Hey Y’all! I’m looking to move from the states to the Alberta, Edmonton area. I’m an account director on the agency side. Any advice? Any way to make the move easier? Anything I can do to make finding a job easier?

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Edmonton is a small, small ad market. There are a couple of shops but mostly local independents so I’m design or government work.

Calgary has a few more network shops, but most are there to service a client who’s head office is also in Calgary.

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I worked in Calgary for about a year. The network agency I was with at the time transferred me there for a stint, but I moved away pretty quickly after the shop shut down for good. As mentioned, Edmonton’s advertising scene is really small. People tend to hop around the same few places, and I got the impression that folks there could feel threatened by outsiders. With only three or four major places to work, people are protective of their jobs and not always open to helping newcomers. So you might be met with some reservations, especially if you have big US network experience.

Among the Edmonton shops, I’d recommend looking at ZGM, FKA, and Berlin Communications. They’re probably some of the better agencies doing fun, decent work. I believe they had a DDB at one point, but it closed down. You may also want to consider client side roles in finance or government, since agency opportunities can be limited. Places like ATB Financial or the Government of Alberta could be worth exploring.

If you’re open to moving to Calgary, the advertising scene there is larger. Agencies worth checking out include ZGM, Trigger, ChangeMakers, McCann, Critical Mass, Daughter, Evans Hunt, and C&B.

Outside of work, be prepared for the cold. Alberta has some beautiful scenery like Banff for example, but the city tends to be quieter and more family oriented. You’ll also need a car.

If you’re looking for a more metropolitan vibe, where you can bike or walk to work, and a wider range of agencies, I’d be more inclined to suggest moving to Toronto instead. It’s basically the advertising hub of Canada, our version of New York or LA.

Best of luck!

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