Hey everyone, I'm 19 years old and me and my family live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We are moving to Calgary by the end of August and I'm really nervous about it. I think my Mom has all the wrong motives for moving to Calgary. She has this impression in her mind that Calgary is a small, quiet place to live with higher wages. My Dad made $22/hour here in Winnipeg as a mechanic and he has found a job in Calgary that pays $30/hour. My Dad is basically the one who will provide for us because my mom does not have a college degree/diploma to back her up. She keeps talking about money, money this, money that, "your dad will make more money in Calgary" but Calgary also higher living expenses. I recently visited my brother in Edmonton and I checked out some of the house prices when we went to Calgary, I told my Dad that a bungalow that would cost 150K here in Winnipeg would cost about 300K in Calgary. He didn't believe me, and told me that his friend bought a house there about 2 or 3 years ago for cheaper. That was 2 or 3 years ago, I know that prices have went up considerably. Also, my brother is the one who convinced my parents to move to Calgary. Keep in mind that he is a single 33 year old guy who loves the hype of big, metropolitan cities and is used to driving in traffic. My Dad gets extreme road rage here in Winnipeg, and we don't even have much of a rush hour traffic! He gets irritated when someone cuts him off or tailgates to the point that his blood pressure goes sky high. My Mom also complains when the mall here is too packed and says she can't breathe. My parents like the simple, quiet lifestyle that I don't think they will find much in Calgary now. They are also in their mid 50's and are retiring in about 10 years, they are also taking care of grandchildren who are 8 and 10 (they became legal gaurdians after my sister passed away) and are putting them in a private school in Calgary. Do you think my parents will like it in Calgary, or even last a year there? I haven't lived in Calgary, so I don't know what it's like. Do you think my Mom has the right impression of this peaceful small town with big opportunities?
Moving to Calgary (any opinions?)
- Thread starter nina
- Start date
Calgary is very red neck!
Hi there...I have not spent too much time in Calgary, but, I have to say, the traffic is awful, and they all drive like maniacs....speeding, running red lights, sudden lane changes, and lots of rage is what I have witnessed. I have a friend who moved there for the "better job", but has since quit and moved out of the city...she said she just couldn't stand it after only 1.5 yrs. If your parents want the quiet life this city is not for them. There are good jobs in northern BC where the properties are still affordable...my sister just got a promotion/transfer to Terrace...it's the funniest thing in Terrace...the driveways are paved, but the roads are gravel in some areas! Nice houses out in the boonies, and properties are still affordable. I wouldn't move to Calgary for all of the tea in China, I live on Vancouver Island, 5 minutes from my business, on a dead end street, accross from the river, and close to town centre...I love it!
Hi there...I have not spent too much time in Calgary, but, I have to say, the traffic is awful, and they all drive like maniacs....speeding, running red lights, sudden lane changes, and lots of rage is what I have witnessed. I have a friend who moved there for the "better job", but has since quit and moved out of the city...she said she just couldn't stand it after only 1.5 yrs. If your parents want the quiet life this city is not for them. There are good jobs in northern BC where the properties are still affordable...my sister just got a promotion/transfer to Terrace...it's the funniest thing in Terrace...the driveways are paved, but the roads are gravel in some areas! Nice houses out in the boonies, and properties are still affordable. I wouldn't move to Calgary for all of the tea in China, I live on Vancouver Island, 5 minutes from my business, on a dead end street, accross from the river, and close to town centre...I love it!
Hi Nina, I have lived in Calgary for two years and experienced the astonishing growth of the local economy. It is true housing was cheap or to say reasonable two or three years ago, but it way beyond fairness now. A 300K bungalow I am afraid you will never find. The fact is in Calgary now there is nowhere cheap. It is not up to whether you are picky about the neighbourhood. It is just so expensive everywhere. Renting is also very expensive. A one-bedroom apartment costs over 900 bucks. Two-bedroom costs about 1,500. If your family want to move here, it is better you send one person first to look around to find accommodation and get settled, then others can follow. It even gives your family a chance to sense the real world in Calgary.
300k will not buy you a bungalow in Calgary or Edmonton. All that will get you nowadays is a 2 bedroom condominium. It is very expensive to live in this Province. I honestly don't see how even the increase in wages that your father will get would get him any further ahead considering the cost of living. This is one thing that people who want to move here just don't understand. The wages are higher but so is the cost of everything else.
I have lived in Calgary for 10 years now and although the housing boom has sent the house prices skyrocketting I would rather live in this city that any other large city in Canada (I have spent a lot of time in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Victoria and Edmonton.
If Dirtylinder thinks traffic is bad in Calgary, they obviously haven't travelled to many other Canadian cities...traffic is very similar in most major cities (and I would say it is worse in Vancouver and Toronto). I originally moved to Canada from England, and it never ceases to amaze me how people over here think traffic is bad...try major cities in England!!
I have a young family (11, 2 and 7 months) and I love this city for my kids. I am less that an hour from the mountains and yet the city has everything that I could need for entertainment. Although there has been a recent rash of violent crime lately, it has been largely due to gang to gang violence (if others think their cities don't have that, they are naive).
With regards to your Mom's schooling, you probably couldn't move to a better city for the opportunity for a reasonably well paid job in pretty much any field.
The weather is great, Chinook winds blowing in from the SW in the winter can bring +10 degree weather from the -20's in just hours. Even when it is cold it's probably only rarely going to get Manitoba cold and when it is cold it is invariably Blue sky. The summers are normally in the high 20's and a DRY heat , not a HUMID heat, so a lot more comfortable.
Other cities in Canada are with out a doubt beautiful places, but for myself and my family Calgary has everthing that I could want. I believe it has an all round good way of life. For you I hope whatever happens, you and your family have success and a happy life and if you are moving to Calgary WELCOME!!
Well nina, I've never lived in Calgary either, but I've visited it often enough that I'm pretty sure your mother will be deeply disappointed if she's expecting a small, quiet place with higher wages. Higher wages, sure, but Calgary's twice the size of Winnipeg, and it's not quiet, unless you're rich enough to live in certain upscale neighbourhoods, which $30 an hour is not going to buy. $30 an hour is about $62,000 a year, which isn't going to buy your family squat in Calgary. That $150K 1200 square foot bungalow in a nice neighbourhood in Winnipeg will cost closer to $500K in Calgary. Can't even buy a nice bungalow like that where I live, in Regina, for under $300K anymore, too many of our wealthy Albertan neighbours are speculating in the property market and driving up prices. With $60-$70K a year in Calgary, you're moderately poor; you'd need to about double your family income to live as well in Calgary as you do in Winnipeg. And if your dad suffers road rage in Winnipeg, he'll be murdering people in Calgary. Worst drivers in Canada, outside Quebec.
I don't think your parents will like it in Calgary, and from your description I'd say they have no idea what they're getting into and their knowledge of the place is way out of date. Obviously you have Internet access or you wouldn't be here, so look for real estate listings in Calgary and show them what housing really costs there. Or just put them in touch with an agent from one of the national chains like Century 21. There are a lot of other costs to living in Alberta too, that people often don't think about until they get there. Lowest tax rates in the nation, no doubt about that, but you also pay more for other services that in Manitoba or Saskatchewan are free or very low cost because they're subsidized by higher tax rates. Find out what an Alberta driver's licence costs, what vehicle insurance costs, what your utilities like telephone and water and natural gas and electricity cost, what the medical care insurance premium for your family is, what it costs to use a provincial park, a library, a campground, and whatever other provincial government services there are that you like to use. I think you'll find your family is better off at $22 an hour in Winnipeg than it is at $30 an hour in Calgary. At best it's probably no better than break even: higher income, higher costs, you're no better off than you were in Winnipeg.
For the last 10 years, my advice to people wanting to move to Alberta hasn't changed: unless the income is at least twice what you're making now, it's not worth it. Nobody's ever come back to tell me I was wrong.
I don't think your parents will like it in Calgary, and from your description I'd say they have no idea what they're getting into and their knowledge of the place is way out of date. Obviously you have Internet access or you wouldn't be here, so look for real estate listings in Calgary and show them what housing really costs there. Or just put them in touch with an agent from one of the national chains like Century 21. There are a lot of other costs to living in Alberta too, that people often don't think about until they get there. Lowest tax rates in the nation, no doubt about that, but you also pay more for other services that in Manitoba or Saskatchewan are free or very low cost because they're subsidized by higher tax rates. Find out what an Alberta driver's licence costs, what vehicle insurance costs, what your utilities like telephone and water and natural gas and electricity cost, what the medical care insurance premium for your family is, what it costs to use a provincial park, a library, a campground, and whatever other provincial government services there are that you like to use. I think you'll find your family is better off at $22 an hour in Winnipeg than it is at $30 an hour in Calgary. At best it's probably no better than break even: higher income, higher costs, you're no better off than you were in Winnipeg.
For the last 10 years, my advice to people wanting to move to Alberta hasn't changed: unless the income is at least twice what you're making now, it's not worth it. Nobody's ever come back to tell me I was wrong.
This is assumptious
I have been to Winnipeg, Monteal, Saskatoon, Ottawa,Toronto, and many many times to Vancouver...however it was in Calgary where I witnessed an accident as I was waiting to cross the street, it was near the Chinkook Centre...I glanced up the road to my right and saw another accident that had already happened....then, unbelievably another one happened down the road to my left...yup three accidents within eyeshot...and everyone was driving around them like maniacs...yup rednecks are alive and well in Calgary....
I have been to Winnipeg, Monteal, Saskatoon, Ottawa,Toronto, and many many times to Vancouver...however it was in Calgary where I witnessed an accident as I was waiting to cross the street, it was near the Chinkook Centre...I glanced up the road to my right and saw another accident that had already happened....then, unbelievably another one happened down the road to my left...yup three accidents within eyeshot...and everyone was driving around them like maniacs...yup rednecks are alive and well in Calgary....
Toronto is so very different. Someone can pull over to the side of any 400 series highway and 30,000 cars all come to a stop. Have a look. Then get back to doing anything from 80-150 kph.
I find the edmonton traffic to be incredibly polite, to the point of breaking the rules. At a four-way stop, everyone waves each other on, regardless of when they arrived, confusing all and sundry. I'm surprised to hear that calgary's so different.
Very polite indeed. I find the construction work especially neat. One lane ends, and everyone just politely files into the next lane, merging like an instructional video on the issue. All orderly and easy like. It's hilarious in its simplicity.
yeah, but seriously some of them take it too far. If you stop by a road for a chat, or to look around a bit, the whole junction snarls up waiting for you to cross the road, and the four-way stops can be downright dangerous when everyone waves each other on
lol. yeah, I know what you mean.
Or when traffic stops to allow a pedestrian to cross illegally on a three lane road. Through the slowing traffic, it's easy for the inside lanes to miss the fact that there's a pedestrian there at all, and it's easy to get them run over.... all because someone wanted to make life easier for them.
yes ive been in that situation. someone stops for me to cross and waves at me getting frustrated when i'm not crossing, and yet if I DO cross i'm in danger of being mowed down by someone who DIDNT stop
Nina, the bottom line is Alberta is a great place to live but in my opinion one of the worst places to live during a boom such as we are going through. Edmonton is so short of rental accommodations that they put out a call to the media to help find places to live for returning University students. They even had a hard time finding places to live for the Edmonton Eskimo football players this summer. You see travel trailers and motor homes all over the industrial areas where people are actually living in them. This might work during summer but it will be brutal to have to live in a trailer with no water or plumbing for our 6 months worth of winter. I'm sure the same is happening in Calgary. In summer, apartment renters were getting hit with 500 dollar rental increases, where they used to pay 650 per month for a 1 bedroom, they are now paying twice that much. All I can say is make sure your parents do their homework and check all the costs before they move here. When all is said and done, they may end up making less in Calgary than Winnipeg just because of the cost of living difference regardless of how much more your dad is making.
Wow, thanks for the replies. They are all so informative! My mom tells me not worry, but I AM very worried. I can't help it. I'm not worried much about the children's education, I'm sure that they'll have some of the best education that they can get in the country. The one thing that I am worried about is my Dad having to work twice as much as he does here in Winnipeg just to support us, since my Mom is planning not to work for a few months until we get settled. We're living in the NorthEast and my Mom mentioned that we won't be going much into the city, so I'm wondering if the traffic and driving is bad everywhere, or just downtown? I worry about this a lot, because considering the fact that my Dad is in his 50's AND he has high blood pressure, along with crazy road rage... it can't be good for his health.
"Fingertrouble": I know you mean well when you say that the traffic in Calgary is not as bad as it is as larger cities in Canada. But the thing is, we haven't lived in a larger city with as much traffic so my Dad is not used to it. And the last time I visited Calgary (which was about 2-3 months ago), it took my brother and I half an hour to make a U-Turn and what would've been a few minutes drive from U of C to Chinook mall turned out to be an hour and something. Also, I can't help but be worried when my sister died from a car accident in Alberta 2 years ago, due to excessive speeding and one car abruptly cutting off the car she was in.
We're moving into our house on September 1. We'll see how it goes =S
"Fingertrouble": I know you mean well when you say that the traffic in Calgary is not as bad as it is as larger cities in Canada. But the thing is, we haven't lived in a larger city with as much traffic so my Dad is not used to it. And the last time I visited Calgary (which was about 2-3 months ago), it took my brother and I half an hour to make a U-Turn and what would've been a few minutes drive from U of C to Chinook mall turned out to be an hour and something. Also, I can't help but be worried when my sister died from a car accident in Alberta 2 years ago, due to excessive speeding and one car abruptly cutting off the car she was in.
We're moving into our house on September 1. We'll see how it goes =S
the half-hour U-turn is a common enough phenomenon in a city you haven't been to before.
I'd say don't worry about it. Edmonton IS hard to rent in, that's for sure and I bet it's the same in Calgary, but you can still do it if you're smart. The same is true of all the things which are harder because of the boom.
And think of the trips to the mountains and the countryside around Calgary. I'd love to be able to just jump in the car and drive to the rockies, but for now they're just out of reach.... sigh
I'd say don't worry about it. Edmonton IS hard to rent in, that's for sure and I bet it's the same in Calgary, but you can still do it if you're smart. The same is true of all the things which are harder because of the boom.
And think of the trips to the mountains and the countryside around Calgary. I'd love to be able to just jump in the car and drive to the rockies, but for now they're just out of reach.... sigh
I would never move to Calgary with so many oportunities in the rest of Alberta. Your dad could easily find a $30/hour job in Red Deer or Medicine Hat where the houses are $100,000 cheaper and the place is more laid back. Besides, they say the growth in the province (outside of Edmonton and Calgary) is supposed to outpace the major centres. I heard on the radio yesterday that housing prices in Alberta are supposed to increase by another $100,000 next year if Edmonton and Calgary aren't factored in. I would definitely move to Alberta but stay away from the two large cities.
I think the North East of Calgary is not bad for housing prices but it is not one of the nicer areas to live. If you don't come into the city much then you won't have to worry about traffic too much. The only road I think that the traffic is real bad in Calgary is Dear Foot Trail. Calgary seems very safe to me but it does have the third highest crime rate per capatia. Winnipeg has the highest crime rate per Capita and Edmonton has the second highest crime rate per capitea.
To me it does have a small town feel because it is quite spread out and has a lot of green space. It is of course a large city and now doubt it will feel large to some people. I live right by the skate park so I love it here. I go roller blading almost every day. I enjoy going skiing in the mountains in the winter time.
Nina, one other thing that your family has to carefully weigh is there is no guarantee that if they buy a house in Calgary, they won't lose a wack of money if the economy ever slows down and they decide to sell. This is what happened last time the Alberta economy went bust. People were walking away from their houses, and property values plummeted. I don't necessarily think that the Alberta economy will Bust but it could very well slow down in the future. Housing prices jumped 40% in one year based on demand, they can also drop 40% in one year if the demand drops significantly. Realtors will put wonderful, spins on everything telling you how your house will always increase, Blah, Blah Blah but if the top economists can't even forecast the economy correctly all of the time, you can be sure a bunch of Realtors have a VERY good chance of being wrong also. I had purchased my house in NE Calgary 10 years ago for just over 100K (1200 sq ft 2 story). That same house will now fetch close to 400K. There is no reason why it could not drop back to the more realistic level of just over 100K. This is a very real gamble anyone who will be buying in Alberta has to realize.
Nina,
Calgary is a great City but so is Winnipeg. I have a friend that moved to Calgary from Winnipeg and lasted only 1 year. It is very expensive here. The mountains are great, but so are the prairies and Canadian Sheild. If you dad likes lake fishing he will be sadly disappointed in Calgary, there are no real lakes for hundreds of kilometres.
Money isn't everything as I can tell you can appreciate. Moving is a very difficult thing. Especially if you have to move back. Show your folks these reply's.
The people in Calgary are good people as are the people from Winnipeg. Also, the Private schooling for your sisters kids will be very expensive.
If you do end up moving best of luck...it will be tough at first and you will all have to chip in.
Bottom line is Calgary is more of a Rat-race, but most of the rats here seem to be having a good time.
Calgary is a great City but so is Winnipeg. I have a friend that moved to Calgary from Winnipeg and lasted only 1 year. It is very expensive here. The mountains are great, but so are the prairies and Canadian Sheild. If you dad likes lake fishing he will be sadly disappointed in Calgary, there are no real lakes for hundreds of kilometres.
Money isn't everything as I can tell you can appreciate. Moving is a very difficult thing. Especially if you have to move back. Show your folks these reply's.
The people in Calgary are good people as are the people from Winnipeg. Also, the Private schooling for your sisters kids will be very expensive.
If you do end up moving best of luck...it will be tough at first and you will all have to chip in.
Bottom line is Calgary is more of a Rat-race, but most of the rats here seem to be having a good time.