originally we wanted to move from the UK to Calgary but ended up (due to a job) in Edmonton.
20 months later our lives are fantastic. oh job turned from trucker to Health safety and training officer, i have a job i love (saw celine dion last night) and daughter is settled in a good job as well.
we also hae fantasticcanadian friend who invited us into their homes for christmas dinner,and thanksgiving and any other opportunity.
my oh is on the other comp now talking to a new friend we just met, and she has just invited us over this afternoon for chili (weve met her just twice)
we love the layout of the city,everything is close and accessible.
we have visited Calgary a few times, we love the museum , tower and olympic park BUT to be honest i dont think we would move there now as weve fallen in love with Edmonton and its people.

ps shopping is great too esp Winners (like TK MAXX)

I don't think there is much of a difference in the actual city centres. I would say Calgary has a few marginally older buildings, and Edmonton a few marginally funkier new designed buildings. Shopping and leisure facilities would be comparible.

My own thoughts are that Edmonton stands alone and it's three hours to anywhere else - that's before you can even start the trips that anyone from Calgary might venture on. So if you fancy mountains for walking, skiing, drooling over, etc - it's a heck of a trek. Calgary - you just look out of many windows, or drive an hour or so and you're there. If you want to go to BC, it's three hours before you get the map out; if you want to head to the US, it's three hours to get only as far as Calgary - then you start your journey! Depends how often you are hoping to leave your home town I guess. If it's only once or twice a year, then it's not a biggie - if it's more, then do consider that it feels (to me) a little more isolated. I think the air links are better from Calgary too ?

As someone else said, I would also seriously consider which job may prove to be the most satisfying as far as career and pay are concerned, if it is at all possible to draw up a list about them.

Thank you everyone for your replies it has certainly made me review the situation. From my own observations yesterday I was unable to get a competitive price flight to Edmonton without via somewhere. Furthermore I try to purchase books on Edmonton and it was a nightmare. I went to WHSmiths, Borders and Waterstones and found nothing on Edmonton and that says something to me.

Jericho

Thank you I might just do that.

Steve

Yes I did like the views when I was there and I guess everything is on my doorstep.

Debbie
Thanks ...I don't like Coventry (that is my opinion only so don't anyone shot me)

G586

I did say Leam on a larger scale.....and you could be right regarding Manc/Birm.

Woodmanbg

How are you?

We have now both be offered positions in Edmonton in our current careers but I have an opportunity in Calgary still in construction but down another avenue, which I just studying for at the min. The studying is purely for certification and recognition within a professional body as I have the knowledge but it is like starting a new career.

Bobhope

Thank you for your comments....It does help. I was going to commute between both places everyday but I understand that is a 31/2hr drive so maybe not. I have enough of the M1 at the min.

beeginger

It sounds like you are having a great time. It does seem to me now that where you land is where your heart is. I have to say I did love Calgary and shred a tear on my last reccie so what does that say.

AnnM

You have hit the nail on the head on many things so thank you.

Thank you so much to all of you ... I guess its another serious talk with the OH when he returns from Scotland today. I know the OH will have the same opportunities in Calgary but it was because he got offered a job from a friend in Edmonton that threw a spanner in the works. The OH was happier knowing that he had a job to go to.

K

Hi All,

Just an update.

Spoke to OH this morning and we have decided that Calgary it is... that is another couple heading for Okotoks.

(No realtors please I have a friends in the area and they will assist me).

K

I dont think you will be disappointed - regards

Calgary and area are great to live in.

Lived just outside Edmonton (Spruce Grove) for 27 years and have lots of friends in Calgary - there is ongoing rivalry between both cities - From my exprience - love Calgary for closeness of the mountains and Edmonton for easier to get around the city. Thinik right now houses prices seem a little softer in Edmonton - have to agree with Steve - Calgary - white collar - Edmonton - blue.

But it's a clean, pressed and well paid blue collar!
And Calgary has a down to earth, folksy white collar!

I don't understand this blue/white collar ....to me it would be the same.

What is the difference? Is it the profession?

K

"Blue collar" typically refers to manual labourers (such as construction/trade workers) while "white collar" typically refers to office workers.

Thank you for clearing up that point.

K

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_collar

When I visited Edmonton it seemed less "blue collar" than a typical industrial city in the UK. That might be because most UK blue collar cities have been on the decline for at least a generation and have large areas of dereliction and population unemployed/on benefits.

Someone I know in the UK who used to live in Edmonton and Calgary told me that Edmonton is more of a "cultural" centre in terms of being headquarters for various Alberta institutions/organisations. The other indicator he mentioned was that the main university in Edmonton was established about 100 years ago whereas the equivalent in Calgary is much more recent. He said this didn't mean there was anything wrong with Calgary just that it had expanded from its "cowboy/ranching" origins more recently.

Calgary white collar:

There's lots of corporate headquarters in Calgary (especially oil), and so lots of accountants, and the "professional" side of the oil business - geologists etc.

Edmonton has more of the hands on service companies, since it's closer to the oilfields, and also has a refinery.

That being said a "blue collar" worker in the oilfield could earn a lot more than a white collar worker!

When you get into the housing estates or suburbs they are pretty much the same, whether in Calgary, Edmonton, Red-Deer or Saskatoon for that matter.

However, with the recent dramatic increase in the number of Bentleys, Ferraris, Maseratis in Calgary there's BIG monety in this city.

We prefer the 'feel' of Calgary and find it's more user friendly than E-town. We always get lost when we go to E-town and only most of the time get lost when going to Cow-town - yes we have a at last got a Tom Tom but it usually stays home - handy there!

You could always move to Red Deer and comute - lots of people seem to do it.

Kim
You can spends hours back and forth with different points of views - I say go with your gut feeling - you can always move - nowhere is perfect - right?