Calgary city guide
For newcomers & families
Where the community is: Northeast Calgary — Taradale, Saddle Ridge, Martindale, Savanna and Skyview Ranch — is the heart of the city’s South Asian community.
Health coverage
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)
Register within your first months in Alberta at a registry agent or by mail.
Driver’s licence
Alberta driver’s licence (registry agents)
Exchange a foreign licence at a registry agent; some countries need road tests.
Getting around
Calgary Transit (CTrain)
Pay with a My Fare app.
Schools
Calgary Board of Education
Calgary Catholic School District
Public school is free for children of permanent residents and most work- and study-permit holders.
Free newcomer help
Centre for Newcomers
Immigrant Services Calgary
Alberta newcomer services
Free settlement services help with jobs, English or French classes, housing and paperwork.
First steps in Canada
Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Canada Child Benefit for families
Open a bank account and get a local phone number in week one.
Read the full newcomer checklist →
Festivals & events
Calgary’s Nagar Kirtan for Vaisakhi (spring) draws huge crowds in the Northeast; Diwali and Eid events run across the city.
Rules and programs change; always confirm on the official site before you apply.
Local directory
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