Tell me about: Okotoks

[cKy]

We're currently looking at moving to Okotoks from Victoria. Some background information for context so you can help me with what i'm looking for. My kids are 7 and 10. Wife and I are from Calgary and moved to Victoria 15 years ago. Most of the family is in Calgary (spread apart - locations irrelevant).

I drove through Okotoks in August and was amazed on how much has changed. The issue is, we know little to nothing about the neighborhoods.

We've zeroed in on to 2 houses. One in Sheep River, one in Crystal Ridge.

Dont tell me about Calgary. I want to know about these specific neighborhoods. Do you live there? do you know people who do? Lots of kids? Educate me!

Thanks,

[White Out 403]

the good:
a baseball team with a really rad stadium
theres a costco
homes are affordable

[PepsiFree]

the bad:
it’s okotoks

[You Need a Thneed]

There are a number of things to do in Okotoks.

[keratosis]

The river pathways are awesome. Hubtown brewery patio is great for a lazy afternoon. Deer on your front lawn in the mornings.


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[Regulator75]

Better than Airdrie.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Better than Airdrie.

That is a pretty low bar….

[btimbit]

Most days I wish I stayed in Okotoks instead of moving back to Calgary two years ago

[Flames0910]

I grew up in Crystal Ridge. It’s a nice community with good schools and good bang for your buck in terms of housing. Very sleepy though and even the main street is dead most of the time. My parents are still there but my siblings and I all moved into the city.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

That is a pretty low bar….

YYC bedroom community ranking

Canmore
DMF
LDA
Exshaw
Springbank
Bearspaw
Bragg Creek
Priddis
De Winton
Cochrane
Okotoks
Chestermere
Langdon
High River
.
.
.
.
.
.
Airdrie

[dirk diggler]

i would pick crystal ridge area over sheep river myself.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

YYC bedroom community ranking

Canmore
DMF
LDA
Exshaw
Springbank
Bearspaw
Bragg Creek
Priddis
De Winton
Cochrane
Okotoks
Chestermere
Langdon
High River
.
.
.
.
.
.
Airdrie

Nope

[MRCboicgy]

I grew up there? That should be enough for you! I lived not too far from Big Rock School, so I lean to south of the river and feel that anything up the hill north of Elizabeth is fake Okotoks - haha.

Arguably it changed more than any other part of this area over the past 20 years. Having said that, for kids and families, it's probably great. I will say, kids do get bored easily and we always found some pseudo-harmless trouble to get into.


Edit: while this might not relate to your kids, but it is a tough place for anyone that isn't - I hate to use this loaded, unfair word - normal. I mean as a gay kid, I couldn't wait to move into the city, and not just to save on my commute times to Mt Royal back in the day. There's a lot of water under the bridge, and I hope that it is a lot more welcoming for those of us who are a bit different from the crowd.



I will give tons of credit to the art scene that you can get at the Station and Museum. For a bedroom community, they really do well to make sure some kind of culture, even kitschy Canadiana is represented, and they are proud of their history. I still keep the Okotoks 100 anniversary magnet from 2004 on my fridge just to remind me of where I came from.

[troutman]

I’m there quite often this year.

Rec Centre is great:
https://www.okotoks.ca/your-communit...reation-centre

Naughty Grape is a cool wine shop with tasting events:
https://naughtygrape.ca/

Close to Kananaskis.

Small town with many big city amenities.

https://www.littleeats.ca/

River pathway.

Catholic school system rates high in academic performance.

Deer eating your pumpkins!

Lots of men with trucks that want to #### Trudeau.

I think Okotoks needs a proper live music venue. There are sometimes shows at the Elks Club.

Light Up Okotoks

https://www.okotoks.ca/your-communit...ar/light-it-up

[boogerz]

The town of Okotoks is overdrawing on it's water table and they don't have a long-term water solution yet

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by boogerz

The town of Okotoks is overdrawing on it's water table and they don't have a long-term water solution yet

They'll buy water from Calgary like Airdrie and Strathmore and every other town in the area.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

YYC bedroom community ranking

Canmore
DMF
LDA
Exshaw
Springbank
Bearspaw
Bragg Creek
Priddis
De Winton
Cochrane
Okotoks
Chestermere
Langdon
High River
.
.
.
.
.
.
Airdrie

This seems like really bad form IMO.

[Texas]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

Edit: while this might not relate to your kids, but it is a tough place for anyone that isn't - I hate to use this loaded, unfair word - normal. I mean as a gay kid, I couldn't wait to move into the city, and not just to save on my commute times to Mt Royal back in the day. There's a lot of water under the bridge, and I hope that it is a lot more welcoming for those of us who are a bit different from the crowd.

I really appreciate you sharing this perspective, as this is not something that I would have considered prior to making a decision to move to a small town. Probably because I fit the typical white straight male profile.

But I do have a number of friends who don't fit that profile, who grew up in small towns, and who have shared stories about wanting to move to big cities with more diversity.

It's a very interesting thought process when thinking about your own profile versus what your kids might become and the best potential place for them. Thanks for sharing.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

They'll buy water from Calgary like Airdrie and Strathmore and every other town in the area.

Yeah, well that particular Golden Goose cant keep pumping out eggs forever.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

I grew up there? That should be enough for you! I lived not too far from Big Rock School, so I lean to south of the river and feel that anything up the hill north of Elizabeth is fake Okotoks - haha.

Arguably it changed more than any other part of this area over the past 20 years. Having said that, for kids and families, it's probably great. I will say, kids do get bored easily and we always found some pseudo-harmless trouble to get into.


Edit: while this might not relate to your kids, but it is a tough place for anyone that isn't - I hate to use this loaded, unfair word - normal. I mean as a gay kid, I couldn't wait to move into the city, and not just to save on my commute times to Mt Royal back in the day. There's a lot of water under the bridge, and I hope that it is a lot more welcoming for those of us who are a bit different from the crowd.



I will give tons of credit to the art scene that you can get at the Station and Museum. For a bedroom community, they really do well to make sure some kind of culture, even kitschy Canadiana is represented, and they are proud of their history. I still keep the Okotoks 100 anniversary magnet from 2004 on my fridge just to remind me of where I came from.

I'm curuous, when did you grow up in Okotoks? When did you move in to the city?

As an arab kid growing up in Calgary in the 90s, my experience was fairly similar to yours.