Q:
A: The first thing you'll become aware of is the shortage of apartments for rent. Those you do find will top the $1000 mark for a 2 bedroom in a decent neighbourhood. While there are lots of houses on the market right now for sale you can still expect to pay in the range of $350,000 for one. Even though the market has kind of leveled off don't expect to get an really awesome deals. Some websites you may find interesting for Edmonton - official city website has everything you'll need to know from garbage collection to permits, to transit, to parks, etc http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server.pt?... Looking for information regarding how the different communities and their crime rate. http://www.police.edmonton.ab.ca/Pages/C... Edmonton School District: http://districtsite.epsb.ca/root/alpha-s... By doing enough research before you should be able to make an informed decisions. You didn't mention whether you already have a job here or not. There is lots of employment in the trades. Finding work in the construction Field or sheet metal field will be quite easy. If you can join the union you will find there is no a shortage of jobs. Some of the websites to check are: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/Search_en.aspx http://edmontonjobshop.ca/p/jobs_city/173/Edmonton/ You've probably done some research on Edmonton already to know that it has tons and tons of green spaces and trails around the city, tons of shopping, lots of golf courses. We're hockey fans and football fans both amateur and pro - car racing During the summer the city has your pick of festivals to attend also Capitol Ex. Winter there is skiing, skating, snowobiling, ice skating to name a few - we're a hardy bunch up here. Here are some websites that might be of interest to you. A good way to get to know the city is by reading the local newspapers so here are a few. Edmonton > www.edmontonjournal.com http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/marketpl... http://www.edmontonsun.com/ I always difficult to find good eating places in a new city so I'm including the restaurant reviews and those voted best. http://www.foundlocally.com/Edmonton/Dining/index.htm http://www.edmontonplus.ca/bars_restaurants The best site for almost every service you can imagine is: http://www.canpages.ca/business/AB/edmonton/183-directory.html The next website is called "Move To Edmonton" which is full of information for someone moving into the city: It is the most comprehensive website that you will need when you first move here. Includes the following: Accommodations, Arts & Culture, Banking, Child Care, City Services, Community Safety, Cost of Living & Currency, Cultural & Community Groups, Driving & Public Transportation, Edmonton Facts, Edmonton News, Food and Shopping, Healthcare, Holidays, Housing, Human Rights and Multiculturalism, Images of Edmonton Magazine, Maps and Weather, Neighborhood Profiles, Places of Worship, Social Services, Sports and Recreation, The Legal System, Utilities http://www.movetoedmonton.com/living/shopping/ You will find Edmontonians are friendly and welcoming to newcomers. We are a multicultural city with many different ethnic groups who enrich our city. Hopefully you will find everything you need in those websites but add a note if there is anything else you'd like to know. I would be happy to give you any information you need. Good Luck.