Immigration to Calgary, Alberta, Canada

by Erkan T. Ickam

General

This section focuses on the information that you would require to get an idea about what to expect in Calgary e.g. city, maps, weather, cost of living, driving, library and etc.

General information about city
Calgary maps
- http://www.calgaryarea.com/calgary_map.asp
- http://www.ism.ucalgary.ca/meetings/casca06/images/citymap2003.jpg
Weather forecast: Cold? Who says so? Find out yourself or live & learn :)
Cost of living: This section is prepared for you to have information on certain products / services that you will be purchasing / using in your daily life and to adjust your budget accordingly. Also, links to technology markets, department & household stores are provided for you to decide whether to bring things with you or purchase them here in Calgary.
- Taxes: Federal & Provincial http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/Calgaryliving.asp
- Cell phone / Wireless / Mobile phone operators: Information on rates & plans
- Home Telephone / Land line operators
  - Telus http://consumer.telus.com/cgi-ebs/jsp/homepage.jsp
  - Shaw http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca
- Cable TV operators
  - Telus http://consumer.telus.com/cgi-ebs/jsp/homepage.jsp
  - Bell http://www.bell.ca/home/
  - Shaw http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca
- Internet service providers
  - Telus http://consumer.telus.com/cgi-ebs/jsp/homepage.jsp
  - Bell http://www.bell.ca/home/
  - Shaw http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca
- Technology markets: Boxing days and Back to School (last week of August) campaigns offer great deals!
  - Futureshop http://www.futureshop.ca
  - Bestbuy http://www.bestbuy.ca
  - London drugs http://www.londondrugs.com
  - Memory Express http://www.memoryexpress.com/
- Grocery stores
  - Super store http://www.superstore.ca/
  - Safe way http://www.safeway.ca/
  - Co-op http://www.calgarycoop.com/
  - Sobeys http://www.sobeys.com/
- Department stores / Household stores
  - Wal-Mart http://www.walmart.ca/wps-portal/storelocator/home.jsp
  - Bay http://www.hbc.com/landing.html
  - Zellers http://www.hbc.com/landing.html
  - Home Depot http://www.homedepot.ca
  - Canadian Tire http://www.canadiantire.ca
  - The Brick http://www.thebrick.com
Canadian dollar:
- Names of coins: $2 toonie, $1 loonie, ¢25 quarter, ¢10 dime, ¢5 nickel, ¢1 penny
- Currency converter http://www.albertafirst.com/extras/currency.asp
Driving
- Driver’s license: How to get a driving license? http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/Drivers_%26_Vehicles/Driver_Licensing.htm
- CAA (Canadian Automotive Association): Federation of 9 automotive clubs across Canada providing a wide range of member services and works to improve travelling and motoring conditions at home and around the world http://www.caa.ca/
- AMA (Alberta Motor Association): provides information on motoring & related consumer issues and supplies automotive & other travel services http://www.ama.ab.ca/cps/rde/xchg/ama
- Second hand car
Banks: It’s important that you start building credit history early. This will help you in future for leases on cars, houses, etc.
- RBC http://www.royalbank.com/
- Scotia Bank http://www.scotiabank.com/cda/index/0,,LIDen_SID19,00.html
- HSBC http://www.hsbc.ca/1/2/en/home/home
- BMO http://www4.bmo.com/
- First Calgary https://www.1stcalgary.com/
- CIBC http://www.cibc.com/ca/personal.html
Library: Lots of books, DVDs, music CS’s, videos, newspapers and magazines. You can also have access to internet if you have library card! http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/
Miscellaneous
- Plug type
- Electricity: 110 Volt
- Free newspaper & magazines: You can take free newspapers, classifieds, magazines etc. from the newspaper stands on which "Free" is written
- The Calgary Police Service: http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/police/
- For information & referral service dial 211
- Homesick? Want to call home, friends, loved ones cheap or free? Try one of these
  - Skype http://www.skype.com
  - MSN messenger
  - Rebtel http://www.rebtel.com/en/
  - www.comwave.net
  - www.internetcalls.com
Businesses that my friends started after moving to Calgary
- Calgary Web Design and Computer Support Company – Begin with B: ideal low-cost partner of individuals, small businesses and non profit organizations for any computer, network or web issues. They provide following services; webdesign (starting as low as CAD 99), Calgary on-site and worldwide remote computer support (starting as low as CAD 35), online data storage, Microsoft Office tool creation & training and computer consulting.

	Government

	Accomodation

	Transportation

	Employment

	General