Yes, I would agree that my sister is the best person to ask, but to get a well rounded opinion, what's wrong with asking the board. Clearly, there are people on the board who live in Edmonton who are able to comment.

I can tell you there are plenty of bars in Edmonton that are as rough as any in Calgary.

But bar brawls are nowhere near as interesting as the subject of tramps -- and on that subject I can report, as I have before in this forum, that Edmonton has seven strip clubs to Calgary's four.

The difference being we weren't actually looking for tramps and strip joints in either place but found them anyway in Calgary around the main shopping street, NW Mounted Police Museum and around the Stampede Park - all areas for a visitor to walk in the daytime.

Any town has seedy areas / times. Just reporting what we saw on a visit.

Excellent, you toured the East village (hopefully during daylight and not on foot). Well, now you have seen the worst of Calgary. As for strip joints, I'm not aware of any in that area now that the King Eddy has sadly been condemned.

The King Eddy. That was a Calgary institution in its own right. Sadly the building has been condemned. It was a favourite haunt of Ralph Klein's (the Premier of Alberta), along with the Cecil Hotel. Rumour has it that the Eddy - located in a building that has been on the brink of collapse for at least 10 years - has only been allowed to remain open due to the infuence of Klein himself.

The King Eddy was a biker bar/brothel/blues club. Now, at the front of the place was the main bar where you'd go for the live Saturday afternoon blues jam, which was, without doubt, the best live music in town.

At the back of the bar was a separate room with a stage and pole - the strip club. But this room was also where you'd get your food, from a surreal tiny little Chinese takeaway. You'd take the food back to your table in the bar.

They shut the brothel down long ago.

wow touchy aren't we?

there's nothing wrong with asking other people's opinions, nothing at all!

"Clearly, there are people on the board who live in Edmonton who are able to comment."

name one? I haven't seen any. That's all I'm saying.

Morw

Bozlyone lives in St Albert which is a suburb of Edmonton, as does Pammy and Shamur. Ocean MDX has lived in Edmonton, as has Danny 1001 who lived there for two years and is moving back again.

So, as I said, clearly there are people on the board who have firsthand experience on Edmonton.

OK, sorry, sorry, ...... I stand corrected!!

I'll retract that bit and leave it at....there's nothing wrong with asking other people's opinions, nothing at all!

But I still say, these opinions are just that....as you can see there are differences, and people feel quite strongly one way or another. The best way is to visit the places yourself and form your own opinion if you are able. (ack! I mean able to visit, not able to form an opinion!) /e removes foot from mouth ......

Morw (are we still friends, plz plz?)

Of course, no hard feelings at all!

Hi Kathleen, Sorry but I dont get much time to spend on the computer these days, we live in the sticks and only have dial up and I get kinda frustrated at the slowness as well, they are supposed to be fixing this soon, fingers crossed!

Anyway, I lived in the southside near Southgate Mall in Edmonton for 6 months, we move to the appartment rented from Midwest Properties in January cant fault them or it, we bused to West Edmonton Mall to return home late at night walking the 15min walk from the bus stop to home in the freezing cold(wouldn't recommend it!)and were never bothered once by anyone.
People in Edmonton are very friendly, Sherwood Park is not for me though, I find the people there not as nice, I think to be honest there are too many immigrants living there!!!!!, ironic I know, but the Canadians are truly the best!
I was having a really down day once and was standing in Canadian Tire looking for oil for my truck, this lady started talking to me and helped me and she didn't even work there, while waiting at traffic lights in the city centre to cross the pedestrian crossing an old lady started chatting, when I got on the bus a chap who looked more like he would have mugged me stood up and offered me his seat-how often does that happen in the UK?


I know some people have said look at Stony Plain, houses there are really cheap but it is very flat and boring, lots of natives around and if you are driving to work you have to drive on the Whitemud at peak hours with the sun in your face in the morning and at night!, rent for a little while and have a good look before you buy, we live out Highway 14 East, theres lots of little communities off the highway and no one bothers you, we hardly even lock our doors!

The driving varies all over too, we find the drivers in the southside far more forgiving, in the North of the city they are very agressive and I now avoid driving there like the plague.

The weather is not that bad, you do get a bit sick around Jan/Feb especially when -30 comes(just for a few days though!)and frozen rain, man thank god I've only seen that once so far!

Jobs, hmmm....not an easy one...what do you both do?....let me know and I can maybe comment...meantime have a look at the Edmonton Journal online for some job ideas and the HRDC website.

Anyway, the quality of life here is second to none, I love it, we could never afford a house like we have here, restaurants are cheap, stuff overall is cheaper, we have both been much happier since moving here and people who have visited us have all noticed a big change in us(for the better!)

For house prices have a look at mls.ca, debbiesellshomes.ca, cant think of any more at the mo!

Any more questions let me know, I have to go call the parents now!
Good Luck
Pammy

My brother moved to Edmonton from Morecambe here in the UK a few years ago. He seems to have settled and is enjoying it, he moans about the climate now and then, but I think his view is it was better than the NW of England so he is happy.

We have been over to see him and are due again next May. I am not that taken with Edmonton, it doesn't seem very 'interesting', not much colour. I wouldn't mind if you could see the mountains but you can't. The river valley is very pretty though, but I don't think I could take the climate.

We have relatives nr London, Ontario and have been there a few times too and much prefer that area. When we move to Canada, I think Ontario would be our first choice. Though I am going to make some work / accomodation enquiries in Edmonton when we are over next.

Hi Pammy,

Thanks so much for all your very helpful comments. In your opinion, what are the pluses to living in Edmonton compared to the UK?

Many thanks!

We too are going to look at Calgary and Edmonton next year,Though I think Edmonton and Sherwood park area in particular are very nice.I also thought Ottawa was very french and couldn't wait to get away from there, much preferred Toronto. Good luck with the trip next year will be interesting to see what you make of it.
Jo xx

Hi Kathleen

Pluses- Food is so much better and eating out is much cheaper

Standard of living is higher, people are nicer, helpful and polite, more relaxed atmosphere everywhere, hardly see any drunks!, (remember I came from scotland!), roads are easier to drive on, you can drive to the Rockies in 3 hours, what more can I say?!

Negative- When you first come, its hard, insurance will be high, banks treat you like crap and even some employers(unless you have a desired trade)treat you as disposable. The snow starts to get to you but the summer is usually worth it.

Its not easy but I am glad I did it, we were originally thinking of moving to the caribbean after we got our citizenship for 5 year or so but we like it so much we have decided we wont now, we have everything we need here and more so why leave!

I love it, but you have to make your own mind up, immigration isn't for everyone, and if you do decide to move you have to be commited and make the best of it, like I say its not easy, nothing ever goes smoothly! but in the long run it can be worthwhile...

See Ya, Merry Christmas
Pammy