Why Calgary is a top city for senior retirees (and home care)
Once again, Calgary has been listed as one of the top 10 cities to live in the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index of 2023. It’s also one of three Canadian cities listed in the top 10, just below Vancouver and above Toronto.
1 – Vienna Austria
2 – Copenhagen Denmark
3 – Melbourne Australia
4 – Sydney Australia
5 – Vancouver Canada
6 – Zurich Switzerland
7 = Calgary Canada
7 = Geneva Switzerland
9 = Toronto Canada
10 = Osaka Japan
10 = Auckland New Zealand
Calgary, a genuine winner
In our eyes, Calgary already looks the winner over the other two Canadian cities. Calgary has the lowest cost of living of the three, and house prices (whilst not exactly cheap) are still 60% lower than in Vancouver. (6) The climate is more temperate with less snow and rain than the other two. The Transit system of bus and rail is free in the city centre, and the city has 600 kilometres of walking and cycle pathways.
Calgary also received the perfect score of 100 in healthcare, stability, education, and infrastructure. At Vytality at Home, we’re proud to be part of that “perfect” healthcare score, as our home care services and friendly caregivers enable our senior residents to live independently in their own home for longer. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Why retire to Calgary?
So what makes Calgary such a great place to live, and what is it like for retirees? That’s the question put to the forum members at Quora, and it made really interesting reading even for those of us who live here!
Members replies listed the pros and cons, with some aspects making it into both lists, including the size of the city relative to its population, transport, and (inevitably) the weather!
So here is a small selection of what those Quora folks mentioned, and how that might influence any decision to retire here, or indeed stay living here in retirement.
Big city, small population
In square miles, Calgary is about the same size as New York City, but with only an eighth of the population at 1.6million. This gives everyone who lives here more room to life life to the full, as properties are larger, and there is considerably more green space. Calgary’s Fish Creek Provincial Park, for example, is one of the biggest provincial parks set in a major city.
All this space makes Calgary a very desirable place to live for those who don’t want 27/7 bustle and partying, but do want access to top class entertainment, cultural excellence and (increasingly) some great restaurants.
Getting around
Calgary’s Transit system is efficient and convenient if you don’t want to drive, serving most of the suburbs with rail and bus services. Yes, driving yourself around would be faster, but there are also plenty of taxi firms here happy to take you for an appointment, a family event, a show or dinner, and safely back home in the warm (winter) or cool (summer)! (Restricted mobility and not sure of a good cab firm to use? Call us – we know them all!)
Winter weather and the Chinooks
If you plan to retire to Calgary, the first thing you’ll notice is how mild some days during the winters can be. When the Chinook winds blow, bitter winter cold can turn into a spring-like balm even in the depths of winter.
“The magical Chinook winds that come over the mountains (are) like a gift … a miserable freezing day can turn into a mini-spring in just a few hours.”
However, that also makes the weather unpredictable, and like all Canada, when it gets cold, it’s cold. However, with the Rockies just an hour’s drive away, you can head into the mountains for exceptional snow conditions and all the winter sports you love. Combine that with the clear days of sunshine and there’s usually blue skies overhead for 300+ days a year. See the Government of Canada weather forecast for the weather this week!
Let Calgary entertain you
OK, we haven’t got the range or choice you’d find in bigger cities like Toronto or Vancouver, but we love the concerts by our own Calgary Philharmonic, big shows from Broadway that tour to our theatres, plus our our festivals including the Calgary Folk Music Festival. And, of course Stampede, the World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo, the highlight of Calgary’s annual calendar and a celebration of our pioneering spirit. You’ll find lots to enjoy at the Visit Calgary website.
We love our winter sports here in Calgary, so it’s no wonder we hosted the Winter Olympic Games back in 1988. We’ve also got Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame museum! We especially love our hockey here, with out own professional NHL team, the Calgary Flames, and the AHL affiliate team the Calgary Wranglers. Vytality Home Care even has its own team, The Vytality Vipers!
Meet the people
Calgary is a very cosmopolitan place, and welcoming too, as two Quora members commented:
“We have found the people here very open and warm, and made excellent friends quickly.”
“it’s easier to settle in Calgary than in Toronto or Vancouver if you don’t have a safety net of a cultural community to lean on … You will be one of hundreds of thousands of newcomers in Calgary, people will empathize with you.”
It’s also really easy for friends and family to visit as the International Airport links Calgary with the rest of Canada and international destinations.
Tempted? Here’s one more reason to retire to Calgary
Us! Vytality at Home are celebrating 10 years of providing exceptional home care here in Calgary. We’re particularly proud of our 100+ caregivers, who continue to provide exceptional home care experiences for every one of our customers.
