All of the job offers I received upon finishing university were outside Toronto. I opted to accept a position as a junior Alberta reporter at the Western Standard because this news outlet is great and I heard Calgary is unique. .I've learned Calgary is better than Toronto, and I can see myself staying for the long term. In the one-and-a-half months I have been in Calgary, I made some observations about the city demonstrating its distinctiveness. .Here are 10 observations about Calgary setting it apart from Toronto. . Bagged milkBags of milk are the only way to get four litres worth at this Shoppers Drug Mart in Peterborough, ON. .10- No bagged milk .I cannot locate bagged milk in any Calgary grocery store. .Torontonians who want to buy large quantities of milk need to purchase it in bags. Bagged milk requires people to place the bag in a holder and cut a hole to pour it out. .I was alarmed when I saw no bagged milk in Calgary grocery stores, as living in Toronto, my entire life has made me used to it. I have resorted to buying jugs of milk. . Illicit drugsIllicit drugs .9- Polite drug addicts .While the Western Standard’s team complains about how crazy the drug addicts are in Calgary, I find them to be more tame than the ones in Toronto. .Toronto’s drug addicts love to harass people. I remember being screamed at by a drug addict at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2017 because I would not talk to him. .Calgary’s drug addicts are pleasant, walking around stoned out of their minds without bothering people. One drug addict complimented me on my tie as I walked into work a few days ago. . LitterToronto residents could face a $500 fine if caught littering in beaches, parks. .8- Less litter .Calgary has minimal trash on its streets. .It is a common sight to see litter on Toronto’s streets. People love to throw their coffee cups and hamburger wrappers on the ground without thinking about the environment. .Maybe the occasional cigarette butt or piece of plastic can be found on Calgary's streets, but they are near immaculate. People care about how their city looks. . Smiling womanSmiling woman .7- Friendlier people .The people I have interacted with are hospitable. .I covered a rally for Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre in Toronto in April, and it was tough to find attendees to interview. Some of the people were dismissive when I asked to speak with them. .READ MORE: About 1,000 people attend Poilievre rally in Toronto.I went to a rally for Alberta United Conservative Party leadership candidate Danielle Smith in Calgary on July 14, and people came to me begging to be interviewed. These people loved to talk about their concerns. .READ MORE: Smith rally in Calgary attended by 250 people. Online datingOnline dating .6- Tough dating scene .While Calgary has all of these amazing features, I would be remiss to acknowledge my failures on Hinge. .I could not find a girlfriend on Hinge in Toronto, but I had conversations with girls. These conversations could go on for weeks. .I had one conversation with a girl on Hinge lasting longer than a week in Calgary, and she cancelled two dates on me. If you are reading this story and are a young, attractive female living in Calgary and looking for a boyfriend, please reach out. . TD BankTD Bank .5- No banking machines open after 8 p.m. .Downtown Calgary has a shortage of banking machines available late at night if people need to deposit cheques. .Toronto has an abundance of bank machines people can walk up to at any time of the day. People do not have to worry about having to wait until the next day to put money in their bank account. .I spent one evening scouring downtown Calgary for an open bank machine where I could deposit cheques, and I could not find any. I have located a bank machine open after 8 p.m. in Chinatown, but it is far from my place. . Calgary StampedeCalgary Stampede .4- Calgary goes crazy for the Calgary Stampede .My time in Calgary started when the Calgary Stampede was kicking off, and I saw more cowboy hats in one hour after landing than I did in my entire life. .Toronto has large festivals, but the city lacks spirit with them. The Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto’s Calgary Stampede, does not have an annual tradition the majority of the city abides by. .Many Calgarians dress business western during the Calgary Stampede. Almost every bar I passed had a western theme. . Voting stationVoting station .3- More civic engagement .I find Calgarians have a high political acumen. .Torontonians might be able to name their mayor and the premier, but they would struggle to guess their city councillor and MPP. People do not care about politics. .Calgarians can name their politicians and understand current issues such as the Alberta Sovereignty Act and a provincial police force. Western Standard publisher Derek Fildebrandt tells me Albertans love to take political action rather than complain and continue to elect "mediocre politicians" such as Ontario Premier Doug Ford. . Patricia RodeoPatricia Rodeo .2- Appreciation for small town events .Despite the Calgary Stampede being a major event, Calgarians love to find festivals to attend across Alberta. .Cities beyond Toronto have festivals, but people do not travel to them. Torontonians believe their city is the centre of the universe. .Calgarians go to small town events because of authenticity. Fildebrandt has been trying to cajole me into going to the Patricia Rodeo for a real Alberta experience, but I am going to decline because of my low alcohol tolerance. . staff-photoSome of the Western Standard staff in the Calgary office on Sept. 28, 2021 .1- The Western Standard matters .Calgarians understand the Western Standard will help to keep them informed. .Torontonians are unaware of the Western Standard’s existence. Despite 25% of the readership being in Ontario, people do not see its importance. .Calgarians know about the work I have done for the Western Standard and appreciate it, such as one lady who came to the UCP Frontrunners Debate and asked me about the family drag event I covered. People see the Western Standard as a place where they can learn about misreported perspectives. .READ MORE: WATCH: Calgary gay bar hosted family drag event.My time in Calgary will last for a while, and I have explored the city. Some of the highlights for me were attending the Calgary Stampede (and not having any alcohol), walking across the Peace Bridge, and going to Heritage Park. .There are activities I am hoping to complete in the next month or so. These activities include going to Nose Hill Park, attending the Canada Strong and Free Network Regional Conference, and hiking the Bow Falls Trail. .If you have any suggestions on other activities I should do, please email me at jbradley@westernstandard.news.
