We are off to Edmonton for a few days tomorrow. Bit of shopping, the mall and Galaxy land. I have just found out that the masters that I am looking to do here in the Bridge is also offered in Edmonton and there are also numerous jobs in the human services field up there too, so me and the OH are just sat here chatting about it being a possible move one day.

So far we have thought about Ontario - lots, but never really looked at Edmonton as I thought it was too cold initially, but hey, I'm kinda interested to know more about your feelings or experiences of it

Got two kids who would be 9.5 and 7.5 when we would move......

Thanks in advance guys I really appreciate your time

Ms M xxx

eeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Very good shopping for sure I have also found it alot colder up there than down here - think someone has shouted at me for that comment before

Best of all I can drive to Edmonton - have done it on my own so you wont get rid of me that easily

YAY!!!!! good to hear Mrs B I was sat here thinking about that funnily enough!


Seriously though peeps, tell me what you think of it please With regards to education, family life etc. As for the cold, at least there's lots of places to go there I suppose?

Mrs M x

We stayed there for a few days on holiday back in 2004 when visiting family. We stayed in an area called Old Strathcona which I really liked. I thought downtown area was pretty as well.

Other than that though, can't tell you too much!

A colleague of mine here in Ontario once lived in Edmonton. "Too f'ing cold" was his comment.

We have a client in Edmonton, the guy we dealt with there, a Newfie, recently packed it in and moved, "Too f'ing cold" he said.

Since neither of them mentioned anything else they didn't like I have to think the cold is the major concern.

Obviously the more north you are the more severe the winters months will be, however we were there last May and it was warming up nicely.

The shopping is awesome and that takes place inside POSTIVE!!!!!!!

We have been to Edmonton a couple of times. I love it there. Despite it being a big city, I felt safer than I do in London. Went for a walk by the river. Weather was lovely (that was in May). Shopping is the best. West Edmonton Mall is amazing!!! Not sure husband would agree :rofl

Helen

We've been here a month and a half, and we like it. Maybe the duration of winter will become a bore, but the intensity is no big deal. There's loads of sunshine.

Edmonton really sprawls, and that took us some time to get used to. Life would be tough here without a car. With wheels, it's easy to get about, although there's lots of road work going on this year.

People with kids rave about Sherwood Park. I don't know - no kids. And I can't tell you about shopping because I'm a bloke. I've got a pretty good grasp of the DIY stores though! The service sector is now adequately staffed, it seems to me - big improvement on last year, and a by-product of the economic downturn I suppose.

People seem friendly enough, and I understand the summer is just one festival after another.

Early days, but this town's growing on us all the time.

Quote from an email I recieved from a relative who lives near Vancouver

"I spent a couple of years in Edmonton. It's colder than hell, but LOTS of that is accompanied by clear sunny days"

Edmonton weather wise is not as bad as some would have you believe.

Check here were Edmonton ranks in about 70 or so different weather categories. http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/weather/winners/city.cfm?lang=e

Also here's a link to the 30 year (1971-2000) averages for the city of Edmonton.

It doesn't get Chinooks so the snow once it comes tends to stick around for the entire winter.

The University is supposed to be very good, it has a beautiful river valley, the Provincial Museum is in Edmonton as is (obviously) the Provincial Legislature.

true, but this is balanced with lots of very clear bright sunny days. When the snow falls, it tends to be very dry and powdery and not a whole lot at once, 15cm in one go i think is the most this year. balance this against freezing rain and all the huge dumps/storms the east coast has got this year, with the wet horrible stuff, and i think i prefer bermuda. sorry edmonton.

yes its cold, stupidly impossible to imagine cold and no i do not like it, but it is, just, bearable.

if you search, there was a thread recently calgary vs edmonton i think, there was loads of in depth info on the city on there.

Just got back and had a fabulous time, seriously considering it as our next spot.......

Loved the people, the city and the job and educational opportunities, also there are more than a couple of government jobs that I am qualified to work in and that they are crying out for people to do, so with a lot more research it could very well be our next stop!!!!

Keep the feedback coming in - please!!!!

Hope you are all well and had a good week

Mrs M x

Glad you had a positive and productive reccie Ms M.....Edmonton, being the hub of all AB government jobs, will no doubt be able to offer you more opportunities....and it's only an hour and half for hubs to travel here for his work!

All the very best in what you decide to do

Ruby, totally forgot to get a hold of you before we left, and we stopped in to Red Deer to go to OHs work and get some furniture from Pier 1 Imports that they had up there.


Yep, we have a lot to think about now for sure, I am done my diploma in May, and there are really good further education opportunities up there, so it's kinda tempting!

Lots of research to be done me thinks (although I didn't get in until 4am this morning, so not sure how much will be effective today Ruby lol!)