Job-mad Calgary lacks fun image
All work, no play is how the rest of Canada sees us
Kim Guttormson
Calgary Herald
Thursday, August 02, 2007
CREDIT: Jenelle Schneider, Calgary Herald
People surveyed by Angus Reid see Calgary as a great place to get a job, but don't rate us well for much else.
If you ask Canadians, Calgary is all work and no play, reinforcing stereotypes that we're a nose-to-the-grindstone city with no nightlife or culture, a new poll says.
An Angus Reid Strategies survey found that 36 per cent of our countrymen think Calgary is the best city to find a job, but fewer than 10 per cent rank it as the spot where they'd want to eat out, shop or enjoy the nightlife -- even though they were consulted just after the 10-day party known as Stampede wrapped up.
Only three per cent of Canadians find us an artsy and cultured city, according to the poll.
"A lot of results in the survey speak to long-standing reputations about each city," said Craig Worden, Angus Reid Strategies vice-president of public affairs. "Calgary is still fighting those.
"Its new image is fighting its old image."
Calgary is even struggling to get respect in its own province. Forty-five per cent of Albertans picked Edmonton as the best city to live in, while only 24 per cent chose Calgary.
Worden offered some comfort by pointing out that in some categories, such as dining out, sports and recreation, nightlife and arts and culture, Calgary "shows up in the top-tier ranking -- quite often it's a statistical tie."
However, the impression the city's been making as an economic powerhouse is reflected in the poll results.
Calgary is the best place to find a job, said 36 per cent of those asked, with Edmonton second at 12 per cent and Toronto third with 10 per cent.
While Toronto was considered the best place to do business, according to 37 per cent, Calgary was next at 16 per cent.
Adam Legge, Calgary Economic Development's director of research and business information, said that every region of the country felt Calgary was the employment hub.
"We're beginning to be seen as Western Canada's business centre," he said. "But it does potentially reflect the need to work on the perception of Calgary in other parts of Canada, beyond the economic opportunity."
Jeff Aplin, with David Aplin Recruiting, said their busiest offices in the country are both in Alberta.
"We're doing more placements (in Calgary) than in Vancouver or Toronto," said Aplin, the vice-president for the Calgary region. "It's garnered so much media attention, the spotlight is on so much. It's created a perfect storm.
"The whole boom in Alberta has sex appeal."
Worden said the overall results of the poll found Canadians are still homers when it comes to ranking their cities.
"It speaks to how highly regionalized we are," he said. "Whenever Canadians turn out to vote, there's a regional aspect to how we vote.
"A province's residents often pick one of their major centres as their favourite."
The poll, which talked to 1,040 people, has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent, 19 times out of 20.
kguttormson@theherald.canwest.com
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