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Relocate Information
On this page you will find information and answer on these questions:
Why relocate to Grande Prairie?
There are numerous reasons why Grande Prairie should be your number one place to move. Here are just some of those reasons, to get you thinking and moving in the right direction.
- Grande Prairie is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada for 2005 and one of the top 10 Alberta places to invest in.
- Grande Prairie has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Canada. Finding a wide selection of career opportunities in this region (at a 3.5% unemployment rate) is one of the top reasons people relocate to the Grande Prairie area.
- Grande Prairie is a wonderful place to live, visit and conduct business. Residents appreciate the benefits of a quiet lifestyle and small city living with convenient access to big city amenities.
- Grande Prairie has a good selection of well-maintained, affordable single family dwellings, apartments and condominiums. After experiencing a record year for both new home construction and residential resale activity in 2004, Grande Prairie's housing market was strong again in 2005. Thanks to low mortgage rates and strong population growth, housing demand remains high in the area.
- The municipality is committed to an extremely high level of community services that provide recreational and cultural opportunities for all, as well as a safe environment in which to live and do business.
- Grande Prairie offers numerous parks with an open and balanced variety of recreational and cultural facilities and programs. Some of these include golf courses, fishing and hunting, and fitness facilities. Grande Prairie is a regional cultural centre with a world-class art gallery, conservatory of music, and two modern live theatres.
- Leisure services are considered essential in Grande Prairie. Leisure is not limited to but does include recreational, artistic, cultural, sport, and heritage pursuits. These pursuits have created a strong sense of community for Grande Prairie citizens.
- Grande Prairie is a great place to raise a family. Grande Prairie is small enough to keep track of where your family is, and big enough to tell them to get lost.
***see the local “Chamber of Commerce” for more information.
***see our “Relocate Resources” page – found on the navigation bar.
The decision to move is one of the most significant decisions you will ever have to make. People relocate for a variety of reasons. Most common among them is the opportunity for a better job or perhaps a better position with the same company. Ask your self is this a place you might want to remain, where you could raise a family (if a family is in your future)? However the decision to move to a particular destination typically comes down to "Cost of Living" and "Quality of Life" factors.
Cost of Living Factors
How far will your salary go? In your new location you might make more money, but have a higher mortgage payment. Or maybe you'll take home the same salary, but taxes will be lower and your dollar will go farther. Try doing some calculations ahead of time to see what you can expect of your cash flow.
Career
How will a move affect your career? This depends on the circumstances. Is your current company transferring you to another location? Consider visiting the new office and meeting your supervisor and co-workers before you accept the position. Be comfortable with the people as well as the job description. If you are moving for other reasons, see if you can keep your current job and telecommute, or transfer to an office in your new city.
If you'll be looking for a job, do some research beforehand on which industries are growing in the area. Browsing online job sites or the local newspaper to will tell you what positions are open and hiring. The Alis website is a wealth of information on everything including regional employment rates by industry, wages, occupational descriptions and much more. If you are interested in a specific field for this region you can click on “industry information” on the Navigation bar for more information and regional branches of industry associations are also great resources.
How will a move affect your spouse's career? Would they be able to relocate? Some companies offer assistance finding work for the spouses of employees that are being transferring. Contact your human resources department and find out.
Real Estate
Maybe you can finally afford the home of your dreams in a new city - or housing will be so expensive that you'll go for an apartment instead. It's a good idea to go online, contact a local real estate board or the local news paper and find out what houses are selling for, or how much renting an apartment will cost. You might also be interested in learning what the resale value of your current home is. Don't forget to look at local homeowners insurance rates as well, the differences between cities may surprise you. For more information and resources for this region click on “relocation resources” page.
Moving Expenses
How much money will you actually spend on the move itself? Take into account shipping, storage, moving van, hiring a mover, travel expenses, time lost from work and the deposit on a house or apartment. It all adds up!
Other Costs
Some states have significantly higher taxes than others, and even food costs vary from region to region. There are online cost of living tools available to calculate these factors for you if you're seriously considering a particular city.
Once you're finished researching, have a talk with your family members about the proposed move. Listen to what their concerns are and make sure everyone in the family has a voice in the decision. In the end, it might not be objective research but a gut feeling that helps you make the final decision. Do you view the idea of moving with anxiety or excitement? Do you think of it a chore or an adventure? Only you can know for sure!
Quality of Life Factors
Schools
If you have children, you'll want to learn about the schools in your new district. Do the public schools have a good reputation? Are you interested in finding out about private education? A good place to start getting answers is the “relocate resources” page for a list of schools, colleges and other educational sources.
Crime
Is the crime rate higher in the city you're moving to? Feeling safe and secure in your new location will be an important consideration. On the RCMP web site you can find statistics on crime are broken down by city, state and type of crime. You can also find information on policing, security issues and local safely programs.
Health Care
You may have to research an entirely new health or dental plan, not only a new doctor or dentist. See the Alberta Government website or Peace Country Health for more information for this region. You may want to find out how close the nearest hospital or urgent care facility is, particularly if a member of your family suffers from a chronic medical condition.
Interests & Activities
The sports or hobbies you regularly participate in should also be considered in your decision. These activities are often the best way to meet friends in your new community and rebuild a social network. Find things to do that match your interests: outdoor activities, book clubs, movie theatres, restaurants, volunteer opportunities, etc.? Also consider looking into not only your current interests, but also those you've never had the opportunity to pursue before.
Transportation
Is there public transportation in the city can be very important to some as well as how long does it take to travel to and from work. In some city’s this can take up to an hour as well as having to pay for parking spot for your vehicle. This can be expensive for some, usually in larger cities.
Friends & Family
Leaving your loved ones behind is the most difficult part of any relocation process. Consider how far you are willing to travel to visit friends and family members and how often, or your long distance bills and frequent flyer miles might grow out of control!
What to look at before you move.
1. Have a plan. Before you relocate, spend time reflecting on who you are and what you want your life to be like in your new home. Do you want a large network of acquaintances; to join a bowling league, to meet fellow square dancers, affiliate with a specific religion or church or to be active in a civic association? What are your interests? Are you open to new interests? The more reflecting you can do before you move, the more prepared you'll be to hit the ground running when you arrive.
2. Subscribe to the community newspaper of your new city for a few months before you arrive. It's important to know what's happening locally if you want to participate in conversations. What are the big news stories? What are residents thinking and talking about?
Learn the names of local elected officials and gain insight about current issues, which organizations and companies are having the biggest impact and how the local high school, college and professional sports teams are doing. Clip items that appeal or interest you.
3. Go to the Web for Information and assistance about your new location is as near as your keyboard. Don't know where to get started? Using your favourite search engine, simply type in the name of your destination city “ Grande Prairie” and you're on your way. You will probably find links to a variety of interesting destinations. Also check with the local Chamber of Commerce. It's their business to help you
4. Contact any group you're affiliated with and ask for the name of a local contact in your new community. Do you belong to a church? Professional organization? Call in advance and make a list of people to contact as soon as you're settled. Don't forget your activities and interests. Are you interested in historic preservation? Do you like to hike? Use these hobbies as starting points.
5. Send change of address cards to everyone on your holiday card list -- friends, colleagues, family, old roommates. Don’t just announce your new address and phone number. Ask for names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of their friends and associates in your new location. When you arrive, phone each person and ask to go for a walk, meet for coffee or for directions to the best bakery in town.
Moving to a new city is exciting! Remember to be patient. You will experience some stress, but having a plan will alleviate a lot of it.
Sources: Ellen J. Wallach plus other sources
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