People love moving to Calgary, especially newcomers to the country. Roughly one third of the population of Calgary is made up of visible minorities and every year thousands of new permanent residents and temporary workers arrive to the city. If you find yourself in this category, these are some tips to help you get going in Calgary.
Help With Your Transition
There's a number of free services you should take advantage of before settling in Calgary. The Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) can help out with housing, finding a job, learning a new language, and general orientation. This is open to all.
The Centre for Newcomers offers counselling in regards to settlement and also offers job assistance as well as connecting with the community and figuring out various government services.
For more multilingual courses, ActionDignity is there to support various communities throughout Calgary and gives them a way to connect to local organizations.
Something not to ignore is the Calgary Public Library’s Newcomers Hub which is a great resource that offers free library cards, and useful info for your arrival to Calgary. You can also access language programs, computer equipment, and other tools. Check it out at the Central Library downtown.
Finding Your First Home in Calgary
Most of the newcomers arriving in Calgary will be renting before they own a home so they should be aware of general rent prices as well as building rules. Depending on the neighbourhood, a one-bedroom apartment will generally cost about $1200 a month while two-bedroom units can be as much as $1500.
Areas that have been popular destinations in recent years include Forest Lawn and International Avenue because of the manageable cost of living and overall diversity. Areas rich with homes for families include Falconridge, Martindale, and Taradale. The Beltline is known as a good walking area with easy access to public transport.
Essential Setup Steps For Week 1
Once you've gotten a place to stay, you'll want to get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) before anything else. This can be obtained through Service Canada and will allow you to work legally.
You should next register for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). Find a registry office office to do this and make sure you know when your coverage starts.
It's also crucial to open a bank account in Canada. Popular options are TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, or CIBC. Ask about special newcomer packages to save on fees.
Contact ENMAX next to get your utilities going. This will cover electricity, water, and natural gas.
As a last step that is still incredibly important, make sure to get a Canadian phone number. There are more affordable options available through Freedom Mobile and Public Mobile.
Moving Without Furniture vs. Furnished Starts
Sourcing furniture can be tricky for new arrivals especially when the budget is limited. You can find less expensive options at IKEA in Deerfoot Meadows and there's always bargains to be found on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. There are also WINS (Women in Need Society) thrift stores located around the city.
If your furniture is being sourced from multiple stores, our crews can do a multi-stop pickup and delivery — collecting items from several locations and delivering everything to your new home in one trip. This is often cheaper than multiple delivery fees.
No Cars Go
While there are various modes of transportation available in Calgary, it remains to be a city dependant on cars. Areas like Beltline, Downtown, Kensington, Bridgeland, and Sunnyside are best served by public transportation. Much of Calgary is connected by the The CTrain's Red and Blue lines. Rides downtown are free and a monthly pass costs roughly $112.
For those planning on driving, remember that it takes about 90 days to get your new Alberta license. Read over Alberta's licence exchange requirements to find out if you need to take a new road test and for all other details.
Some surprises about life in Calgary
Everyone knows that winter is a very real experience in Canada, but in Calgary it can get brutal. However, if you're prepared they can be manageable and the odd chinook brings occasional relief.
There's no provincial sales tax in Alberta so most purchases only come with 5% GST added on.
The size and scale of Calgary means it can take upwards of 45 minutes to get from one part of town to another, especially with traffic.
You don't have to tip movers but it's considered courteous to set aside $20-$40 per mover as a gratuity.
International Moves to Calgary
If you're waiting on personal belongings you've shipped from overseas, it will likely arrive at the Port of Vancouver first before being driven to Calgary, which takes about 12 hours. Customs clearance can take 1-3 business days. A B4 Personal Effects Declaration is needed to list everything you will be bringing in to the country.
Two Small Men can deliver and unpack the shipping container. Get a quote and mention that you need container unloading.
Welcome to Your New Life in Calgary
Between all the quality settlement services and the decent cost of living, Calgary is a choice destination for newcomers to Canada. We've helped many families in this position and they have shared their moving stories. Contact us today and we'll work it all out for you.
