About 12 years ago, my husband and I decided to leave the traffic and crowds of Edmonton, Alberta, and settle about 20 minutes north in the small city of Fort Saskatchewan.
Before moving to our little community, I spent over a decade living in big cities; most recently in Edmonton, and before that in Calgary, where my husband grew up.
He and I both enjoyed city life … until we didn’t.
Over the past few decades, the populations of both Edmonton and Calgary have grown significantly, pushing both of Alberta’s largest metropolitan centers over the 1.2 million mark.
They lost the small-town feel we’d once enjoyed, so we headed to a city with fewer than 30,000 people not too far away.
Our community feels incredibly connected and special
In many ways, it’s easy to really feel like part of a community when it’s smaller — and our home has its quirks.
My dentist and eye doctor are siblings, which feels unlikely in a large city. During my last eye exam, I got to hear about their trip to see Taylor Swift in Vancouver, which Dr. Colin’s sister had told me about a few months before when I had my annual dental check-up.
Years ago, when my partner and I were searching for someone local to officially marry us, I saw our city’s mayor, Gayle Katchur, listed as a marriage officiant.
I didn’t actually expect her to respond to my email asking if she was available for a quick service, but she was in. Our ceremony took place on a Wednesday evening in her home, and the mayor’s husband and son were kind enough to be our witnesses. It was lovely.
Fort Saskatchewan really is the kind of tight-knit place where neighbors come together to donate their bottles and cans and fundraise so that a local family can pay for their beloved dog’s surgery instead of having to surrender it to a local rescue.
What our town lacks in amenities, it makes up for in personality
We may not have a Costco or as many restaurants as bigger cities, but we do have sheep and goats.
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Every summer, a herd of about 50 sheep graze in our downtown park areas like living lawn mowers. When our nieces and nephews have visited from out of town, they’ve enjoyed seeing the friendly sheep and feeding them snacks like apples and leaves.
The first time I encountered the goats on the paved river trail. I was excited to take a break from my bike ride to pet some of them. However, unlike the sheep, the grazing goats are all business.
I soon noticed the signs asking residents to give the goats space. Turns out, they’re part of the area’s weed-management program.
There’s also a rich culture here. When my sister-in-law came from New Zealand a few years ago, she enjoyed driving around to take photos of the bronze statues scattered throughout the city.
They tell the story of Fort Saskatchewan, including its beginning as a North-West Mounted Police fort in 1875. She also loved the colourful murals downtown that represent what our community is today.
Living here has been lovely — and the big city is never too far away when we’re craving it
Living not too far away from North America’s northernmost city of over 1 million people gives us the best of both worlds — proximity to big-city amenities and the joys of living in a smaller, friendlier place.
We’re just 20 miles or so from Edmonton, so my husband and I drive there whenever we want to enjoy its NHL hockey games, shopping malls, and international airport.
All in all, we love living in a welcoming community that’s just close enough to a big city. After all, where else can you get married by the mayor, in her living room?