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-   -   Location advice (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/location-advice-775361/)

energysolutions Oct 22nd 2012 8:39 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by mandymoochops (Post 10344182)
here are my opinions based on what I know - any left blank are because I don't know the area

Sorry but all I can see is my original list with NO opinions - am I missing something or dont you know any of the areas?:huh:

mandymoochops Oct 22nd 2012 8:42 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by energysolutions (Post 10344186)
Sorry but all I can see is my original list with NO opinions - am I missing something or dont you know any of the areas?:huh:

hahaha just edited it - for some reason I tabbed and it posted!!!!!

iaink Oct 22nd 2012 8:43 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by energysolutions (Post 10344171)
Yikes - I was expecting them to be expensive and they didn`t disappoint!

How do these prices compare to the rest of Canada, particularly non mining/oil areas that are susceptible to the boom/bust phenomenon?

I still haven`t talked money with any of the potential employers but with rents so high the remuneration would need to be pretty good

By way of comparison...
My area is pretty average, maybe on the cheap side for inhabited parts of Ontario
http://belleville.kijiji.ca/f-real-e...l-W0QQCatIdZ43

Average household income around here is maybe $70-75k


Originally Posted by energysolutions (Post 10344184)
Thats crazy, I cant see how that can work - when the relationship between income and property prices becomes so distorted a "correction" to some degree seems inevitable

So people keep saying, but its not happened yet...

mandymoochops Oct 22nd 2012 8:46 am

Re: Location advice
 
Stettler is a small town, the people who live in it are not well off (think "people of Walmart" website). The money people out here are the farmers or those that have acreages out of town. (The only reason I'm saying that is that I presume you don't want to move your family to what is in essence a big trailer park lol) so the families that aren't hooked on alcohol / drugs tend to be the ones that can buy land outside of town - but that is an issue for integrating because you will have no neighbours or community to hang out with!. Theres a very small new subdivision but I don't think it would offer a family what they would want.

I've said it before that if I had the absolute choice should I ever have to move to a town / city - then it would be Camrose absolutely hands down.

Clean city, great facilities, nice houses and within driving distance of Edmonton / The Rockies and everything you could ever want.

energysolutions Oct 22nd 2012 8:49 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10344165)
Ah, I get it.

There have been occasional posts from people living in Ft Mac that say its not that bad, but the majority opinion seems to be that the effect of lots of single men (or at least lots of men working away from home), plus lots of money, plus limited time off the camp makes for a wild west frontier feel, fueled by alcohol and other stimulants, so maybe not the most family friendly place in Canada.

I dont recall anyone posting about Labrador... it seems smaller scale?

Luckily I dont drink (well as close as makes no difference) - by other stimulants I assume you mean drugs? (Not my bag at all I`m glad to say)

Rio lead me to believe that I would be living in Labrador and its a family orientated place with around 10,000 people - the guy I was speaking with actually grew up there and spoke very highly of it

If thats true then the only question mark is how expensive is it to live there and do the wages justify the expense

energysolutions Oct 22nd 2012 8:52 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by mandymoochops (Post 10344192)
hahaha just edited it - for some reason I tabbed and it posted!!!!!

:D

You had me confused there.....!:unsure:

I shall be consulting that list when making my decisions - thanks for that:thumbup:

energysolutions Oct 22nd 2012 8:58 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10344194)
By way of comparison...
My area is pretty average, maybe on the cheap side for inhabited parts of Ontario
http://belleville.kijiji.ca/f-real-e...l-W0QQCatIdZ43

Average household income around here is maybe $70-75k



So people keep saying, but its not happened yet...

That was a real eye opener - perhaps I`m reading it wrong but rents are around a third of the price - question is are wages three times higher in the resources rich areas?

energysolutions Oct 22nd 2012 9:02 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by mandymoochops (Post 10344198)
Stettler is a small town, the people who live in it are not well off (think "people of Walmart" website). The money people out here are the farmers or those that have acreages out of town. (The only reason I'm saying that is that I presume you don't want to move your family to what is in essence a big trailer park lol) so the families that aren't hooked on alcohol / drugs tend to be the ones that can buy land outside of town - but that is an issue for integrating because you will have no neighbours or community to hang out with!. Theres a very small new subdivision but I don't think it would offer a family what they would want.

I've said it before that if I had the absolute choice should I ever have to move to a town / city - then it would be Camrose absolutely hands down.

Clean city, great facilities, nice houses and within driving distance of Edmonton / The Rockies and everything you could ever want.

Good points, I lived in the country most of my life and would prefer that but would consider a small town

I`m gonna have a look at Camrose - thanks for the pointer

mandymoochops Oct 22nd 2012 9:08 am

Re: Location advice
 
I don't know if you will be able to see this but a few years back I took a drive into town and took photos along the way

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=9f9b916fc3

pictures 8 and 10 are where I presume the company is that you could be working for.

It will gove you a good idea of what 'small' town Alberta looks like :thumbsup:

missieleah Oct 22nd 2012 9:10 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by energysolutions (Post 10344037)
Ok, heres the choice:

Fort Nelson
Rainbow lake
Fort ST John
Dawson Creek
Peace River
Fort McMurray
Grande Prairie
Valleyview
Athabasca
Barrhead
Bonnyville
Whitecourt
Edson
Edmonton
Nisku
Camrose
Hinton
Drayton Valley
Lloydminster
Stettler
Rocky MTN House
Red Deer
Provost
Drumheller
Kindersley
Calgary
Brooks
Medicine hat
Swift Current
Taber
Shaunavon
Estevan

Not sure if they`re all on offer but this is where the offices are located - the company is Tarpon energy

From my limited experience... Kindersley approx rent for a 3 bed SMALL House is 2k per month, Estevan is not much better (and is pretty racey!!!). When the oil and gas moves in, prices to up! If you're going on your own ul be ok, but if not, ul find it VERY hard to find somewhere to live in these two!

Novocastrian Oct 22nd 2012 9:19 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10344165)

I dont recall anyone posting about Labrador... it seems smaller scale?


There was one, petesdragon IIRC. He moved there with his wife to be near her family in Labrador City.

Checking, he hasn't posted since January when I delicately suggested he was off his head. Either he took umbrage or he froze to death soon after. But if it wasn't the latter and he still lurks now and again, a PM from the OP might get a response.

energysolutions Oct 22nd 2012 9:20 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by missieleah (Post 10344239)
From my limited experience... Kindersley approx rent for a 3 bed SMALL House is 2k per month, Estevan is not much better (and is pretty racey!!!). When the oil and gas moves in, prices to up! If you're going on your own ul be ok, but if not, ul find it VERY hard to find somewhere to live in these two!

Unfortunately I`m not (wifey in tow)

Doesnt oil and gas wages offset the premium prices or is that a myth?

I mean theres no point in taking an oil/gas job which pays say $20K more per year than a normal job if it costs $30K more to live per year

energysolutions Oct 22nd 2012 9:22 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 10344251)
There was one, petesdragon IIRC. He moved there with his wife to be near her family in Labrador City.

Checking, he hasn't posted since January when I delicately suggested he was off his head. Either he took umbrage or he froze to death soon after. But if it wasn't the latter and he still lurks now and again, a PM from the OP might get a response.

Ill try PMing him, its worth a whirl

Does anyone know what line of work he was in?

energysolutions Oct 22nd 2012 9:24 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by mandymoochops (Post 10344236)
I don't know if you will be able to see this but a few years back I took a drive into town and took photos along the way

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=9f9b916fc3

pictures 8 and 10 are where I presume the company is that you could be working for.

It will gove you a good idea of what 'small' town Alberta looks like :thumbsup:

I can see them fine - thanks for that:thumbup:

How far is what would be considered a "large" town? ie something with a cinema?

mandymoochops Oct 22nd 2012 9:25 am

Re: Location advice
 

Originally Posted by energysolutions (Post 10344253)
Unfortunately I`m not (wifey in tow)

Doesnt oil and gas wages offset the premium prices or is that a myth?

I mean theres no point in taking an oil/gas job which pays say $20K more per year than a normal job if it costs $30K more to live per year

If you don't mind travelling then the wages in the industry afford you the best of both worlds.

Somewhere like fort Mac is a law unto itself anyway.

A lot of people certainly that i know - travel / fly in to job sites and live somewhere central. BUT all that said the big money is in the remote sites - there's really only Fort Mac that I know of that has the money living and working there. Hence why the prices are stupid.

It all seems very dauning to weigh up what the best course of action to take is - for both family and standard of living, but that's what we're here for :thumbup:


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