Hi we are looking at starting the process of getting a job in the Sakatchewan area of Canada my hubby is a welder and i believe this is a skilled trade they are looking for. The nearest city to the company that he is in talks with is Estervan. I just wondered if anyone could tell me about this city , does it have lots to offer, are the nice area's to live in and also the not so nice area's.

Is there a British expat community there , aslo i have been seeing that housing is a shortage - so again is there a smaller town that is nice nearby. Is there much to do for our 16 year old daughter? Sorry so many questions but it is difficult to do research from so many miles away

thanks

http://estevan.timetomobile.com/

The city's population is approx 11,000, that should tell you a great deal. Saskatchewan is largely an agricultural economy. You need to do a great deal of research before making this move.

According to the calendar of events, the library is the hip place to hang out

lets just say..with the nearby coal powered electric station,,,the huge opencast mine, and the influx o the oil field ....
the housing marked is booming.
I used to meet a couple o Uk guys at Shand power station when loading flyash.
and when on my multi drop runs a few yrs ago i always met joiners and trades guys from uk when weyburn and Estevan drops.
jimmy.

thanks for the reply guy's , it is difficult as you can't just pop there and have a look round , it's find the right balance for you and your family. We have a 16 year old daughter who will find it difficult enough moving but to take her to somewhere where she will struggle to mix and have a life of her own.

we have so much to consider , with the whole process that i don't want to get too far along and then can't turn back , we need to look at housing , college's ( i believe the nearest one for the course she wants to do is 2 hours away) which to me seems to far to drive to everyday, but i have been assured that Candian's think nothing of that long a drive. I need to look at where i can work or not as i am not sure if it is the same as the states and you both need sponser's. Then ofcouse there is my 2 dogs getting them out there. It really is a mine field that could go very wrong.

Maybe your husband could commute instead? Regina is about 2 hours away and significantly larger than Estevan - which has only 11,000 people.

I don't think Estevan would appeal to a reluctant 16 year old (or many others).

There are a couple of interesting articles about the housing shortage in Estervan - might be worth a read:

http://www.estevanmercury.ca/article...-for-employees

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskat...n-housing.html

The good thing about having dogs in Estevan is that if they run off you will still be able to see them running off 3 days later.

There's a good reason they run off.