Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Hi Y'all, hope you are having a nice day?

Okay, so we moved to NL in 2008 (we're all citizens now etc...) and are looking to move to Alberta/BC to mix it up a bit, I am not tied to an office for work, so that's not an issue.

We have 2 kids - a daughter 18 and a son who is 12.

We are looking at Lethbridge, Kelowna, Kamloops areas (and surrounding) and wonder if you have experience of these places.

We booked a recce road trip there this coming August to have a look (Edmonton, Jasper, Banff (canmore), Kamloops, Kelowna, Sandpoint (US), Kalispell (US), Waterton, Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer and back to Edmonton), we would be very interested in your opinion of where would be a nice place to go and your experience of the places specifically mentioned.

Also VERY interested in ideas of other places we might not have considered.

We are looking for school for my son and ideally some civiliastion in case anything happened to my job (which is as safe as any job can be).

Really looking forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions, please ask.

PS. We don't dislike NL, we just want to mix it up a bit, being here for 7 years is enough.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Did a search for Kamloops and read a few 'really' good posts about exactly my post above :0)

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

It might help if you gave a bit more background in terms of what you want/expect from a place? What you like, dislike, etc?

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Hi - we don't like that there is nothing really to do, go and see in NL that we have not already done 100 times, we like to have places to visit, new things to see, new adventures, and have city's within reach.

NL only have St John's which is literally a small town (in our terms).

So just being able to get in a car and drive to see stuff and do things.

We like walking and have 2 dogs, biking too, but also like the quiet life. Winter is harsh, but hey, it's Canada, although NL is a wet Winter, which really affects my son who has asthma.

So in a nutshell, we want interesting, with things to do and see, places to go in all directions, with a 12 year old, kids his age and a school etc...

Err....what else would help?

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

That helps a bit. Lethbridge is a good place to consider. You can drive to the Okanagan, Calgary, Banff, Montana, even Seattle and Vancouver. In theory you could do the same from OK, but you wouldn't really drive to Alberta much if you were that far West. LA has cheap housing and relatively easy access to Cowtown. In contrast, Edmonton is a bit remote (except for Jasper). My two cents.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

I read that Kelowna and Kamloops don't have such an aggressive Winter and a better climate, we have friends in Lethbridge and have seen the weather they get, still, i'ts better than here in NL.

Any thoughts on Kamloops and Kelowna and area?

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Will let someone else answer on Kelowna winter. Probably a bit colder in LA but less snow and more winter sunshine. Okanagan summers will be hotter! It's probably the economic factors (work, housing, taxes) that are going to be the differentiator for you rather than the subtle difference in weather. If you were considering Lower Mainland it would be a different story on weather. Personally I find the interior of BC a bit insular, but it does really suit some people.

BTW what's your avatar? It's a bit small for me to discern.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Sorry to be dumb, what does 'LA' mean? And it's a Newfoundland dog, seemed appropriate when I set my account up.

I think I agree on BC being a bit insular, although we would have nice surroundings, it's still a massive drive to get anywhere, same as where we already are. So as much as we like that area, I don't think we'll gain much by way of getting away and seeing and doing things.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Oops, thought that LA was common parlance. Lethbridge, Alberta :lol:

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

:0)

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

The thing with the the OK is you literally are in a valley surrounded by massive mountains. So it is quite a drive (psychologically) to get anywhere. It's fine if you like to stay put, and enjoy the recreational lifestyle there, but it has quite a holiday feel to it, and that shuts down Fall/Winter unless your thing is skiing or hunting. Just my take on it, others, if any show up, may disagree. If you're in Alberta you can buy stonking big power boat on the tax you save, and go charge up and down the Okanagan Lakes pissing off the locals anyway. ;)

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Lol, well, I work from home selling advertising in the video games industry and need access to an international airport, I think this may be a thing against BC, see, this thread and your reply's have really really helped me.

We originally looked at Lethbridge and then started looking elsewhere, I think Alberta has some good tax savings and things are a lot cheaper there (NL is REALLY expensive, as it's an island and everything has to be shipped/flown in).

I think I am swayed more towards Alberta TBH, as I can simply drive to Kelowna and the beautiful places on the lake that way.

And Calgary Airport is not too far away.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

What about Calgary (Cowtown) itself? Wouldn't it be better to be closer to a tech cluster? LA is pleasant enough, but a bit slow and small.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Not really to hot on living in (or close to) a big city TBH, I don't need to be in an office and I think it's close enough (2 hours) if I have to go there for flights etc...

Similarly, if anything should happen to my job then it's still doable in the short term.

If we didn't have kids, I'd love a place a bit out of the way, with acreage, that's the end game I think, enjoy our space etc... But Alberta certainly has space.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Well your recce should give you a good feel for the place.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Yes I think so, and thanks very much for your assistance, you have been really helpful indeed.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

If you live around Edmonton LA means Leduc Alberta.
So no it's not common parlance in reference to Lethbridge.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

I know of two people who moved from Alberta to Kelowna and both returned to Alberta. They found winter too depressing. Because of those mountains on a lot of overcast days the cloud base is below the tops of them making it feel like you're in a bowl with the lid on, is how they felt.

Hours of bright sunshine in the winter months seems to bear that out.

Kelowna: Oct 124.5 - Nov 50.9 - Dec 35.1 - Jan 39.4 - Feb 80.9 - Mar 148.5
Calgary: Oct 175.4 - Nov 121.1 - Dec 114 - Jan 119.5 - Feb 144.6 - Mar 177.2
I chose Calgary as the data is not available for Lethbridge.

Data obtained here: Canadian Climate Normals

Mind if you moving to Kelowna from some parts of the UK those low sunshine hours may not bother you. :rolleyes:

As for tax savings you'd likely only be saving the GST. In order to pay less income tax in Alberta you have to be earning over $100,000 per year. Alberta's 10% flat income tax only benefits those earning $100,000 or more per year

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

I have never felt trapped in by big mountain ranges in the Okanagan. We had considered Nelson and I am sure that would have been the case there but not in the Okanagan. We have already been out to Victoria visiting eldest son a month ago. Skiing yes, hunting over Winter... Er no. Closed season. Anyhow, without getting sidetracked into that discussion yet again - most hunters here head off out of the Okanagan. If you want the sun, head above the clouds , snowshoeing , skiing and snowboarding or even just walking.
Anyhow never mind cloud/snow, it has been Spring here for at least a month - clearly unlike Shardsville. Thankfully the Albertans are having to sell their powerboat monstrosities and lake properties due to "financial difficulties" - I have to say that they won't be missed. I love all four seasons particularly Summer and Winter.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

I don't hunt, so that's cool or work in oil, so not rich enough for power sports, sadly, but all this is really interesting. I think the thing we miss the most about the UK, is just being able to get in the car and drive somewhere to see and do new things.

This is a problem you all won't have in mainland Canada, but here in Newfoundland, there's just not places to visit, that we have not visited 100 times in the 7 years we've been here.

Sure we'll miss the whale migration and the icebergs and sea ice and the animals various that come with that.

But I want to get in the car and be able to drive to a city, do some over nighters and go further afield.

And you would not think it, but NL is a really expensive place to live, everything is expensive as it has to be shipped in.

It would also be nice to have good fruit and veg again too, not F & V that is 3 days old by the time it hits the shops :0(

Little things make a big difference.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

I think that Kelowna would fit the bill nil nicely, ticking your boxes. I hate hunting too! Vancouver and the coast is a reasonable drive if you need to see whales again! If you can get work then you can't go wrong! Local fruit obviously aplenty as it is grown all the way down the valley

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

I just wonder if Kamloops and Kelowna, as someone mentioned, would be a bit too insular for 'me', I know my wife is all over these two places and the smaller towns surrounding, but I need access to an airport and I just wonder if South Alberta would be better because of the more Winter sunshine (but the downside of harsher Winter), proximity to big cities and things around?

My job is relatively safe, one of the reasons for moving too, is to be closer to a city where I could earn what I do in my current job (I work in Media), if things changed. This is quite a big factor actually. I am not sure the type of job I do, is in smaller towns.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Stinkypup, I work from home and am not tied to an office, so right now, I can work anywhere, my mobile phone is my office.

But if anything should change and I can't do what I do currently, I need media sales work close by to earn anywhere close to what I earn currently.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Sounds nearly ideal... Anywhere in the interior away from say Vancouver may be a bit lean jobs wise in your field but I'm no expert and Kelowna may have what you needed if push came to shove at some stage. I love your Avatar btw- we could go for walks together... I love Newfies!

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

:0) Ironically, we don't have Newfies, we have a Basenji/Great Dane mix (which we brought from the UK), he just looks like a HUGE Basenji and a husky/lab mix.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

I don't know if you will be able to see this PHOTO

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Yep- still great dogs even if not Newfies

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Both Kelowna and Kamloops have airports, but you will have to make a connection somewhere to get to most places other then Alberta and Vancouver (and maybe a couple other city's)

Kelowna has service from the following airlines:

Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Air North, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal, Westjet. They also list United, but I suspect United may just be code share flights with Air Canada.

Kamloops see's less but still has Air Canada, Westjet and Central Mountain.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Most of this is why we want to leave Alberta.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

United fly to San Francisco . Direct flights to Tronno, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Mexico, Vegas, Seattle. Los Angeles. Some flights seasonal

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

YLW (Kelowna) is apparently looking at European routes, but it could take years (if at all) before we see it happen.

Kelowna airport eyeing European routes - Kelowna Capital News

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Living in NL, we usually have to fly via somewhere anyways!!

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

We are having 2 days in Red a Deer, at the end of our trip, looking forward to the Alberta stretch.

I guess everywhere gets boring in time, we'll just have to move every few years to keep it interesting.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Just really look carefully at what there really is around you in terms of days out and places to visit -wherever you look at, I only say this as you have mentioned you have grown tired of same old lack of things where you are now. Also remember lots of local attractions in Alberta are May long to Labour Day or only 1/2 open. I'm not trying to be a negative nelly, I love lots about Alberta and am so pleased life landed us in Red Deer. Nearer Calgary and the mountains may have worked better in the long run but there is only so many times you can get excited about visiting the same towns for a day out.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Awesome. I wasn't sure as they code share with AC on so many flights, it can be hard to tell at times which airline is actually flying the flights...lol

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

I hear ya.

Couple of questions, is Red Deer an 'oil town' - Perhaps Alberta is a MASSIVE oil town :0)

And if you were looking to move somewhere, where would you go, obvs everyone is different, but I'm interested in where folks that already live where we are looking would go, if they had the chance.

I like Red Deer as you have Calgary to the South and Edmonton to the North and left is the mountains and further South is the USA, it seems like the best central place to be.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Swing by Cochrane on your road trip - 30 mins NW of Calgary.

Europe?! ;)

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Lol.

The recce trip will certainly give us a good idea as to where is for us, this thread is really great though, hearing about 'how it is' from those in 'how it is' :0)

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

THIS is why we like Red Deer, but after ten years the appeal of Calgary and Edmonton has diminished and any further afield gets spendy when it involves overnighters etc. Seriously look at the things to do guides (take them home) in the major towns, tick off those that may interest you and then think how often they will interest you and for how long, I'm not trying to teach you to suck eggs as that is the situation you are already in, hence your upcoming recce. You have to be so critical.

Yes Red Deer is an oil based town - just look at the job listings and you will find oil or retail in abundance.

We ARE looking at an alternative destination, we have ruled out the UK after a couple of visits and much discussion and are focusing on Southern Ontario, we have done one serious recce so far and we have had a couple of prior trips, we are planning on going out each year until we move, 2020 is the if we haven't it will be by then but realistically we are looking at 3 years including this one. Things that appeal; towns and villages in abundance, water and beaches to walk along in abundance. Proximity to airports to the rest of the world. More multicultural with more choices. Affordable housing (especially compared to BC). Bigger car scene. Shorter winters.

The worst thing about all this is our daughter will either stay in Alberta or move to BC (in her mind) the field in which she hopes to study however has more hiring opportunities in Ontario so things may work out ok:fingerscrossed:

I understand your dilemma and the need to get it right this time, after our last recce we came home with local papers, real estate listings, and lots of notes on where we liked the look of, we were also able to eliminate some areas as we could see that if we moved there (Goderich (sp) was a place we liked) then we would be faced with the same situation we have now.

Re: Moving to Alberta or BC
 

Yes getting it right is the thing for sure, we don't dislike it here, but just need to make things a bit more interesting again.

And the UK would be ideal, loads of things to do, but I can't imagine ever going back to live, I'm lucky in that I get to get there a few times a year, but I'm always happy to come home to Canada, this is why I know the UK is not right.

It's such a big decision, we have definitely made it, but just need to decide where to settle. Really looking forward to the trip.