Alberta, Canada

[Polish_Kris]

Hello,

I noticed that there are a few Albertans on this board... My girlfriend and I are strongly considering on moving from this craphole we call Toronto to either Calgary or Edmonton... This, for the reason of the booming economy, plentiful jobs, and a more comfotable, slower-paced lifestyle... If there is anyone who lives in Alberta, break the ice and reveal if the rumours are true, that life is so great, that kids at Tim Horton's make 14/hr in Calgary and Edmonton, and if it is better for a young couple to head out there, and to where? Calgary or Edmonton?

Thanks...

[trinacriabob]

The Albertans need to answer this for you but I have spent 3 days in both Calgary and Edmonton on vacation....I have been to Vancouver at least 50 times.

I think I would pick Calgary...Edmonton's inner core seems a little bleak compared to Calgary's and Calgary is closer to the Rockies which I think you can sometimes see from the city. Calgary seems to be a little bit more scenic and more modern. The people seemed to be very nice in both places. I know both are cold (colder than Toronto) but that Edmonton would be REALLY cold since it's further north. Then again, make the trip and decide for yourself.

Don't even think about Vancouver. It has gotten so expensive and it is NOT multi-cultural like a Toronto where everyone is well-represented.

Why do you want to leave T.O. anyway? I like Toronto. If I had to live in Canada, I think I would take Montreal.

Edited September 7, 2006 by trinacriabob

[Polish_Kris]

The Albertans need to answer this for you but I have spent 3 days in both Calgary and Edmonton on vacation....I have been to Vancouver at least 50 times.

I think I would pick Calgary...Edmonton's inner core seems a little bleak compared to Calgary's and Calgary is closer to the Rockies which I think you can sometimes see from the city.  Calgary seems to be a little bit more scenic and more modern.  The people seemed to be very nice in both places.  I know both are cold (colder than Toronto) but that Edmonton would be REALLY cold since it's further north.  Then again, make the trip and decide for yourself.

Don't even think about Vancouver.  It has gotten so expensive and it is NOT multi-cultural like a Toronto where everyone is well-represented.

Why do you want to leave T.O. anyway?  I live Toronto.  If I had to live in Canada, I think I would take Montreal.

190588[/snapback]

I would take Quebec City, but I'm not fluent in French... plus Toronto has gotten too expensive and not to get political... it's gotten too liberal... too much political correctness if you know what I mean...

[Cremazie]

Well, there is plenty of work here, the wages are good. I don't know how much you can make at Tim horton's but I do know that Electricans make $13 more an hour than we do in the east. If I were to move here (Edmonton or Calgary) I would just fly up and see what it is like for myself. Calgary is closer to the mountains and Chinooks make the winter feel less frigid, the city core is clean. Edmonton is surrounded by forest (makes it seem like a smaller city than it is), has a longer frost free period(lower elevation), less of a chance of freak snowfalls, and the Mall.

If you are moving here for work and you know what you want to do it's an easy choice: Edmonton is booming in Refining, Industrial fabrication yards housing construction and the biomedical industry. Calgary is booming in Office jobs, (specifically Oil Companys) service industry, Office and housing construction.

Housing prices in Edmonton are approx $100,000 less than Calgary while Edmonton rents start at $600 and $800 for Calgary.

Edited September 7, 2006 by Cremazie

[Guest YellowJacket894]

If I move out of the U.S., I'll go to Edmonton just so I can ice skate in the big motherf@#kin mall there.

[Polish_Kris]

So you're saying it's pretty much the same... except it just depends which city we feel more comfotable at? I like the fact that Alberta has privatized liquor stores, the only province in the country to do that... in terms of car insurance, I heard it's very cheap, because it is controlled by the government, is that true? Oh yes, and the mall lol

[trinacriabob]

I'll go to Edmonton just so I can ice skate in the big motherf@#kin mall there.

190668[/snapback]

GAWD, the Mall is not the reason to move to Edmonton...or any city for that matter. It was big, but not that special....there were most of the run of the mill stores whose names you are familiar with in there.

One thing, Polish Kris, is that the West is not very ethnic. This holds true for the US, as well. Leaving Philadelphia, NYC or Boston and going to Denver or even SF and LA means you lose a lot of ethnic flavor. Every Italian, Greek or Jew that moves from the East Coast to California comments on this. I think the same is true in Canada. Toronto and Montreal are ultra-ethnic while I did not pick up on this in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Again, the East to West difference.

Yeah, the political correctness ... you have to accept and tolerate everybody and all their BS...only to a point. As one friend says: "God loves you, doesn't mean I have to."

Good luck with your decision.

Edited September 7, 2006 by trinacriabob

[Guest YellowJacket894]

GAWD, the Mall is not the reason to move to Edmonton...or any city for that matter.  It was big, but not that special....there were most of the run of the mill stores whose names you are familiar with in there.

Hey. I was just having a bit of fun. . .

[FAPTurbo]

Don't even think about Vancouver "..." it is NOT multi-cultural like a Toronto where everyone is well-represented.

190588[/snapback]

Ever been to Richmond :AH-HA_wink: ?

Edited September 8, 2006 by Captainbooyah

[cmattson]

I've been to Montreal and to Winnipeg (sorry to bring another city into this).

I really like Winnipeg.. it was big w/o being huge.. I nice small-to-middle sized city. People were friendly, etc.

Montreal is cool in it's own ways. It's a very old city -- lots of history -- which I find enjoyable. The city has a huge underground shopping complex that's linked together by a subway system. I was there in the winter (and stayed a block away from the new Forum -- but unfortunately for me, it was all-star break and there was no hockey over the 3 days I was there). I seem to remember that they had a fairly large casino as well..

[NOS2006]

Ever been to Richmond  :AH-HA_wink: ?

190796[/snapback]

Hell, I have a job in Richmond. :AH-HA_wink:

[trinacriabob]

Ever been to Richmond  :AH-HA_wink: ?

190796[/snapback]

Yeah...driving through it on 99..."Island City by Nature"....I was in Vancouver just this last weekend.

Richmond has 2 ethnic groups, from what I can see....and that's it!

[Polish_Kris]

GAWD, the Mall is not the reason to move to Edmonton...or any city for that matter.  It was big, but not that special....there were most of the run of the mill stores whose names you are familiar with in there.

One thing, Polish Kris, is that the West is not very ethnic.  This holds true for the US, as well.  Leaving Philadelphia, NYC or Boston and going to Denver or even SF and LA means you lose a lot of ethnic flavor.  Every Italian, Greek or Jew that moves from the East Coast to California comments on this.  I think the same is true in Canada.  Toronto and Montreal are ultra-ethnic while I did not pick up on this in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.  Again, the East to West difference.

Yeah, the political correctness ... you have to accept and tolerate everybody and all their BS...only to a point.  As one friend says:  "God loves you, doesn't mean I have to." 

Good luck with your decision.

190704[/snapback]

Ya thanks... I'm actually more in favour of getting away from this multi-culturalism... eventhough I have a Polish background... I was raised here since i was 4, so you can call me pretty much a Canadian with dual citizenships... Toronto itself is becoming a communist, policed state... the anti-smoking laws... the RIDE programs... and now they want to create a noise by-law, which will restrict citizens from making noise in their homes that could be heard on the outside... next thing you know... no breathing allowed, the next by-law... whoever lives in Toronto will understand what I'm talking about when I say communist state of Toronto (or Ontario for that matter)...

[frogger]

I for one love the anti-smoking laws and have no problems with the RIDE program (what could possibly be wrong with catching a few drunk drivers/stupid people).

Alberta is the most socially and religiously conservative province in Canada so if thats what you are looking for...

[Cremazie]

So you're saying it's pretty much the same... except it just depends which city we feel more comfotable at?  I like the fact that Alberta has privatized liquor stores, the only province in the country to do that... in terms of car insurance, I heard it's very cheap, because it is controlled by the government, is that true?  Oh yes, and the mall lol

190700[/snapback]

Car insurance is not run by the province, it is all free enterprise.. like everything here. If Ralphy had his was we would pay no tax and pay for everything as we use it.

[Polish_Kris]

Car insurance is not run by the province, it is all free enterprise.. like everything here. If Ralphy had his was we would pay no tax and pay for everything as we use it.

190950[/snapback]

But car insurance is way cheaper than what we pay here in Ontario???

[Polish_Kris]

I for one love the anti-smoking laws and have no problems with the RIDE program (what could possibly be wrong with catching a few drunk drivers/stupid people). 

Alberta is the most socially and religiously conservative province in Canada so if thats what you are looking for...

190899[/snapback]

Hey, as long as no Liberals get into power, than it will be a good place to live...

[the_yellow_dart]

Ya thanks... I'm actually more in favour of getting away from this multi-culturalism... eventhough I have a Polish background... I was raised here since i was 4, so you can call me pretty much a Canadian with dual citizenships... Toronto itself is becoming a communist, policed state...  the anti-smoking laws... the RIDE programs... and now they want to create a noise by-law, which will restrict citizens from making noise in their homes that could be heard on the outside... next thing you know... no breathing allowed, the next by-law... whoever lives in Toronto will understand what I'm talking about when I say communist state of Toronto (or Ontario for that matter)...

190876[/snapback]

Are you serious?

Toronto is definately more lawless than the little town I grew up in (Brantford, Ontario).

The smoking by-law is Ontario-wide, and FAR overdue, IMO.

I love Toronto, now that I'm used to it. Communist state? Get over yourself.

[frogger]

If Ontario is a communist state, Alberta is one big rodeo filled with cowboys, non-cowboys stay out! Especially out of nightclubs.

http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/52178/...ry_Alberta.html

Edited September 8, 2006 by frogger

[Polish_Kris]

If Ontario is a communist state, Alberta is one big rodeo filled with cowboys, non-cowboys stay out!  Especially out of nightclubs.

http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/52178/...ry_Alberta.html

191090[/snapback]

Ya, that is pretty bad... Black people are once again getting a bad rep amongst conservative white people thanks to dangerous looking rappers like 50 cent and his G-Unit posse, talking about guns, gangs, and easy women... Out west, they still havnt become acustomed to multi-culturalism like I have here in Toronto... to me if you are white, black, asian, indian, w/e, you will still get the same amount o respect... if I saw those guys waiting in line, at a Calgary club, I would tell the bouncer they're with me, I wonder if they would let us in... oh, one other thing, the problem that is beginning with Toronto now is, that I, the white male, am the minority now... Basically everything has flipped upsidedown, where we the majorities are now the minorities... It's pretty sad that I'm driving down in Mississauga and I see a billboard on a bus: "Peel Regional Police... We are hiring"... Funny 'cause they have a picture of an Asian male, a Black Male, a white Woman, and an Indian guy, but no White Male... what the hell??? I can tell they are not looking for people like me... who is discriminating who now???

Same when you walk into Pearson Airport, there is not even one white person working there, my dad is probably the only one, and he got in probably, because he has an accent... oh no... but I can't say anything about that, or complain... otherwise I'm racist and not "Politically Correct"... that is one of my biggest pet-peeves I have with Toronto, or Southern Ontario for that matter...

Anyways... sorry about the rant...

[Guest YellowJacket894]

Ever been to Richmond  :AH-HA_wink: ?

190796[/snapback]

Yeah, I've been to Richmond. . .

. . .Kentucky.

[mr.nice]

I'm fairly biased, born and raised in Calgary, so I've lived here for 30 years.

Its nice to be in the middle of the moutains sitting by a lake in less then an hour.

Down to the US in about 5 or less.

Drive out to Seattle/Vancouver in less then 12 hours.

Had a great summer...winters are not bad..not the same amounts of snow as in Toronto, but it is colder...until the warm west wind comes in and bumps things up 15C.

Breifly, don't read a lot into that video. I am not saying racial sterotyping by some bars doesn't exsist, but the TV news went on a witch hunt too.

To be honest, the black and asian friends I have have no problem getting in to places like these, and many of their friends want nothing to do with the bars in question there, just due to the clientle there, and the music played.

And by no means should be the stigma of racism be assoicated with Edmonton of Calgary. There are virtaully no hate crimes (reported) in Calgary, a city of 1 million, every year. So its not Redneck Central like some associate with Western Canada (or the US) for the matter.

Best of luck in your decision.

[Camino LS6]

Interesting to be "south" of this debate. I'm not used to hearing stuff like this about Canada other than the Language Laws in Quebec. I have gotten an earful about that issue over the years.

[Polish_Kris]

I'm fairly biased, born and raised in Calgary, so I've lived here for 30 years.

Its nice to be in the middle of the moutains sitting by a lake in less then an hour.

Down to the US in about 5 or less.

Drive out to Seattle/Vancouver in less then 12 hours.

Had a great summer...winters are not bad..not the same amounts of snow as in Toronto, but it is colder...until the warm west wind comes in and bumps things up 15C.

Breifly, don't read a lot into that video. I am not saying racial sterotyping by some bars doesn't exsist, but the TV news went on a witch hunt too.

To be honest, the black and asian friends I have have no problem getting in to places like these, and many of their friends want nothing to do with the bars in question there, just due to the clientle there, and the music played.

And by no means should be the stigma of racism be assoicated with Edmonton of Calgary. There are virtaully no hate crimes (reported)  in Calgary, a city of 1 million, every year. So its not Redneck Central like some associate with Western Canada (or the US) for the matter.

Best of luck in your decision.

192608[/snapback]

Thanks,

My original queston was about the level of lifestyle in terms of wages and living expences... Is it true that as a student, you can make more money part-time than here in Ontario?

[I hope GMRULES again]

I've been reading nothing but great things about Alberta in the last few years. Wages are very good and there have been reports of people making $12-$13 an hour in service jobs because there is a shortage of workers. There was even a story this summer of a KFC that had to close because they couldn't find any workers. So yes it probably would be a better place for a student to find work.

My cousin just moved to Edmonton from Montreal and he admits that he is finding it tough to adjust. I know your not too fond of GM so you might what to consider that before moving to Alberta. That's the first thing he said to me after being there for a few months was how many GM and Ford trucks there are and how few econobox Hyundai/kia/Echos there are compared to Montreal. He said I would love it out there.

[frogger]

I'm fairly biased, born and raised in Calgary, so I've lived here for 30 years.

Had a great summer...winters are not bad..not the same amounts of snow as in Toronto, but it is colder...until the warm west wind comes in and bumps things up 15C.

192608[/snapback]

Actually Toronto doesn't get as much snow as Calgary

http://www.weatheroffice.pyr.ec.gc.ca/skyw...vities17_e.html

[I hope GMRULES again]

Actually Toronto doesn't get as much snow as Calgary

http://www.weatheroffice.pyr.ec.gc.ca/skyw...vities17_e.html

193481[/snapback]

True, Toronto is a lot hotter and humid (Bad) in the summer and gets less snow in winter. Actually its snowing today not far from Calgary and its only Sept. 15th. Supposed to get 20 CM.

[Polish_Kris]

I've been reading nothing but great things about Alberta in the last few years. Wages are very good and there have been reports of people making $12-$13 an hour in service jobs because there is a shortage of workers. There was even a story this summer of a KFC that had to close because they couldn't find any workers. So yes it probably would be a better place for a student to find work.

My cousin just moved to Edmonton from Montreal and he admits that he is finding it tough to adjust. I know your not too fond of GM so you might what to consider that before moving to Alberta.   That's the first thing he said to me after being there for a few months was how many GM and Ford trucks there are and how few econobox Hyundai/kia/Echos there are compared to Montreal. He said I would love it out there.

193478[/snapback]

Ok, I don't hate GM, I'm just not fond of what it's doing right now LoL, anyways, if you're saying there are allot of GM's and I'm sure Pontiacs, my girlfriend would love it... She loves Pontiacs... I get an Elise, and for her a Solsctice

And for everyday driving, a Vibe, the best of both worlds, Toyota engineering with Pontiac design... lol