Situated in western Canada and one of 3 beautiful Prairie Provinces, Alberta is one of the largest areas, at 661,848 km² with an ever-growing population of over 4 million people. Most of the population live in only two major cities: Calgary, and the capital city of Edmonton. Alberta is bound to British Columbia the west, to the north by the Northwest Territory, and east by Saskatchewan. At its south, Alberta is bound by Montana, USA and it is one of two provinces which are completely landlocked.
Alberta is surrounded by the famous Canadian Rocky Mountains, covered in lush forests, while the southern area gives way to never-ending grasslands. The region makes this province a beautiful place to visit with warm summers and cold, white winters that can drop below -40c at times.
Cost of living in Alberta
There are many reasons to choose Alberta for your new home. There are no provincial sales taxes, the province has the lowest tax on gasoline and has among the lowest property taxes in Canada with an average home costing around $403,000. Local residents can keep costs down with shorter commute times, reduced housing prices and affordable consumer goods.
Alberta’s Economy
Today, Alberta’s economy is the strongest in Canada with an abundance of natural resources and many job opportunities in forestry and agriculture. In recent years, the fossil energy industry has led to an economic boom that has further developed into a flourishing manufacturing sector.
Alberta is one of the more popular immigrant destinations due to the abundance of well-paying jobs in the oil, finance and tourism fields. This makes Alberta a wonderful place to start your new life as an immigrant, with promising opportunities and great benefits for its citizens.
Demographics
Alberta’s population has grown rapidly in recent years, overtaking every other province and territory in Canada. Over half a million immigrants have chosen to settle in Alberta over the past decade, with most newcomers being young men looking for better job opportunities.
As a multi-cultural society, Alberta is home to a variety of ethnicities and religions with immigrants moving from India, China, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. In fact, as of 2011, Filipino’s accounted for 12% of the population, a number that has grown dramatically in the past few years.
Spiritually, Alberta is evenly split between Catholic and Protestant, with 23% declaring no religion.
Education
Alberta is a fascinating place for students, and it provides wonderful education opportunities for its citizens. Home to an impressive 6 universities, 13 colleges and several trade schools, Alberta has something for everyone.The University of Alberta is one of Canada’s most prestigious learning institutions. Nestled in the city of Edmonton, this school has over 39 000 students, with many travelling from over 150 countries worldwide to enjoy access to over 400 undergraduate programs.
As Canada’s major paleontological treasure-trove, many students from all over the country flock to the province to dig for fossils.
Alberta Attractions
Spending time enjoying the great outdoors becomes a necessity in a beautiful area like the Rockies. Many residents take a drive out to the mesmerizing mountains where there are many hikes and mountain bike trails that wind their way along the famous Moraine Lake. This body of glacial water has become a popular spot for canoeing, swimming and fishing in the summer, and sets the perfect backdrop for photos in the winter as the lake freezes over and the mountains are layered in snow.
Aside from the many nature reserves, mountains and lakes in the province, Alberta is also an area that celebrates a unique western culture. Hosting the largest rodeo in North America every July known as the Calgary Stampede, visitors can enjoy a step back in time to an era of Wild West chuck wagon races, rodeos and parades. Thousands of visitors rate this event as one of the best in the province, so join in on the fun.
Alberta Immigrants Nominee Programs
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is a government-run program where candidates who have the skills and qualifications that Alberta is looking for, are nominated for immigration . Alberta accepts applicants in the following categories:
| Strategic Recruitment Stream |
| Employer Driver Stream |
| Self-Employed Farmer Stream |