Some of the commonly asked questions are listed on this page. If you cannot find the information you want on other pages of the website, it might be listed here. If you cannot find the information you want here, then you can ask a question and we will attempt to answer it.
There are many programs to help you learn English. There are childrens programs within the Edmonton school system and many of the colleges and universities offer daytime and evening courses to help you learn.
Some of the settlement agencies also offer English courses for newcomers. You can find a full list of places to learn English here.
In Canada, every working person registers for a Social Insurance Number in order to work, and their employer submits a portion of their wages to the Federal and Provincial government from every pay cheque.
In April of each year, every working person is required to file an Income Tax statement. Usually, your monthly deductions are for the correct amount, but occasionally you will either owe the government additional tax or the government will owe you a tax refund.
In addition, there is a Canadian sales tax called the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that applies to many items that you purchase. There is no provincial sales tax in Alberta. More information on paying taxes.
There are many Newcomer Services in Edmonton that can communicate with you by telephone or e-mail and give you information about finding your community in Edmonton and getting help with language issues. Click the Newcomer Services link at the top of every page on this website to find a list of these groups.
There can be different standards and certifications in Canada, and you may need to do some additional training. The good news is that groups like the Mennonite Centre can help you with learning English, or with finding the appropriate training program so that you can work in Canada in your area of expertise. See a list of Newcomer Services.
Edmonton is a very clean, safe city with many neighbourhoods that have affordable housing, shopping and schools and good access to bus service.
You can also live in the heart of downtown, outside the city in a smaller community or near historic Whyte Avenue. For more detailed descriptions of neighbourhoods, visit our Neighbourhood Profiles page for links to resources.
