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Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Old Aug 24th 2021, 1:05 pm
  #31  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by dbd33
Alberta has that reputation but Calgary is a reasonably sized city and I do know of some Asians (American usage) being able to work there so I don't know how redneck it would actually be day-to-day. It's not like, say, Regina or Cape Breton. On the other hand, I wouldn't expect it to be like Toronto either. Several people I work with in the GTA play in cricket leagues, I doubt Calgary has the ethnic population to support anything similar.
Cricket is played all over Calgary.

I have never heard of the "No Canadian experience..." issues, that are frequently reported on this board, in Calgary either. I know of, for example, many UK solicitors that had to return to the UK after failing to be able to find work in Toronto. I have no knowledge of anyone having such issues in Calgary. I would sum up Calgary's work environment as being, "If you can to the work, we don't care where you come from." I would say that that still holds true, even in today's economic climate.

Likewise, the comment above, not yours, that made reference to the "culture" issue in Alberta is wide of the mark too. I can't imagine that the cultural issue of somewhere like High River would be much different to the cultural issues of a similar sized place in BC either.

Last edited by Almost Canadian; Aug 24th 2021 at 1:18 pm.
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Old Aug 24th 2021, 1:11 pm
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by Lychee
It's not the xenophobia or racism so much as being immersed in a city and province whose economy mainly revolves around oil and gas, and the values of the locals voting in a government hellbent on maintaining the status quo of that industry, despite the crisis we're currently facing and the reality that things need to change.

I wrote this in another thread a few weeks ago, but it applies here too:
How much time have you spent in Alberta?

Do you honestly believe that Albertans drive their vehicles, or use aeroplanes, any more than those in BC? Do you honestly believe that Canada is going to stop using oil and gas anytime soon? Do you believe that it is preferable to import the vast amounts of oil that Canada imports, rather than obtaining if from Canada, processing it in Canada and then selling it to Canadians for Canadians to use?

Are you doing any lobbying to stop BC exporting coal to international markets?

Please provide a link in support of your assertion the Government in Alberta has sought to remove all reference to residential schools in its curriculum. Not a news report someone has written that suggests that they might, actual proof that this has been done or that the government intends to do it.

Do you have a problem with people with little education being able to earn a high salary?

What COVID safety did Alberta recently throw out the window?

Last edited by Almost Canadian; Aug 24th 2021 at 1:34 pm.
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Old Aug 24th 2021, 1:27 pm
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by Danny B
...we loved the snow for the first two winters. Now we are approaching our 14th winter here, the Wife and I absolutely HATE the snow...
That's a good reason to reproduce an old favourite.

Diary of a Snow Shoveller

December 8 - 6:00 PM It started to snow.The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven.It looked like a Grandma Moses Print.So romantic we felt like newlyweds again.I love snow!

December 9 We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape.What a fantastic sight!Can there be a lovelier place in the whole world?Moving here was the best idea I've ever had!Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again.I did both our driveway and the sidewalks.This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again.What a perfect life!

December 12 The sun has melted all our lovely snow.Such a disappointment!My neighbor tells me not to worry- we'll definitely have a white Christmas.No snow on Christmas would be awful!John says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow againI don't think that's possible.John is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14 Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night.The temperature dropped to -20.The cold makes everything sparkle so.The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks.This is the life!The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again.I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way.I wish l wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15 20 inches forecast.Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer.Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels.Stocked the freezer.The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out.I think that's silly.We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16 Ice storm this morning.Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt.Hurt like hell.The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17 Still way below freezing.Roads are too icy to go anywhere.Electricity was off for 5 hours.I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm.Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her.Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her.God I hate it when she's right.I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20 Electricity's back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night.More shoveling!Took all day.The damn snowplow came by twice.Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey.I think they're lying.Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out.Might have another shipment in March.I think they're lying.John says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me.I think he's lying.

December 22 John was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white sh-t fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August.Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to go pee.By the time I got undressed, went to the bathroom and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel.Tried to hire John who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the a--hole is lying.

December 23 Only 2 inches of snow todayAnd it warmed up to 0.The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning.What is she, nuts?!!Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago?She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel.Thought I was having a heart attack.If I ever catch the son of a b-tch who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow and beat him to death with my broken shovel.I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been!Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.

December 25 Merry freaking Christmas!20 more inches of the damn slop tonight -Snowed in.The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil.God, I hate the snow!Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel.The wife says I have a bad attitude.I think she's an idiot.If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26 Still snowed in.Why the hell did I ever move here?It was all HER idea.She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27 Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28 Warmed up to above -20.Still snowed in.My wife is driving me crazy!!!

December 29 10 more inches.John says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in.That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30 Roof caved in.I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars.The wife went home to her mother.Nine more inches predicted.

December 31 I set fire to what's left of the house.No more shoveling.

January 8 Feel so good.I just love those little white pills they keep giving me.Why am I tied to the bed?
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Old Aug 24th 2021, 2:06 pm
  #34  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian
I have never heard of the "No Canadian experience..." issues, that are frequently reported on this board.
Nor me. That's a board specific thing, like the fixation with winter tyres.
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Old Aug 24th 2021, 5:18 pm
  #35  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by Winterdiva
We are considering moving to Calgary from UK (Surrey). Has anyone moved from London suburbs and regret it?

I’m worrying about winters Please can you tell me how you cope with driving etc in snow?
Whenever I see your posts I honestly can't decide if you are just winding us all up or if you are really struggling with the decision for so long. You have asked some incredibly detailed questions from tutoring opportunities in Waterloo, rental options in Toronto, commuting from Oakville and how to transport a violin to Halifax.

Assuming you aren't just having fun winding us up then I feel that you are massively over thinking this - you cannot work out every little detail of a move as big as bringing a family to a new continent. The fact that someone else moved and regretted it (or indeed loved it) has little to no relevance to your decision as there are people who hate and others who love most places. I get that you don't want to make a mistake (none of us did) but I think that your biggest mistake at the moment is the number of years you have lived wrestling with this decision and the uncertainty to your life that must bring. When we got our opportunity to come, we thought about it for a couple of weeks - honestly that was the hardest two weeks of the whole process - the indecision and uncertainty is tough. The thought of being in that state for over 3 years - well wow!

Part of your problem may be that you have the opportunity to move anywhere in Canada - most are limited to where jobs are, or family is etc. This is presenting you with too many options, if you really want to give it a try then narrow down to at least a Province and then find a place that matches your lifestyle, aspirations and work requirements, accept that a leap of faith is going to be required and then make the decision whether you are prepared to take that leap!

Last edited by HGerchikov; Aug 24th 2021 at 6:54 pm.
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Old Aug 24th 2021, 6:00 pm
  #36  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by SanDiegogirl
As per this post looks like poster arrived in Canada in 2019 got PR cards and then returned to the UK

Mortgage - while still in the UK?
Yep, exactly. So not too long before a decision has to be made, which maybe isn't a bad thing. They don't have long to move if they want to keep their PR status and have the flexibility of being able to travel outside of Canada in the next few years.
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Old Aug 24th 2021, 8:13 pm
  #37  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by HGerchikov
Whenever I see your posts I honestly can't decide if you are just winding us all up or if you are really struggling with the decision for so long. You have asked some incredibly detailed questions from tutoring opportunities in Waterloo, rental options in Toronto, commuting from Oakville and how to transport a violin to Halifax.

Assuming you aren't just having fun winding us up then I feel that you are massively over thinking this - you cannot work out every little detail of a move as big as bringing a family to a new continent. The fact that someone else moved and regretted it (or indeed loved it) has little to no relevance to your decision as there are people who hate and others who love most places. I get that you don't want to make a mistake (none of us did) but I think that your biggest mistake at the moment is the number of years you have lived wrestling with this decision and the uncertainty to your life that must bring. When we got our opportunity to come, we thought about it for a couple of weeks - honestly that was the hardest two weeks of the whole process - the indecision and uncertainty is tough. The thought of being in that state for over 3 years - well wow!

Part of your problem may be that you have the opportunity to move anywhere in Canada - most are limited to where jobs are, or family is etc. This is presenting you with too many options, if you really want to give it a try then narrow down to at least a Province and then find a place that matches your lifestyle, aspirations and work requirements, accept that a leap of faith is going to be required and then make the decision whether you are prepared to take that leap!

I tried to express these same sentiments to the OP, (think you've done it much more positively than me by the way), but got shot down in flames.
Personally, I think that if you have numerous questions/anxieties about numerous subjects regarding where you are contemplating moving to, plus worries about would you miss your life/friends/family in the UK, and have expressed the feeling of 'hating to move to Canada' then you are probably going to be that person who never settles in their new country.
Like you hubby and I had the opportunity to move to the US and spent about a week discussing it before taking the plunge.
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Old Aug 25th 2021, 2:52 am
  #38  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

We didn't discuss moving to Canada any longer than OH saying "they've offered me the position", and my reply "let's go"!
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Old Sep 14th 2021, 12:12 am
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

I would suggest coming over in winter before you commit. I did that 4 years ago and it was a great way to work out if you can handle the cold. It's very dry here. I live a few hours north in Edmonton and love it!! So much so we just purchased our forever home. Its a bit of a culture shock when you move over at first but it is now home for us. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
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Old Sep 14th 2021, 7:59 am
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

it was Calgary in the late 90s when my snow sport loving British girlfriend [now wife] experienced her first Canadian cold... to be fair, it was chilly even by Calgary standards with daytime highs somewhere around minus 25. At one point somewhere in Kananaskis, she turned to me, with ice in her eyelashes, and hissed 'for the avoidance of doubt, I am NEVER moving to this country'.

So far, she has been right, but has since learned that Canadian specific clothes are needed for the winter.
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Old Sep 14th 2021, 11:16 am
  #41  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by I am I said

So far, she has been right, but has since learned that Canadian specific clothes are needed for the winter.

Oh, but they're so impractical, thermal underlayer, quilted bib and brace, two pairs of socks, thin gloves and then heavy ones, balaclava, wooly hat. You have to drive a GM product because they're the one cars with huge buttons for the minor controls. Then you get to the office and have to take it all off again.
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Old Sep 14th 2021, 11:36 am
  #42  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by dbd33
Oh, but they're so impractical, thermal underlayer, quilted bib and brace, two pairs of socks, thin gloves and then heavy ones, balaclava, wooly hat. You have to drive a GM product because they're the one cars with huge buttons for the minor controls. Then you get to the office and have to take it all off again.
...and so worth it when you need it. Thread drift warning, but the same trip found us accidentally stranded somewhere in Yoho national park looking at a night in the open [it is a long story]. One of us had a sleeping bag suited to Canadian weather, the other had something more suited to a Welsh summer [still really cold, just not quite to standard]. Ah, the chivalry of the early years of a relationship....
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Old Sep 14th 2021, 11:49 am
  #43  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by I am I said
...and so worth it when you need it. Thread drift warning, but the same trip found us accidentally stranded somewhere in Yoho national park looking at a night in the open [it is a long story]. One of us had a sleeping bag suited to Canadian weather, the other had something more suited to a Welsh summer [still really cold, just not quite to standard]. Ah, the chivalry of the early years of a relationship....
Shrivelry, in this case.
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Old Sep 14th 2021, 2:35 pm
  #44  
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by dbd33
Shrivelry, in this case.
One of the funniest of your many quips over the years.

Yoho would be a very cold place to spend a night outdoors in the winter.
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Old Sep 14th 2021, 2:45 pm
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Default Re: Anyone regret moving to Calgary?

Originally Posted by Partially discharged
Yoho would be a very cold place to spend a night outdoors in the winter.
Apparently, it is not too bad with the right five season sleeping bag. Or so I have been told....
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