Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with alberta

Auto-broker, good or bad idea?

furtive — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:13:48 -0800

Does buying used through an auto-broker make sense for me? I'm in the market for a used car (1-4 years old, one owner, still under warranty) but I live 90 minutes away from the nearest urban area with a proper used car market. To compound things my truck is on it's last legs and every trip out I expect it to be the last. This makes shopping around for a used car rather difficult.

It dawned on me that there must be a market for auto-brokers, and googling them found me several in the nearest city. Does anyone have experience with these? What should I be aware of? I don't mind paying a few hundred extra for the convenience.

Canadian National Parks

netbros — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:06:54 -0800

This is for our Canuck MeFites (or those with knowledge or experience). Please tell me about the Canadian National Park System. For the past 25 years I have spent a great deal of my leisure time exploring the U.S. National Parks. I am interested in doing the same north of the border. I especially love hiking in the mountains, so I'm looking for national park recommendations in the Purcell Mountains or Canadian Rockies. If you have familiarity with specific trails or off-road exploring that would be great.

But I don't want to exclude the easterners. What would you recommend on your side of the country? My previous Canadian experiences have been limited to Montreal and Toronto. I'd like to get out of the cities and into the wild. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[Citation Needed]

jschu — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:57:01 -0800

According to Wikipedia, the town I'm about to move to has been "Rated as unfit for human habitation by the United Nations." Where can I find more information about this? I'm moving to the Peace River, Alberta area next week (omg, sight unseen!).

Here's the link to the Wikipedia page: Grimshaw, Alberta.

I'm skeptical because there's no citation and part of me thinks some bored punk is just messing around with Wikipedia because he's tired of small-town life. I know it's really easy to edit.

But then I Google and come across stuff about tar sands and a nuclear reactor-- what's going on here? To me, "unfit for human habitation" brings to mind refugee shelters or low-income housing projects, not whole towns. The town's official website extolls its "Safe streets, clean air and perhaps the best water ever tasted" (of Doom!).

Am I a gullible moron? Or should I pack my biohazard suit?

Identify these maps

bru — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:43:47 -0800

What are the countries, provinces or states shown in this image? There is Israel twice, unknown, Alberta and unknown (could be California + Cascadia but I am not sure).

Bonus question: this might be just a mysterious work of art but it looks like a riddle. There are some kind of city grids as background spelling (I think) THEFT so the riddle must be political and probably anti US. I don't see what is being stolen in Alberta (oil sands are handsomely bought).

Category: I suppose that "geography" fits inside "science & nature", right?

Thinking of moving to Toronto...Advice?

Alex930 — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:11:24 -0800

I have some questions about making the big move to Toronto...I feel it's right for me, but need additional information. I'm 21, got my bachelor's degree in Marketing, and currently work as an Advertising Executive for Village Voice Media in New York City (it's the most successful alternative weekly paper in America). I was able to get the job because I have much work experience and self-started my own graphics company. However, I have been yearning to live in Toronto for a few years, and want to move within the next year. Due to my age and lack of any responsibilities holding me back, I feel that moving soon is right for me. Of course, I have a few questions:

1. I plan on having my passport by November of this year, and would like to move in the Fall of 2009. Is this time frame possible?

2. Is being a young professional a positive or negative trait in Toronto? Will my age be a factor in being able to get professional positions? (I'll be 22-23 by then...My Bday is late Sept.)

3. Is the job market going well for those with my degree? I've been reading and getting mixed reviews of the Toronto job scene...some indicate that more positions (and better opportunities) are available in Alberta.

4. How is the salary VS. the standard of living up there? I currently make around $60,000 in NYC right now, and am lucky to not have to pay rent (my family still own property here). If I did, however, my salary would barely cover living expenses (a one bedroom apt. here is around $2,000 per month...then add travel, food, utilities...you get the point). Is this true for you all in Toronto?

5. Is it recommended to have a car? I used to live in Tennessee (my dad's from there and refused to raise me in the city), but sold my car because I knew the transportation system in NYC was more than adequate.

6. Will my past job experience even matter in Toronto? I hear that it may not...and that's not a good thing. I'd basically have to start all over again with no previous work identity.

7. I plan on visiting the city in April, 2009...what are the specific institutions I should be in contact with while I'm there? Any particular websites? Any decent people on here who would befriend me and show me around?

All answers are appreciated...especially if you're around my age or job level.

Thanks Guys! I just feel that Toronto is right for me, and I tend to follow my heart on decisions like these...that's why I came back to NYC in the first place.

Legal possibilities for copying art's style for advertising?

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:20:48 -0800

In Alberta, does my business have the right to use/copy the "style" of a piece of artwork that we already paid to use when commissioning new artwork from a different artist? My retail shop's front awning features a large, prominent mural-type image. When it was originally installed, a local artist was paid to produce the image but my shop doesn't own the image - we've used it a very small number of times for stationery and advertising purposes, but each time we want to use the image in a new form we have to pay a licensing fee.

The original artist is talented but he's personally difficult for us to work with, and we can't even come close to affording his services for all the web & print work we have in mind for an upcoming campaign. I've approached other artists who are able to work within our budget, but I'm concerned about the legality of asking for artwork that deliberately and closely mimics the style of the existing store-front artwork.

I have no intention of completely snubbing the original artist on this matter, but his confrontational and profit-hungry nature mean I have to be sure of my footing before he catches wind of this.

For reference: The original image is a mural with the theme of "people enjoying food" - it has a few stylized painted people standing around with foods and foody images scattered artfully throughout the background and foreground. I'm not interested in copying the existing image, but I would like artwork that features painted people and food of a distinctly similar style so as to provide a continuity in the shop's image. The original artist is not well-known (to my knowledge) and the style isn't ground-breaking-ly unique or anything, so I doubt he could claim we were trading on his name or trademark, but since we don't own the original image, I'm afraid it could be inappropriate for some other reason.

Any advice, experience or (inexpensive) legal resources you could offer would be terrific. If it does come down to "Call a lawyer and pay him to research this", then I can arrange that.

Trans Canada Roadtrip

niccolo — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:35:11 -0800

In two weeks I am taking a roadtrip across Canada from Ottawa to Vancouver (I'll be living in Vancouver for the next year). I have 4-5 extra days I can use along the way (i.e. non-travel days). I want to spend these mostly in Alberta and BC. What's awesome in Alberta and BC, where should I stay/visit? I am male, 25, and I will be traveling alone. I will be staying mostly in hostels.

The Canadian Wild...North?

hototogisu — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:34:20 -0800

A friend is being sent to Ft. McMurray, Alberta for work (oil, engineering, etc.) and I might be going with her. What's the scoop? What's the place like, the housing market, the city? Any info would be greatly appreciated, be it personal experiences or links to to interesting things about the area. The only clue we have is to the weather...

I'm looking for advice regarding advertising free alcohol in Alberta, Canada.

chudmonkey — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:33:40 -0800

I'm looking for advice regarding advertising free alcohol in Alberta, Canada. I'm in charge of advertising for a small wine shop. As a matter of course, the shop offers complimentary tastings of a few wines everyday. You can walk into the shop anytime you like and have a small glass of wine, from bottles that the staff choose.

Is it legal to post a sign on the door of the shop that says "Complimentary tastings available"? I understand that there are some strictures against advertising "free alcohol" in Canada, but I'd like to know the specifics, and I haven't had much luck with the Google route.

Any resources or personal advice would be appreciated.

Where can I buy cotton candy in Calgary?

blue_beetle — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 08:34:33 -0800

Where can I buy cotton candy in Calgary, Alberta? Is there anywhere besides Calaway Park and the Calgary Stampede? I need it asap, and the Stampede won't start for another week, and Calaway Park requires me to pay the park entrance fee before buying anything.

Can you help me find this artists' work?

popsicletoes — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:33:41 -0800

When I was a kid--reference point: I was born in 1980--there was a singer named "Paulo" (or at least that's what I remember him being called) and he sang songs about Alberta and its history. He had songs about the Frank Slide, the big fire in Calgary, how Alberta got it's name, stuff like that. From the eons old dubbed tape my parents had his album was aptly named "Alberta Songs"...does anyone recognize this guy? Can you tell me where--if it's possible--to purchase this album? I would love to have a real copy of it now.

Is the Alberta job market really that hot?

Alterscape — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 05:31:22 -0800

What's the job market for IT/audiovisual really like in Alberta? As you might've guessed from my posting history, I'm a recent college grad floundering around in the employment waters trying to find someplace that'll pay me to be skilled in the care and feeding of computers and/or audiovisual equipment. I have family up in Calgary who've been telling me that everything in the world is open up there, job-wise. I know the oil boom is fueling a lot of economic growth, but I'd like to start gathering more information on the conditions in the job market..

What's the entry-level IT and/or AV employment market really like up there now? I'd like to hear from people actually working in the area. I'm not picky about what part of Alberta, etc, just looking for general impressions. As a talented but not yet proven grad, do I have a hope? Where should I look? Is the job market REALLY as hot as I'm told it is?

For the record, I have dual US/Canadian citizenship, so legal approval to work isn't an issue.

Southern Alberta: Am I throwing my vote away by voting NDP?

Quartermass — Mon, 28 Jun 2004 06:38:22 -0800

It's election day here in Canada, and I have still not made my mind up on who I am going to vote for. I am in Southern Alberta, so it is pretty much decided who is going to win here (last poll had the local Conservatives at 60%), Am I throwing my vote away by voting NDP? Or should I vote "strategically" with the second place party (the Liberal party, which I am not a huge fan of - mainly because of Paul Martin), as an "anyone but conservative" vote?

Backpacking in Canada

five fresh fish — Fri, 28 May 2004 21:55:27 -0800

I just realized that I get downright passionate about telling people how to have the best outdoor/hiking experience in the south half of BC/Alberta. I'm thinking this means I'd be happiest were I to get back into hiking. But I feel I've done it all here... does anyone have recommendations for truly stunning 3-5 day backpacking excursions? They don't necessarily require mountains: I've done some coastal hiking, and it was wonderful, too. Where in the world should I go?