At the time it was founded, Calgary had 34 residents. Currently, it has a population of about 1.5 million individuals and is the most populated city in the province.
Calgary is also the third most populated city in Canada, following Toronto and Montreal. The economy of the city of Calgary focuses on:
- Energy;
- Financial services;
- Film and television;
- Transportation and logistics;
- Technology;
- Manufacturing;
- Aerospace;
- Health and wellness;
- Retail; and
- Tourism.
The residents of Calgary are, on average, young. The average age of Calgary residents is 35.7 years of age.
Calgary was home to the highest number of millionaires per capita of any major Canadian city in 2015. Calgary was also the first city in Canada to host the Winter Olympic Games in 1988.
Calgary is also the sunniest major city in the country. It boasts over 2,300 hours of sunshine each year.
Calgary is known for its Calgary Stampede, an event that lasts 10 days each July. The Stampede is known as the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. During the Stampede, there is a rodeo where cowboys from different locations can showcase their talents.
Calgary is a very diverse city, as approximately one in three individuals who live there were born outside of Canada. Its population is made of numerous immigrants from outside of Canada, including significant communities of individuals from:
- The Philippines;
- India; and
- China.
There are over 120 languages spoken in the city of Calgary. Calgary also has numerous theaters and music venues for individuals who are interested in entertainment, including:
- The Jack Singer Concert Hall;
- The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra;
- Theatre Calgary;
- Alberta Theatre Projects; and
- Glenbow Museum.
The Glenbow Museum showcases artifacts from the past of both Alberta and Calgary. It is an art and history regional museum which focuses on Western Canadian culture and history.
The Glenbow Museum also includes:
- First Nations arts;
- Artifacts; and
- Other art exhibits.
The largest court facility in Canada is located in Calgary, called the Calgary Courts Centre. It includes over 1 million square feet of court space and office space.
There are also some quirky laws still on the books in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, including:
- It is illegal to keep a rat as a pet;
- It is unlawful to paint a portable ladder;
- It is illegal to throw snowballs without a permit;
- One cannot place their feet on a public bench; and
- It is unlawful to smell bad.
Additional Calgary, Alberta, Canada Law Information
For individuals who are seeking the top lawyers in Calgary, it is important to be familiar with the terminology and processes which may be different than those in the United States. Lawyers in Canada are known as barristers and solicitors.
It is important to note that the term attorney has a different meaning in Canada than in the United States. In Canada, attorneys are individuals appointed under powers of attorney.
The terms barrister and solicitor are used instead of the term attorney in the countries of:
- Canada;
- Australia; and
- The United Kingdom.
If a potential client who resides in Calgary, Alberta Canada is searching on LegalMatch for the best lawyers in Calgary or cheapest lawyers in Calgary, they can use the terms attorney and lawyer interchangeably because LegalMatch content is written by individuals with United States vocabularies.
In the United States, lawyer and attorney mean the same thing. Both terms refer to an individual in the legal profession in America and there is no distinction between an attorney who tries cases in court and one who does not.
In Alberta, there are three levels of court, including:
- The Provincial Court;
- The Court of Queen’s Bench, including the Surrogate Court; and
- The Court of Appeal of Alberta.
The Provincial Court in Alberta was established by the Provincial Court Act. The Provincial Court of Alberta has four divisions, including:
- The Civil Division;
- The Family Division;
- The Youth Division; and
- The Criminal Division.
The Civil Division handles civil claims up to an amount of $50,000. This court may also be referred to as the small claims court.
The Family Division and The Youth Division handle matrimonial law issues and cases involving young offenders. The Criminal Division handles criminal matters, as the name implies.
The superior trial court in Alberta is The Court of Queen’s Bench. This court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters. The Surrogate Division of this court handles all matters which involve wills and estates.
The highest court in Alberta is The Court of Appeal. This court is a court of appellate jurisdiction, which means that it hears only appeals from lower court decisions or tribunal court decisions. The Court of Appeal uses a three person panel when it hears an appeal.
Canada does not place restrictions on the types of law which a lawyer is permitted to practice. A lawyer in Calgary and other parts of Canada may appear in court and represent clients in court.
Lawyer’s fees are dealt with differently in Canada than they are in the United States. In the United States, the American Rule is used, where each party pays for their own costs of hiring a lawyer.
In contrast, the English Rule is used in Canada. According to this rule, the costs of a legal action are paid by the party that loses.
The party who wins at trial or on appeal can expect the other side to pay between fifty percent and ninety percent of their legal costs.
Locate Lawyers in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Calgary, Alberta, Canada Attorneys Quickly
Before you select your lawyer in Calgary, it is important to ensure that they have completed all of the necessary steps to become a properly licensed lawyer in Canada. There are three stages a lawyer must complete, including:
- 2 to 4 years in an undergraduate, or bachelor’s, degree program;
- 5 to 7 years of post-secondary study; and
- 1 year of apprenticeship, or articling.
During a prospective lawyer’s articling term, they must complete the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) which is a nine-month course that is administered by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED).
The PREP course consists of 4 phases where an individual will develop the competencies which are required to be admitted to the Bar as an entry-level lawyer in Calgary, Alberta.
An individual seeking to find a lawyer in Calgary, Alberta, Canada may use services such as LegalMatch. LegalMatch is a service that potential clients can use to obtain information about Calgary lawyers, including:
- Their educational information and experience;
- Fee information;
- Malpractice coverage; and
- Reviews from former clients.
A potential Canadian client can submit their case to LegalMatch at no cost and in a relatively short period of time, often as little as fifteen minutes. Within about 24 hours, they will be provided with information about lawyers who practice in areas of law related to their case.