Working in Canada ????

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:03 pm

Anyone worked there, know someone that's worked there or even visited the country on holiday ??

I have been approached about possible positions in Canada, no details at the moment but thought I would do a bit of digging anyway.

A work mate is moving to Doha, Qatar to work for Interserve and it's got me thinking, although I don't think the money will be the same funny money he's making.

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:08 pm

I've got a friend who lived and worked in Canada (Vancouver) for 9 months. What do you want to know and I'll ask her? From what she's told me, Vancouver sounds amazing and I'd jump at the chance to live there for a while. I think it was voted one of the best cities in the world to live in a year or two ago.

I'd really like to work in another country for a while. I'm quite jealous! I think you should go for it!

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:29 pm

I had the opportunity to move to London around 6 months ago and decided to knock it back due to spending so much time away from the other half (well I have to say that

) and it didn't justify her leaving her job to move down as a couple.

The other half would need to move over which she is comfortable with, but as everyone knows if one half isn't happy the other half ends up the same way, so......

1. What is the cost of living compared to the UK, ie from the weekly shop to the price of houses ?
2. The weather ? (I know this obviously depends on location..)
3. The language ? Sounds daft but with such a strong french contingent how does this affect day to day life ?
4. Schools and Healthcare (That's my old head on there haha)

Cheers mate

mac · Post by **mac** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:49 pm

I've been on holiday and know some Canadian folk.

First off where abouts?

As mentioned, there's no national health service so factor that into the pay settlement. Also the canadian doller is about $2 to the £1 and stuff that cost £1 here costs about $2 there.

Annual leave - where we are used to the traditional 26-28days they tend to only get 10days leave + time off at Christmas and New year.

I can find out more info if you wish - just let me know.

Mac

ExigeKen · Post by **ExigeKen** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:54 pm

I have not worked in Canada but have travelled around a lot watching the Ice Hockey. Ottowa was where the French language came first but is a lovely city. Vancouver is an amazing place, such a mix of large city 30 mins from 5000 metre moutains where you can ski all year round. Calgary is a cowboy oil town but with amazing skiiing and scenery near by at Banff and Lake Louise. Edmonton and Toronto are quite built up but still nice. Generally the Canadians are real friendly and the weather is cold in winter and nice in the summer. The pub life was quite quiet really. Generally a very beautiful and open country with plenty to do. It never struck me as a cheap country but I believe they have a high standard of living. It was very expensive to watch Ice Hockey but what a great sport. Like the rest of North America as soon as you leave the big city you are right in the wilderness. The trains are fabulous, on time real clean with good customer service.

The weather is strangly diverse I was in Calgary one February and it was -24C plus wind chill and took a two and a half hour flight to Vancouver where it was +14C and sunny. Snowsuit to shorts in the same day.

I think like most overseas jobs it depends how much money they give you and how easy you can settle.

Would I live in Vancouver if given the chance OH YES!

Hope this helps.

r055 · Post by **r055** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:03 pm

CSK_423 wrote:Anyone worked there, know someone that's worked there or even visited the country on holiday ??

I have been approached about possible positions in Canada, no details at the moment but thought I would do a bit of digging anyway.

A work mate is moving to Doha, Qatar to work for Interserve and it's got me thinking, although I don't think the money will be the same funny money he's making.

Martin,
just out of curiousity, whats your line of work?

R

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:25 pm

Thanks for the info so far lads, giving me a better picture.

r055 I'm a Mechanical Estimating engineer, in simple terms I collate and produce costs for Air conditioning, Ventilation etc.

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:26 pm

CSK_423 wrote:I had the opportunity to move to London around 6 months ago and decided to knock it back due to spending so much time away from the other half (well I have to say that ) and it didn't justify her leaving her job to move down as a couple.

The other half would need to move over which she is comfortable with, but as everyone knows if one half isn't happy the other half ends up the same way, so......

1. What is the cost of living compared to the UK, ie from the weekly shop to the price of houses ?
2. The weather ? (I know this obviously depends on location..)
3. The language ? Sounds daft but with such a strong french contingent how does this affect day to day life ?
4. Schools and Healthcare (That's my old head on there haha)

Cheers mate

I lived in Canada for 6 months after leaving university. I went to Vancouver in the hope of getting a job out there in the games industry. I had a 12 month work visa so just went out hoping for the best.

Turned out finding employment out there was next to impossible, after applying to every games development studios out there and hearing nothing I started getting ignored by Starbucks, Pizza Hut (which I had 5 years experience with back in the UK) and even...... McDonalds!

I finally ended up working in a very gay friendly coffee shop for $8.25 an hour (£3.00)
Since you already have a job in place none of that matters

Property was cheap out there, I think a nice condo overlooking Stanley Park was around $180,000 CAD (£75k) and rent for a nice place downtown was around $1200 for a nice one bedroom apartment.

Food was cheap (but average if you getting paid in CAD) can't remember what our weekly shop was but we could afford to eat on £3 an hour

minus tax!

Rained a lot but then it was Vancouver - it was supposed to be really nice in the summer!

It's also a lovely city which made it bearable living on no money!

As for the French speaking... it's all for show unless you go to Montreal (don't) it's nothing to worry about. Everything is written in both languages (by law) and the only place that isn't that I visited was Montreal - only in French!

I had friends who did the same thing in Toronto - nice city (but not as nice as Vancouver) and a HELL of a lot colder in the winter -16 celcius at it's low.

I'm glad to say I didn't sample the local healthcare or the schools

in saying that my ex did have an ear infection but was all covered by travel insurance, but did seem to be a bit of bother to find out who to go to.

edit: to say - if it was Vancouver I'd highly recommend it, out of all the parts of Canada I visited, it was definately the best. Eh?

r055 · Post by **r055** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:30 pm

CSK_423 wrote:r055 I'm a Mechanical Estimating engineer, in simple terms I collate and produce costs for Air conditioning, Ventilation etc.

im sure you've already checked, but you should get a very good package for taking that skill over there - i assume you are a CIBSE member - if so, even better!

woody · Post by **woody** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:31 pm

Had the chance to move out there this year (would be leaving in a month) but decided it wasn't for me for a variety of reasons; one being the winter weather, another being the cars!

Anyway, there's a few folk from my work heading out. The money isn't all that tbh (obviously you work in a different industry) but the lifestyle seems to be good. Calgary's quite a youthful city both in it's own age an that of the population.

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:31 pm

r055 wrote:
CSK_423 wrote:r055 I'm a Mechanical Estimating engineer, in simple terms I collate and produce costs for Air conditioning, Ventilation etc.
im sure you've already checked, but you should get a very good package for taking that skill over there - i assume you are a CIBSE member - if so, even better!

Funny enough I'm not a CIBSE member it's something I've never applied for, I really should.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:24 am

Hi there

I worked in Montreal for 5 years and one of my best mates is still in TO.

More than happy to have a chat with you if that would help?

1. What is the cost of living compared to the UK, ie from the weekly shop to the price of houses ? Much cheaper - the cost of living makes the Uk a joke. If you are going there on your Uk package you will live pretty well - which city?
2. The weather ? (I know this obviously depends on location..) as you say, the weather by and large is awesome in the summer and freezing in the winter. If you like winter sports then you are sorted. You actually get used to it very quickly as its a dry cold.
3. The language ? Sounds daft but with such a strong french contingent how does this affect day to day life ? Doesn't really - Montreal and Quebec City are the only real francophone cities and even in Mtl everyone speaks English 90% of the time. They do have a language police though:shock:
4. Schools and Healthcare (That's my old head on there haha) - health care is pretty good, although get private if you can, and the education system is good in general - depends on ages of your kids, but if you are in MTL they will be bi-lingual. An awesome system, and in general I would say a far nicer place to raise a family.

Hope that helps. If you know what city it is then let me know. I have a fair few contacts out there, and it often helps to speak to someone who's either done it (and is still there).

Andy

CSK_423 · Post by **CSK_423** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:13 pm

Great info in this thread lads, thanks for the time to share your knowledge.

Andy I don't know the city, as soon as I do I'll be in touch for even more information

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:19 pm

Only thing else worth checking is what they intend to do to you tax wise - taxes can be quite high in Canada.

scott_e · Post by **scott_e** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:40 pm

my brother emigarted to canada 1 & 1/2 years ago after he got hitched. Took him more than a year to get a ID/green card sorted out so he can work as a teacher. Took way longer than expected.

Scottish Elises

Working in Canada ????

Working in Canada ????

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