Hi all,
We've got loads of questions so please if anyone can provide answers to any it would be great.
We've been looking at moving to Canada for some time (we'll be going down the spousal route) and have been on a few visits but never really found somewhere we could both see ourselves living, UNTIL we read an article in Canada magazine which was about a couple who had moved to Cochrane. We both loved the sound of it, it appears to have everything we've been looking for so I'm coming over in September to have a look for a week. Husband is staying to look after our 2 kids -his idea as he rightly pointed out he doesn't care which part we go to as long as we go! Guess I'm the picky one!- I want to find out as much as I can before I go so I don't waste time.

How bad are the winters in Alberta really?
On your recce what do you wish you'd checked out/done/visited?
How easily did your children adapt to moving away from family?

For Cochrane:
I've heard there's a brilliant childrens centre, and I wondered what the groups are like -and what age they go up to- as our children are 2 and 4 months and I need plenty to take them to.
What are the people like at the groups? Welcoming to Brits?
Are there many people at them as alot here are oversubscribed?
Are the groups term time only?
Do you get any free hours at nursery over there?
How much do you get in child benefit?

What's the best thing about Cochrane? It sounds too good to be true!

I know there's alot of questions but we'd appreciate any help or advice going!!
Cheers.

A week may give you sufficient time to reccie Cochrane and get a general feel for the place. It will not be sufficient to have a look at the Rockies, Cochrane and surrounding areas.

Best of luck

winters are too long...mid Oct - Mid Apr well this winter just gone anyway

"Normal" Calgary winter mid to late November to mid to late March.

However I put normal in quotes because it's extremely difficult to define these days. With the exception of the last two (virtually no chinooks), winters have recently been relatively mild in Calgary and areas.

I believe it has been similar in Edmonton chinooks excepted.

It's a great town, has a nice feel to it and you can are on the right side for the rockies.

We've been here 11 months, winter wasn't too bad, life/work continues as normal.

As a place to bring children up in - lots to do.

Goodluck with your reccie.

Poppit

Thanks everyone for your replies. Our computer died and we had to get a new one hence not being able to get on to check for replies.

My flight is booked now for September. Is the only motel there a Super 8 as I need to get that booked next.

Really looking forward to it now although I'm terrified in case I like it! Husband would be so pleased if I do!

Anyone else with any advice would be great....

Hi Bumblebee2

I'm biased as I already live here but I love Cochrane!!!

We moved here a little over two and a half years ago now and think it's fantastic. We have two kids too; a little older than yours though as ours are 5 and 9.

Winters here are OK. Yes, it's colder than UK winters and we get more snow but life rarely grinds to a halt. The winters are embraced - great for skiing, ice skating and sledding. There's a couple of good sledding hills in Cochrane and one of the local ponds is used for skating in winter too.

On our recces, we pretty much checked out all we wanted. We stayed here in Cochrane for two weeks which gave us time to check out what we needed to plus some time for sightseeing too.

Our children coped really well with moving away from their old lives; the younger they are, generally the easier it is.

I've heard really good things about the children's groups here in town but don't have too much personal experience with them. Lucy Lovelock is the person to speak to on that front (she'll probably be along on here sometime too to answer some of your queries) as she has younger kids than me. We put my youngest in to a pre-school when we moved over until he was old enough to attend Kindergarten. The first pre-school we tried to get him in to was over-subscribed and so we were unlucky but we were more than happy with the one he did go to.

The best thing about Cochrane? That's a toughie as so much about it is great! I love its location; close enough to the city but also close enough to the mountains (we can see them from our house!). There is so much green space around too - lots of walking and cycling paths and lots of childrens play parks everywhere. Lots to do - swimming, bowling, movies, ice skating etc. There's always something going on in town from pancake breakfasts, rodeos, parades etc. The schools are good here too; my children have just finished Kindergarten and Grade 4 respectively and we have been really pleased with their schooling.

There are several motels/hotels in town apart from the Super 8. Theres also Best Western and Days Inn. We also have a self-contained guest suite we let out that may be of interest to you. Not sure of your dates but the only dates in September that it is currently booked out is 8 to 18 September inclusive. PM me if you'd like further details.

Anyway, please don't hesitate to PM me if there's anything further I can help you with regard to Cochrane (I even have some pics taken around town I can always send you!).

I'm sure you'll love it here; it's a very friendly, family orientated town.

Regards.

I agree with the Thornes above (lovely family), we have been here for just over a year, and have had our ups and downs, but you know what, the downs have been made so much easier than if we had been back in the UK. Our children are children here, we are still biased as we spent all winter skiing in Nakiska, and now, yep we are camping every weekend in our 5k trailer!! We love it, I feel that now we are all living a full and happy life, our neighbours are all Canadian, and so so wonderful. As is everyone in Cochrane, ok so you will meet the odd one, but not as much as I met them in B & Q and Tesco every weekend!!! Boy dont miss those weekends! The Winters are cold, but the sun shines every day, and the sky is always blue, I love it! I wouldnt live any where else in the world, and I have been to a few places. Good luck, embrace the change, and when in Rome!!!!

Thanks to everyone for your replies. It's great to hear all the positive points.

It certainly sounds like the type of place we're looking for -family orientated, and where children can have more freedom.

I'm coming over in September just less than 8 weeks to go now and I can't wait to see everything.

Anyone got anything that I really should check out there except for the ice cream place?! (Got to lose a few pounds so I can really appreciate that one!)

We have been here for little under a year (Vancouver). We also thought that Canada would be better for Children, but as others on this forum have said before, you also need to think of what you, as adults, want in terms of lifestyle, weather, hobbies etc. and job opportunities. Children at a young age are happy wherever. You are arriving on your reccie at a time when the weather may be more favourable, but the winters can be tough going if you're not used to snow. I would recommend researching all areas in Canada, they are so different.

welcome back to the forum

Your Welcome and Thank you x !!!

Elbow Falls, just one hour south west of Cochrane, Canmore one hour west Cochrane, Banf National Park, Lake Louise, Sundance Trappers Tents one hour away in Kananaskis (on way to Nakiska ski resort) tent for the night. Check out the house rentals in Bearspaw (rentfaster.ca). Get some firewood, light a firepit in one of the lovely parks, and have a bbq Canadian style, enjoy!!!

Hi,

Were also in the process of planning a Recce to Cochrane. Weve got friends who started out in Calgary and ended up moving to Golden, BC.

We visited Canada 2 years ago and fell in love with it, we've applied for Permanent Residency as skilled workers as myself and my wife are both Nurses.

I have booked flights for Oct/Nov when were planning to spend 3 weeks checking out Cochrane, Calgary, and Okotoks. We're also still weighing up the pro's and con's of living in Kelowna, BC v's Alberta, so were also planning to visit there in our 3 weeks.

If anyone has any info regarding nursing in Alberta it would be much appreciated.

Rich

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...apid-hire.html