Advice for Alberta
Jan 4th 2018, 5:28 pm
#46
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Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 962
Re: Advice for Alberta
We've visited and driven a loop from Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Edmonton to Calgary over a couple of weeks. We really loved Calgary but I haven't been able to get a job from the UK. I'm hoping when I'm out there I'll have a better chance. I'm not blowing my own trumpet but I am a good engineer so I know once I've got my foot in somewhere I'll be fine... it's just getting that foot in 
Jan 6th 2018, 9:56 pm
#47
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Advice for Alberta
We've visited and driven a loop from Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Edmonton to Calgary over a couple of weeks. We really loved Calgary but I haven't been able to get a job from the UK. I'm hoping when I'm out there I'll have a better chance. I'm not blowing my own trumpet but I am a good engineer so I know once I've got my foot in somewhere I'll be fine... it's just getting that foot in
Jan 7th 2018, 2:40 pm
#48
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Joined: Feb 2010
Location: High River AB
Posts: 571
Re: Advice for Alberta
Whilst there are many anecdotal stories out there about how dire the property market is, and how construction has all but stopped, all I can offer is my personal experiences on the ground.
Infill/tailgate Construction: Very active. I live in an older neighbourhood (mid 50s - now considered "inner-city") and on my block alone there are 4 infill construction projects happening. Expand that radius to the surrounding 3x3 block grid and there something in the order of 15 infill projects. Most neighbourhoods I visit in the city (that allow R-2 infill construction) are experiencing the same boom in infills.
Tract Construction: I have a friend that works sales for one of the new neighbourhood construction companies for about 5 years, and he claims they've never been busier. They're making sales with next to little effort. There's something like 8 large neighbourhoods being developed around the edges of the city.
Infill/tailgate Construction: Very active. I live in an older neighbourhood (mid 50s - now considered "inner-city") and on my block alone there are 4 infill construction projects happening. Expand that radius to the surrounding 3x3 block grid and there something in the order of 15 infill projects. Most neighbourhoods I visit in the city (that allow R-2 infill construction) are experiencing the same boom in infills.
Tract Construction: I have a friend that works sales for one of the new neighbourhood construction companies for about 5 years, and he claims they've never been busier. They're making sales with next to little effort. There's something like 8 large neighbourhoods being developed around the edges of the city.
The way it’s spreading south, in 15yrs, Okotoks will be part of Calgary.
Jan 8th 2018, 7:51 am
#50
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Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 962
Re: Advice for Alberta
Just to add to the last paragraph, don’t know about other parts of the city but I drive the HWY2/Deerfoot in SE Calgary many times a week and Macleod weekly and houses and estates are being built at an incredible rate, you can actually see the various landscapes changing weekly.
The way it’s spreading south, in 15yrs, Okotoks will be part of Calgary.
The way it’s spreading south, in 15yrs, Okotoks will be part of Calgary.
I'm not yet a resident of Calgary but I have noticed the rapidly changing map and expanding borders. It scares me to be honest, the city is nice as it is, if it continues it'll spread out into a typical north American spread of congestion.
I thought Nenshi was meant to be putting a slow down on urban sprawl.
I know what you mean about Okotoks, I have had that exact thought myself!
Jan 8th 2018, 12:47 pm
#51
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Joined: Feb 2014
Location: Done with condescending old hags
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Re: Advice for Alberta
I don't know if they actively enjoy it, but north American etiquette demands much more 'look how great I am', or at the very least, more 'this is me'. When I first moved here, I certainly wasn't expecting to get the spiel from the guy opening my bank account about his triumphs in life, including raising 2 children whose names and triumphs I also got. Immediately followed by "now Vulcanoid, tell me about you." And I died inside.
Jan 8th 2018, 4:01 pm
#52
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: SW Calgary
Posts: 776
Re: Advice for Alberta
I'm not yet a resident of Calgary but I have noticed the rapidly changing map and expanding borders. It scares me to be honest, the city is nice as it is, if it continues it'll spread out into a typical north American spread of congestion.
I thought Nenshi was meant to be putting a slow down on urban sprawl.
I know what you mean about Okotoks, I have had that exact thought myself!
I thought Nenshi was meant to be putting a slow down on urban sprawl.
I know what you mean about Okotoks, I have had that exact thought myself!
Jan 8th 2018, 4:46 pm
#53
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Advice for Alberta
I don't know if they actively enjoy it, but north American etiquette demands much more 'look how great I am', or at the very least, more 'this is me'. When I first moved here, I certainly wasn't expecting to get the spiel from the guy opening my bank account about his triumphs in life, including raising 2 children whose names and triumphs I also got. Immediately followed by "now Vulcanoid, tell me about you." And I died inside.
Jan 9th 2018, 6:47 am
#54
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 962
Re: Advice for Alberta
I don't know if they actively enjoy it, but north American etiquette demands much more 'look how great I am', or at the very least, more 'this is me'. When I first moved here, I certainly wasn't expecting to get the spiel from the guy opening my bank account about his triumphs in life, including raising 2 children whose names and triumphs I also got. Immediately followed by "now Vulcanoid, tell me about you." And I died inside.
It's interesting that they referred to you by your forum name
I swear to you, that if I find myself in this situation, when they say to me 'so ShakyUK, odd name.. but tell me about yourself'
I'll say straight faced 'I'm a loser and I have a achieved nothing but you impress me immensely'
Live long and prosper.
Last edited by Shakyuk; Jan 9th 2018 at 6:52 am.
Jan 9th 2018, 1:30 pm
#55
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Joined: Feb 2014
Location: Done with condescending old hags
Posts: 1,194
Re: Advice for Alberta
Jan 9th 2018, 2:06 pm
#56
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Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Advice for Alberta
The snag being that one may want to go out of town. Toronto was fine to live in so long as one didn't have need to go beyond the limit of the trams, after that it was couple of hours to get out and a couple of hours to get back in again. It may be, of course, that central Calgary is wonderful and there's nothing much beyond the city limits.
Jan 9th 2018, 7:14 pm
#57
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: SW Calgary
Posts: 776
Re: Advice for Alberta
The snag being that one may want to go out of town. Toronto was fine to live in so long as one didn't have need to go beyond the limit of the trams, after that it was couple of hours to get out and a couple of hours to get back in again. It may be, of course, that central Calgary is wonderful and there's nothing much beyond the city limits.
Furthermore, the ring road (Stoney Trail) is almost complete, which will negate the city escape issues during rush hours.
However, if you happen to live in the deep south or north, and need to commute home during those times, you're looking at a minimum of an hour each way. Factor in winter road conditions and it can be double that. But people still want their large detached homes, and are prepared to buy one on the edge of the city where it's more affordable.
Last edited by Photoplex; Jan 9th 2018 at 7:17 pm.
