How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

Hi
PR all sorted for the family, and looking at moving to Canmore in 2009.

How do you all manage with the weather? , hubbie thinking of commuting to Calgary for work (is this totally mad?!?). Thinking of maybe IT contracting, and not travelling everyday, but are the roads ok to drive on?

Have two kids who will be attending school, do they close when it's too cold?
Got a bit of a fright while looking at weather online, minus forties !!!

Also looking at renting and wondering if theres any websites which offers Canmore rentals?

Thanks

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

Hello and welcome to BE, have you read the WIKI in the blue strip at the top of the screen there may be something relevant to you there, but I am sure someone from the area will be along shortly to give you advice. :thumbsup:

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

Cant speak for Canmore, but in Ontario life goes on. Schoolbusses are cancelled occasionally for fog, or freezing rain, sometimes for snow if its bad. Seldom if ever just for cold. Schools dont send kids outside if its below about -15, but life goes on, its really not that bad. I guess you get used to it.

Roads are seldom a problem here, snow is usually pretty well cleared. Our biggest headache is freezing rain, which is pretty treatcherous, but that less of an issue out west anyway.

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

I have been thinking about this as well tbh

I am interested in canada but am a little worried about how I am going ot cope with the weather when I am old and less able to stand without aids :o

I've been thinking about arthritis and fractured femurs etc., and its way too easy to fall over when we're a little "mature" - optimistic aren't I pmsl

Will be interesting to see if there are any replies to this!

Joy

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

Personally, I think choosing to drive 200kms+ on a daily commute is nuts.

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

If my 99 year old neighbour Alice can cope on her own, Im sure you can too.

Many retired canadians of course winter somewhere warmer, like Florida. These folks are known as "snowbirds"

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

Here, here. I would not want to wish that commute on my worst enemy.

Have you visited and tried it ?

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

I'll third that sentiment.

A nice drive yes, a daily commute no way.:eek:

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

I'll have to "fourth" what the others have said about the commute. The stretch between Canmore and Calgary, (maybe nearer to Canmore) is exposed and can be worse than at either end. Cars spin off there every time we get snow. It takes an hour from city limits on a clear day.

School buses, particularly more rural ones might get cancelled in severe weather but schools seldom close. Some brave souls will always make it in anyway so they can't have them turning up to a locked school! In our senior high they advise that it's parents' discretion as to whether it is safe to send the kid to school.

Having said that, they are saying on the radio today that kids who miss school due to bad weather are in danger of getting behind with their studies! Seems you can't win ... I wonder what proportion of class size is required to be missing before they abandon the planned lessons for the day! :blink:

Why did you choose Canmore? (just curious) :p

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

Hi
thanks for all the replies.
we have been to Canmore about five times already on holidays, summer and winter so have in total spent about 5+ weeks there. Fell in love with the area and reckon it's a nice place to raise a family.

Appreciate the commute is a bit much, but hubby is in IT, so kinda caught as to where he needs to get work. Does anyone know of any people that do this commute? Ideally I suppose if he could work from home 2-3 days and then commute the rest.

And on that note is there anyone in Canmore with any views as to family life there?

thanks again

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

Hi Samie1 - my boss has a place in Canmore and Calgary (has had for years and years so he has made the journey thousands of times).

He is Calgary born and bred and when I asked him his thoughts on a daily commute he just raised his eyebrows :blink:. He wouldn't recommend it at all - although probably somebody out there does it?! As your hubby is in IT working from home is a good possibility and probably the best option.

My boss spends half his time in Calgary and the other half in Canmore - when he's in Canmore he telecommutes and we probably communicate more than when he's in Calgary!! :)

Family life in Canmore is lovely, very different from Calgary although pick your neighborhood carefully - most of the new developments are being populated by part-time second-homers and/or retirees from Calgary, and it can get lonely if you are the only people at home!

My boss has a house downtown and loves it there for his kids, also the houses on the "sunny side" of Canmore (Benchlands Trail and Elk Run Blvd) are populated by full-time residents. Remember that this side of Canmore gets a lot more sun than downtown (all those darned mountains and their shadows!).


Good luck with your decision making!

J :)

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

I'd definitely consider finding a cheap B&B in Calgary for a few days a week. Probably cheaper than commuting for those days. Maybe head in on Monday nights or early Tuesday mornings and head out again after work on Thursday nights.

200km each way each day will be at least 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hrs each way at legal speed limits, at cost at least $40 to $50 in an economical vehicle (more in an SUV).

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

It is 100km each way, a one hour drive in good conditions.

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

My bad :confused:, I thought they were talking each way, not total.

Re: How does cold weather affect day to day?
 

No prob.;)

Not a drive I would voluntarily do as a daily commute.