Alberta is always ready to welcome visitors, whether they’re here for a short stop-off, a week’s adventuring, or a little longer. As a result, the area is no stranger to a new surge of digital nomads, but where are they all heading?
Why Digital Nomadism?
A digital nomad is someone who works remotely, and uses that relative freedom to travel without taking time off work. For obvious reasons, it’s a relatively new phenomenon, sparked by the drastic rise in the number of people who are able to work from home. Unlike the rest of us, digital nomads have a much looser definition of ‘home’.
Digital nomadism doesn’t necessarily mean moving from one place to another week after week, however – and, in fact, more than seventy countries now offer specific digital nomad visas in an attempt to attract professionals to come and live in their corner of the world for a while, since they don’t post a ‘threat’ to the local job economy but bring with them plenty of their own economic benefits in the form of paying rent, eating out, and shopping local.
These vias usually run for about a year, although some can be extended.
Canada doesn’t currently offer a digital nomad visa, but foreign visitors can work remotely under visitor status. Alberta’s popularity among both nature- and city- lovers means it’s a prime target for digital nomads, but where are they all heading?
The Most Popular Alberta City
You may have already guessed it, but Calgary ranks the highest among digital nomads – at least, for the time being.
Of course, Calgary – and the wider area – already has its own thriving tech scene, although the majority of its positions remain hybrid-based rather than exclusively work-from-home. AI and SaaS both represent major driving forces behind the sector, with more than 1,300 core tech companies. On the more creative side, the gaming industry is also flourishing, with big names like Casino Days in Alberta and independent studio Peak Pixel Games representing two of the biggest names. The startup culture also remains strong, with Calgary Economic Development revealing earlier this year that Calgary’s tech ecosystem is growing faster than any market in the country.
Digital nomads aren’t necessarily benefitting directly from that existing ecosystem, but their presence strengthens an already-strong culture of progress, innovation, and a genuine desire to shake-up the status quo.
But it’s not just about business. Calgary has plenty more to offer digital nomads outside of the hours between 9am and 5pm.
Close Proximity to Nature
Calgary is just over an hour’s drive away from Banff National Park, and it doesn’t take much longer to get to the Rocky Mountains. Digital nomads tend to be those with a soft spot for adventure, so having unfettered access to some of the most beautiful places in North America – virtually on your doorstep – is a massive selling point.
It’s Affordable
With the lowest sales tax rate of all the provinces, Alberta’s draw is financial as well as scenic. And, with Calgary’s population growing by nearly 20% over the last few years, there are many new and affordable homes and apartment complexes springing up all over the place.
The Sports
Whether hockey’s your game – and it should be, if you’re calling Canada home even for a short while – or football, soccer, or baseball, Calgary is a great place to be for soaking up the local atmosphere at a game on the weekend. With the McMahon and GMC stadiums within arm’s reach, it’s easy for digital nomads to truly immerse themselves in some of Canada’s favourite pastimes.