It's easy to assume that the necessities in your life right now, you'll need in Alberta. I mean, it's still Canada, right? Wrong.
My first lesson came when the movers unloaded my belongings at my home in Cochrane. The crew were fantastic and we had a great experience on both ends. I spent the whole day with them, and we got along great. Towards the end of the day, as one of the guys was walking my nearly-new, 24", gas powered beast of a snowblower to the garage, he chuckled and said, "Why... do you have this?" Lesson number 1. It's different here.
Think about the topography. If you're coming from anywhere other than B.C., it's not like anything you know. In Alberta, we are high in the mountain region, even in Calgary. We are in a very dry climate, and we literally have deserts nearby. The further east you go, Canada slopes down and away from the Rocky Mountains, and bottoms out around the Great Lakes region in Ontario and Quebec. The lower you are, the closer you'll be to water, (think topographically) the wetter and more humid your climate is.
More lakes = more humidity, and humidity changes everything. The wet, humid client is responsible for cloud cover, overcast days, the humidex in the summer and the wind chill in the winter, rain and dense, slushy snow. It's different in a dry climate. We don't have those.
With that said, here are some things you might not really need:
1. A Snowblower
If you're relocating from a place with high humidity, you'll find our dry climate brings light and airy snow. We rarely have heavy, packing snow, and almost never see that wet, brutally heavy snow that hardly even resembles snow. Snowblowers are rare to see. Some people have them, but they're rarely needed. Professional snow removal companies in the Calgary and Rocky View County area actually use backpack leaf blowers to blow the snow off pathways and sidewalks. Your new neighbours might use handheld leaf blowers for their cars and walkways too. Unless you are not able to shovel anything at all, snowblowers are just not necessary.
I held hold onto it, "just-in-case," for 2 years before I sold it. It's not surprising, but there isn't really a demand for used snowblowers here and I sold it for way less than what it is worth. If you're capable of shoveling very fluffy snow, save yourself the shipping costs and sell your snowblower in a place with a demand for it.
2. An Air Conditioner
It's the humidity in the air that makes the weather extremes unbearable. A dry climate typically offers consistent and manageable temperatures in the summer. Warm sunny and dry days, and very cool at night and early mornings. The climate is an adjustment.
I remember summers in Ontario. Days, upon days, of sweltering heat, with no wind and no relief from the dark night. Nights at 27 degrees Celsius, laying in bed, sweating... Air Conditioner is a MUST there. Without air conditioning, some of the vulnerable population could die. People in Ontario think of it as important as a furnace. Albertans will disagree.
Dry heat, no humidex. We rarely have days over 30°C, and when we do, it stays at 30°, because the humidex doesn't play that much of a factor. It's hot, but its bearable. Here in Cochrane, topographically, we sit quite high and often have a breeze coming down from the Rockies. We feel the warmth, and avoid the sticky, sweaty, gross feeling. The temperature drops drastically every night in the summer. It's common to wear shorts in the afternoon, then pants and a sweater at night.
Don't eliminate homes without Air Conditioners from your home search. You'll find most homes do not have Central Air. You can always add one later, but having UV blocking blinds during the day and cooling down your house at night does wonders. Keep ceiling fans going and run your bathroom fans upstairs to expel the heat. Most Albertans don't have an A/C, maybe you'll be fine without it, too.
3. A Small Car
You will find people who drive small cars in Rocky View County, but you need to appreciate where you're living. The weather is unpredictable here, and you need to be prepared for everything.
We have wildlife everywhere. That will be an adjustment you need to make. You must constantly scan the side of the roads for deer, moose, and elk when your driving, and especially at night.
I believe at the minimum, people should have an SUV with winter tires and All Wheel Drive or 4X4 capability. Side streets are not plowed for sometimes days after large snow events.
4. Your Boat
Depending on where you move, you might almost never use it. We don't have the same lakes you would around the Great Lakes. There are some, and people do drop their boats in the Bow River, but it's not the same as the fresh water lakes in Ontario. Research where you would actually take your boat in Alberta and then decide if it make sense to bring it with you across the country. Moving it won't be cheap, and like the snowblower, you'd be selling it to the wrong crowd of people.
5. Your Attitude
The West is different. You have to realize this. From my experience growing up in big cities in Ontario, the Alberta way of life was one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to move here. It is not like Ontario, and I never want it to be.
Things move slower here. People stop and enjoy the beauty of everyday life. We live in arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world. Enjoy it. In Alberta, you'll find some of the most genuine and friendly people you'd ever meet. It's funny when I talk to people who have relocated to Alberta, they find it strange that people in groceries stores will smile and strike up a conversation with you. That's normal here, as it should be!
Embrace the friendliness here, and join in. Slow down, smile more, and leave the frustration of 2-hour commutes, road rage and high crime rates where you are now. If you're coming here, bring a fresh, open mind and a more positive outlook on life.
If you have a question about moving here, click HERE, and ask my anything at all. I love helping people with their relocation, and am happy to answer anything about life in Alberta. I live in Cochrane, AB, and serve clients in Cochrane, Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere and anywhere in Rural Rocky View County.
For the most up-to-date database of house listings, click HERE and register. I can't wait to help your dream a reality!