This Calgary meme-maker has hilarious takes on his city
Meet the man behind the social media accounts @CalgaryMemes
On Monday, Gabe Ramsay posted a meme poking fun at the constant traffic and construction on Crowchild Trail, linking it to the trend of self-care.
His original post alone collected hundreds of comments and thousands of likes and shares.
Ramsay, who has lived in Calgary for 19 years, is the creative mind behind the comedic account Calgary Memes.
There, he creates content that pokes fun at the quirks, consistencies and stereotypes of the city and its inhabitants.
Calgary Memes has a platform on both Instagram and Facebook and was created in 2018. His Instagram has more than 10,000 followers and Facebook nearly 20,000 likes.
Ramsay says he does it for the fun — he has a full-time job after all — but decided to create the accounts after posting his jokes online and discovering people thought he was really funny.
"I love laughing and finding things on the Internet," said Ramsay in an email interview.
"I thought to myself, 'Hey, if people are enjoying these so much, I may as well give them a platform where they can find all my work in one place' — and that's how Calgary Memes was born."
He says he doesn't think Calgary is necessarily more funny than any other city but that is does have a lot to comment on.
His posts highlight Calgary's notoriously volatile weather and common traffic gripes. He also pokes fun at the rivalry between Edmonton and Calgary.
"I think you can find humour in every city; however, it is easier in the larger cities as there is a lot more going on and a lot more relevant things to discuss and make fun of," he said.
Ramsay says he gets his inspiration by paying attention to what's trending online, following other meme accounts and by just chilling out.
"[I get inspired] lying in bed at night thinking about my day and recapping any thoughts that made me laugh," said Ramsay.
"Occasionally there will be something relatable to the city and I'll turn on my computer, open up Photoshop and put a few minutes into making a meme, which will be posted the next morning."