hi all

My husband has wanted to move to Canada since we got married and up to now I have always said no due to family. My husband lived in Canada when he was a child but came back to England when he was 13.
I went to Canada for the 1st time in October last year and spend a wonderful 10 days in Okotoks (Calgary) and Banff staying with his cousin.

Now hoping to explore the PNP route into Alberta if my husband is lucky enough to find a welding job!

A little scared as I know my parents will not be happy if we go and I feel guilty as they have helped so much over the last 6 years with the children!

Is there any other welders out there who might have advice?

Welcome!

Have a squis round the site and feel free to ask anything you want plus read the Wiki articles.

I think you should also read the Moving back to the UK forum to get an idea of why people's perspectives change with location.

Most importantly, talk to your husband and tell him how you feel. It's easy to get caught up with the moving thing and after several years of hanging around this website, I've seen some very happy and also very sad posts so it's best to take a step back and assess what is important to you.

It might be an idea to talk to your parents too at a very early stage as it sounds like they are very important to you and your family. You don't want to be torn between pleasing your husband and your parents. In the end, you have to be happy with the decision or resentment may fester.

I just had to reply as I am feeling exactly the same! I have a 3 year old and a 10 month old and my parents live 5 minutes away and see the children all the time. They are very close to them and I feel awful about even contemplating taking them away from their beloved grandparents. The thing that I keep telling myself is that they can come and visit anytime and stay for as long as they like so in the end they may actually end up spending even more time together! My parents are retired so can come out for a month at a time if they want (I suspect they'll be out every other month!). Are yours able to do the same? I'm sure that they will understand and they will want the best for their grandchildren. I don't know what their circumstances are but if they can visit often I'm sure that will soften the blow.

We're not moving permanently though so it makes it a bit easier for us (at least we don't think so at this stage), the plan is to just go for a few years and then come back. Neither of us particularly want to stay there forever as we love our lives here but it's a great career move for hubby and we'd love to experience life abroad at some point so now seems a good time before the children get into schooling here etc.

Sorry I know nothing about welding but hope your hubby manages to find a job if that's what you decide you want.

And one question for you - what was Okotoks like? That's one option for us as one company interested in hubby has an office there!

Hi and welcome to BE this is a fatastic forum and a mind of information, lots in the WIKI sections as Beebop said,

Theres a post about welders over in Immigration posted today might be worth a look,

Its a big step and only you both can decide what you want to do, wish you all the best with whatever you decide
cheers sue

Problem we have is my parents have never flown and have made it clear they don't ever want to! When we have broached the Canada subject with them they have been very upset and said if we decide to go then we shouldn't expect them to suddenly hop on a plane.

Okotoks was nice. It is expanding rapidly and has a lot of facilities. For a family it is ideal. It is close to Calgary and near to moutains etc. Only downside is they are building loads of new houses and they all look very similar. The ones we looked at don't tend to have a lot of outdoor space even though they are spacious inside.

Thanks for info on welding post we will have a look.

Janet

Sorry, sneezyj, I really can't offer you any advice regarding the basic decision. There are pros and cons.

Christmasoompa, you asked about Okotoks. You said your hubby might be able to get a job that was in Okotoks itself. What bliss. Okotoks is a nice town, but many people live there and commute to Calgary. There are people who would give their eye teeth to live and work in Okotoks.

Thanks for that Judy. It's only a 2 person office there at the moment (although a huge worldwide company - with other offices in Canada - but they've only recently opened up an Alberta office) hence why it's in Okotoks itself rather than Calgary I think! It would be blissful, hubby could even walk to work which would certainly beat his 1 3/4 hr commute (each way) into London that he does at the moment! I'm sure when they have expanded some more they will eventually move to Calgary but it would be nice at least to start with if hubby could live and work in the same town. I just didn't know what Okotoks was like. It's easy enough to get a general idea from research on the web but it's nice to hear from people that have actually been there so thanks for that.

Hi Sneezy,

Aside from your family concerns (only you can cross that dilemna) finding work here in Calgary for Welders should not be a problem. I think the best ammunition for a successful landing is 'positive energy'. If you really want to make it here, you will.

As for the job prospect ...well I know its a difficult prospect to embrace, but I'm confident that with a little ground work your hubby will find something to start with once you get here.

Like many, I came here without a job, family or connections of any kind. Just packed up and left Scotland (with a visa of course). It took 6 months of looking, but finally got a job (with only $300 left in my account.) Unlike back then employers are now falling over each other today to get qualified workers ...the building boom is going through thr roof on account of the Oil and Gas industry doing great!

Visit Calgaryjobshop.com or visit the Calgary Sun online for vacancies.

I took the 'gamble', kept a good attitude and landed on my feet. Took a couple of years to really start to like the place. Lived in a couple of 'dodgy' places until I was up and running. Now live in a fabulous house in the South of the city. People are 'different' but generally a good lot. I'm sure you know all about it. Cost of Housing is expensive but otherwise you can still do well with a poitive outlook.

Hope this helps. Good luck

Thanks so much for the reply.

My husband would be on the next plane to Calgary if I said lets do it!!!!!!!!

He really believes it will be a better life as he is totally disillusioned with the UK. I'm probably more reluctant due to family as mentioned plus I have a good job with career prospects that I will have to swap initially to be full time mum due to childcare costs and issues.

Thanks to everyone that has replied it is really nice to know people will bother to help and advise.

Brill website!

J
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