How does Edmonton stack up to other American cities?

[Coldrsx]

probably in parallel or perpendicular to em?

seriously though, how does Edmonton fair in comparison? I know we complain a lot here, but if you take our size and go look at many other cities, we are doing very very well on most aspects.

thoughts?

[S_B_Russell]

I never really appreciated Edmonton until I started to travel. For our size and location we're not bad and hopefully improving. I know when I've had friends from outside of Canada (NYC and Australia) visit they've always had a good time and been pleasantly surprised with all the things to do in the city.

[Calgarian]

I think most of the thing's brought up in the Calgary version of this thread would like apply to Edmonton as well.

[Xelebes]

We love you too, Butte.

[S_B_Russell]

^nothing to discuss here. Move along.

[Hootch]

Austin, Texas is a comparison I hear all the time.

*both liberal (in comparison to the rest of the province/state) cities
*both capitals
*almost the same size
*huge art and culture influence

anything else I'm missing?

[240glt]

I've heard that comparison too.

Having never been to Austin, I can't confirm or deny it

[Kevin_foster]

I'd say we're more relaxed than Calgary, less cosmopolitan, a little more liberal and a little more artsy. Perhaps it's due to the UofA and the role it plays in our city. This isn't a bash on Edmonton or Calgary, just an observation and I'm sure others will agree.

These days I really feel Edmonton is still quite a young city on the rise. It seems we're starting to make some real strives in the right direction (LRT, TOD, Transit HUB etc.) - our city council REALLY seems to GET IT (although sometimes I'm not so confident).

Having traveled much of the world, and the USA, I honestly cannot compare Edmonton to any other city - except maybe Austin. Austin definitely felt Edmonton-ish.

[Dave D.]

I grew up in Edmonton and then got dragged away to the Okanagan in my teens by my parents, who were semi-retiring. I have brought several friends from BC back to Edmonton over the years and many have been far more impressed than they expected to be.
Here's some of the things they loved:

They were expecting totally flat land and few trees. Taken into areas such as Mill Creek Ravine and the Whitemud Nature Preserve, they could not believe how green the city is. One or two said "It's actually beautiful and I never expected it to be."

They were also impressed by the size (length) of the skyline, the diversity of neat restaurants and great shopping with no sales tax. They also thought the city seemed bigger than its population in terms of how spread out it is and all it has to offer. Personally I will always have a love for Edmonton and my only wish is to see some great new tall buildings on the skyline and greater civic pride in what I believe is a gem in Canada. Many people apologize for being from Edmonton. That irks me.

[Coldrsx]

also a smaller minneapolis/st.paul....

how do we compare to Kansas city, st.louis, baltimore, nashville's of the world.

[murman]

Friends who relocated to Texas many years ago say Houston = Calgary and Edmonton = Dallas Fort Worth.

I would have said Dallas = Calgary and Fort Worth = Edmonton.

[ExcaliburKid]

I agree Cold, I've been to Minny a number of times, and each time it reminds me of home. A lot more sprawled out mind you, but the Edmonton feel is certainly there, for me anyway. Similar landscape, save for the river valley, and very sports minded. I never feel uncomfortable there, and when business associates from Minny visit us here, they have the same sentiments.

[S_B_Russell]

I've been to Austin and I do see some comparisons between the two centres - except Austin's housing is way cheaper and it is a heck of a lot warmer.

[Spencer]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

also a smaller minneapolis/st.paul....

how do we compare to Kansas city, st.louis, baltimore, nashville's of the world.

I've been to Baltimoreand it is really nothing like Edmonton. In a way it felt similar to Vancouver except a lot older and not as nice. Also, if you think East Hastings is bad go to the "hood" in Baltimore. I had a tour with a collegue who lived there and it makes East Hastings feel like Glenora. Why it felt like Vancouver? It is a waterfront city "Cheasapeke (sp?) Bay" and most of the downtown area is around the bay. It was very green and very industrial outside of the downtown area.

I have however heard from numerous americans that Edmonton is simialr to Dallas except smaller, Austin and Denver. Suprisingly, the guy I heard Denver from is from Denver and he said Denver is a lot more like Edmonton than Calgary. I thought it'd be the other way.

[Calgarian]

Edmonton is kind of boring as a city (I really mean no offence when I say this), whether that's the Calgarian in me speaking I don't know, but there is something about your city that's lacking, even when compared to Calgary (which also has a reputation as a somewhat boring city). Aside from the mall and the river valley, Edmonton is not a pretty city. If there is one thing I would reccomend, it's the beautification of Edmonton that's most pressing. I would say that you need to improve the touristy areas of your city as well. Calgary is not much better in this regard, but we seem to be turning the corner. I can't really speak to the attitude of Edmontonians, but here, we are getting fed up with mediocre design, and uninspired developers building what they want, and are forcing them to consider the public realm and the impact on the city when they draw up their plans. Is the same thing happening there?

It pains me greatly in saying this, but I think while Calgary is the Alberta city of today, Edmonton has a good chance to once again be the Alberta city in the future. I have to give Edmonton props for it's efforts to become a world leader in medical r&d, as well as in the tech sector, while maintaining it's status as the staging point for the oil industry. Also I have to give Edmonton props for the number and calibre of it's summer festivals, even though I've never been, I know a ton of people who have, and I hear they are definitely better than Calgary's.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by johnnyc

Edmonton is kind of boring as a city (I really mean no offence when I say this), whether that's the Calgarian in me speaking I don't know, but there is something about your city that's lacking, even when compared to Calgary (which also has a reputation as a somewhat boring city). Aside from the mall and the river valley, Edmonton is not a pretty city. If there is one thing I would reccomend, it's the beautification of Edmonton that's most pressing. I would say that you need to improve the touristy areas of your city as well. Calgary is not much better in this regard, but we seem to be turning the corner. I can't really speak to the attitude of Edmontonians, but here, we are getting fed up with mediocre design, and uninspired developers building what they want, and are forcing them to consider the public realm and the impact on the city when they draw up their plans. Is the same thing happening there?

It pains me greatly in saying this, but I think while Calgary is the Alberta city of today, Edmonton has a good chance to once again be the Alberta city in the future. I have to give Edmonton props for it's efforts to become a world leader in medical r&d, as well as in the tech sector, while maintaining it's status as the staging point for the oil industry. Also I have to give Edmonton props for the number and calibre of it's summer festivals, even though I've never been, I know a ton of people who have, and I hear they are definitely better than Calgary's.

giggle

[ibz]

Calgary is where I stop for lunch on my way to Banff. I usually hit all the interesting tourist spots when I do this, Peters Drive In, uhhh...hmmm

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by Dave D.

Personally I will always have a love for Edmonton and my only wish is to see some great new tall buildings on the skyline and greater civic pride in what I believe is a gem in Canada. Many people apologize for being from Edmonton. That irks me.

Heh, everytime I mention that I'm originally from Edmonton, I always get told that "it's okay, we won't hold it against you."

... I've learned to live with it over the years...

[Calgarian]

Boris, your avatar is damn creepy. lol

[Coldrsx]

Edmonton and calgary are the same for visitors IMO for things to do and the such, but the thing calgary does much better is feel like a big city, feel cleaner, hide the undesirable parts.