary will never stand over Montreal. We are just way ahead of you. Calgary can probably compete with other smaller Canadian cities and even American cities but not Montreal, Toronto or even Vancouver ! Maybe one day Calgary will be in Canada's top 4 big cities but for now we have 3! Hey! Calgary should be worried about Edmonton...
Mississauga... And no! Not bashing Calgary !

[WhipperSnapper]

Montreal's skyline has additional depth compared to Calgary's skyline. This comes from having twice as many high rises. Calgary's, of course, is statistically taller than Montreal's but, the depth does make individual towers feel less significant. Montreal has more height than I imagine most think it does.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Sure, but why the need to compare at all? Why not just admire what you have instead of comparing it to other cities? All Canadian cities are different...

This forum lives on comparison. Maybe you should find another hobby.


The Calgary posters tend to be a proud bunch. Let them. Why the need to rain on their parade?

[G.S MTL]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

This forum lives on comparison. Maybe you should find another hobby.


The Calgary posters tend to be a proud bunch. Let them. Why the need to rain on their parade?

You're right! It's ok to be proud of your city. It's just even some here have mentioned that Calgary will surpass Vancouver and Montreal in terms of population! Lol Let's be realistic here. That's all I'm saying. I'm glad we have a city like Calgary booming and becoming bigger! Better for Canada!

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Montreal's skyline has additional depth compared to Calgary's skyline. This comes from having twice as many high rises. Calgary's, of course, is statistically taller than Montreal's but, the depth does make individual towers feel less significant. Montreal has more height than I imagine most think it does.

I think it’s the spacing as well that takes away from the impact. To me Montreal has an unremarkable skyline, surprisingly underwhelming really, but that doesn’t stop Montreal from being one of my favourite cites. Where Montreal really shines is at street level downtown, particularly in old Montreal.

[Rico Rommheim]

Enjoying the aesthetics of a skyline is like enjoying a painting, or a book. It is entirely subjective. I myself don't particularly like the Calgary skyline as much as its the SSP fan base, although it's impossible not to admire its size and ambition. Oddly enough I love Edmonton's skyline, but that may be because I lived there for 3 years and followed its development throughout. I actually prefer skylines that are balanced with the nuances of history and variety; throw in church spires and domes from the 18th century, late 19th century skyscrapers and classic 1920's art deco buildings. I like this because I have been hard-wired since childhood to admire such things, probably because I myself was born and raised in a city that has a skyline full of history. As a child was in absolute awe of the skylines of Chicago and New York, not those of Los Angeles or Phoenix. Does this make Calgary's skyline shit? Of course not. It's all personal taste. Arguing about it is petty. SSP, Sky scraper pettiness?

[Darkoshvilli]

Now that the can of worms has been opened, I'll just say that I'll take this: (pics by rico)







Over this:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/yurik_ryba/14643298054/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/66175113@N06/14652311610

7 times a week and twice on sunday. There's just much more to look at. But thats just me.

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by Darkoshvilli

Now that the can of worms has been opened, I'll just say that I'll take this: (pics by rico)

How does the old saying go? A face only a mother could love? (Old churches and other historical buildings aside, of course.)

[Darkoshvilli]

Originally Posted by Allan83

How does the old saying go? A face only a mother could love? (Old churches and other historical buildings aside, of course.)

Thats weak, man. You can do better than that.

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by Darkoshvilli

Thats weak, man. You can do better than that.

I’m merely point out that you seem to have a rather biased opinion based on the fact that Montreal is your home town.

[Darkoshvilli]

Originally Posted by Allan83

I’m merely point out that you seem to have a rather biased opinion based on the fact that Montreal is your home town.

Its right there in the pictures. Nothing to be biased about.

[Beedok]

I've never been to Calgary or Montreal so I provide a totally unbiased opinion.

[1overcosc]

Not being associated with either city, I can say that Montreal is certainly better in terms of depth, but I like the architecture of Calgary's better. Architecture is of course subjective, but one of my nitpicks is I really can't stand 1960s-1970s era brutalist/international or whatever its called buildings. Give me the whole spiel about their cultural relevance blah blah blah, the reality is they are ugly in my opinion and that's not going to change. And Montreal's skyline is full of those buildings. So is Ottawa's. To me, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary have much better skylines because in those cities, newer glass towers (which in my opinion look much better) dominate the skyline a lot more. Toronto has a good amount of brutalist buildings but they've been drowned out in recent years.

[scryer]

Can we not just say that both cities are great in their own way? No need to get catty here, ladies with the personal attacks.

Now let's get some more skyline pics posted!

[Trans Canada]

(click for full size)


June 6 2014. Credit reddit user mrmoreawesome, http://www.reddit.com/r/Calgary/comments/1fnaag/beautiful_morning_in_calgary_060413/


Jan 20 2014. Credit reddit user mr_thwibble, http://www.reddit.com/r/Calgary/comments/1vodtf/mountains_and_the_moon/


June 21 2014. Credit John Sharpe, http://www.sharpeshots.com/an-incredible-calgary-sunset/


Credit Jeremy Woodhouse, http://www.imagejuicy.com/images/famous-cities/m/montreal,-quebec/39/


May 9 2007. Montreal skyline at dawn by François @ Edito.qc.ca, on Flickr

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We already ran the Montreal vs Calgary debate into the ground last week, can we give it a rest?