Moving to Calgary in May

Moving to Calgary in May

Codino10

#1Feb 26th, 2011

Hi,

I have been living on Montreal for the last two and a half years and now I feel it's time for a change.

My colleagues and friends have always told me to try living in an anglophone city such as Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary, because it might be easier to find a job there with no "bilingual barrier" (my English is way better than my French) and with better wages. After doing some research, I believe that Calgary might be the best choice among them.

Luckily, I have been working here for the last two years as a Business Analyst; I have a Bachelors' Degree in Business (from a foreign university) and speak Spanish (native), English (quite well) and French (decent). At the begining I had a little hard time with the winter here but now I almost got used to it, so I believe I could do well in Calgary (even though it's colder).

Web research could be somehow "cold", that's why I would like to get information from someone who is currently living there (or had lived) about the city and the opportunities that it may offer to a single guy like me regarding: job opportunities, housing, cost of living, education (planning to study an MBA), culture, weather, etc.

Please any comment or help that you could give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Codino

gerryh

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Feb 26th, 2011

MJ1

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 4th, 2011

Hi there Codino,

I used to live in Calgary, before moving to England for 18 years. I have always loved Calgary very much, and have always remained fond of it even during my time living in Europe. I think Calgary has a lot to offer as a city. I am currently living in Winnipeg, but looking to relocate to Calgary in the next few months. As someone who currently lives in Winnipeg, I can tell you, Calgary is so much more vibrant, young, clean and modern with much to offer culturally and socially. I myself have returned to college part time, and am looking to relocate my current credits to Calgary University, which I am able to do. I really cannot wait to return there to live. Calgary has a much younger feel to it, with so many culturally-different restaurants, international-brand stores to shop at and is a beautiful looking city, with excellent outdoor facilities too. And if you want to save a bit on rent and don't mind commuting the 15 minutes to Calgary, Cochrane is a lovely town to live in too. Hope that helps! Anything else you would like to know, let me know!

Durry

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 4th, 2011

To get a decent job in Calgary, a bachelors business degree is not enough.
As a minimum you need an MBA and better yet combine with an Eng. Degree.

The same is true for Vancouver.
Many easterners who come out west usually do not last very long. They usually go back home.
The competition is very keen in the west and you gotta be really good to survive.

Benny_Ted

-1

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 8th, 2011

Hi Codino,

So my advice (worth perhaps what you paid for it) I wouldn't say it's quite as cutthroat as Durry makes it to be but if you're in the investment industry, my experiences (I worked for a couple of small houses) is that they really do not pay well. But things might have changed in the last two years. Lonely planet classifies Calgary as "a city full of charmless suburbs." which is 100% correct. Try your hardest to afford living downtown as there you will find the culture (don't believe the hype, their is culture) that you mentioned. Schooling is expensive as I don't believe Mount Roayal University has an MBA so that leaves U of C and online via Athabasca or similar. The winter sucks, plain and simple. The Chinooks are a nice break but they did not seem to happen this year. Hope it helps!

JLM

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 8th, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Codino10

Hi,

I have been living on Montreal for the last two and a half years and now I feel it's time for a change.

My colleagues and friends have always told me to try living in an anglophone city such as Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary, because it might be easier to find a job there with no "bilingual barrier" (my English is way better than my French) and with better wages. After doing some research, I believe that Calgary might be the best choice among them.

Luckily, I have been working here for the last two years as a Business Analyst; I have a Bachelors' Degree in Business (from a foreign university) and speak Spanish (native), English (quite well) and French (decent). At the begining I had a little hard time with the winter here but now I almost got used to it, so I believe I could do well in Calgary (even though it's colder).

Web research could be somehow "cold", that's why I would like to get information from someone who is currently living there (or had lived) about the city and the opportunities that it may offer to a single guy like me regarding: job opportunities, housing, cost of living, education (planning to study an MBA), culture, weather, etc.

Please any comment or help that you could give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Codino

I guess if a person HAS to live in a big city Calgary is about as good as it gets. Reasonable weather (most of the time) fairly easy to drive around in (just keep an eye peeled for idiots who will not yield) Lots of recreational facilities, like walking and bike paths.

JLM

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 8th, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

To get a decent job in Calgary, a bachelors business degree is not enough.
As a minimum you need an MBA and better yet combine with an Eng. Degree.

The same is true for Vancouver.
Many easterners who come out west usually do not last very long. They usually go back home.
The competition is very keen in the west and you gotta be really good to survive.

To the best of my knowledge they are still hiring janitors, electricians, roofers, mechanics there.

Durry

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 8th, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by JLM

To the best of my knowledge they are still hiring janitors, electricians, roofers, mechanics there.

Yeah but westerners get priority for these jobs !!

gerryh

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 8th, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

Yeah but westerners get priority for these jobs !!

JLM

#10

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 8th, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

Yeah but westerners get priority for these jobs !!

I'm pretty sure if you are twice as good and three times as fast you'll have no problem getting the job.

gerryh

#11

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 8th, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by JLM

I'm pretty sure if you are twice as good and three times as fast you'll have no problem getting the job.

which really isn't that hard to do considering what the local talent is like.

Codino10

#12

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 19th, 2011

Thanks a lot for all the replies, they help me to get a finer picture of the city...

Quote: Originally Posted by MJ1

Hi there Codino,

I really cannot wait to return there to live. Calgary has a much younger feel to it, with so many culturally-different restaurants, international-brand stores to shop at and is a beautiful looking city, with excellent outdoor facilities too. And if you want to save a bit on rent and don't mind commuting the 15 minutes to Calgary, Cochrane is a lovely town to live in too. Hope that helps! Anything else you would like to know, let me know!

MJ1, I like your enthusiasm; I might choose Cochrane....sounds like a nice place to live in.

Quote: Originally Posted by Benny_Ted

Hi Codino,

Try your hardest to afford living downtown as there you will find the culture (don't believe the hype, their is culture) that you mentioned. Schooling is expensive as I don't believe Mount Roayal University has an MBA so that leaves U of C and online via Athabasca or similar. The winter sucks, plain and simple. The Chinooks are a nice break but they did not seem to happen this year. Hope it helps!

A worthy reply for sure....I do not believe the hype; every city has its culture.....; downtown would be nice, yet expensive for me now...

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

To get a decent job in Calgary, a bachelors business degree is not enough.
As a minimum you need an MBA and better yet combine with an Eng. Degree.

The same is true for Vancouver.
Many easterners who come out west usually do not last very long. They usually go back home.
The competition is very keen in the west and you gotta be really good to survive.

Thanks Durry; but not quite sure about what a "decent job" means for you..

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

Yeah but westerners get priority for these jobs !!

same happens here in MTL...so I guess it is part of the game...

Quote: Originally Posted by JLM

I'm pretty sure if you are twice as good and three times as fast you'll have no problem getting the job.

I believe I am very good...

Quote: Originally Posted by gerryh

which really isn't that hard to do considering what the local talent is like.

again, same situation here in MTL....

Just one additional question if I may; I read something about Calgary been "Redneck"...is it true?

Thanks.

Ron in Regina

#13

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 19th, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Codino10

Just one additional question if I may; I read something about Calgary been "Redneck"...is it true?

Thanks.

Hmmm...depends on your definition of "Redneck" I guess. Mine is a positive thing.
How do "You" define "Redneck" so that your question can be answered?

Codino10

#14

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 19th, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Ron in Regina

Hmmm...depends on your definition of "Redneck" I guess. Mine is a positive thing.
How do "You" define "Redneck" so that your question can be answered?

I meant Redneck as in racist or intolerant (please no offense here, I am just asking).

In all honesty, I found this article "Calgary is no more redneck than all the rest", which triggered my attention.

The article explains that crime studies might be biased: (”But I'll bet you two gun racks and a half dozen gas-guzzling 4x4's with oversized tires that there's a flaw to the StatsCan methodology”); nevertheless, if the author says Calgary is no more redneck than others, it means that Calgary might be it, a little....

I hope this makes my question a bit more clear..

Ron in Regina

#15

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 19th, 2011

Well, gun racks are a thing of the past (storage & transport laws, etc....).
Racism & intolerance can be found anywhere, and an example of that is
your desire to move from where you currently are located. No offense
taken, as I asked the question for clarification.

To me, a "Redneck" is a resourceful blue-collar person who is proud of
their resourcefulness in making due with their lot in the pursuit of
happiness. On that note, there are "Rednecks" almost everywhere by my
definition.

4x4's are a fact of life in much of the West due to weather and climate and
employment nessesity. The company I work for hauls us around in three of
them....and we'd never make it to work much of the time without them. My
own personal vehicle isn't a 4x4, 'cuz it doesn't need to be.

Not all Rednecks are Camo wearing, Rottweiler owning, cigar smoking,
tattooed people who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty to earn a buck or
help a friend (or a stranger), I guess.....but if that's the stereo-type, you could
be in worse company. I'm a "Redneck" by my own definition, and as far as
the racism & intolerance thing goes, our family gatherings if viewed from the
outside, look like a gathering of folks from the U.N. when they let their hair
down.

Last edited by Ron in Regina; Mar 19th, 2011 at 01:00 PM..Reason: added last paragraph.

Durry

#16

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 19th, 2011

Don't worry about the "redneck" thing, Calgary is not much different than any of the western cities. It has over 1M people, so you can find pretty well whatever your looking for, redneck or whatever !!
The city is pretty well whatever you make it to be. For some it works for others it doesnt.

My experience with people from the east is they usually don't last very long in the west, but if you don't try, you'll never know !!

gerryh

#17 Top Rated Post

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Mar 19th, 2011

rednecks? Don't worry about em. The kind you are worried about are few and far between. Calgary is truly a multicultural city. Large thriving populations of eastern europeans, east Indians, Asian (Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean.....) Middle Easterners (Lebanese, etc.....).... Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Budhist, Jew.

justsaying

#18

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Codino10

Hi,

I have been living on Montreal for the last two and a half years and now I feel it's time for a change.

My colleagues and friends have always told me to try living in an anglophone city such as Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary, because it might be easier to find a job there with no "bilingual barrier" (my English is way better than my French) and with better wages. After doing some research, I believe that Calgary might be the best choice among them.

Luckily, I have been working here for the last two years as a Business Analyst; I have a Bachelors' Degree in Business (from a foreign university) and speak Spanish (native), English (quite well) and French (decent). At the begining I had a little hard time with the winter here but now I almost got used to it, so I believe I could do well in Calgary (even though it's colder).

Web research could be somehow "cold", that's why I would like to get information from someone who is currently living there (or had lived) about the city and the opportunities that it may offer to a single guy like me regarding: job opportunities, housing, cost of living, education (planning to study an MBA), culture, weather, etc.

Please any comment or help that you could give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Codino

There is a good page on Facebook called Moving to Calgary? that posts ongoing info about moving to Calgary. Check it out.

Spade

#19

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Montreal has better croissants, less-expensive housing, and a more people-friendly downtown; Calgary is close to better mountains.

Ron in Regina

#20

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Is Calgary (over all) colder than Montreal (I've never been to Montreal)?

Spade

#21

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Yes, because of altitude.

justsaying

#22

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Montreal has more humidity - Calgary is drier so most find the cold easier to handle. As well, Calgary has Chinooks - warm wind coming in over the mountains so there are more warm breaks throughout the winter. And no ice storms.

Durry

#23

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

It was + 12 C in Calgary today !!

JLM

#24

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

It was + 12 C in Calgary today !!

Not unusual for Cowtown!

damngrumpy

#25

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

The west is a very different place for easterners. The climate and job prospects are one thing
but the atmosphere is much different. I get to Calgary quite a bit as relatives live there. I have
lived off and on in Alberta over the years though, and it is a lot different than say, BC two different
worlds.
I think the best way to go there is with an open mind and try to fit in with the locals. If you are
hard working and determined you can fit in quickly, that is because Calgary is one of those
younger and modern cities.

DurkaDurka

#26

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

To get a decent job in Calgary, a bachelors business degree is not enough.
As a minimum you need an MBA and better yet combine with an Eng. Degree.

The same is true for Vancouver.
Many easterners who come out west usually do not last very long. They usually go back home.
The competition is very keen in the west and you gotta be really good to survive.

How did I miss out on this stupidity?

How's your Devry degree anyway?

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

Don't worry about the "redneck" thing, Calgary is not much different than any of the western cities. It has over 1M people, so you can find pretty well whatever your looking for, redneck or whatever !!
The city is pretty well whatever you make it to be. For some it works for others it doesnt.

My experience with people from the east is they usually don't last very long in the west, but if you don't try, you'll never know !!

Over 1 million people! Holy Fack, you're cultured dude. I'm going out on a limb here but I reckon you might have seen a black person once or twice in your sheltered life (besides the one's your mom bangs).

Tonington

#27

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by DurkaDurka

How did I miss out on this stupidity?

How's your Devry degree anyway?

Degree? He has a certificate...and a stamp on the back of his hand. There's probably some white coats looking for Durry as we speak.

DurkaDurka

#28

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonington

Degree? He has a certificate...and a stamp on the back of his hand. There's probably some white coats looking for Durry as we speak.

Durry is probably huffing Syncrudes profits as we speak, "Where's Durry", Ohh, he's huffing bitumen and banging a Fort Mac meth head..."

Spade

#29

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

Jan 29th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

Yeah but westerners get priority for these jobs !!

Nonsense.

MMP

#30

Re: Moving to Calgary in May

1 week ago

Quote: Originally Posted by Codino10

Hi,

I have been living on Montreal for the last two and a half years and now I feel it's time for a change.

My colleagues and friends have always told me to try living in an anglophone city such as Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary, because it might be easier to find a job there with no "bilingual barrier" (my English is way better than my French) and with better wages. After doing some research, I believe that Calgary might be the best choice among them.

Luckily, I have been working here for the last two years as a Business Analyst; I have a Bachelors' Degree in Business (from a foreign university) and speak Spanish (native), English (quite well) and French (decent). At the begining I had a little hard time with the winter here but now I almost got used to it, so I believe I could do well in Calgary (even though it's colder).

Web research could be somehow "cold", that's why I would like to get information from someone who is currently living there (or had lived) about the city and the opportunities that it may offer to a single guy like me regarding: job opportunities, housing, cost of living, education (planning to study an MBA), culture, weather, etc.

Please any comment or help that you could give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Codino

HelloCodino,

I found your post while searching for the same info you were trying to get from the forum one year ago. After four years living in Quebec (Gatineau and Montreal) I’m in the decision making process of leaving a full time job in Montreal to search for job and settlement in Calgary

Spanish is also my mother language, English and French quite good (would say acceptable to succeed in the job place and on the day to day life) I graduated as Mechanical Engineer back in my country of origin and completed a Diploma in Hotel Management. Here in Montreal, I obtained an AEC in Transportation and Logistics in 2011. In allI have over 15 years of combined experience, in Engineering, Management and Logistics but only one year of work in Canada…I would like to pursue my career in Logistics and Supply Chain and I`m planning to enrol one of the existing designations for Supply Chain (CITT OR PMAC).

I would really appreciate having your views, if you finally did the movement, about the job market and how do you see possibilities of integration for a single person in her forties there. Like you, I have been doing my online research and apparently there are plenty of opportunities and tools in place to facilitate the access to the job market but it is never the same reading as hearing from someone who has actually lived the transition. How has it been for you?

Thanks in advance for your comments, and of course comments from other users will be greatly appreciated as well!

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