Gateway of Happy Arrival
User Story
By Karen L. Carleton
Moving to Edmonton was only logical for me. I had long lived in the Northwest Territories, traveling to Edmonton for conferences, medical appointments, meetings, shopping and departures for exotic holidays. After returning from studying for my second master’s degree in the United States, I realized I had become too specialized to find a suitable niche north of 60. As bills mounted and no employment opportunities emerged, I took a leap of faith and sold my house. My longing to network with other training professionals boosted my desire to relocate to Alberta’s capital.
Could I once again become a “city person,” as I had been growing up in Saskatoon? Would I be able to navigate busy streets? What about competing in the world of work? My first 6 months here I completed my final courses online, lived on my savings and eked out a quiet existence in the least expensive apartment I could find. Surprisingly it was clean, quiet and safe, despite being small. It was in McCauley’s charming Chinatown, which has an auspicious archway proclaiming it the “Gateway of Happy Arrival.” Soon, I joined the local chapter of the Canadian Society for Training and Development and a Toastmaster group, which provided the networking opportunities I craved.
Finishing my studies while the recession was in full swing, I applied for several jobs to no avail. Still, I dreamed of buying a place of my own. As housing prices came down, I toyed with buying a modest condo downtown - a dream that soon became a reality. Taking this important first step gave me the confidence to believe I could make it as a workplace learning professional “down south.” While I had a few interviews, some employers never called. Three months after I applied for the Learning and Development Coordinator position with the Alberta Motor Association (AMA), I was contacted for an interview following their re-organization. Amazingly, the job was a great fit and I happily accepted AMA’s offer of employment. Soon after that I graduated and had an article accepted for publication. Increasingly, I see more and more reasons to enjoy life as an Edmontonian with diverse ethnic cuisine, the arts community, an IKEA store, the farmer’s market, proximity to the mountains, and many festivals being just a few of those reasons.
