looking through job listings which have directed us to Wetaskiwin. It seems lovely, a city, yet rural nearby and 35 mins to Edmonton. anyone else gone there or that way? what are your experiences of it for a family? thanks

It does look nice .... but the photos linked to the google map are a little worrying? http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid...num=1&ct=image

Very, very rural. We have family that settled around Wetaskiwin after WWII and that whole region has its own country western culture of its own - lots of western horse ranches, hay farming, and not necessarily the most sophisticated end of the spectrum.

Edmonton itself feels small town enough as it is - there is certainly no need to be located yourself further away, unless you really wanted to be away from it all. Small Albertan towns tend to be very functional and simple. I don't know if you've seen the CBC program "The Week The Women Went", but last year's show was filmed in Hardisty, Alberta - a smaller community (but similar enough) located down the highway from Wetaskiwin. It is by no means a full portrayal of life there, but it will give you a taste of the local small town Alberta cuture:

http://www.cbc.ca/thewomenwent/season1.php

Wetaskiwin used to be known for its car sales lots - the highway is littered in them. There used to be an ad on TV with the jingle, "Cars cost less in Wetaskiwin" and if you ask any locals, that's about all they can tell you about Wetaskiwin.

I don't think anyone would classify it as a city, but more or less a functional town/service center that meets the needs of the rural farming community. I would definitely visit before making any commitments.

great advice thanks. Got to get used to the fact that it seems that the term 'city' is something different over there than it is here. I've noticed on alot of the websites the towns are 'city of.......'.

It's one of those places you drive through to get to Edmonton when your bored of going up the 2. Saying that each to their own, it's very close to Hobema though. It also has a great motor museum there. It really depends on what your looking for if you want a rural town it may work but seeing as you mentioned City, I think you may want something bigger and more cultural.

I think Canada defines "city" as anywhere with a population of over 15,000. Yet most typically don't think of places as cities until they get into populations of over 100,000, and even then, some "cities" in Canada with populations of 500,000 or over can often feel very town-like.

In Alberta, Edmonton and Calgary are really the only cities that feel like cities. Smaller cities, like Lethbridge, Red Deer, Medicine Hat feel much more like large towns.

I think but am not sure but the definition of a city is a provincial matter.

http://www.altapop.ca/urban.htm