Hello everyone. I plan on making a drive out to Alberta the week before Halloween for jobs and to scout out a few areas (Calgary NW, Red Deer, Cochrane, & Airdrie). If anyone lives in these areas, don't hesitate to weigh in.

It's important that my wife, 7-year old daughter, and 19-year old son be in a safe place near schools, grocery stores, etc. (preferably walking distance). I'm leaning more towards settling in Cochrane, Calgary NW, or Airdrie, but would love to hear any comments on Red Deer. There is a chance I will receive a solid job offer out of Red Deer, so I'd like to know as much about the place as possible (safe areas of town close to schools etc.). It doesn't seem to be represented on rentfaster.ca.

I've been looking at rentals in Sunset Heights in Cochrane, Panorama Hills in Calgary, Sage Hill in Calgary, and Sherwood Crescents in Calgary. If anyone knows anything about these areas, I'd love to hear what you have to say.

I've been living in Saskatchewan for almost 9 years now and it's time for a change. Looking for more things to do and more places to see. Thanks in advance.

Hi, we live in Airdrie and really love it here. Our kids are about the same age as yours- 7, 9 and 18. Airdrie is growing fast but still has that small town feel and has easy access to Calgary and the Rockies. We have great schools, fab shopping, sporting facilities, etc, there is a lot going on for all ages here. If you want any specific info please feel free to PM me.

However if you have good chance of a job in Red Deer I would concentrate on that area. It's a long drive from any of the places you have mentioned and not really commutable. I don't know Red Deer, but sure you willl have plenty of replies from those who do!

Good Luck

Thanks snowcandy. If I have any questions about Airdrie, I'll send you a pm. Thanks again.

Hi. I don't think there's anything particularly wrong or bad about any of the places you mention; a lot of it will come down to distance for work and what feels right.

I live in Cochrane and love it! My two kids are 6 and 10 and it has everything we need and that you would expect a growing town to have. It's a safe town and has several good schools too. It has many amenities such as supermarkets, sports centre, swimming pool, bowling, movie house, etc. We're close enough to the city if we want it and close enough to the mountains too.

Sunset Heights is a nice part of town; the properties up there are new and many have good views. It's a bit more on the outskirts of town so, although not impossible, you may find it a bit far if you're wanting to walk into town.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can help you out with anything else regarding the town.

Regards.

We stayed in Royal Oak when we first arrived in Calgary, it was nice with local shops nearby walkable (but wouldn't think you would want to walk back with a weeks groceries). Bus links to the C Train and larger shopping malls with cinema etc. Royal Oak looked similar to most of the other communities in the outer NW so any would probably meet your needs.

As Snowcandy says Red Deer is a fair distance away so I would look there first, I have heard mixed reviews both good and bad but cannot offer any personal advice. You could possibly commute in about 1.5-2 hours, being close to Stoney Trail would be the best option to minimize your commute in that regard if you lived in Calgary NW or look to Airdrie to knock 20-30mins off the journey.

I live in Red Deer We are thinking of moving Province but that is more of a Alberta weather thi

We love it's location, an hour and a half to Calgary or Edmonton, 2 hours to the mountains or Drumheller, the Redneck Riviera (Sylvan Lake) is only 20 mins up the road.

Red Deer is a medium sized city by Canadian standards, just over 82000 people. There is a really good transit system, buses run every 20 mins or so, the river runs right through the middle of the city, it used to be that the more desirable areas were south of the city but with all the new builds I'm not sure if that is still true. There are more desirable areas than others, there are nicer areas in each subdivision than others too, generally the north has older properties, we however are in an older property in the south - I can give more detailed opinions if you wish.

I would consider Red Deer a safe city, it's a family orientated area, with good schools and lots of activities for kids, each subdivision has a free community ice rink built each winter, there are tonnes of walking trails a boating lake horse riding a skate park, bmx area etc again more detail is available.

Weather? We don't get it as bad as Edmonton because we get the tail end of the chinooks - we don't get it as good as Calgary, because we only get the tail end...

Where we live we are in walking distance to the bigger mall, walmart and lots of other shops/supermarket. There are two malls to choose from as well as the downtown shopping area.

More info is available if you want! hth. As with others commenting about hearing good and bad things about cities other than the ones they live in, I prefer to comment on the one I know. I do know Cochrane was on our list of if there was a job offer there we would go, if there was one in Okotoks we would go, it happened to be Red Deer and it has worked out ok for us.

I would probably be seriously looking at how your 19 year old will settle in and what is available for him. OK, so he won't be with you forever - but he also won't have a network of friends from school. Will he be going to college or uni soon, or trying to find work? Will he be looking at finding sports clubs/teams? Will he be looking for a girl/boyfriend? Will he be looking for bars and clubs or hitting the ski-hills every weekend?

And as much as I love Cochrane, for example, I wonder if a newly arrived 19-year old lad would find the place at all stimulating? There are a few recent arrival young Brits working in the stores here right now - but that is probably not a long term goal for many?

You'll be working, your 7-year old will settle wherever, and your wife will hopefully find her feet through your daughter. Just food for thought.

Ann has some really good advice, if your 19 year old is looking for further education, you should check what courses are available.

If you need any Cochrane info,feel free to pm me.
Always happy to help if I can.
Sunset heights is a newer development, nice houses, but not a walkable distance into town, in all reality.
Good luck with the job offer from Red Deer, and if you need any more info on Cochrane rentals, give me a shout.
Lu

What sort of job are you looking for? Lots of jobs herein airdrie unskilled

Thanks. Cochrane is tempting because of the close proximity to the mountains. If I have any questions, I'll pm you.

Thanks Carolyn. I think I've come across some rentals in Royal Oak. Will definitely keep it in mind.

Thanks Piff Poff. If all goes as planned, I will be in Red Deer the 23rd next month. Looking forward to checking it out. I've never been there.

Just wanted to thank everyone for the great insights. The 19 year old will probably be working on completing his grade 12 and then looking for a part time job; whichever comes first (long story).

I'm looking to work in the Alberta oil patch as a well tester. From what I understand, most of the production companies are based out of Red Deer, but there are a few in Calgary and other areas. I'm well aware that I would be out of town as much as 21 to 24 days straight. We're willing to make that sacrifice and have a plan.

Tonnes of oilfield around here, it could be an idea to look at some surrounding communities to, Blackfalds, Lacombe, Penhold and even Innisfail, Sylvan Lake, none are too far from Red Deer, all much smaller so less to do though.