carolg2712

Good evening, I haven't been on here for a while as my dream of Canada took a bit of a knock a few years ago because my husband was really anti a move to Canada. However, in the last few months there may be some life in the dream still and he is actively considering it as an option for our future. We have pretty much narrowed our preferred location to Alberta, but the question I have, is whether we should focus on Edmonton or Calgary. I know there is a rivalry that goes beyond sports teams and has endured practically forever so I'm prepared to accept that those in Edmonton would generally say Edmonton, and those in Calgary would generally say Calgary. In terms of job opportunities, I am currently employed as a Junior Project Manager in the UK Civil Service, and my husband is working as a Warehouse Operative, but is a Front End Web Designer / Digital Content Editor by trade, so one of our key considerations is job opportunities, whilst the other is the cost of housing with access to public transport to save needing to purchase a car immediately (we would probably hire a car to go further afield as needed). My daughter is doing a course in animal care at the local technical college and would like to work in a cattery or kennel, or even a pet shop or zoo, so that is an extra consideration. My only other concern at the moment is timing, and whether my son (who would have just turned 16 when we were planning on going after his GCSE exams (UK High School exams)), would have to complete a further year at school, in which case it might be better to delay slightly. As I am a Canadian Citizen, timing is not the most urgent thing at the moment.

If there is already a similar thread to this, my apologies for starting a new one so please let me know and direct me to it.

Hope you can help

Thanks

ann m

So I'm near Calgary so would say Calgary

If your son is 16 when he arrives, it is likely quite likely he might need to do two more years of school - Grades 11 and 12. Most kids here at 18 when they graduate or very close to 18. The school would assess his GCSE results to see what that might equate to and might give him credits for those exams. Essentially, in Alberta, you need 100 credits to graduate with a high school diploma - which really is an absolute minimum you need for life here (although, to be honest, there is a huge drop-out rate). So each subject in Grades 10, 11 and 12 is usually 3 or 5 credits and you just keep going till you get 100. Some kind of Math and English and Social is mandatory in Grade 12 - though there are different levels depending on whether he wishes to go to uni, college or trades, or some other route.

scilly

The real question is ........... where are the jobs that you can do and which will enable you to obtain a visa?

No point in deciding to live in place A if the jobs are in place B and/or you are not eligible.

Former Lancastrian

No need for a visa she is a Canadian and would be able to sponsor a non-Canadian as a Family Class member.

scilly

oops ................ I missed that last piece of infomation

Vulcanoid

If you've gotten as far as narrowing it to 'Alberta', why did those same factors not give you a city? Edmonton and Calgary are both about 1m people, they're both car-based sprawling prairie cities, they both have reasonable public transit access to some parts, less so to others. Calgary's slightly more head-office tower-block economy, Edmonton's slightly more blue-collar/government economy.

If you decided "Alberta" because you went "We want mountains but not to pay for BC" then Calgary's dramatically nearer them. If you decided Alberta because you went "prairie skies but not Sask/Man", then Edmonton is more prairie. If it was "I want to be near family", you know which is physically closer to them and we don't. If it was "we want a reasonable sized city with things to do", then - why did you pick Alberta? What was it that made you go 'this particular Province'? Those reasons would presumably be driving factors in where you wanted to go.

Former Lancastrian

My choice would be which one offers the best employment prospects in your related fields. Both cities have advantages and disadvantages and housing cost of living in both is essentially the same.
Calgary is closer to the US border for driving purposes and has a slightly larger airport with better overseas flights coverage ie more places to fly to although Edmonton isnt that bad.
Both have pro NHL and CFL sports teams. Calgary has the Stampede Edmonton has Klondike Days.
Edmonton is further north so doesnt benefit as much when Chinooks blow through.

carolg2712

Thanks for feedback above and it is one of the main reasons we're struggling with between the cities. My work history and experience has been in the publix sector at all levels of government from Town Council to UK Civil Service, which suggests Edmonton may have the better job prospects for me, whilst my husband has worked predominantky in the private sector so Calgary looks like the better option for him.

carolg2712

Thank you Ann m regards schooling.

carolg2712

BC was originally our first choice but affordability is the crucial factor. Alberta seemed to have the best compromise of potential income vs cost of living. I also spent my early childhood in Fernie (which I appreciate is BC) as dad was a miner and was familiar with the Chinook winds as a means to reduce the impact of winter, which has probably helped to shape the decision. Calgary seemed logical when I first looked at Alberta, but having spent my career in the UK public sector I'm trying to figure out if Edmonton might be better for my own job prospects, and as a Canadian citizen, it might be more straightforward for me to be the main wage earner, at least initially.

Former Lancastrian

Well as Deadmonton is the Provincial capital it might have more Provincial Govt jobs but for Federal Govt they are about the same although IRCC have just moved a Case Processing Centre to Edmonton which was in Vegreville.

UKexpat82

carolg2712

Thanks for the PMP heads up. Much appreciated.

Jingsamichty

Could I ask what sort of projects you manage - construction, administrative, political, IT etc.?

lukesmith2

Hey there,

We moved to Calgary from Toronto about 2 months ago. Calgary is a beautiful city and we really love it. But its in a really bad economic situation at the moment (hopefully it gets fixed soon) but basically it is a recession essentially reminds me of 2008 in the UK. Unemployment is quite high in Calgary. I work in the field B2B Service and my girlfriend is a Dental Hygienist. So my job is really slow many customers are returning equipment due to shutting down offices and stuff its really depressing actually. I would just say that unless you have a job thats always in high demand do not move to Calgary at least now. I am lucky in the fact my girlfriend is a hygienist and dental is always in demand she had like 5 job offers but if your in any other job as a newcomer I would not risk it here. I feel like I could be laid off before my probationary period ends and theres barely any companies hiring in my field of work which is very specialist. I can't speak for Edmonton but I would imagine the same.

Toronto was in no state of economic depression when we left there and my work was busy. If I had known the work was going to be like this I wouldn't have moved here. Just being brutally honest. BC may be more expensive but its economy hasn't been hit by the oil slump so much considering the jobs you both do I wouldn't move to Alberta unless you both have good jobs lined up here. It will get better eventually when the pipeline is built but that doesn't look like soon.

Good luck!!