Calgary is growing fast, and its rapid expansion prompts a reflection on an important question on identity: What defines a Calgarian? We asked Calgarians and U of C students both in person and digitally for their perspectives about what makes someone a Calgarian.
While some described being a Calgarian through community, others noted the city’s unique blend of urban and rural influences, its history and traditions.
“You become a Calgarian the first time you start saying ‘we’ instead of ‘they’ when talking about the city,” said Calgary mayor Jeromy Farkas in a Reddit discussion asking what makes someone a Calgarian.
The idea of belonging beyond birthplace was reflected by many people interviewed by the Gauntlet.
Taylor, a recent U of C graduate who is not originally from Calgary, said the title of being a Calgarian symbolizes a strong sense of connection.
“I find that friendly faces are everywhere and there’s always someone willing to have a chat or open a door,” said Taylor. “Calgarian is a word synonymous with community and brings me a lot of comfort!”
Like Taylor, many residents in Calgary were not originally born here. Calgary’s population has increasingly been composed of people born elsewhere who moved into the city.
Calgary’s changing identity
According to the 2021 Census, 33.3 per cent of Calgary’s population (approximately 430,000 people out of 1,291,770) were born outside of Canada. Six out of 10 Calgary residents in 2021 were either first- or second-generation immigrants, meaning the majority of Calgarians were born elsewhere.
For Aldona Barutowicz, a Calgarian originally from Poland who previously lived in Italy before moving to Canada, she exclaimed that diversity is part of what defines Calgary.
“I don’t think anything defines a Calgarian,” said Aldona. “I feel like Calgary’s one of those cities [... where] there’s opportunity to do what you want, be who you are and I think for me, it’s all about celebrating my individual self, as well as other people.”
Aldona said Calgary’s identity comes from allowing people to express themselves individually. Through her work as a personal stylist and her former “Street Style YYC” column, she highlighted the different ways Calgarians present themselves.
“I think we should stay out of the box and be ourselves, no matter where we live,” she said.
While some pointed to who we are, other respondents pointed to geography.
Kael, a current U of C student, described Calgary as a city shaped by its location between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.
“Being a Calgarian to me means being [part] of one [of] the most unique urban areas in all of Canada,” said Kael.
“Calgary is divided between its urban roots [...] like the CTrain and the busyness of city life, while also having a rural feel being so close to nature and events like the Stampede,” stated Kael. “To me, being a Calgarian is wearing a cowboy hat to your office job. Nothing represents the duality of Calgary more than that.”
A visitor from Vancouver, Synthia, also noted the Stampede while describing Calgarians.
“Right now, it’s cowboy hats [and] cowboy boots,” said Synthia. “Everyone’s just in a super chill, happy mood right now.”
However, some respondents questioned whether Calgary still has a unique identity as the city continues to expand.
One longtime resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said Calgary’s identity has changed over the decades.
“I don’t think there really is a definition of a Calgarian anymore,” they said. “Some time ago, it still had a lot of rural roots. Everybody pretty much had, at some point, ridden a horse, even if it was a rental horse. And now hardly anybody’s got any of that kind of background, so I think it’s just another big city.”
Another longtime resident described Calgarians by their entrepreneurship, highlighting the innovative workers in the oil and gas industry.
Others described the Calgarian identity less through industries or traditions, and more through personal qualities.
“[Calgarians are] super kind and they have a lot of grit,” said one born-and-raised Calgarian.
“[Calgarians are] really welcoming and friendly,” said Flora, another born-and-raised resident.
For Hunter, a longtime Calgary resident and U of C alumnus who recently moved to Victoria, B.C., being a Calgarian is closely tied to responsibility toward the Indigenous communities that existed long before the city itself.
“Being a good Calgarian means to stand with the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) and Tsuut’ina Nations to uphold, respect and honour the spirit and intent of Treaty 7,” said Hunter.
According to provincial data, Calgary’s population increased from approximately 1,356,000 to 1,613,000 between 2021 to 2025, up by nearly 20 per cent within five years. As the city continues to grow, how someone defines being a Calgarian remains varied. For some, it is a connection to the city’s history and traditions. For others, it is the community.
Across these diverse perspectives, many Calgarians shared a similar idea: Being a Calgarian is less about where someone is born and more about how they participate in the city they call home.
