Moving to Edmonton

[Kathleen]

Hello People!!!

I am moving to Edmonton from Ireland this Month and am so happy to return to Canada (originally from BC). If anyone is planning to move to Ireland and has never been there before you better stuff your wallets!!!
Ireland has become (stats of course) the most expensive place to live in Europe and that's no lie. You couldn't buy a brick in a place and the cost of living is through the roof. You could be in any city now as Ireland has lost it's own style.
I have been reading messages on how Edmonton is a no place to live, well I have been to Edmonton and do find the people are very friendly (more than Ireland now), the cost of living is affordable and if you want to vist BC it's only 1 1/2 hrs in flight. Sure it has snow and it's cold but there's alot to make up for! I know more people from BC that are fedup just paying their mortage and cannot do anything else in life and are making the change. If you have children and want to live a simple life, than there is no reason you shouldn't give it a try. People should travel and realize that Canada has a lot to offer!!!!!!!!!1 Cheers :

 

[CBC radio]

CBC Radio edmonton

I work for cbc radio edmonton and we are wanted to hear from newcomers in Edmonton, how you ended up here and how are you finding it.

If you're interested plz email me at thamind@edmonton.cbc.ca

 

[hermanntrude]

i'm a newcomer. I moved here from up north on a reserve, but originally from england

 

[CBC radio]

re-moving to Edmonton

that's interesting, which reserve are you living in and what's your line of work?

 

[hermanntrude]

i used to live in a town called fox lake, up north by the NWT border. I now live in edmonton and work at the U of A

 

[CBC radio]

re-moved to edmonton

so how long have you been in Edmonton? when did you move drom the UK? what are you working at U of A?
if you feel more comfortable you can email me at my work's email
thamind@edmonton.cbc.ca

 

[hermanntrude]

i've been in edmonton since the 28th december. we left shortly after that to get my permanant residence validated by leaving and re-entering the country. we drove down to montana and spent a total of 45 minutes there, then came back. I came from the UK about 3 or 4 months ago, but have visited eastern canada frequently and been to toronto and st catherine's too. this is the furthest west ive been so far.

i'm probably not allowed to discuss my work, but i'm a postdoc

 

[MagnoliaApples]

Hi,

I just wanted to reply to this because i was born and raised in Edmonton. I haven't lived there in about 3 - 4 years due to my husbands employment.

I personally like Edmonton. It's smaller than Toronto, less confusing than Vancouver however it is becoming way overpopulated for it's size!!! Rush hour is just a disaster. It took my husband 1 hour to get home from work when it should only take 30 min. I'm turning 30 this year so the changes, to me are quite noticable.

The overpopulation aside, i like Edmonton as far as cities go. It has everthing that T.O or Vancouver has. Edmonton was not as fast or as busy 15-20 years ago and unfortunately, IMO Edmonton was alot cooler back then because it wasn't so saturated with people and STORES and cars.

Either way, i'm sure you'll like and do well in Edmonton. It's an 'easy' city.

And be sure to check out Calgary. There's a little running fued between Edmontonians and Calgarians as to who has the better city. I've heard both sides. I personally like them both. But i would definitly encourage anyone moving to Edmonton, to sometime in the summer, when the weather is great, take a drive out to Calgary and give it a boo. It's a fun thing to do.

Good luck to you in your move and i hope you settle into Edmonton with ease.

 

[peruvian_girl]

Hi hermanntrude.
I'm new in this forum.I'm from Peru, I live in Lima. I read you work at U of A. Im not quite sure if Im going to that University to study for one semester, but I would like you to ask you some questions about

 

[peruvian_girl]

but i would like to ask you some questions about the university and things like that. I tried to send you a private message but I don't know why I couldn't.

thanks in advanced for your help.

 

[Ariadne]

but i would like to ask you some questions about the university and things like that. I tried to send you a private message but I don't know why I couldn't.

thanks in advanced for your help.

You have to have a certain number of posts before you can use private messaging. One of the reasons is to keep people from bouncing onto the board and spamming everyone.

 

[tfaria]

Hi,

I moved to Edmonton a year and a half ago. I am originally from Toronto. I moved out here with my boyfriend b/c I had a job opportunity. Alberta is booming, especially in Edmonton and Calgary. I have visited Calgary a few times.

To say the least, I REALLY don't have anything too nice to say about Edmonton. I personally can't stand the city. Someone stated that it has everything that Vancouver and Toronto has to offer...I really can't agree with that comment. The city is growing, but it is definitely far behind. They say that the city is booming, but you don't really feel the benefits of the boom unless if you are in the trades, especially if you are working in the oil industry. Edmonton is very industrial and blue collar. My boyfriend actually left his white collar career to work in the oil industry. I don't know what you do, but if you are a working professional, I strongly advise you to make the move to Calgary. Calgary more white collar. I am still to this day kicking myself for not moving there instead. Calgary has SO much more to offer in every aspect.

The only thing that I can agree with is that cost of living is low comparable with the bigger Canadian cities. Calgary is more expensive to live in when comparing housing / renting prices. But you know what they say? You get what you pay for. This is no exception.

I am not happy with my move out here; I really expected more from this city. I am thrilled to say that I will be moving from this dreadful place as soon as my two years is up at my job. Heck, maybe even before that! I don't know what is attracting you to this city, but I suggest you rethink your move. Unless if your into the whole small city, red neck kinda thing. I used to laugh when people called this place DEADMONTON. But now I see why.

 

[Dixie Cup]

Hi,

I am not happy with my move out here; I really expected more from this city. I am thrilled to say that I will be moving from this dreadful place as soon as my two years is up at my job. Heck, maybe even before that! I don't know what is attracting you to this city, but I suggest you rethink your move. Unless if your into the whole small city, red neck kinda thing. I used to laugh when people called this place DEADMONTON. But now I see why.

Why are you so unhappy?? It certainly isn't for the lack of something to do. Edmonton has an Arts community that's right up there with the best of them; sports, again you can downhill ski, cross country ski in the winter; the trails in the summer are vast and are all over the city. We have great restaurants and theatre. Festivals galore in the summer.

No matter where you live, it's what you make of it. I've lived in many cities and I've loved each and every experience. I've also lived both here and in Calgary and while I enjoyed Calgary, I prefer Edmonton - it's more "honest" and way less pretentious, but that's JMO.

 

[Dixie Cup]

Oh, I re-read your post - you're from Toronto - now everything makes sense

 

[tom.krysiak]

Hello People!!!

I am moving to Edmonton from Ireland this Month and am so happy to return to Canada (originally from BC). If anyone is planning to move to Ireland and has never been there before you better stuff your wallets!!!
Ireland has become (stats of course) the most expensive place to live in Europe and that's no lie. You couldn't buy a brick in a place and the cost of living is through the roof. You could be in any city now as Ireland has lost it's own style.
I have been reading messages on how Edmonton is a no place to live, well I have been to Edmonton and do find the people are very friendly (more than Ireland now), the cost of living is affordable and if you want to vist BC it's only 1 1/2 hrs in flight. Sure it has snow and it's cold but there's alot to make up for! I know more people from BC that are fedup just paying their mortage and cannot do anything else in life and are making the change. If you have children and want to live a simple life, than there is no reason you shouldn't give it a try. People should travel and realize that Canada has a lot to offer!!!!!!!!!1 Cheers :

Hey Kathleen!

I am in exactly the same situation as you are, moving to Edmonton from Dublin next year (hopefully) Totally agree that prices in Dublin are insane and still climbing up like crazy - I just hope I wont see the same after I arrive back in Edmonton ;-)

 

[hermanntrude]

Hello Tom. Welcome to the board. It's amusing to me that Canadian people in Edmonton are complaining about prices here and moving away, while people from places where property prices actually ARE high are flocking to Edmonton because it's cheap compared to where they live and has a good job market.

Canadians dont know how good they've got it here.

 

[tom.krysiak]

Hi hermanntrude

What you said ( Canadians dont know how good they've got it here.) is so damn true, over the years when I used to live in Alberta I have noticed that many times. Best thing that could happen to a Canadian is to move to another country for a while ;-)
I was convinced that cost of living in Canada was quite high (at the level I wanted it to hehe) and that paying 800 dollars for nice 1 bed app in 2003 was a lot. Well to my surprise for that kind of money in Dublin I wasnt able to rent even a smallest 1bed app! I had to settle down for a bedsit paying nearly 700 dollars for it!!!
In other words even when it is bad, trust me it can get way worse than that hehe ;-)
I wouldnt even think about moving back to Alberta if not that the computer market is booming here and I am afraid I wont be able to gt a job paying as well as my current one ;-(

 

[SVMc]

I'm considering looking out West. I'm currently in Toronto, finished university a few years ago and have been working for the past 3 years, my contract is up in 1 year, and I need to figure out the what's next. The trouble with Toronto seems to be that the job market is very much what your personal network is, and I don't have a great network of university educated friends so I find finding good jobs hard, and the good jobs that I have landed I have to admit have been at least as much (if not more) a case of being in the right place at the right time as they have my credentials. Does anyone have any tips for looking for white collar work in Edmonton / Calgary?

(Nothing against blue collar work, I just don't have any experience beyond high school Tim Hortons in that area.)

 

[millss2]

should i move to edmonton with my boyfriend of 3 years?

Hi, my name is Sarah and I am 19 years old living in the Hamilton area of Ontario. I am going into 2nd year of university this September, however I am debating on whether or not I should go.
My boyfriend is 22 and his whole family moved out to Edmonton 2 years ago because of the great job opportunities. My boyfriend stayed back here to be with me ..although he has told me he feels he is destined to go out there as well. And now, his family is starting up a new business and they want him to come and join them right away.
My boyfriend is wanting to go, he feels he would be making a huge mistake if he didnt. I am torn with whether or not I should take a year off school and go with him, or have a long- distance relationship for 9 months while i finish this year of school. I just honestly don't think I can be without him for that long, we have been together almost every day for 3 years. I feel guilty though, because he has been staying here with me for so long now and now its my turn to show him I too can make a sacrifice for our relationship.
I know this isn't an advice column, but I'd really appreciate any tips or advice anyone can give me. I'm really going crazy with this decision..I love him so much and don't want to lose him, I just feel I couldnt handle long-distance relationship, but I don't want to miss out on a year of school. HELP!

 

[Outta here]

Hi Sarah,

I'm curious - could you not complete that year of school in Edmonton? I don't know what you're studying, but you could check out the U of A. It's worth a look anyway? If you have your living arrangements squared away, you should be ok. Otherwise, moving while you're still a student might not be the best idea. Housing costs in Edmonton right now are ridiculous. Good luck with whatever you decide.