| vince of Alberta is approximately 255,200 square miles | | | | Canada's economic recovery. Alberta is now debt |
| in size and boasts incredible scenery and abundant | | | | free as a Province after paying off over $20 Billion |
| natural resources. It is situated between the provinces | | | | mainly due to the massive oil and gas revenues. |
| of Saskatchewan to the East and British Columbia to | | | | As with all the Provinces, Alberta regulates its own |
| the west, with Northwest Territories to the North and | | | | Education System. Currently, the education budget is |
| the state of Montana, USA bordering the south. | | | | receiving a great deal of attention from Albertans who |
| Alberta is in the Mountain Time Zone which is | | | | are pushing hard for more investment. Also, the money |
| Greenwich Meantime -7 hours. Between the months | | | | previously used for debt servicing will now be made |
| of April and October Daylight Saving is in effect and | | | | available for infrastructure investment — billions |
| the difference is GMT -6 hours. | | | | of dollars have been allocated to this. |
| There are two main cities, Edmonton (The Provincial | | | | The Provincial agency for assessment of foreign |
| Capital) in the north and Calgary in the south. | | | | qualifications is The Edmonton based International |
| Edmonton is located approximately 300 kilometers | | | | Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS). This service |
| north of Calgary, with a healthy rivalry between the | | | | is critical to enable Canadian employers assess your |
| sports teams and the populations in general. There are | | | | education and was also a requirement for the visa |
| several other Towns and Cities that have a lot to | | | | application when we applied. |
| offer including Lethbridge, Red Deer, Brooks, Medicine | | | | Also on the self regulation list are Driver Licensing, |
| Hat and Fort McMurray to the far north. | | | | Workers Compensation Board, Social Welfare |
| The Provinces landscape is extremely varied and | | | | Program and a Provincial Nominee Immigration |
| provides a multitude of Recreational Possibilities. From | | | | Program. Professional regulation is also governed at a |
| flat open prairies, raging rivers, turquoise lakes and | | | | Provincial level - all the information can be found |
| majestic glaciers to the awesome beauty of the | | | | through our "Job search" pages. |
| magnificent Canadian Rockies. | | | | The major political concern for the Alberta |
| Not surprisingly, the most prized assets of the province | | | | Government (headed by long serving Premier Ralph |
| are the Banff and Jasper National Parks, coupled with | | | | Klein and his conservative party) is the Provincial |
| the pristine Kananaskis Country. Banff is by far the | | | | Healthcare system. All Canadians want extra funding |
| more commercial with the Mount Norquay, Sunshine | | | | to forestall what is perceived as a deteriorating |
| and Lake Louise ski hills close by. The town is a | | | | service. I must admit that it is definitely better funded |
| beautiful place but becomes fairly crowded during the | | | | per capita than the UK for instance. The Federal |
| summer and winter with tourist/skiers flocking to the | | | | Government is paying out several billion dollars to help |
| town. Bears are a fairly common sight all around the | | | | out over the next few years and the Provincial |
| area and there are often deer roaming around. | | | | Government is making it a priority as well. |
| The world famous Ice field Parkway offers one of the | | | | Alberta has a rich history from the prehistoric days of |
| most breathtaking drives in the world as it winds | | | | the dinosaurs, the time of the first nations ruling the |
| through mountain passes and past enormous Glaciers | | | | land, through western settlement and the journey |
| and emerald blue lakes. Be warned, photographs and | | | | towards independence. There are several world |
| video’s do not do justice to the scenery as to | | | | heritage sites in Alberta with the main two being the |
| appreciate the enormity of the area you have to stand | | | | very impressive Royal Tyrell Paleontology museum |
| there and take it all in. Once you complete the drive, | | | | near Drumheller and the Head Smashed In Buffalo |
| you will have passed the Columbia ice field where | | | | Jump site near Lethbridge. |
| snow coaches will take you for tours on the Glacier. | | | | The Tyrell museum is a world leader on Dinosaurs with |
| The Town site of Jasper awaits at the end of the | | | | some fantastic displays that are a treat for any family. |
| parkway and offers a less commercialised mountain | | | | The Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is an amazing |
| town experience. The stunning Maligne Lake and | | | | interpretive centre that demonstrates how the native |
| Maligne Canyon are a must see and there are sight | | | | Indians joined together at certain times of the year for |
| seeing tours up the Jasper Tramway to the Whistlers | | | | the big buffalo jump where they skillfully drove herds |
| summit (2470m high). Please note that you will need a | | | | of buffalo over a cliff. When successful enough food |
| valid park pass to stop in any national park or to drive | | | | was gathered for the participants to get them through |
| on the Ice Field Parkway. | | | | the winter and all parts of the buffalo were used. |
| Alberta has the lowest overall taxes in Canada | | | | Unfortunately, the arrival of the western settlers |
| (Provincial tax rate is 10%) and is the only province that | | | | destroyed this way of life with the buffalo hunted to |
| doesn't have a provincial sales tax. It boasts one of | | | | near extinction. |
| the worlds most vibrant and competitive economies | | | | Alberta is a fantastic place to live or visit and the |
| that thrives on the back of massive oil and gas | | | | sheer number of Canadian s moving to the Province is |
| resources with the massive Oil sands projects in the | | | | testimony to the lifestyles on offer. With the future |
| far north promising more Oil than Saudi Arabia! The | | | | promising increasing revenue’s from the Oil and |
| recent mad cow crisis has damaged the famous Beef | | | | Gas industry and massive investment Alberta is the |
| industry though this will hopefully be resolved soon. The | | | | place to be. The majestic rockie mountains provide |
| Provincial Government actively encourages Business | | | | fantastic recreational possibilities that are virtually |
| Development and investment; this in turn fosters the | | | | unsurpassed anywhere else in the world. |
| economic growth and performance that is leading | | | | |