2014 is coming to a close, but it’s been a great year for the Edmonton Home Pros Real Estate Group and we hope it’s been a fantastic year for you, too! As we head into the holiday season, we hope you’ll have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, spent surrounded by friends and family. Our homes are a central part of the festivities of this season, and now is the time when some of our most treasured memories will be made within our walls. This time of year, we all understand what makes a “house” a “home”.

We’d like to thank all our new and returning clients who worked with us this year, and we look forward to working with you again on your next Edmonton real estate transaction, whether it be in 2015 or years in the future. If you are considering buying or selling and Edmonton home in 2015, you can access all the information on our website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Check out current Edmonton homes for sale, find out more about our buyer and seller services, or book an Edmonton home evaluation and consult for the new year.

Edmonton’s diversity is varied and colourful.

Back to school season is here! Stores are filled with excited parents (and maybe a few disappointed children) as they prepare for the new school session.

Now that school is just about started, a lot of our conversations among the team has been about language schools, and in particular, bilingual schools—schools that may offer immersion or second language education in central Alberta.

One of the greatest things about raising a family in or around Edmonton is the diversity of cultures and perspectives we encounter here. People from all over the world wind up settling in Edmonton, Spruce Grove, Leduc Sherwood Park or Stony Plain. This has been the tradition here for hundreds, if not thousands of years. But today, we see this diversity blooming in our education system, which now provides bilingual education in 8 international languages.

And for our children, learning a second language has incredible health, communication and advancement benefits. Children who learn multiple languages have well-exercised minds, develop high communication skills and can achieve great advancement opportunities in the future.

So we wanted to list the Edmonton schools that offer second language and immersion classes so you can have an idea what languages are available and where you might find those classes.

Being a real estate team that provides service in many of these languages (and some languages that are not taught in the current school system), Edmonton Home Pros understands the importance of language and culture in making buying decisions that support our families and communities. We hope that if you are considering buying or selling a home in Edmonton or any of the above communities, get in touch with us.

Chinese (Mandarin)
ELEMENTARY	JUNIOR HIGH	SENIOR HIGH
CAERNARVON SCHOOL14820 118 Street NW	LONDONDERRY SCHOOL7104 144 Avenue NW	M.E. LAZERTE SCHOOL6804 144 Avenue NW
DOVERCOURT SCHOOL13910 122 Avenue NW	OTTEWELL SCHOOL9435 73 Street NW	MCNALLY SCHOOL8440 105 Avenue NW
KILDARE SCHOOL7525 144 Avenue NW	PARKVIEW SCHOOL14313 92 Avenue NW	ROSS SHEPPARD SCHOOL13546 111 Avenue NW
MEADOWLARK SCHOOL9150 160 Street NW	ROSSLYN SCHOOL13215 113A Street NW
MEYONOHK SCHOOL1850 Lakewood Road South NW
German
ELEMENTARY	JUNIOR HIGH	SENIOR HIGH
FOREST HEIGHTS SCHOOL10304 81 Street NW	ALLENDALE SCHOOL6415 106 Street NW	STRATHCONA SCHOOL10450 72 Avenue NW
RIDEAU PARK SCHOOL10605 42 Avenue NW
RIO TERRACE SCHOOL7608 154 Street NW
ASL: American Sign Language
ELEMENTARY	JUNIOR HIGH	SENIOR HIGH
ALBERTA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF6240 113 Street NW
Arabic
ELEMENTARY	JUNIOR HIGH	SENIOR HIGH
CALDER SCHOOL12950 118 Street NW	KILLARNEY SCHOOL13110 91 Street NW
GLENGARRY SCHOOL9211 135 Avenue NW	QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOOL9425 132 Avenue NW
MALMO SCHOOL4716 115 Street NW
French Immersion
ELEMENTARY	JUNIOR HIGH	SENIOR HIGH
BRANDER GARDENS SCHOOL14865 56 Avenue NW	AVALON SCHOOL5425 114 Street NW	HARRY AINLAY SCHOOL4350 111 Street NW
DELWOOD SCHOOL7315 Delwood Road NW	DICKINSFIELD SCHOOL14320 88A Street NW	ROSS SHEPPARD SCHOOL13546 111 Avenue NW
DUNLUCE SCHOOL11735 162 Avenue NW	MCKERNAN SCHOOL11330 76 Avenue NW
GREENFIELD SCHOOL3735 114 Street NW	KENILWORTH SCHOOL7005 89 Avenue NW
GREENVIEW SCHOOL5904 38 Avenue NW
HOLYROOD SCHOOL7920 94 Avenue NW
J.A. FIFE SCHOOL15004 76 Street NW
LAURIER HEIGHTS SCHOOL8210 142 Street NW
LENDRUM SCHOOL11330 54 Avenue NW
MCKERNAN SCHOOL11330 76 Avenue NW
RICHARD SECORD SCHOOL4025 117 Street NW
RIO TERRACE SCHOOL7608 154 Street NW
Hebrew
ELEMENTARY	JUNIOR HIGH	SENIOR HIGH
TALMUD TORAH SCHOOL6320 172 Street NW
Spanish
ELEMENTARY	JUNIOR HIGH	SENIOR HIGH
MCKERNAN SCHOOL11330 76 Avenue NW
MILL CREEK SCHOOL9735 80 Avenue NW
SWEET GRASS SCHOOL11351 31 Avenue NW
Ukrainian
ELEMENTARY	JUNIOR HIGH	SENIOR HIGH
		M.E. LAZERTE SCHOOL6804 144 Avenue NW

Pavillion dancers are just one of the many draws of the Heritage Days Festival. Photo Credit: Edmonton Tourism

It isn’t hard to be proud of Edmonton. The capital city has a lot of great things going for it: Active communities, a growing economy, and Alberta’s creative spark.

But Edmonton has something else that is sometimes forgotten about, and because of our city’s size, we sometimes forget just how great and important it is.

We’re talking about Edmonton’s unique multicultural spirit.

Throughout the summer, it gets easier to see people at events and cultural celebrations, but it’s during the August long weekend that our city’s multicultural vibrancy comes to life on stage, in our bellies and throughout the William Hawrelak Park grounds.

This year’s Heritage Festival looks like it will be the biggest yet.

The Servus Heritage Festival runs from August 2 to August 4, and this year it turns 39, which is no surprise, since it draws nearly 350,000 people over three days.

People from all walks of life and from all areas of central Alberta flock to the food, performances and craft market in a weekend-long gesture of sharing and neighbourly spirit.

This year, the Heritage Festival boasts more than 60 food pavilions from all over Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South and Central America. Every year, this festival has new additions and a whole host of culinary surprises. There are also a cluster of stages for cultural dance and live performances, and several pavilions have craft markets attached for light shopping.

Edmonton’s multiculturalism is one thing that we are especially proud of. Edmonton Home Pros has been expanding the languages of our home listings services in order to improve the offerings available to various communities in Edmonton. From Cantonese to Chinese to French to Tagalog to Arabic to Korean, we work hard to make sure that people can find what they need when it comes to buying and selling Edmonton Real Estate.

And as more new Edmontonians join our communities, we hope that the Servus Heritage Festival becomes the food and cultural highlight for them that it is for our team. In the meantime, we hope to see you on the festival grounds!

And be sure to get in touch with us if you have any questions about our multilingual services, or if you would like to buy or sell a home in Edmonton.

Stephen Lau and the Edmonton Home Pros wish you a safe and pleasant Canada Day. If you would like assistance buying or selling your Edmonton property, Sherwood Park real estate home, Leduc real estate house, or your St. Albert house, look no further than the Edmonton Home Pros. Contact Stephen Lau and his team today. 

Presenting Leduc Real Estate!

Did you know Stephen Lau and the Edmonton Home Pros team also operate in the greater Edmonton area?

In fact, our experience and real estate knowledge has helped hundreds of Leduc residents buy or sell real estate homes! Which is why Stephen Lau and the Edmonton home pros team are exceptionally excited to announce the launch of their Leduc real estate page.

If you’re interested in buying or selling a Leduc home, or simply want to access Leduc area-information, look no further than edmontonhomepros.ca! On this page we have basic city information, local amenities, and the attractive features which make Leduc such a desirable location to live in. We also provided valuable links to Leduc communities as well as additional resources for buyers and sellers.

We put our professional services and extensive Leduc-area knowledge to create a resource for citizens in Leduc County and the City of Leduc.

The City of Leduc brings outdoor adventure and recreation to your doorstep! Looking for endless opportunities under one roof? Check out the Leduc Recreation Centre (LRC), one of Alberta’s largest recreational facilities. Here you can work up a sweat at the fitness facility, skate in any of the 3 NHL-sized rinks, dive into the aquatic complex, or sprint on the indoor running track. LRC also hosts year-round sports tournaments both on a provincial and national level.

For more information or to search for a Leduc home for sale, visit our Leduc real estate page.

About The Edmonton Bikeology Festival

Photo by: Sam Saunders

We think its safe to say Summer has finally arrived in The City of Edmonton. The weather is co-operating and the real estate market is heating up. In addition to being a great time to buy or sell your Edmonton home, Summer is also the time to enjoy outdoor activities. Whether you’re swimming at Sherwood Park’s Millenium Place, or enjoying some outdoor running through Leduc’s network of trails, this time of year fosters outdoor fun.

A favourite pastime for many Edmonton homeowners is outdoor biking, and our city strives to be as bike-friendly as possible. So much so, that’s there’s a whole month dedicated to cycling. We’re of course referring to the Edmonton Bikeology Festival. For the month of June, the Capital City will unite and celebrate our cycling culture. Local bike shops will host events throughout the month including bike-education, bike breakfasts, a commuter challenge, and learn to bike lessons for special needs children. There’s a lengthy list of events, which you can see in the Bikeology website, but we picked out events coming up within the next few weeks.

Photo by: Bromford

• MEC Bikefest | May 31st | Sir Winston Churchill Square
  Visit Mountain Equipment Coop’s Bikefest between 10am and 4pm, to connect with the local cycling community. According to MEC you can, “try out new great, test ride a new bike, browse exhibitor booths, score deals at the MEC Bike Swap, or learn new skills at a bike clinic.” Best of all, they’ll also have free tune-ups for attendees.
• Bikey Breakfast | June 6th & 27th | Earth’s General Store (9605-82 Ave)
  Enjoy some delicious pancakes at Earth’s General Store and good vegan food, This event will be held the first and last Friday’s of the Bikeology Festival in Edmonton.
• Commuter Race | June 10th | Various Locations
  The commuter race is a friendly challenge for Edmonton cyclists. Each participant will start at separate locations and ride to one location. There’s minimum distances required with the purpose of this challenge being to discover the fastest route to Downtown Edmonton. For more information visit their website.

Stay tuned to the Edmonton Home Pros blog this Summer for updates on upcoming events and real estate advice. If you’re looking to sell or buy Edmonton homes, turn to Stephen Lau and the Edmonton Home Pros, contact them today.

Fall In ❤ With Stony Plain Real Estate

When visiting the Town of Stony Plain, it is easy to see why so many people buy or sell Stony Plain real estate. Here, you can easily fall in love with the town’s peaceful streets, charming ambiance, big city amenities, and beautiful scenery.

The town has a deep appreciation for its cultural and agricultural roots, as well as its historical buildings; so, it adorned a number of buildings with spectacular outdoor paintings. These murals were designed by Canadian artists and illustrate Stony Plain’s rich heritage. Its an attraction that has earned Stony Plain the endearing title of , “the town with the painted past.”

Stony Plain is located a mere 30 minutes west of Downtown Edmonton and 10 minutes from Spruce Grove— making it the area of choice for commuters, families, and retirees. The entrepreneurial-minded and investors are also drawn to Stony Plain. Its convenient location next to Highway 16A brings thousands of daily travellers. As a result, the town has been structured to support business development and business growth.

When it comes to Stony Plain real estate properties available, this town doesn’t fall short! Stony Plain homes for sale consist of a healthy mix of properties with varying styles. Here you can find 4 level splits, bungalows, 2-storey homes, acreages, and apartment condos.

For more information on this thriving town and its communities— get in touch with the Edmonton Home Pros. Your real estate needs are paramount to Stephen Lau and his team. As such, they cater their services to you. Contact them for a home buyers consultation or a home evaluation. Both services are 100% free!

Edmonton – A Place To Call Home

We know that relocating to a new place can be a very exciting experience; new beginnings for you and your family, and a new place to call home. Sometimes the only hard part is knowing where to start or establishing a game plan for your move . If you’re a Canadian Force Member and you need to relocate to Edmonton, let us assist you in this transition. We know how hard you work for our country and we’d like to pay it forward by making this process as easy as possible for you.

Photo by Jamie McCaffrey

Edmonton is a very welcoming city that we know you’re going to love once you explore its streets, trails, and the breathtaking river valley.  While you get familiarized with your new surroundings and workplace, we’ll help you organize, plan, and understand what this relocation means for you, your family, and your job.

Take advantage of our expertise and years of experience helping families find the perfect place home in a new city. Contact us today and tell us more about your situation so we can start getting your new home ready for you!

Thank you for all you do for our country. 

Leduc’s Retirement Community: Lifestyle Options

Lifestyle Options is more than a retirement community, it’s an extended family for Leduc senior citizens. This area provides a safe, secure location for for residents over 55 years of age and helps break through the isolation several mature adults face. Lifestyle Options is locally owned and operated in the Leduc community of West Haven Estates.

This retirement community helps slow down the effects of aging by fostering a healthy atmosphere and focusing on the necessities of each of its community members.

Leduc seniors have several floorplans to choose from here including a one bedroom and two bedroom suites with basic kitchen necessities. Unlike a nursing home, Lifestyle Options offers multiple resources for independent seniors to use at their leisure. This retirement community is also partnered with Alberta Health Services, so Leduc senior residents retain a secure atmosphere of that in a nursing home.

Benefits of Living In A Leduc Retirement Community

Imagine living in a healthy atmosphere where you have all the benefits of an extended care centre and multiple entertainment options. Your neighbours are friendly adults with whom you share common interests, and the cost of living is significantly lower than in a busy metropolitan city. Lifestyle Options in Leduc can offer you all this and more!

• • Lifestyle Options has on site dietary workers, housekeeping, recreation therapists, Licensed Practical Nurses and Patient Care Assistants.
• • 24 hour on call service is available.
• • Amenities including meal service, laundry services, a hair salon, an exercise room, a meeting room, a spiritual lounge, and more.
• • Affordable and supportive Leduc retirement community.

Did you know?
An affordable housing complex also opened in The City of Edmonton. Chateau at Schonsee Square Seniors Complex. It featured 103 affordable housing suites for functionally independent seniors with 13 of them for disabilities click here to learn more.

It’s just another reason why The City of Leduc is such a great place to live in, no matter your age or stage of your life! If you’re ready to buy or sell a Leduc home, the Edmonton Home Pros can are ready and willing to help you! Simply get in touch with Stephen Lau today.

What Can Families Do in St. Albert?

St. Albert is a family-oriented community with a reputation for being number one best small city in Canada (according to a 2013 award given by MoneySense). Despite being a small suburb North of Edmonton, St.Albert is bursting with entertainment opportunities suitable for all types of families.

• • Recreational. Whether your family likes to spend time exploring the great outdoors; or you have kids who enjoy playing sports, St. Albert is a world of opportunity! Visit the local rec facility (Servus Place) to participate in leisure and fitness activities. The rec centre also offers team sports, exercise classes, and a full state-of-the-art fitness equipment.
• • Family festivals. Many families in St.Albert look forward to the International Children’s Festival. An annual 5 day festival for children and their families, from puppets to storytellers, and jugglers— Children’s Fest is sure to entertain.
• • Educational. Visit the local Public Library any time of the year for educational programs, books, and audio/visual materials. Other facilities such as the St. Albert Art Gallery has drop-in programs for children ages 6 to 12 years old; Picasso for toddlers; and more!
• • Aquatic Activities. No matter if its cold and snowing outside, families can swim year-round in St. Albert. In addition to the 160 feet of water slides at Servus Place, Fountain Park Recreation Centre also hosts swimming lessons and family friendly swims.

Its no wonder St. Albert is loved by all residents and envied by other small Canadian cities! To learn more about this family community click here. If you’re ready to relocate to St. Albert, contact Stephen Lau and the Edmonton Home Pros team. Their real estate knowledge extends to more than Edmonton— they also know the St. Albert market and can help families find a St. Albert home. Looking for a family friendly St. Albert community? Learn more about Sturgeon Heights, Oakmont, and Lacombe Park here.