Im moving my family from the uk to calgary in alberta,canada but hav never been wot should i expect?

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frid

expect it to be a lot more like texas than you imagined

CF_

lifestyle is more relaxed and more friendly than in UK..also lots more restaurants and lots less pubs.

cost of living is higher than most places in Alberta but lower than in the UK

cars are bigger

people movers are called Vans

TV is free!!! but if you want more channels you have to pay for that.
Fashions are mixed but tend to be relaxed or cowboyish at times

SmartBlonde

Calgary is a bit of a concrete jungle and it is layed out on a grid. Calgarians love their cars and the roads there are huge and in great condition. It is almost impossible to do anything without a car.

City people are NOT cowboys and you will not fit in if you wear cowboy gear except duing Stampede Week when everybody does and looks like dorks. Canadians generally dress more casually than Britons. Jeans or cargo pants go just about everywhere including to clubs and restaurants. Canada tends to be about 1 year behind Europe in fashions.

Most people live in houses (separated not terraced) in the suburbs with gardens (yards) and it is normal for families to own three cars. One each for mum, dad and kids. Calgarians like to eat out, go to films and watch sports. They are also quite out-doorsy with the mountains near by lots of skiing, ice-skating, swimming, hiking etc. There is a reasonable theatre and clubbing scene.

You will find just about everything much cheaper than in Briton, but then Canadian dollars don't go as far. For the same money you can have a bigger house and more cars, but people don't dress as well and their cars aren't as new. Middle class is the same everywhere.

Shops are open later, many all night, and you can drop into medical centres at any time and be seen without an appointment or being registered or anything.

Historically Calgary had good schools and hospitals but they have been suffering under years of right wing governance. Alberta now spends less on education per student than some of the poorest American states. Health care is going that way too. Alberta is an oil producing province and Calgary's economy is tightly tied to the price of oil.

Hope that helps. Best of luck with the move.

canadianphatkid

make sure you have a lot of money for a house, rents expensive omg the traffic but hey they have the calgary flames

slave2luv_xxx

i'm a born and raised calgarian,who lived in UK for 3 years.I hope you find calgary to be friendly,relaxed and You'll just have to learn to love hockey!GO FLAMES GO!and it is much cheaper to live here than in the UK.

francolady

Calgary is only 1 hour and a half from Banff, a world-class ski destination. You must learn how to ski if you don't ski already. Young folks from all over the world work around Banff. You can ski until mid-May at Sunshine Village (Banff). Just beautiful!!!! Lucky you are to move there.

Lots of horseback riding around there also.

mohawk

get you and your family at least 1 pair of levis each and get yourself a nice STETSON( cowboy hat). you will be going to live in the richest province of Canada and I that is a cowboy province.....good luck

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