rae

no problem, i can only echo what the blueneck has said. as long as you are not expecting log cabins, moose in your backgarden and a mountain at the end of the road you will not be disappointed. i say this because for some reaon i had conjured an image of a swiss chalet from a skiing brochure in my mind and was sorely disappointed.
its a big city, which means the same as anywhere else in the world, it has a downtown with homeless, drugs and prostitution, it has a very large industrial/chemical/petrol industry to the east of the city, it has large freeways around the outside of it, it has poor low income high rises, it has rubbish, dog crap, beggars, thieves and gangs. all this however is probably 50% less than in the uk.
yes it is in the middle of nowhere if you judge it by english standards, you don't drive 10 mins down the motorway until the next big city, you drive 3hrs to calgary. if you google earth it, you will see north of edmonton is not much at all. in canada you have alot more space and everything is a lot more spread out, but this is the capital city, take a look at rexall place for the concerts this summer, everyone from elton john to kanye west. then look up the festivals, blues, jazz, folk, performing arts, dragon boats races, international childrens, comedy, street performers and more. there is a bloody indy grand prix as well as a huge horse racing track and casino in the centre!!, too much to list and do, if you have the time and money you will always be active. having said that though alot of the stuff is free or quite low cost.
everyone is big into sports over here, i signed for a footy team, $180 per year, my daughter plays fastball/footy in the summer, ice skates in the winter, look at servus place in st. albert, the big subsidized leisure centre. its all go, don't worry about that. i can't remember the last time i had more than 1hr in front of the tv.

sym13

Thanks for the reply, and your comments are all good. Do they play rugby in the area? I know that is a really sterio-typical question from a Welshman

rae

well i can only comment for st. albert, they play league and the pansey union type stuff as well.

Switch180

Ray, are you Stu's mate who took me out on the town.

Switch180

Hey Guys

In answer to your question, I sent off for my IQAS this year. It took about 8 weeks. I provided everything from GCSE'S to Degree. I spoke to recruiting and they were happy to take the application without the certificate as long as I assured them it was in the process. Make sure you keep the receipt as EPS will refund it if you are successful.

I've also heard that they now are offerring $2000 relocation bonus.

Good luck

Pompeyboy

Edmonton Rugby Club have a great set up on the South West corner of the city at Ellerslie Rd, nice club house and fields and I am told that England or maybe Wales sent a team here a few years back to play an exhibition game..There are rugby clubs in most of the surrounding towns too (St Albert, Sherwood park etc.)

Pompeyboy

http://www.edmontonrugby.com/league....gueInfoID=4780

Pompeyboy

Sorry meant to send you this one..

http://www.edmontonrugby.com/league....gueInfoID=6060

rae

certainly am, surprised you remember with all that vomiting at the end you big southern jessie.

Pompeyboy

Oy!! Less of the Southern!

boshwaggle

don't forget that unless you are a Canadian citizen or hold landed immigrant status already, Edmonton is the ONLY force that will accept and help UK officers land in Canada.]

Other wise it is a five year immigration wait and then no guarantee at the end.

I am Canadian but currently work in the Uk police, but in my last employment in Canada before I moved a lot of the people went on to work in the Border Services Agency: it is now toughter than ever for people to get visas.

So Edmonton, if you can get get through the polygraph, and the fitness is a good force to apply for.

And one previous poster said they don't credit Uk experience well they do now because if you have 4 years UK experience you start as 1st class constable.

And secondly, Calgary was offering assistance to visas to UK officers but not any more.

So anyone who is serious about going to canada should go for it, because who knows how long they will accept UK officers for?

rae

that was probably me and i stand by it, until you work in the uk police, then transfer and work here i do not think you can comment. as for the salary its actually 5yrs, something else you got wrong. last paragraph.


http://www.joineps.ca/documents/Anex...itsyou_004.pdf

Pompeyboy

5 (five) years...

Switch180

Oi, I'll have you know I'm not officilly Southern I just relocated down here for the weather and Pims !!!

I'm back out in September so might catch up. You sound much more positive now than back in the day

rae

culture shock, my bag, very slowly getting over it, helps that wife and child are very happy, though she did say if i go back now i go on my own which is tempting in its own right.
what do you mean might catch up, are you scared of a repeat performance of the spectacular technicolour yawn you created.