No!!!!! That's MY toy!!!

Hi Rainey & thanks

Nice to know that your girls are loving it too....concern for our kids is one of the reasons we want to get the hell out of dodge!!

I will PM you with my email for the gumph thanks

Hi there

I am also here in the Bridge too - for the last 18 months but have been visiting longer than the other Expats who have already posted on this thread. I also wrote the largest part of the WIKI on Lethbridge.

The biggest part of the BRidge is really good - don't be put off by comments about the west side it is all down to personal choice and if you have the bottle to drive the west side hill ! This shouldn't be a problem for the Westies much longer as there is going to be another route over onto the "mainland".

There can't be much wrong with the West side as there is more building being done over there and actually being sold - unlike some parts of the North Side and South Side.

Personally I am on the South Side like Moonie - having visited for nearly 20 years I have had many a visit to decide why and where I want to live. The main reason for me choosing the South Side is the fact that you are only 7 minutes from Downtown and also have most of the big stores within 5 minutes of home - even though there are huge development plans for the North Side over the next few years.

As Minihaha has said about counting her blessing about living in such a beautiful area - I am so totally the same I thank my lucky stars that I am here and not elsewhere.

My kids are 14 and nearly 13 - so I have one in High School and one in Middle School - and I have found that the schools are great and the teachers are totally supportive to your child. I do not know how I would have coped without some of the Middle School teachers for that first 8 months or so. Teachers here want to teach rather than doing it for a pay cheque as I found in the UK.

As Rainey has also said the town is very family orientated with tonnes of stuff for kids to do. Lots of Hockey obviously, basketball, lacrosse, ringette, Canadian Football and both competitive and non competitive soccer for both boys and girls.

If someone cannot be happy in this town then I truly dont know what they want from life! I have to admit that I do miss the big trips to the Trafford Centre in Manchester but now look forward to trips to Calgary for clothes shopping etc and it is only 2 hours away.

The girls are right there are a whole bunch of expats in town who have a right good old time socialising and getting to know each other - a MUST to any newcomer.

Good luck with your journey and like the girls said if you need anything drop one of us a line.

gaynor
x

Bless ya, 12.10am......GO TO BED!!!!!

Have spoken to Moonie and she will be along to post later. xx

Wow thanks for that Gaynor....sounds like maybe should give the Westside a miss for now...the thought of that hill is a bit scary!

Sounds great for the kids...the only worry I have about Canada in general is my almost 11 yr old son. He is not sporty in any way shape or form, hates football etc!! It does concern me that he won't fit in because of this as his interests involve his laptop and errrrr....his laptop!! I mean this in the nicest mama way but quite frankly, he is a bit of a nerd He actually wants to design computer games when he grows up and is extremely talented with a computer, setting up his own web sites and builds his own games from scratch which is great for his future career but not so much if he needs to be sporty to fit in.

I was thinking of taking him for ice skating lessons whilst we are still in the UK...do you think that would be a wise move? I'm hoping that maybe he will find a sport that he does enjoy when we move over but the classic British sports, i.e. football, rugby etc do not interest him. I guess this is my fault really as I never believed in pushing him into doing something just because it was/is expected of boys.

Next year can't come soon enough!

This is early for me!! I'm a night owl so I'll be up a couple more hours yet....then get up at 7 with the kids...I must be mad

Thanks for speaking to Moondevil....I feel so much better now I know I can contact you girls with my no doubt millions of questions!

Oh and thanks for the PM....much appreciated xxx

BOO...yeah i am here, been busy today, sorry must remember that going for a brew and "playtime" must come after expats, these canadians/expats who don't take no for an answer

Yeah i live on the southside, mainly as this was a house that was good, i was lucky that burton bunch viewed acouple of houses for me and after the pictures back i decided that this was the one, i really don't know if we are staying in the southside, but the next few days will tell me that

i have children from neally 11yrs down to 4yrs and have to admit if i visit anywhere in the north or south of the town i feel secure and happy.
As a newbie in town who has only ever visited the west, i must admit i wouldn't live there - my feeling for the area is that it feels totally seperate to the town and rainey69 is right that hill in the winter months is a killer
There is another guy on here called "tom" lived here for many years and a good source of info, he does live on the westside and can give you his view on that side if need be.....................

All my kids have settled well, when we was moving over i had great help from a guy who we was in contact with off expats and he gave me so much info about the town and a fresh insight into stuff, so if i could be any help - feel free to ask....
if your child is 5 before the end of this year then they goto kindergaten, if not they wait....so you maybe at home unless you use the daycare around, all info i can give you not a problem and to tell the truth like minihaha who has children the same age as mine, the kids love the freedom that is around

We do keep in contact with each other and its like a mini extended family, we all help with the kids and i dont find that just because one expats kids are older or younger make a difference, they was all here new years eve and the kids loved it and played so well togeather..............even the teenagers

There is also our landlord that i can pass you onto, hes a total love, hes also a realtor as well and is an expat, so with all his info he is one hell of a guy to know, plus he is down to earth, which is a good thing, me thinks
There is also shefspurs as well in town and you find many more like we have, plus the canadians are fab, i have to admit as a Newbie in town the canadians have opened there hearts to use and they have a fab karma to be around, with the mix of expats and canadian friends i would not be anywhere else, i feel at home already and have only been here a few months...

feel free to PM me and good luck on your move..
karma given

Moondevil

Honestly that doesnt matter here, one of the kids teachers said to me that every child fits into there own area, what makes one kid happy will not make the next, if he likes computer games that is fine, please don't worry my eldest is not sporty at all, but she has a awesome bunch of friends

As moonie has said I also have a daughter who is totally NOT sporty and she has also met a really good bunch of friends.

I find that the kids over here are nowhere as mean as they are in the UK and whether they are clever, sporty or need Special Educational Needs all of the kids seem to get on together - there are none of the cliques that you get in the UK schools.

He will also find once he is at Middle School (grade 6 -8) the choice of options for the kids is amazing and he could very well pick up some very good easy grades in these class lessons which is good for him. What Moonie has said about all kids fitting in is exactly what it is like in this place.

I have also found that in schools they do a far wider range of sports for Physical Ed so kids get the opportunity to try a lot more sports than they generally would in the UK - maybe he will find something that he likes.

About the Ice Skating before you come - that would be good but not all kids take to it - not even Canadian kids ! But if there is anywhere that you could learn to dry ski maybe before you come that would also be another thing you could look at as we have a ski resort about 1.5 hours away called Castle Mountain out towards Waterton National Park.

I really wouldn't let anyone put you off any area in anywhere you choose to live as when it comes down to it it is going to be your choice as a family. I would say that the west side hill (Whoop Up Drive) is better in a SUV type vehicle than a regular car - even though I have been coming here for so long it has taken me a long time to be comfortable driving it in whatever condition it is. Maybe worth a look - just so that you know what is there - many people who move to the "mainland" never even venture over there as the hill looks daunting

I would certainly take people up for any help or contacts that they can pass onto you - one thing that I would have done is not go immediately with peoples suggestions ie meet a couple of realtors and then go with your gut instinct just as you would anywhere.

Well you know how to contact any of us

Gayx

Hi Moonie and thanks for that and your previous post....it settles my mind about my son thankfully. I have lived where I am now for 3 years and my son has 2 friends in the area!! shocking!! His old school was 4 miles away and I changed him to the local one 5 mins from my house and he hated it. He was never accepted because he never played football and even his teacher told me to encourage him to play sport or he wouldn't fit in there!! Needless to say, I took him back to his old school sharpish! This is why I am worrying about it when we move over as the option to leave him in his old school is a no-no obviously

My daughter is not 4 until June this year so she will be coming up to 5 when we make the move. Not too bothered about her not going to school straight away as I can't work for a while anyway....would be nice for her to go to a playschool type of thing a couple of days for her sake really as she is starting Reception this September and will be used to going everyday....think she will get fed up of me!!

Thanks so much for your advice

This isnt shocking - my son was exactly the same in the UK. He only had 1 very close friend - they were inseparable from birth - and then a couple of people he mentioned from soccer and from school who I would call "associates" rather than friends.

Since coming here Nate has been transformed from Mr Billy No Mates to my little social butterfly - the most amazing transformation I have ever seen in my life

Gaynor

I'll look into the skiing for him....I reckon he would like that.

I will get OH to have a look at that hill as he is coming over before me...he will know if I would drive down it!!

We won't be buying a house straight away....going to rent for at least a year to make sure it is where we want to settle. I know it is difficult to get rentals that accept pets but I can't leave my 2 kittys here so any future advice on this would be appreciated.

Cheers x

I know that Minihaha did use a cattery for her cats whilst she was in rented accom when she moved to town - but that was for only a couple of months.

Gaynor

I wouldnt worry to much on the school side for your eldest son, his accent will make him friends and honestly if you had seen my eldest when she arrived you would think they are two different kids now

I went through a few months that i really thought she wouldnt settle and she only had one friend in the uk and was really badly bullied, the teachers in the uk are way off, after a few of being here and seeing the teachers you will understand.

If you want, when you come over on recci you are more than welcome to come into school with me and meet the mums and the teachers, as i walk the the school i get "morning", "hi" etc etc
Most of the mums love there kids playing with my son and it feels sometimes that i have been transported to a different world
The daycare centre that my little one goes to is ok, i wouldnt say the best around, but the teachers are good and really friendly, taken my 4yr old time to settle there as she was in playgroup 5 mornings aweek, they seem to attach to you when you first arrive, so don't panic if you are not working, i am still not working and have no intention at this moment

You will get chance to settle and meet us other mad mums in the area, we meet and have a brew or arrive at each others with timmies in hand..
Whatever goes really

Like b/burton has said have a look at all the areas, if you get chance have a look at the smaller areas outside town as well, we did - what a eye opener

i know the westside is due to get there new high school soon, i have been up there so many times lately, still need to take my map, i don't keep away from the westside or avoid it, but you will get feeling for an area once you are here, so dont worry on that side.
i know the northside is real good, the estate that minihaha lives on is real nice, great area for the kids and after viewing houses for the last few weeks i would say that both the south and north are selling even in todays climate, we did look at the westside ones as they was cheaper, but i know i wouldnt settle there, personal choice

Right better not give you info overload..take care

Moondevil

Most expats kids will probably get new friends quickly, as I find most Canadian kids love the Brit accents.