I own and work with about 20 species of snakes and keep about 100.
hands down, first snake should be a corn. there are many local breeders that have them possibly in your area.
Every body has made great choices, but I have to X-nay most of them as a good beginner snake.
1. Ball Pythons, are pretty and very nice snakes but it will drive you crazy as your first snake. The feeding issues you will run into in most is enough to get you nervous.
2. Any snake over 6 feet period, do not make a good beginner pet. Number 1 unwanted pet snake, the Burmese python. Number 2? The red tail boa. Most people get them cause they think they are cool.. Well they get big and feeding costs rise as well as proper caging. Another thing.. Most areas, cities, counties and states and I know Canada is no exception to the rule have limitations on Snakes and species. Most of those animals that are illegal to own, are over 6 feet. And may areas, have a size limit as well, such as 6 feet.
Where you live, if you are a renter, they may have rules in keeping snakes and if you keep one, you can get evicted.
I own few large snakes due to most of the conditions above. But they are mainly due to being unwanted cause they get to big and aggressive and they owners did not want to deal with them any more.
3. Milk snakes and Kings, they are nice snakes but again not fore the newb. Due to the following, as babies, they are very flighty and do not like being held. They will musk and bite. Being bitten is nothing but a small snake but they stress and just are not a good first snake. Kings as adults can be feeding aggressive and owning a large 5 foot snake that likes to Chew as it bites your hand. Well, its a gift to enjoy it.
A website to go is Cornsnakes.com