Hold Up, Calgary! That 'Good News' Tweet Isn't About *Our* City

The Scene

Did you see that tweet from Flora Gillespie doing the rounds this morning? 'Good news for Calgary residents and businesses!' it chirped, alongside a photo. And like any proud Calgarian, your first thought was probably, 'Heck yeah, what now? Is Deerfoot finally getting a dedicated drone lane? Are we getting another Olympic bid?' Hold onto your cowboy hats, folks, because that 'good news' isn't for our Stampede City. It's for a charming little place called Calgary, on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Yes, there's another one, and apparently, they've had a bit of a connectivity headache.

What's Changing

For the folks living across the pond in Calgary, Mull, and on Tiree, 'good news' means something very specific: their crucial subsea fibre cable, linking them to the wider world, is finally getting fixed. This isn't some minor internet hiccup; we're talking about approximately 700 residents on Tiree alone, plus those in Calgary on Mull, who've been slogging it out for six weeks with a 'slow and capacity strained temporary satellite broadband link' courtesy of Starlink. All thanks to Storm Amy knocking out their digital lifeline, originally laid back in 2014 as part of the Digital Scotland contract. Imagine trying to run a business or even stream a Flames game on that! The repair work is expected to take up to 10 days, bringing much-needed relief.

The Neighborhood Vibe

While our Scottish namesake navigates undersea repairs, it's a good moment to reflect on just how different 'good news' looks right here in the heart of Alberta. We're not grappling with subsea cable breaks (unless you count the odd road construction cutting through a line on Macleod Trail). Instead, Calgary, Alberta, remains Canada's third-largest city and the fifth-largest metropolitan area, with our metro population estimated to hit a robust 1,688,000 in 2025, a steady 1.38% increase from last year. We're proudly situated at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, far from any stormy Celtic seas. Our city is recognized globally, too – in 2022, we were ranked the third most livable city in the world, topping both Canada and North America. We're also the undeniable administrative and financial headquarters of Canada's petroleum industry, a far cry from satellite internet struggles. And let's not forget, we were the first Canadian city to ever host the Olympic Winter Games back in '88. So, while their good news is about getting basic internet back, *our* good news is more often about growth, global recognition, and continuing to be an economic powerhouse.

Looking Ahead

So, next time a 'good news' headline pops up, especially from an X account you don't recognize, take a hot minute to check the geo-tag! Our city, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has its own unique set of challenges and triumphs, from navigating the complexities of urban growth in Ward 11 to ensuring our transit system keeps up with our expanding population. But rest assured, a broken subsea cable isn't usually one of them. For now, we'll wish our distant Scottish brethren speedy repairs and get back to tackling our *own* very Calgarian version of 'good news' – whatever big project or exciting development that might be next on the horizon!