If you are thinking about moving to Calgary or have recently moved to Calgary, then this page is for you. This section focuses on services available to newcomers in the city of Calgary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Moving to Calgary

1. How do I register for junior/senior high school?
2. How do I find a Doctor?
3. How do I find a Dentist?
4. How do I find an Optometrist?
5. Does Calgary have any food banks?
6. Where can I look for affordable housing?
7. Is there affordable daycare offered in Calgary?
8. Are there affordable recreation programs in Calgary?
9. What is the difference between 211 and 311?
10. What is 'Inform Calgary" and how does it work?

1) How do I register for junior/senior high school?

There are several schools you could attend depending on where you reside in the city. Another consideration is whether you wish to attend a public or separate school. Public schools are governed by the Calgary School Board while separate schools are governed by the Calgary Catholic School District. If you are unfamiliar with your new neighbourhood, then you can call the school boards directly for more information.

Calgary Board of Education
This link will take you to the home page of the Calgary Board of Education. If you click on 'Schools & Areas', you can locate a school in your area either alphabetically or by community name.
The Calgary Board of Education has an additional program designed for high school students who would prefer a more flexible learning environment. The program is available on four different campuses around Calgary and is available for youth who are between the ages of 16 to 20 years old. Fifteen year-olds can register under special circumstances. The Calgary Achievement Centre for Youth houses one of the Discovering Choices schools. For more information click here.

Calgary Catholic School District
This link will take you to the home page. For school information, click on "Schools" then click on "School Lists" to locate a school in your area.

2) How do I find a doctor?

There are walk-in clinics throughout Calgary for emergency care, but the Calgary Health Region also has a phone number and a website that can help you to find a family doctor in your area who is accepting new patients.

Health Link 943-LINK (5465)
Phone the Health Link to talk in person with someone who can put you in contact with doctors who are accepting new patients. Since you are talking to a Registered Nurse, they can also help you with other health related concerns, like whether your symptoms warrant a visit to the hospital.

Calgary Health Region
This website will take you to the home page of the Calgary Health Region. They have, on the front page, a 'Find a Doctor MD Link' which will help you locate a doctor. The site has information on all Calgary Health Region programs, including health clinic locations. Be sure to navigate the site thoroughly, as there is an abundance of useful health related information.

3) How do I find a Dentist?

Listed below is the site for the Alberta Dentist Association and College. Here you can find a General Practitioner in Calgary. The "search option" allows you to search locally by inputting your postal code, or city wide, in case you are unsure of your postal code. This site is a good locator of registered dentists in Calgary.

Alberta Dental Association and College
When you visit this site, choose "Dentist Locator", then choose "General Practitioner" to find a family dentist. Choose your postal code, or city, and hit search. It will suggest five dentists at random. If you supply your postal code it focuses on dentists in your area. You may want to perform repeated searches to gather additional names from the random offerings.

4) How do I find an Optometrist?

The Alberta Association of Optometrists will help you locate an eye doctor or Optometrist. This link will give you a list of all Registered Optometrists in alphabetic order. This site has comprehensive information and links regarding eye care.

Alberta Association of Optometrists
Lists the address and phone number of Optometrists in Alberta.

5) Does Calgary have any food banks?

Yes, Calgary has the Inter-Faith food Bank that you can access up to three times per year, without a referral from an outside agency and up to three more times with a referral from an outside agency. To apply for a hamper the process is quite simple. You can call the referral number or go down to their 11th Street SE facility and speak with a Food Bank Volunteer who will guide you through the screening process. The Food Bank Volunteers are trained to understand your circumstances and can connect you with other needed programs. For the hamper request, and more information on other food resources programs available in Calgary, click here and this will open to a printable document with resource information ranging from pre-natal moms to the Elderly.

Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank
Here you will find information on how to apply for a hamper, their events, how to become a volunteer and information about what services they offer.

Feeding Calgary's Children
This website is focused on Feeding Calgary's Children (FCC). FCC is a community-based initiative designed to foster and develop solutions to child hunger.

6) Where can I look for affordable housing?

There are a number of websites available to help you find affordable housing in Calgary. Subsidized housing is available and although the waiting list is long for the Calgary Housing Authority, assessments are based on need so apply if necessary. You will need to fill out a lengthy application form, so make sure you have all of your documents handy. Call the number on the link for further information about necessary documentation for your situation. Some basic documents that will be required include;

• four current pay stubs (if you are a sponsored student or receiving alternative funding you will need proof of that income)
• Proof of any Child Tax Benefits or GST supplements you receive
• Record of any child maintenance received
• List of assets you own

You may also want to visit the provincial government's Landlord and Tenants page to learn more about rights and expectations when renting.

Subsidized Housing Link(s)

Calgary Housing Authority
This site, housed at The City of Calgary website, will give you contact information and information on what kind of annual income is needed to qualify for low-income or affordable housing.

Rental Assistance

Calgary Rent Bank
The Calgary Rent Bank is an initiative that provides loans for families and individuals to help secure housing, prevents residential evictions and avoids termination of utilities.

Affordable Housing Link(s)

Housing Registry Network
Very straight forward with searches for low-cost rent in specific quadrants of the city.
Home Rent.ca
This site allows you to custom design your search criteria, just click "view listings".
Mount Royal Student Association Housing List
Click 'housing list' then 'view online housing' and it displays easy to read housing availabilities.
U of C Students' Union Off-Campus Housing list
Good searching tool link to view listings in your desired area. Just choose a quadrant of the city where you would like to live.
Rent Faster.Ca
Straight forward search engine site, just choose "Calgary" then your options.
Canada.com (Calgary Herald)
Just follow the Real Estate Rentals link and select your criteria.
Calgary Sun
Just click "classifieds" and a listing of available housing in Calgary is provided.

7) Is there affordable daycare offered in Calgary?

Calgary has many daycare centres that offer a subsidy for its customers. Applying for subsidy is a lengthy process that will require supplemental documents verifying income. Be prepared to have, on hand, your child tax credit information, GST information and monthly income (whether it's from a sponsor or working income). Like subsidizing housing, a similar element of this program will help ease financial stress for low-income families. Child care is expensive at times, so find out if you qualify for subsidized daycare. You can check out the link below for more information.

Government of Alberta Children's Services
This page will answer questions you have about daycares and day homes in Alberta. You search for available daycare centres and day homes in your area. You may also find information on daycare subsidies and apply online for one.

8) Are there affordable recreation programs available in Calgary?

The City of Calgary Recreation Services
Here you will find all the programs that The City of Calgary has to offer in regards to recreation. Check out the Fees Assistance program under "programs and lessons" (for low income people). It will give you information on how to apply for this subsidy program. This program offers an opportunity to access City programs at a reduced cost.

9) What is the difference between 211 and 311?

211 is a service offered in Calgary through a joint initiative. 211 is a free telephone number that connects callers to a full range of community, social and government services. Here in Calgary, Certified Information & Referral Specialists answer 211 calls between 8 am and 10 pm, Monday through Friday. Eventually, 211 will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 211 can be accessed by individuals, families, professionals and community agencies. 211 is equipped to provide service to anyone who feels barriers are an issue in their life, whether it's language, poverty or personal difficulty. 211 is designed to provide information pertaining to municipal government services only. For more information on the 211 service check out their website by clicking here.

10) What is "Inform Calgary" and how does it work?

Inform Calgary is part of Alberta's new province-wide on-line directory. The site contains general information about community, health, social, and government services across the province. The online provincial directory lists publicly funded and/or not-for-profit community, health, social, and government organizations/services to assist you. The site is maintained by the Inform Alberta Partners like health regions, community information & referral services across Alberta. These partners ensure the accuracy of the information and add any new organizations and services who register online. How you use Inform Calgary is quite simple. Our link will take you to the Calgary section of the site and you can either type in search keywords or search using an organizational/agency name. You can click "directories" on the top tool bar for Aboriginal services and agencies. Click here to be taken to their website.