An edmontonian experience ..i thought i should share
The Edmonton Advantage
Edmonton -- Gateway to the North, City of Champions, Your Winter City, Festival City . . . all these phrases accurately describe Edmonton, yet none comes close to capturing the distinctive appeal this city has for me. (Click here to see where Edmonton is.)
I have grown up here, received my public and post-secondary education here, raised a family here -- and I can't imagine doing these things anywhere else.
This city has much to offer a newcomer, whether single or married with family. First and foremost is available housing in many desirable neighbourhoods. And because it's easy to navigate around the city, your choice is even broader. Good public transit and well-designed major roadways mean that you can live outside the University area and still have quick and convenient access to your workplace. I live on the opposite side of the North Saskatchewan River from the University, yet I can be at work in less than 15 minutes by car or 25 minutes by public transit. Distance is not the same factor in Edmonton as in other major cities.
We take education seriously in Edmonton. Our public and separate school systems produce competitive, well-educated students, and there are a growing number of alternative options such as private and charter schools. Along with the University of Alberta, Edmonton is also home to other post-secondary institutions like Grant MacEwan College, King's University College, Concordia University College and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Whatever your educational needs, you are likely to find an institution offering the necessary training right here.
Accessible and affordable healthcare is another distinct Edmonton, and indeed Canadian, advantage. Employers are required by law to provide basic healthcare coverage to all employees, and at the University of Alberta the health and benefits package is very good. Hospitals in the Edmonton area are well managed, despite anything you may have heard about health cutbacks. The care is as good as anything you'd receive elsewhere and you don't have to pay a huge bill for the services you receive. The University of Alberta Hospital and Royal Alexandra Hospital are both teaching hospitals and have a large number of specialists at their disposal. For general healthcare, in addition to emergency rooms and the many doctors in the city, there are numerous walk-in medi-clinics in all areas of the city providing basic healthcare on a first-come-first-served basis.
Recreation possibilities in Edmonton are boundless, and are limited only by the scope of your imagination. If you like to be a spectator, you can choose from hockey (Edmonton Oilers) or football (Edmonton Eskimos), plus a host of excellent teams right here at the University of Alberta. For those into active pursuits, there are many gyms and fitness clubs in all areas of the city, as well as excellent facilities located at the University which are available to all staff. Our scenic river valley, a ribbon of green that winds its way through the city, has an extensive, well-developed system of hiking and biking trails that connect to a number of parks and is, in my opinion, one of Edmonton's most beautiful features. In winter these same trails and parks are used for cross-country skiing. The city is close enough to Banff and Jasper National Parks for skiing in the mountains to be a popular activity as well. Ice-skating is a fun activity; don't worry if you can't skate, because the U of A's Campus Recreation Department offers lessons in the winter months.
So...let's talk about winter -- I'm sure you've heard a few horror stories about long, icy winters in the frozen north! I agree it gets very cold during an Edmonton winter, but the sun shines lots and that always makes it seem warmer. And, as I'm sure you've heard before, it's a dry cold! I'm an unusual person because winter is my favourite season. Walking or cross-country skiing in the river valley on a crisp winter day is truly invigorating and I recommend it to anyone. There is nothing more beautiful than Edmonton after a fresh snowfall and, with all the possible outdoor snow-related activities, you'll find that winter passes quickly. An average winter (that is, from when the snow arrives to when it melts) would be November to March, with the coldest months usually January and February.
If you find the cold too much for you, you can move your entertainment indoors. The Royal Alberta Museum, Art Gallery of Alberta, Muttart Conservatory and, of course, West Edmonton Mall all provide respites from the whims of Mother Nature. Edmonton has an extremely active arts community, boasting some of the finest theatre in Canada. Our symphony, ballet and opera companies are very good and there any number of smaller theatre or music groups performing constantly at different venues throughout the city. As well as the arts scene, Edmonton is a gastronomic paradise with almost any kind of cuisine available -- we've got lots and lots of restaurants, and new ones are constantly opening. We also have more shopping malls than you can imagine -- we hold the proud distinction of being one of the most "retailed" cities in North America.
Summer in Edmonton is festival time, as we have at least one major festival every week in the summer. "A Taste of Edmonton," The Fringe Theatre Festival, Street Performers Festival, Capital Ex (formerly Klondike Days), Heritage Festival, The Folk Music Festival, -- these are but some of the sights you'll find throughout the city. There is so much to see and do in Edmonton during the summer that you are as busy as you choose to be. Whether it's roller blading through the river valley, watching street theatre, sampling different foods at an ethnic festival or strolling through Old Strathcona (near the University) on a summer evening and stopping for a coffee, you will find something for everyone in Edmonton.
You will have figured out by now that I love my city very much. I think it's one of the best places in Canada in which to live and raise a family. Our healthcare and education systems, our standard of living, affordable housing and recreation possibilities, and good old-fashioned western hospitality all combine to create "The Edmonton Advantage." I hope you'll come and experience all that we have to offer.
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