Seriously considering moving to and buying a house in Okotoks... advice wanted.

[toonmaster]

Originally Posted by redforever

Football
Foothills Composite Falcons [Tier 3]

Actually the Foothills Falcons high school team is Tier 2

[redforever]

Originally Posted by toonmaster

Actually the Foothills Falcons high school team is Tier 2

Yeah sorry, corrected the info.

[mykalberta]

I dont live there, I am sure its a great place.

However if you plan on living there and working in Calgary you will be group into that Airdie, Cochrane, etc group. And will no longer be able to call yourself Calgarian and my frequent rants on toll roads for those communities will now directly affect you in a negative way rather than a positive way.

Just incase that sways your decision in any way

[Sample00]

if you plan it right, you might have Andrew Ference as a neighbour but probably not til June!

[pepper24]

^ I thought he lived in Canmore during the off-season though I guess he did go by Okotoker when he was on CP.

If moving to Okotoks or High River I'd buy a house away from the river. Those towns seem to make the news in June when flooding and rain is happening.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by pepper24

^ I thought he lived in Canmore during the off-season though I guess he did go by Okotoker when he was on CP.

If moving to Okotoks or High River I'd buy a house away from the river. Those towns seem to make the news in June when flooding and rain is happening.

Okotoks has few residential houses right along the river. That is basically the downtown section. Now the businesses got hit in 2005, but not that many houses.

High River on the other hand has many houses in low lying locations, many along the golf course.

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by Rerun

In Okotoks, are you allowed to have a backyard fire pit? What about garbage pick up? Any rules and regs about that and other stuff?

I had a MASSIVE fire pit when I lived in Turner Valley. You can really let out your inner redneck in that place. Highly recommended hillbilly lifestyle in TV/BD, if you wanna go smaller than Okotoks.

I can't believe Okotoks is now big enough for a Costco. Holy mother of... It doesn't seem like long ago that they got Crappy Tire.

[T@T]

I had a nightmare a fews years back with the very corrupt town council of Okotoks...so you would get a big thumbs down from me. I wont even stop there for gas.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by redforever

Okotoks also has its own airport.

Yep, fly right on by till you hit Springbank..told you I wont even stop for gas

[goaliegirl]

I live in Okotoks, and have since I was 14, It is a nice place to live, especially if you have kids.
The good:
-Lots of recreational activities
-You can have firepits
-Decent schools
-Lots of retail stores (you will rarely have to go into Calgary)
-Short commute
-Sheep River is one of the better locations IMO very central
-Lots of parks, walking paths

The bad
-3 bag garbage limit(soon to be 2), you can buy extra tags for 2$(soon to be $8)
-Not a lot of nightlife
-Watering restrictions you can only water 3 days a week in the summer and only between certain hrs of those days

[Walks44]

I just moved to Okotoks from Calgary 7 weeks ago, for some of those very reasons. So far, i ve found it the same as my last neighbourhood in Calgary, I would compare it to living in the Midnapore/Shawnessy area in the south, there is almost everything you need right in town. The one thing I find is that no one obeys the speed limits when coming in and out of town, and when coming into town it goes from 100 to 60 in about 300 metres, also the rcmp are always out there with radar, and they always have people pulled over. I can't tell you haw many middle fingers I've gotten for going 10 over the speed limit. People just go whipping by. As for Okotoks it self, its really nice, we live in westmount, love all the parks and an easy walk to sobeys and starbucks. We havent had to change anything about where we shop, the sobeys in okotoks is the same as the one in bridlewood. I havent seen any spray painting or vandalism much around my part of town. Havent met alot of people in town yet, but customer service at the store's seems to be better then in Calgary. And I'm having an issue with both nieghbours and putting up a fence....... but other then that its great.

[Madman]

We moved to Okotoks 2 years ago from South Calgary and it was the best thing for our family. Great smaller town feel, quiet, lots of younger families like ours in our neighborhood, great pathways in our area, schools close to home etc etc etc.

Everyone has already posted about your questions so I won't rehash that, but I just wanted to add my experience to the list.

[Madman]

Oh, we are in Drake Landing and we really love that we are off the beaten path and don't have to drive through town or across the tracks to get home from Calgary.

Also, if you work in downtown Calgary - the commuter bus from Southland is the greatest thing. http://www.southland.ca/okotoks-commuter.html

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Walks44

The one thing I find is that no one obeys the speed limits when coming in and out of town, and when coming into town it goes from 100 to 60 in about 300 metres, also the rcmp are always out there with radar, and they always have people pulled over. I can't tell you haw many middle fingers I've gotten for going 10 over the speed limit. People just go whipping by. .

Well, I can assure you I haven't given you the finger but the local populace obviously thinks the speed limit is too low coming into town from the north and a good many ignore the regulation. They also resent, and have always resented, the local constabulary taking advantage of the situation to run up their stats. If I remember right, the speed limit from the north was actually lower than present but there was an explosion in town council about the diligence of the police.

I'm usually coming and going through town from the south or the west and you'll rarely see a cop.

It's almost like there is a truce between town council and the police as to where they can go crazy.

Running along the Sheep River on the pathway system in Okotoks is quite nice . . . . a good place to go to get a run in out of the wind sometimes. About an hour from one side of town to the other and back.

Great place for a lazy summer day watching the baseball team.

If I remember right, Okotoks has the youngest demographic in Alberta while High River has the oldest. That used to be the case anyway.

Calgarians in the south end of the city know that they'll get through an emergency department a lot faster in High River and Turner Valley than they will in the city. And Okotoks has a nice little quasi-medical facility now.

I don't live in town but it is the town we use. Nice place. It's getting a little crowded though.

Cowperson

[CrazyCaper]

I moved to Okotoks just about two years ago to the day. It is a great community. I don't think we'll ever move back to the city.

The current population is in and around 20K, with a proposed cap of 30K. We haven't had any problems registering our children for school. Both attend Catholic school(close to home). Plenty of amenities in town (WalMart Supercentre, Home Depot, proposed Costco, banks, restaurants, only one Tim Hortons though).

The only downfalls we have seen are the watering restrictions (two days a week, during certain hours) and the higher property taxes.

That's my two cents. We were on the bridge like you were a few years ago. I'm glad I made the choice I did.

Best of luck.

CrazyCaper

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Well, I can assure you I haven't given you the finger but the local populace obviously thinks the speed limit is too low coming into town from the north and a good many ignore the regulation. They also resent, and have always resented, the local constabulary taking advantage of the situation to run up their stats. If I remember right, the speed limit from the north was actually lower than present but there was an explosion in town council about the diligence of the police.

I'm usually coming and going through town from the south or the west and you'll rarely see a cop.

It's almost like there is a truce between town council and the police as to where they can go crazy.

Running along the Sheep River on the pathway system in Okotoks is quite nice . . . . a good place to go to get a run in out of the wind sometimes. About an hour from one side of town to the other and back.

Great place for a lazy summer day watching the baseball team.

If I remember right, Okotoks has the youngest demographic in Alberta while High River has the oldest. That used to be the case anyway.

Calgarians in the south end of the city know that they'll get through an emergency department a lot faster in High River and Turner Valley than they will in the city. And Okotoks has a nice little quasi-medical facility now.

I don't live in town but it is the town we use. Nice place. It's getting a little crowded though.

Cowperson

I don't know about High River, but for the hospital in Black Diamond (it is there, not in Turner Valley), you are limited to what kinds of emergencies they will treat. Head trauma usually is not one of them. I know of someone who was riding with a group in the mountains, he fell off his horse and gashed his head quite severely. Everyone thought for sure Black Diamond would be the quickest and best place to go for quick treatment....turned out not to be the case, they had to go to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary.

[JohnnyFlame]

Depends on what you mean by quieter? I used to live in Cochrane in the 80's and it was quiet alright. Home Hardware closed at 5:30 and that was that. There was a gas station open 24 hrs and zilch else. Was extremely peaceful. That changed very quickly and when it did couldn't really see the difference between living in any Calgary community and living there so moved back.

So if you are looking for anything resembling the true small town atmosphere Okotoks isn't the spot. Heck even traffic got just like living in Calgary the last year we lived in Cochrane and I'll bet it's worse now.

So again depends on your definition of less hustle. I stick in around my own community in Calgary and it's fine. It's when you start heading across town, downtown etc. it becomes a pain. So you could avoid some of that I guess but I'm usually doing that because of my kids. I know Okotoks, Cochrane, Airdrie kids end up playing in Calgary leagues. I'll be the travel time is a killer.

[Mongo]

bump

I find out this week if I'm being offered a job in Calgary that would require a move to the city. Home office based but I have to visit clients/staff throughout the city and south (mostly Lethbridge and Medicine Hat). Thinking of Okotoks and am curious what you smart people think.

We have two little ones who will be in early elementary. Like to keep them active with sports/art/etc...I'm not a 'keep up with the Jones' type...enjoy laid-back people.

Some specific Qs if people care to comment:
-Read somewhere there is a family Dr. shortage...is that still the case?
-Any differences than Calgary re: weather (ex. way more/less windy?) or is it pretty much the same.
-Not sure if we could afford it, but anyone know much about Edison school?
-Looking in the Crystal Ridge area. Good? Bad?

Any/All comments appreciated

edit add: Will people burn my house down if I'm an Oiler fan?!?!?!

[btimbit]

My parents recently moved to Okotoks and I'm looking at a place near their now as well. Answers in bold below.

Originally Posted by Mongo

Some specific Qs if people care to comment:
-Read somewhere there is a family Dr. shortage...is that still the case? I live in south Calgary right now but my Doctor is in Okotoks. No problem here myself
-Any differences than Calgary re: weather (ex. way more/less windy?) or is it pretty much the same.Usually one or two degrees warmer than Calgary, but lots more wind
-Not sure if we could afford it, but anyone know much about Edison school?Can't help you on that one unfortunately
-Looking in the Crystal Ridge area. Good? Bad?That's near my parents' new place (Air Ranch) It's a good area, you can come in to it from Calgary the side/back way, don't need to go through town. Lots of younger families and older retired folks. So much more laid back than Calgary, friendlier, that whole cliche of it feeling like a small town but being close to the city so you get the best of both worlds. Only downside would be if you need to make the daily commute to Calgary, but it's really only 15 minutes more than my commute from Cranston anyway. Highway 2 and 2a can get messy during blizzards though

Any/All comments appreciated

Side thoughts;

The town has everything you need, it can be a bit boring for younger folks that need bars and a nightlife to stay entertained but if you're like me and would rather just lay back with close friends and family instead of partying, then there's no problems there. And if you're not like me, well Calgary is only 15 minutes away.

Some decent restaurants but nothing spectacular, they were thinking of building an Earls down there but think that got canned when they built one on 130th ave in Calgary instead. Heard rumours of a Cactus Club but nothing solid.

[Ducay]

From my experience, no one lives in Okotokos because of Okotoks. People live there because Copperfield and Cranston were too pricey. Only adds another 15 minutes to an already long commute I'd imagine.