Hello all

Can anyone tell us what the position is like out there for air conditioning technicians? Mr Sandyback is getting worried that there will be no jobs for him in BC, which is where we intend to move. Does anyone know what Canadian qualifications are required for HVAC work within the leisure industry?

Any advice would be appreciated

Sandy.

Hi,
I am presently in UK working in HVAC control service for a market leader, And with a canadian wife, I am doing some research myself into qualifications . I am also now getting the kids their canadian passports and citizenship doc's.

I was given the site below it lists BC trades ,
It seems that there is no direct HVAC ,I might be wrong perhaps someone here knows ? but possibly it comes under the relevant skills, i.e. gas / electrical, etc...

Like all countries, I am assuming that it will involve at least a short 10 week course , exams , or maybe a year course , to re-qualify in canada,
but it appears once qualified, some trades have canada state wide acceptance.
I expect the canadians , rightly, wouldn't want someone to come straight into the country and start working on hvac, gas , electric's etc..
like us brit's wouldn't here.

http://www.itabc.ca/tradeList.php

I supose it's like they say if it comes easy it ain't worth having...
Best of luck.
Cheers
Jerry

Hi Jerry
Thanks for the reply, we couldn't find it either. Mr Sandyback is looking at moving into leisure centre air conditioning/water treatment work because he doesn't think there will be much call for 'ordinary' air conditioning techs. in BC. We are going to carry on looking into it, but if you find out anything else, will you let us know please?

Thanks,

Joy n Paul.

Combination of oil burner mechanic and refrigeration mechanic I would think at least.

Might be worth contacting one of these organisations for info.

Heating, Ventilation, Cooling Industry Association of B.C
6004 Lois Street
Powell River, BC, V8A 4T7
Tel: (604) 414-0444
Toll Free: 888-774-8484 (B.C. only)
Fax: (604) 414-0444

HRAI
Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada
5045 Orbitor Drive, building 11, Suite 300
Mississauga, ON, L4W 4Y4
Tel: (905) 602-4700
Fax: (905) 602-1197

found at http://www.htseng.com/Resources/associations_cad.htm

Hello

We arrived here in Burnaby B.C. four months ago and my husband has been a fully qualified HVAC for the last 15 years in the U.K. He also has an HNC and HND together with other qualifications in this field. Let me tell you, we were led to believe getting a job here in this field would be easy as they desperately require engineers, plumbing etc. here. So Husband was offered a job by a local firm here before we arrived. Husband got this job from a job councillor to the tune of 750.00 Pounds Sterling.

A few weeks after we arrived he started this so called HVAC job to discover that it was plumbing, which he did not mind, had it been proper plumbing, it turned out to be cleaning drains etc. apparently a lot of so called plumbers do not have any qualifications,(journeyman) annnnd the pay was the same for my husbands qualifications as would be unqualified person. Husband hated the job, said it was dealing with the rubbish and pormptly quit.

About six weeks later he was offered a job as a commissioning engineer, slightly different to what he had been doing and is happy now. what I would say is whatever qualifications you have, they will count for nothing here. You will have to retake exams before you can get Gas Ticket etc. We also wasted 750 Pounds on job councillor, so would not advise doing that. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice and links, folks. Hazel, glad your husband has found a job he likes, and the advice about the job councillor is particularly useful, as we had considered this route. We're going to visit some employment agencies when we come over, to get a feel for the situation, but I suppose it's just a case of persevering.

Thanks again,

Joy and Paul.