Why I Moved to High River

After 21 years in Okotoks, here's why a smaller town, a golf course view, and a fresh start made all the difference.

When a Small Town Stops Feeling Small

I lived in Okotoks for 21 years. Raised four boys there. Built a mortgage brokerage there. Watched the town grow from under 15,000 people to over 40,000.

And that's exactly why I left.

Here's the thing about Okotoks. When we moved there in 2004, it still felt like a small town. You knew people at the grocery store. You could get across town in five minutes. There was a traffic light or two on the way out of town.

By 2025? The traffic lights had multiplied. Getting across town felt like driving through Calgary. New subdivisions going up everywhere. The character was still there — but the pace had changed.

Lori and I looked at each other and said the same thing: this isn't what we signed up for.

I grew up with small-town values. That pull never goes away. When your town starts feeling like a city, you either adjust or you go find that feeling again.

We went looking.

Finding Highwood by Accident

We weren't planning on High River specifically. We were just driving around the Foothills, looking at communities that still had that small-town feel. Towns where the pace was slower. Where neighbours still waved.

Then we drove through the Highwood Golf community.

Golf course views. A pond with a water feature. Mature landscaping everywhere. And quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you roll down the window and just... stop for a minute.

We looked at each other again. This time it was: this is it.

Our kids are grown. We don't need a big house anymore. What we need is a home that lets us focus on the things that matter — work, community, each other — without spending every weekend on the lawn mower.

The Highwood Golf community delivers exactly that. Landscapers handle the lot. The lawn gets cut weekly. Snow gets cleared off the sidewalks and driveway after every snowfall. We don't lift a finger.

And the view? I work from a home office that looks out onto the golf course. On warm days, I work from the back deck. Deer wander through most mornings. The Highwood Golf and Country Club — a 27-hole course that's been here since 1958 — is literally my backyard.

It's not a bad place to talk about mortgages.

Getting to Know the Town — One Meal at a Time

One thing Lori and I noticed right away: people here are genuinely curious about your story. Every time we walk into a new shop or sit down at a new restaurant, someone asks — where did you move from? What brought you here? What do you do?

And they don't just ask. They welcome you. Not in a polite, surface-level way. In a "pull up a chair, you're one of us now" kind of way.

That doesn't happen everywhere. It happens in small towns that still know what community means.

We've made it our mission to visit every restaurant, coffee shop, bar, and local business in High River. Not because we need to — because you don't become part of a town by staying home. You become part of it by showing up.

Here's what we've found so far:

Jack's Place — 509 1 St SW

The coconut coffee is addicting. That's not an exaggeration. We keep going back for it. Breakfast is delicious, the coffee is always fresh and hot, and the staff are incredibly nice.

"Excellent service and butter tarts. The coconut coffee was amazing." — from our Google review

STEAKHOUSE by My Pizza — 503 1 St SW

This is the hidden gem. Soothing jazz music, a glass of wine, and a meal that belongs in a downtown Calgary restaurant. Big-city upper-class dining in a small town. If you haven't been, go.

"Pairing an incredible meal and delicious wine made for a rock star evening." — from our Google review

High River Brewing Company — 510G 21 St SE

Perfectly poured pints in a taphouse you'd never know was there unless someone told you. Amazing service, amazing beverages. A hidden gem — and we don't say that lightly.

"The Tap House is a hidden gem and by hidden, you'd never know it exists." — from our Google review

The Daily Male — 110a 3 Ave SW

This is NOT your average barbershop. A fantastic grooming service followed by professionally poured beverages. If you know, you know. And if you don't — go find out.

"This is NOT your average barbershop." — from our Google review

P & H Family Restaurant — 327 Macleod Trail SW

You go for the food — the curry and green curry hot pots are amazing — and you stay for the humorous banter with the owner. We've been back seven times. That says everything.

Rio Alto Authentic Mexican Food — 118 3 Ave SW

The stuffed poblano pepper is delicious. Great food and a relaxing atmosphere. We've been back six times and we're not done exploring the menu.

fOnda Oaxaca — 601 1 St SW

A cozy little spot that reminds you of Mexico. The braised beef is fantastic and the tongue is extremely tender. Two visits in and we're already planning the next one.

New Golden National Family Restaurant — 112 Centre St SE

Quick, hot, and delicious. Every single time. We've been here seven times and the food is consistently excellent with incredibly fast service.

Edoyaki Sushi — 402 Centre St SE

Fresh sashimi and sushi in the heart of High River. We never expected this quality in a small town. A very pleasant surprise.

Fred & Susan Pinoy Dish

Authentic Filipino food right here in High River. One of the things that surprised us most about this town — the diversity of food options. This place delivers.

Flys Etc — 811 Centre St SE

If you're into hunting, fishing, or the outdoors — you HAVE to see this place to believe it. We never expected a store this incredible in High River. It's fantastic.

Evelyn's Memory Lane Cafe — 118 4 Ave SW

The best service in town, hands down. What a pleasant surprise. We'll definitely be back.

Stix N Bones Billiards & Gaming — 30 3 Ave SE

We visited by chance and thought it would be like any other gaming place. We were wrong. What a hidden gem — incredible entertainment and friendly staff.

We're still discovering new spots every week. And every single one has made this town feel more like home.

Why High River — Not Just the House

The house brought us here. The town is why we're staying.

High River has about 15,500 people. Compare that to Okotoks at 40,000-plus and Calgary pushing 1.7 million. This is a proper small town. You feel it the moment you drive in.

The pace is different. People aren't rushing. There's no highway traffic cutting through your neighbourhood. You can get anywhere in town in a few minutes. The Highwood River runs right through it. The Rockies are on the horizon.

It reminds me of what Okotoks felt like 20 years ago — before the growth wave hit.

We're still new. I won't pretend otherwise. But we're not passing through. We chose this town on purpose, and we're putting down roots — one steak sandwich, one pint, and one conversation at a time.

Still Serving Okotoks, Calgary, and All of Alberta

Moving to High River doesn't mean I stopped serving the communities I've worked in for 25 years.

Okotoks is 15 minutes north. I still have clients there. I still know the neighbourhoods, the builders, the Realtors, and the market. Twenty-one years of relationships don't evaporate because I changed my mailing address.

Calgary is 30 minutes up Highway 2. I've been licensed there since 1999.

And as a mortgage broker, I serve all of Alberta. Your mortgage application doesn't care where I park my truck — it cares that I have 25 years of experience, access to 40+ lenders, and the persistence to find you the right deal.

But my home base — the town where I'm building my next chapter, getting involved, and putting my name on the line — is High River. This is where I live. This is where I'm investing my time and energy.

That matters.

The Short Version