Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
Jul 29th 2013, 8:50 pm
#16
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
We live on 20 acres south of Calgary, about 8 kms east of High River (a town that has been in the news for flooding recently).
We are 15 mins from where we used to live in the City of Calgary (we lived in the south of the City) so we are a short drive from the City.
High River is 5 mins one way (great for purchasing farming equipment, crap for purchasing much else) and 10 mins or so from Okotoks (from my perspective, the same as any of the "shopping" communities in Calgary).
I work in the heart of downtown Calgary and my trip is approximately 1 hour each way (part driving, part train).
I am at work at the moment so I am struggling to find photos to give you a sense of how rural this is but the two shots below are all I have at this time.
We are 15 mins from where we used to live in the City of Calgary (we lived in the south of the City) so we are a short drive from the City.
High River is 5 mins one way (great for purchasing farming equipment, crap for purchasing much else) and 10 mins or so from Okotoks (from my perspective, the same as any of the "shopping" communities in Calgary).
I work in the heart of downtown Calgary and my trip is approximately 1 hour each way (part driving, part train).
I am at work at the moment so I am struggling to find photos to give you a sense of how rural this is but the two shots below are all I have at this time.
Jul 29th 2013, 8:56 pm
#17
The ride never ends
Joined: Sep 2011
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 2,481
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
Quite a number of nice towns and "hamlets" to the North of Toronto around Peel Region, Halton Region or Wellington County. In most cases you'll be less than an hour from downtown Toronto (traffic permitting)
Jul 29th 2013, 9:00 pm
#18
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
Jul 29th 2013, 9:10 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,378
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
We didn't want to have a gravel road access as we didn't want to have to drive trucks all the time. We are very fortunate in that we found one that is rural enough for us (all our neighbours have 20 acres lots - there are 10 or so and then it is farmland), but less then 5 minutes drive from a major highway and easy access to the city.
We spent days looking at properties that, online, looked fantastic but which proved to be problematic due to state of the residence, state of the land or due to access.
We still don't have a proper tractor. I have a 22HP ride on mower thing which keeps me amused, but we will need a larger farmer's type of tractor that we can run mowers, rakers, balers, blade, etc. from. Our snow clearing ability consists of a quad with a blade at the moment. Fortunately, we have a paved drive so that copes with most of the snow we get but, last year, it was drifting so badly that it couldn't cope. Fortunately, our neighbour came over with a huge bobcat with an articulating blade and did our entire drive in about 1 minute with no issues at all.
Without the correct equipment, it pays to have a plentiful supply of alcohol on hand.
Jul 29th 2013, 9:14 pm
#20
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
There are villages, I live on the edge of a village of 1200. This morning I walked down to the diner for breakfast with some workmates. I called in at the post office and pharmacy, had a look around the gift shop closing down sale. There are a couple of convenience stores, two gas stations, a chinese canadian restaurant, a chippy, a coffee shop, a pizza place, laundromat, hairdressers, gift stores, dollar store, fishing tackle store, home hardware, a beer store, LCBO, the Legion, a supermarket, an arena, baseball diamond, soccer pitch. Various churches, a marina, a public school, oo a chip wagon and a farmers' market. Couple antique and junk stores. I think that's it.
We're 35 mins from a 70,000 peep city, 20 from a 4000 peeps town, 40 mins from Lake Ontario. just under 2 hours from Toronto. 90 mins from a decent curry or Chinese food.
There are smaller places with just a few houses, you can be off the grid if you want. Plenty of places like it, better even.
We're 35 mins from a 70,000 peep city, 20 from a 4000 peeps town, 40 mins from Lake Ontario. just under 2 hours from Toronto. 90 mins from a decent curry or Chinese food.
There are smaller places with just a few houses, you can be off the grid if you want. Plenty of places like it, better even.
Jul 29th 2013, 9:20 pm
#21
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
First consider Southern Ontario as defined here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ontario
Population is approx 12.1 million in a total area of 52,860 square miles. Population density is therefore 227 people per square mile.
Now consider the UK as a whole. Population is 63.2 million in a total area of 94,060 square miles. Population density is therefore 670 people per square mile.
So the UK as a whole (including all those very rural areas of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) has a population density almost THREE times that of Southern Ontario. So which one is more rural?
Jul 29th 2013, 9:21 pm
#22
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Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Valemount, BC, Canada
Posts: 1,281
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
Nearest place to where I live is the village of Valemount - pop around 1000. Definitely a village!
(Doh - I meant to quote siouxie's last post!)
(Doh - I meant to quote siouxie's last post!)
Last edited by AlexInBC; Jul 29th 2013 at 9:24 pm. Reason: Added explaination of seemingly random comment!
Jul 29th 2013, 9:25 pm
#23
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2013
Location: London, UK
Posts: 225
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
but...is that the price of the house or the house+ land???
Last edited by Ugo51; Jul 29th 2013 at 9:28 pm.
Jul 29th 2013, 9:30 pm
#24
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2013
Location: London, UK
Posts: 225
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
We live on 20 acres south of Calgary, about 8 kms east of High River (a town that has been in the news for flooding recently).
We are 15 mins from where we used to live in the City of Calgary (we lived in the south of the City) so we are a short drive from the City.
High River is 5 mins one way (great for purchasing farming equipment, crap for purchasing much else) and 10 mins or so from Okotoks (from my perspective, the same as any of the "shopping" communities in Calgary).
I work in the heart of downtown Calgary and my trip is approximately 1 hour each way (part driving, part train).
I am at work at the moment so I am struggling to find photos to give you a sense of how rural this is but the two shots below are all I have at this time.
We are 15 mins from where we used to live in the City of Calgary (we lived in the south of the City) so we are a short drive from the City.
High River is 5 mins one way (great for purchasing farming equipment, crap for purchasing much else) and 10 mins or so from Okotoks (from my perspective, the same as any of the "shopping" communities in Calgary).
I work in the heart of downtown Calgary and my trip is approximately 1 hour each way (part driving, part train).
I am at work at the moment so I am struggling to find photos to give you a sense of how rural this is but the two shots below are all I have at this time.
that looks absolutely lovely!
one hour is not too bad. I used to take the same amount of time going from Paisley to Glasgow...and it's only 8 miles!
Jul 29th 2013, 9:48 pm
#25
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
Jul 29th 2013, 10:36 pm
#28
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
The village I was brought up in in England has 5000 people and far fewer amenities, apart from a couple of decent pubs and public transit. I find that is typical of villages and towns around here, probably to do with the distances involved.
Jul 29th 2013, 10:44 pm
#29
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Nova Scotia (from Scotland)
Posts: 1,032
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
Nova Scotia is basically all rural 
Halifax is the only remotely large city.. where we stay the 'big towns' have populations around the 7000 mark. And yet there is still all the shops we need!
We moved from Glasgow in search of a more rural life, and love it here Now.. if we could just get some income going 
Halifax is the only remotely large city.. where we stay the 'big towns' have populations around the 7000 mark. And yet there is still all the shops we need! We moved from Glasgow in search of a more rural life, and love it here
Now.. if we could just get some income going
Jul 29th 2013, 11:47 pm
#30
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Location: Stauffer, AB
Posts: 842
Re: Rural Canada - how is it? and where?
we live on a 6 acre plot between Sylvan Lake and Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.
It is a 45 minute drive to Red Deer for work. We have a couple of neighbours near, one across the highway and the others are about .5 and 1 km north and south of us.
The drive in the winter is a bit of a pain, but then most drives in the winter are a pain.
This shot was taken about 3 years ago
It is a 45 minute drive to Red Deer for work. We have a couple of neighbours near, one across the highway and the others are about .5 and 1 km north and south of us.
The drive in the winter is a bit of a pain, but then most drives in the winter are a pain.
This shot was taken about 3 years ago