Anyone from Edmonton want to give me some info?

[Topher]

Guys,

I have just been accepted to the U of Alberta graduate school (waiting on financial aid now), and I've done a fair bit of searching on the web for info about Edmonton (of which I must admit, I'm enthused, but the wife isn't looking forward to the winters!) Anyway - can any of you guys give me the lowdown on what it's like to live there from a personal prospective? I've got two small kids (3yrs and 6mos) as well. And we may be looking to stay permanently.

What neighbourhoods are good ones for raising kids? What neighbourhoods should I avoid? What are good areas to live in (I'll also need to take into account cost of housing). How easy is it to get around by car? public transport? etc. Any other personal insights would be great. We've lived in Washington D.C. for 2.5 years, and have been in Sydney, Australia for the last 3.5 years, if you have any comparisons. Also, which is the better newspaper in Edmonton. (I generally only read the one big paper - Washington Post on Sunday, Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, etc.) Thanks guys.

Topher

 

[Handle]

I don't live in Edmonton, but rather, live in its rival city Calgary, which is also in Alberta. I have been to Edmonton many times and have relatives there so I can answer a few of your questions.

The cost of housing in Edmonton is quite low in comparison to other cities in Canada. Getting around by car in Edmonton is easier than it is in Calgary, due in part to the shape of the city--in general, traffic is not as big a problem as it is in larger cities. Public transport is centered primarily around buses, as the LRT (light rail transit) system is not particularly well developed (however, I believe there is an LRT station in the university). The "better" (which is subjective), more proper newspaper is the Edmonton Journal. If you prefer a more tabloid-ish, sensationalist paper, then you'd probably like the Edmonton Sun.

The winters can be bad if you dislike cold and snow--it will be significantly colder than Washington D.C. or Sydney. On an average year you will have a handful of days where it gets colder than -30C. In the summers, you will have a handful of days where it gets warmer than 30C.

I personally think that Canada is a great place to raise children, although I'm probably biased because I grew up here. Alberta, in my opinion, has a very good public education system--in fact, I would say that the best schools in the province are public, not private. There are, however, continual labour disputes with the teachers, and strikes/work-to-rules are becoming more and more frequent. Still, Alberta students regularly outperform their peers from other provinces on standardized tests when comparisons are made.

More in-depth answers to many of your questions can also be found here (you've probably already looked, but it's still a good resource):
City of Edmonton Web Site

 

[Topher]

Thanks,

That's the kind of info I want. The cold won't be a problem for me and the kids. We all sweat like pigs here in Sydney, and I felt Washington D.C. was way too hot. The wife, on the other hand, isn't looking forward to the winters. (She's from Sri Lanka). Now I just gotta see if I can get on campus housing, or if I'll be better off somewhere off campus. I really want to get a place with a backyard for the kids. Sydney is horrendous when it comes to housing. I wish I could have been warned before coming here.