Hello everybody

I have been viewing this site for a few months and thought it was about time to join in the fun!

We started to think about Canada in February, went to the London Emigrate Show in March, applied in May, AOR in August (Paris). Application now on file for 24 to 30 months .

We are a family of 4 (children aged 9 and 6) and looking at Alberta and Nova Scotia. A couple of recce trips will be planned over the next couple of years.

Forget Alberta, Nova Scotia is the place to be (not that I'm biased or anything)

Hi, welcome to the site. We are headed for NS too.

Does Paris have a shorter timescale than London then? 24 - 30 months sounds fantastic. At the moment I think people going through the London route are looking at about 48 months!

Karen

We were all set on Alberta but went to a presentation on NS at the Emigrate show. It seemed to tick all the boxes, except the skiing box (but I guess there is always cross country skiing in NS).

Since then I have been reading the NS posts with interest (including your enthusiastic comments ).

Thanks for your welcome.

The precise quote on the AOR states "no processing will occur on your file for approximately 24 to 30 months". I am not sure exactly what this means. However, I am hoping it will be quicker than London. We could apply to both as we are living in Europe.

When are you hoping to be in NS?

You can ski in NS though it certainly isn't world class. Martock is very near Halifax and okay for a beginner for a day. Wentworth is a bit further better and would be okay for a weekend. But for a true ski holiday you would want to head to Quebec, Maine or possibly Newfoundland.

But - as we have fabulous deserted beaches you don't really need to leave NS in the summer - the answer is just to spend your money on going somewhere in the winter instead.

If money is an issue go to Nova Scotia you will not be disappointed, If work is an issue go to Alberta.

Real estate in Calgary seems to be getting closer to UK prices. Big oil money is generating a boom here for the time being.

Skiing is over rated anyway.

Good point about the beaches. It would be great to live near the ocean. Also, beaches you have all year round (at least for walks) and skiing is seasonal, so what you say makes sense. Thanks for the tips.

Thanks Journeyman. Good point about money/work . How has the oil money affected Alberta in the past (i.e. do you have boom and bust cycles depending upon the oil price)?

My kids would probably agree with your point on skiing but unfortunately I am addicted!

I believe there was a lean time 80's where people literally locked up & moved out of their homes many went to BC. The problem here is that the provence is so closely tied to oil extraction that any waves in the global oil industry has a knock-on effect here.
Currently Alberta provincial & Canadian Federal governments have realigned the royalties that are collectable on the oil extracted from the provence. This is part of a provincial plan to harvest boom money & reduce the rate of GST currently 6%. The big oil companies are now delaying some planned projects in response, Its all a bit futile and a lot of threats have been made but in the end the demand for oil is constantly rising and will likely stay that way until all the reserves have been extracted. That said the boom here has been forecast past 2015 (2005 they were quoting 10 years).

Hi all,

hay Journeyman, you have had some good points and good advive, thanks. We are planning on settling in Calgary, we hope next Sept??

Just wondering about what you said about the last bust time in 80's

You don't rate the skiing then? or don't you ski. That's one of our plans when we get out there, the family learn to ski

Thanks to you all and welcome
regards,
Carl

Hi Carl

By the very nature of being in a boom the bust will come eventually, but that may manifest itself as a controlled slow down in the economy rather than an overnight depression shocker. Don't be too concerned about the bust it may never turn out to be that bad unless your a roughneck oil worker.

As for the skiing no I don't ski, but I've heard the skiing is "Like Totally Awesome Eh!" If you enjoy skiing you will not be disappointed there are plenty of ski hills with-in an easy drive from Calgary. September time they advertise deals on the ski passes which offer a huge discount over the normal prices.

I hope I haven't put you off Calgary, we've not looked back since we arrived in 2006.

Thomas