Edmonton vs Calgary

[thatone]

Hi all, I am a 20 year old male from Quebec. I am fluent in both English and French (written and verbal), but my mother tongue is English. I am considering moving out to Alberta because I have heard there are many job opportunities and it's a great place to live. Here are two issues I will get out of the way right away:

1. I love the cold, and actually prefer outdoors when it's cold cause I play hockey (so the issue of Edmonton being colder doesn't bother me).

2. I am very conservative minded (so I heard Calgary is too, or is Edmonton very conservative compared to the rest of Eastern Canada)? This plays a big role because I am highly against stuff like gay marriage, abortions ect ect (typical conservative issues).

3. I am looking for a city or town (if I had to move out of the city) that is less multicultural.

4. I have worked night shifts before (but moving boxes and such for 11$ an hour isn't that motivating), so I am OK with working night shifts, if it's compensated the right way (in other words, not 2$ over min. wage)

Basically, my goal like many other stories I have read around here and the internet, is to make a lot of money. If I like it out there, I wouldn't mind settling down there simply because it's very conservative compared to where I live (cannot stand the people here), and of course I would like the place / employment.

I heard trades are the way in Alberta, but Calgary has all the head offices.I am interested in a lot of money (100k+), and I am willing to put the hours in, as well as the training necessary (but I want to know I am going to make that salary, even if it's in a few years, unlike going to university to hope you get hired). Please note I am a 2nd year university student at York University majoring in Political Science.

My question to you readers, is what would be the most efficient way to make a lot of money out there, in the shortest amount of time (possibly getting some formal training in school through an apprenticeship).

Sorry if this is a little long for the average post, I am just confused about my future..and I want to get some information on perspective jobs / which city would suit my personality better.

 

[Goober]

Hi all, I am a 20 year old male from Quebec. I am fluent in both English and French (written and verbal), but my mother tongue is English. I am considering moving out to Alberta because I have heard there are many job opportunities and it's a great place to live. Here are two issues I will get out of the way right away:

1. I love the cold, and actually prefer outdoors when it's cold cause I play hockey (so the issue of Edmonton being colder doesn't bother me).

2. I am very conservative minded (so I heard Calgary is too, or is Edmonton very conservative compared to the rest of Eastern Canada)? This plays a big role because I am highly against stuff like gay marriage, abortions ect ect (typical conservative issues).

3. I am looking for a city or town (if I had to move out of the city) that is less multicultural.

4. I have worked night shifts before (but moving boxes and such for 11$ an hour isn't that motivating), so I am OK with working night shifts, if it's compensated the right way (in other words, not 2$ over min. wage)

Basically, my goal like many other stories I have read around here and the internet, is to make a lot of money. If I like it out there, I wouldn't mind settling down there simply because it's very conservative compared to where I live (cannot stand the people here), and of course I would like the place / employment.

I heard trades are the way in Alberta, but Calgary has all the head offices.I am interested in a lot of money (100k+), and I am willing to put the hours in, as well as the training necessary (but I want to know I am going to make that salary, even if it's in a few years, unlike going to university to hope you get hired). Please note I am a 2nd year university student at York University majoring in Political Science.

My question to you readers, is what would be the most efficient way to make a lot of money out there, in the shortest amount of time (possibly getting some formal training in school through an apprenticeship).

Sorry if this is a little long for the average post, I am just confused about my future..and I want to get some information on perspective jobs / which city would suit my personality better.

Do you have any skills and being conservative is not a skill?

 

[thatone]

Do you have any skills and being conservative is not a skill?

Any skills, besides being somewhat educated, nope. No first aid..no trades..certificates (but more then willing to obtain them / work towards them). I started university when I was 18..got into a BA Honours program..now I am reconsidering. I stated that I was a conservative, because I would tend to lean to that city more then the other (I am trying to find a place I would fit into), but try to leave politics out of this thread besides the fact that (this place is more right/left leaning then the other)..or (if true, Edmonton is more left leaning then Calgary, but much more right wing then Montreal/Toronto).

 

[snobeach]

IMO your focus on the politics out west should be the least of your concerns. Goober is giving you a hint, you need working skills, no matter what city/town you decide to go to.

Just curious, considering you are mid way through a poli sci degree is this part of a research paper?

No matter, there's work out west. Will you make $100K quickly? Probably not. If you're serious about busting your hump and you don't want to stay in school for now, get into an apprenticeship program and the work will be there.

 

[thatone]

Well, the problem is im not sure how "usefull" my degree will be towards my career in the future. I am only in university because I like being educated, and politics / government is my biggest interest..so that's why I am going for it. That being said, my degree will be completed by the end of summer 2011 (I am taking summer courses).

Will the opportunities out west be the same then as they are now (possibly better I am going to assume, since crude oil is pretty cheap now and we're in an economic downturn)?

Will having an Honours BA degree help me in some way shape or form in the future if I were to work in a trade related field?

I heard it takes 4 years of an apprenticeship program to make any real big money (I believe after that they're called Journeymen), is this true?

For the most part..I am worried that by the end of Summer 2011 the opportunities out west for the big paying oil jobs will not be as plentiful, and I might miss out. I don't need someone to make up my mind for me, I just need a little bit of a clarification on these few issues I arose, so it would help me envision my future a little better.

Thanks so much, and sorry if this post was a little lengthly

oh..this is not for a research paper, it's solely for my own purpose / interests

 

[snobeach]

You can't go wrong with education. The degree you obtain may not directly relate to the field you end up in but it will put you ahead of someone without one.

Oil and gas seems to be your interest or focus, rather than thinking big oil, think environmental impact. This is a growing market with little slow down in sight. BTW this is not an endorsement of pro or anti-oil.

A journeyman ticket as I understand it is 4 years. Classroom and onsite. I'll leave the details or correction if this information is inaccurate to any resident journey people here.

 

[Machjo]

Be careful not to spend all that money going out west only to find it's not quite as conservative as you first thought, just going on stereotypes. I've lived in many parts of Canada, and have also visited a number of Albertan towns, including Calgary and Edmonton on a number of occasions, and I can't say that any place has ever felt particularly 'conservative' or 'liberal' in a political sense.

When I was in Alberta, I'd seen binge drinkers, party animals, womanizers and ****s. And no, people don't talk much about politics or gays or this or that on the streets. For the most part, in normal daily conversation, politics is not much discussed. For the most part, it only shows up at the polls.

Also, what matters more is your circle of friends. At work, you're not likely to be talking politics much. When you go to the shop to buy something, you'll be discussing the thing, not politics. Now if you're particularly political, you'll likely attract some politically conservative friends. But that will likely happen even in the most liberal or even socialist of towns anyway.

So don't count on your move to be a radical shift in lifestyle on the political front, or you'll be sorely disappointed.

 

[Machjo]

Now if you're planning to move out to Alberta to enter the field of politics professionally, then that's a whole different ballgame. Without a doubt you'll stand a better chance of getting elected there than here.

 

[thatone]

Now if you're planning to move out to Alberta to enter the field of politics professionally, then that's a whole different ballgame. Without a doubt you'll stand a better chance of getting elected there than here.

lol..silly question but..are you saying that because of my political orientation or more job opportunities in politics as well out west (lol)

I am going to assume it's the first one, but it's hard to tell what people mean through the internet

I am interested in politics possibly later on, but at this point (my 20's) I want to make money, and I am more then willing to put in hours (I have worked jobs with 10/12 hour shifts before, albeit they weren't probably as rigorous as the "jobs" out in Alberta)..and the effort to do so.

The funny thing is..I love the landscape of Alberta, my moms best friend lives out there and I have only heard great things..plus..I am a huge Oilers fan. Speaking of that..I will post a picture of my SUV that's getting painted Oiler colors soon, when im done the body work on it..which should be no more then a week or two. I want to stay in Canada, and from all the places I have heard of / seen (even in pictures), Alberta seems to be where I would fit in best (highly influenced by their right wing political nature). But if anyone can help me with a few of those original questions..that would be amazing.

 

[Machjo]

lol..silly question but..are you saying that because of my political orientation or more job opportunities in politics as well out west (lol)

In the long-run, possibly. But beyond that, as I've mentioned above, political leanings of the locals won't affect your life much except through government policy.

But certainly if you have other reasons, like your aunt, etc. and the landscape, etc. ineed Alberta is a beautiful province.

I can't really help you with the practical details of your move, but was simply saying that I hope it's more than just political leanings otherwise you'll be disappointed unless you're planning on politics as a career.

But from your post above, you do have other reasons, so good luck to you.

 

[thatone]

In the long-run, possibly. But beyond that, as I've mentioned above, political leanings of the locals won't affect your life much except through government policy.

But certainly if you have other reasons, like your aunt, etc. and the landscape, etc. ineed Alberta is a beautiful province.

I can't really help you with the practical details of your move, but was simply saying that I hope it's more than just political leanings otherwise you'll be disappointed unless you're planning on politics as a career.

But from your post above, you do have other reasons, so good luck to you.

I am interested in going into politics later on in my life if the opportunity arose. It's not just politics, but I would be a fool to say that it doesn't have an influence on me. I live in a province where nearly 50% of the people want to separate into a new country, and the Bloc reign over all..so yes I have been influenced to these sort of political things my whole life, and it's going to play a pivotal role in where I am going to move next (Toronto isn't all that it's made out to be).

But yes, it's a collaboration of many factors that have lead me to choose Alberta over other places in Canada. Politics being one of them, but I am more interested in getting informed mostly on the prospective job opportunities and the job markets. I understand living around a bunch of people who show every few years to enter a vote for the conservative party won't change my life completely.

 

[edmonton_leo]

Edmonton vs. Calgary

If you want to find out more about Edmonton, the city recently launched a website called Edmonton Stories. It gives a pretty good insider's view of the city from its citizens.