Strong Calgary booster here though I'm originally from BC (~20 years ago). I was one of the economic migrants that caused the population to explode as were many (most?) of the people who moved here in that period. If you were voluntarily willing to pack-up and move across the country for work, demographically you were typically: young, educated and motivated (vs. historically it was desperate and motivated). Calgary still feels "small" for a million-plus people and very meritocratic. It has a neighbourly feel that is very Canadian-prairries, less than an hour to the mountains and not as cold as you might think (outside of February) due to chinooks.

If you're looking for exciting cities I'd stay away from almost ALL Canadian and US locations, but if you're looking for a big cities that supports a lifestyle that's not urba-based, Calgary is pretty great. Everything my family does is either walking distance or a very short drive (I live in the NW beltline) yet I'm very close to all the outdoor-centric activies I love.