Point taken.

holmes5668 - I asked my friend who teaches in Calgary. Here is his reply word for word:

I hope it's helpful. If you are considering a move into the Interior, PM me and I can give you some more advice. Like I said above, things aren't good now in my district, but I should have a clearer picture mid-winter when the Board announces how it will deal with the recent round of funding cuts.

Thanks for that.

When your friend refers to, "They have not been giving out any contracts at all", is he refering to permanent posts? I am assuming a probationary contract is a full time post for an extended period but with no promise of continuing work after the period ends. Honestly, I don't expect a full time permanent job to fall out of the sky, a probabationary contract would be just fine.

Thanks again. I'm finding the comments on here very useful.

I'm sure you already realise this but you'll need a temp contract first before being recommended for a probationary.

I was not really sure how it worked (I get the picture now). Temp contract would be fine. My expectations are low. My only fear is moving our family to Calgary and then both my wife and I not getting any TOCs calls. We are not in a position to sit by the phone for weeks or months on end. This somewhat goes back to my comment about throwing our net far and wide, by applying to overseas schools as well. It may just come down to who can offer sustained full time employment.

I am in the middle of putting together a professional website for my wife and I (web design is a hobby), which is meant to be an enhancement to our resumes. Overseas schools will look at this kind of web site, I'm hoping a few schools here might too. Who knows, it can't hurt.

In Calgary Principals (well all the ones I know) will let you put your business card in teachers' mailboxes. Teachers want to know that you "want" to sub. There's nothing they hate worse than having to worry about their class while they are sick.

My wife subbed for a few years and could have worked 5 days a week if she wanted to.

Thanks. More useful info. I will definitely look into the business card angle.

You only need 4 or 5 schools that you serve regularly to get essentailly full-time work. From there, as you get to know the teachers and the schools, you will get short term contracts. Half way into the school year you will probably spend more time in short term contracts than subbing.

I find this works - find a place to live. Get on the sub list. Identify schools in the area. Go see them personally. Drop off business cards. Inform the principal. VP. AP you are looking for a permanent contract down the line. If you show up at the schools ahead of being called there to sub, seem interested in teaching, and look normal (whatever that is) and have no discipline problems in class you will do fine.