Calgary, Alberta, Canada

“The Heart of the New West”

Calgary’s Population

Population of 1.04 million

(Metro pop. of 1.16 million)

= very few suburbs compared to many other cities

3rd largest city in Canada Currently fastest-growing

major city in Canada Population density of

3,522.9/sq mi (relatively spread out)

Calgary’s Physical Geography

Located at the transition zone between the Canadian Rockies and the Great Plains

Hilly topography Two major rivers run

through the city- the Bow River and the Elbow River

Calgary’s Climate

Semi-arid, highland continental

Highly variable Heavily influenced by

Rocky Mountains 4 seasons but short spring

and autumn Jan avg. high- 27 degrees

F, avg. low- 5 degrees F July avg. high- 73 degrees

F, avg. low 49 degrees F

History of Calgary

First settled by Europeans in 1875, incorporated as a city in 1894

Grew into a commercial and agricultural center after Canadian Pacific Railway constructed

Slow growth for many yearsCalgary as it appeared in 1885

The Oil Boom

Oil first discovered in Alberta in 1902

1947- Huge reserves discovered near Calgary

The city's economy grew when oil prices increased with the Arab Oil Embargo

of 1973. (Its population also grew)

The city’s economy was so closely tied to the oil industry that the city's boom peaked with the

average annual price of oil in 1981

Today the city’s economy is still heavily dependent

on the oil industry

Explosive Growth

The population increased by 272,000 in the eighteen years between 1971 and 1989 and another 345,000 in the next eighteen years

Much of this is because of the oil boom

The Diversification of Calgary’s Economy

During the past two decades, the city has greatly invested into other areas such as tourism and high-tech manufacturing to keep its economy stable

Other modern industries include film, transportation, and services.

Click here for a brief video on the growth and diversification of Calgary’s economy

Breakdown of Calgary’s Economy Today

Agriculture 6.1% Manufacturing 15.8% Trade 15.9% Finance 6.4% Health and education 25.1% Business services 25.1% Other services 16.5%

Tourism

Over 5 million visitors a year

Banff National Park nearby

Home of 1988 Winter Olympics

Urban Sprawl Due to rapid growth of city Post-industrial city “Driver’s City” However, the city's light rail system (the C-Train)

has the highest ridership (both in total and on a per capita basis) of any North American light-rail system

There are very few geographical barriers to growth

Calgary almost takes up the sameamount of land as New York City despite having 1/8 of its population

Ethnic Origins of Calgarians*

Canadian 25.64% English 23.13% Scottish 17.76% German 17.73%

Irish 15.10% Ukrainian 13.56%

French 12.19% *Calgariansare people who live in Calgary

Ethnic Minorities in Calgary

Racial Tension in Calgary

1892- After the Chinese community was blamed for a smallpox outbreak, a race riot ensued

1940- A group of 300 white soldiers rioted in Calgary’s "Harlemtown" near the railway tracks east of downtown. After they invaded the home of a black band leader, military police intervened and were credited with ending the incident

1970- The Calgary Urban Treaty Indian Alliance held a demonstration over social service funding in which dozens of men, women and children occupied the Indian Affairs office in the city.

The Present and the Future

Calgary was ranked the world's cleanest city by Mercer Quality of Living in a survey published in 2007 by Forbes magazine

The city currently has the fastest-growing economy in the country

As long as oil pays, Calgary will prosper

The Present and the Future

Calgary has experienced the fastest growth of any city in the western hemisphere over the past 10 years.

Due to the rapidly growing economy, jobs in Calgary are readily available and easy to find.

Calgary currently boasts the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 3.2%. This is largely due to the employment growth the city has seen annually for the past five years.

The Present and the Future

Over the next three years, 1/3 of all jobs in Alberta are going to be created in the Calgary area.

An estimated 90,000 jobs will be created in Calgary over the next five years and 244,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.

It’s future growth should continue

Calgary skyline in 1969 Calgary skyline today

*Fun Fact Calgary has the

world’s most extensive system of elevated indoor pedestrian bridges