Calgary 2013: A Year in Review

Highlights for Calgary in 2013: The Ups and One Down

Every year brings on new change and sometimes great challenges for individuals, families, and even entire cities! While you could say 2013 wasn’t the smoothest ride Calgary has had, what is for sure is that we have overcome and also have had much positive acclaim on a national and international basis.

Below is a year in review; some of the positive highlights for Calgary in 2013. Check them out, and please share with us your favourite moments of the year past!

#1 - Best City to Live and Raise a Family in Canada 2013 – MoneySense

Earlier in 2013, Calgary was named as the best place to live and raise a family in Canada by MoneySense Magazine.

More than 30 factors were used to determine the rankings including:

• Health care

• Crime rates

• Real estate prices

• Employment opportunity

• Traffic

• Household income

… to name a few. Considering that 200 different places in Canada were evaluated in the report, it is great to see that Calgary surpassed all others to be named as the best!

These findings reflect the positive outlook Calgary has in terms of jobs, income, and overall livability not only presently, but also in the years to come. Read more at Calgary Named Best Place to Live in Canada 2013.

#5 - Most Livable City in the World 2013 – Economist

While the rankings of MoneySense put Calgary at the top on a national level, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Livability Survey has a much larger scope – one that includes the entire world!

The EIU has named Calgary, Alberta as the 5th Most Livable City in the World for the 4th consecutive year in a row (2010 – 2013).

Some factors included in the report are similar to that of MoneySense such as:

• Quality and accessibility of public healthcare / education

• Infrastructure – public transportation, roads, housing, energy, water and so on

These are then rated on a 5 point scale from the best, “acceptable”, to the worst, “intolerable”.

The EIU analyzes these factors for 140 of the world’s top metropolitans and assign a total score out of 100. Calgary managed to accumulate a score of 96.6!

It is accolades like this that make Calgary a popular place to move to and live for people around the world. When these migrants come to Calgary they bring with them their skills, culture, traditions, and experiences which contribute immensely to the diversity and multicultural spirit that Calgary has become known for. See more at Calgary – Multicultural Capital of Canada today.

#7 - Highest Quality of Life 2013 – Numbeo 

Numbeo has found that the quality of living in Calgary is quite high – 7th out of 100 world cities surveyed in their Quality of Life Index. Based on tried experiments, Numbeo has developed a formula to evaluate the quality of life in any place.

One of the highest ranking factors in this equation is safety. A person should be able to be in public without fear of reprimand, or worse, having a crime committed against them, which is absolutely essential in experiencing a high quality of life.

Another important factor is pollution. If a place has high levels of pollution, then its environment will deteriorate and people will be exposed to more toxins; therefore, presumably, their health will also deteriorate. Learn more at Calgary Ranks 7th For Quality of Life 2013.

Pollution is just the thing that another reputed research institution has found Calgary to rank very well for…

#1 - Cleanest City on Earth 2013 – Mercer

Mercer Global Financial and HR Consulting named Calgary the cleanest city on Earth in 2013.

The study evaluates 5 factors including:

• Waste removal

• Traffic congestion

• Water drinkability and availability

• Sewage system quality

• Air pollution

As a matter of fact, Mercer has found Calgary to be one of the top three cleanest cities in the world for the past 5 consecutive years!

#9 -Top Economic Development 2013 – Martin Prosperity Institute

Calgary has placed 9th of 61 global cities for economic development by the University of Toronto`s Martin Prosperity Institute. Four main criteria are taken into account:

• Technology

• Talent

• Tolerance

• Quality

Calgary`s high ranking shows just how strong it`s economy is as it continues to provide quality jobs, attract skilled workers, and diversify its industrial profile outside of the energy industry in a city where according to Calgary Economic Development, approximately 12 percent of the world’s energy deals were done in 2012!

Learn more at Calgary Among Worlds Best for Economic Development 2013.

#17 - Top Financial Centre of the World 2013 – Z / Yen Group

If anything is an indicator as to how well Calgary’s economy is performing, it is being named as the 17th top financial centre of the world in 2013 by London based firm Z / Yen Group’s Global Financial Centre Index.

According to the Z / Yen, this success can largely be attributed to the booming energy industry that has resulted in considerable growth of financial services in Calgary.

To formulate the GFCI rankings, Z / Yen draws on over 50 other external indexes and compiles this information into one ultimate report. Hence, the GFCI is a very prestigious list and it is recognition like this that is instrumental in attracting skilled professionals and investments from around the world. See more at Calgary 17th Top Global Financial Centre 2013 today.

Calgary Stampede Was a Go 

The previous year was not without its challenges. In late June of 2013, Calgary experienced some of the worst flooding in years that caused tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes and billions of dollars in damages.

After the flooding had passed, there was much work to do in affected neighbourhoods and this is when the community in Calgary showed its true colours. People from all over the city began donating their time and money to help with the clean-up, some even offering spare bedrooms in their homes to those in evacuation zones.

At first it was questionable if the Calgary Stampede would run in early July of 2013. However, countless hours put in by volunteers and city officials made the greatest outdoor show on Earth possible and therefore, the Calgary Stampede opened its gates on schedule. What an accomplishment!

It was just the thing that our city needed to lift our spirits when dealing with the aftermath of the flood. What was that saying?… Hell or High Water, I’m going to the Stampede!

A Year Ahead

If 2013 was any indicator of what is to come for Calgary in 2014, then we can fully expect to see even more national and international accolades and as residents, continue to enjoy all that our city has to offer.

A high quality of life, bountiful job opportunities, high income levels, close proximity to the mountains, enjoyable social scenes, and family oriented, friendly communities are but a few of the things that await anyone in the City of Calgary! See more great info at Calgary Facts and Infographics.

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We would love to hear what your favourite moments of 2013 were. Please leave us a comment below!

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