Hi all,

Not posted in a while, but a long time lurker. We put our plans on hold because of the economy. Now things are looking up we've decided to plan our first and only recce trip to Calgary and surrounding areas.

We're looking for any tips and advice on things we should include in our trip that people who have done this previously found useful. We are looking to go out on the 10th February next year for 2 weeks.

We are a family of 4 with 2 boys age 13 and 11, the eldest is adamant he isn't going so one aim of the recce is to convince him otherwise. Any specific activities for teenagers to include would really help(have read the thread on reluctant teens recently).

Thanks,
Martin and family

At that time you will be in the midst of winter. For the kids, I would suggest that you take them to Canada Olympic Park and enrol them on a introduction to skiing/snowboarding lessons, take them to a Hitmen game (cheaper and more dynamic than the Flames). If they do not fall in love with Calgary after that, it is unlikely that the will.

Other than that, the usual tasks of housing, schooling, sightseeing etc.

Is there some particular reason for trying to convince a reluctant 13 year old to fall in love with Calgary (comment applies to anywhere in Canada) in the middle of February?

Does he enjoy spending his evenings in the freezer at home?

We have an 11 year old who LOVES it over here, and wouldn't go back to the UK for anything. If we can be of any help, just PM us and let us know. I'm thinking emailing/facebooking communication between the boys etc.

Other than that, I'd second Almost Canadian's recommendations. Take them to a hockey game....they'll love it! Here in Okotoks we have the Oilers - they may not be in the NHL but they're darn good and worth watching.

With your username, you are going to have to the whole dogsled thing really.

There are a couple of companies out at Canmore (Snowy Owl Tours is one I can recall off the top of my head) that do these. Be warned that Feb could be more than just a tad chilly though, it might be on the bloody freezing side

Otherwise, as others have said - hockey games, ski'ing/snowboarding, leisure pools, cinemas, malls. What are your kids into? If there is anything vaguely sporty about them, try and show them some facilities (ask on here for locations, details). If they are not particularly sporty, what else floats their respective boats? Give us some clues and someone on here will come up with more suggestions.

They are possibly too old for some other stuff, which is either shut over winter, or not applicable to them - I'm thinking the Zoo, the Heritage Park, etc.

Do they like dinosaurs and fossils? - a two hour drive out to Drumheller may or may not be worth the trip - various opposing views on this site as to how worthwhile the day is.

Schools will be open until the 12th, and then I think most will have the following week off, back open again on 22nd - if you are looking that far ahead.

We came three years ago at exactly this time of year and somehow managed to find plenty to do, but we did book 5 days of ski'ing in the middle

The city centre is not very exciting really, especially for kids - but there are a couple of museums of varying subject that may be of interest.

Don't know really - a stubborn 13 year old is a stubborn 13 year old, no matter what continent! Maybe take up some offers to meet up with expats with similar aged kids?

Enjoy!

Hi Martin and co,

There's been some good advice above (especially from Almost Canadian) about things to try and take in with your recce and the WIKI article on the subject is probably helpful too.
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Calgary_Recce_Trip

You'd probably want to be trying to do some potential employer networking, (carpentry and internet commerce I believe?) however informal...maybe use the time between now and then to generate some contacts that you might try and meet with while here.

Of course, that's not going to help your 13 year old (and your 11 year old) to see things positively here. We have a number of clients with children around those sorts of ages who we're sure would not mind if you wanted to encourage some contact beforehand or some non-pressured socialising while here...maybe they will value getting info on the reality of life here (good and bad) from people in their age group and indeed, the same is true of you and your wife.

If the weather is good, you should try and have a little trip up to the mountains. It would be a shame to come all this way and not do that.

Our blog and website below might give you a bit of a taste for things out this way and we're happy to help any way that we can.

Kind regards,

Eamonn & Janet.

What sports are they into ? If they are into soccer I do know that Calgary Minor Soccer Association have a Tournament over Family weekend at the Calgary Soccer Centre in the SE of the city - might be a good "father & son" activity whilst you shop at the Southcentre Mall and have some retail therapy small mall but somewhere for you to chill on your own.

You have to take them to see the mountains whether on a ski trip or a day trip to Banff.

Calgary is well placed to go to Edmonton too - West Ed Mall amazing not only a shopping mall but has a swimming pool and other things to do like the seal show and fun fair - bit like the metro centre.

You could also go exploring further south in the province too - but the only town worth a visit is Lethbridge (population of about 85,000). Some pretty good heritage places to visit along the Crows Nest Trail such as Head Smashed in ?Buffalo Jump, Franks Slide, the Coal Mine - learn something about Canadian Heritage - do a web search for the sites or visit this wiki page on Lethbridge as there are some attraction websites on there.

Hope this helps

Thanks everyone for the info ,very helpful.
The dog sledding sounds a must so does the ski snow boarding and we deffo want to make a trip to the mountains.

The youngest is happy about moving out so far, he is into soccer and plays for 2 teams the eldest was happy about moving out 18 months ago but is at the age where he is getting his group of friends and i think that is what is bothering him most, so just trying to give him a positive spin really, he is into kayaking and out doors stuff (not ideal in feb i know).

How is the job market looking for carpenters ? seems a lot of jobs in Edmonton but not many in Calgary at the moment on job bank.

Thanks,
Martin

The Construction Boom ended in Calgary towards the end of last year. There are some housing projects going in Airdrie ( north Of Calagry) and the SE areas. not sure what's going in Edmonton. Personally I don't like the place I have my company awards up there this weekend

Wouldnt Skiing/ Boarding be the obvious thing to convince a 13 year old about the joys of Canada in February?

If you dont wanna fork out for a flames game. Forget the (s)hitmen, take in a game of Lacrosse instead, faster paced more goals, cheaper seats and DIRTIER play.

OH and they have the drill team (if that doesnt get the 13yr hooked NOTHING will)

We brought our then 8,10 & 15 rising 16 year old to Calgary last year & they all totally LOVE it here. Admittedly we came from London & none of them were particularly reluctant travellers but they all tell us on a regular basis how happy they are we moved here.

They go skating/ snowboarding/skiing & we have cheap & fun long weekends camping (including white water rafting & kayaking) in the parks in summer plus the boys, including the biggest one - ie hubby, play baseball (not that the girl couldn't but she was involved in other things as per next sentence.) My youngest got into the Young Canadians so was in the Grandstand Show for the Calgary Stampede.

I can't add anything else to the other great suggestions except to say that you could take in a Flames game for a reasonable amount (not that Hitmen aren't fun we really enjoy seeing them too) by buying the cheap seats for the game (costs around $34-$35 each.) They are up really, really high but honest it's not that bad & you truly can see all the play, you're on the same level as the TV commentators so it can't be that bad. The neat thing is though that if you arrive really early (about 1.5 hrs before the game starts) you can watch practice from the very best seats. In that way the boys can sit right by the tunnel where the players come out & (with the exception of Kiprusoff who you CANNOT touch) the kids can get autographs & "high 5" the players after watching them practice.

As far as friends go their social life is even more full here than it was in the UK - the kids are really friendly here & I'm sure you'll find they settle in way faster than even you (or they) could ever imagine.

I agree the Hitmen is good fast paced Hockey but the Calgary Roughnecks Lacrosse is another level again. Great entertainment (for a 13 year old) and good value, plus they are the defending NLL champions to boot.

Out local YMCA in Shawnessy is a school, library, swimming pool, gym with indoor running track climbing wall and hockey rinks all in one. Our teenage nephews were 'well impressed' when they visited from the UK. There are other facilities such as Southland and Trico Leisure centres that may have the same impact !!

good luck

Thats 'cos hes from another dimension, never mind a different planet

Oi what the hell is that all about?