Hi Rob

Well, they are the 2 cities I want to check out, as it's very hard to make choices like that from Blighty!!!

I have been in recruitment 2 years - it's generalist (Admin / Sec / Mkting etc.) but I work with Temps...? Before that I was a Facilities Manager / Office Manager for a very well know Arts Centre in London (21 acre site / 3 auditorium / art gallery etc)... So my skills are transferable.

Also - I'm single so need to be in a place where I'll meet people (not bunny boil style!!!)...

Thanks again Rob - any help really appreciated.

B

Sounds like you need to make do a quick recce trip and check them both out!For jobs try Hays - they've just expanded into new offices here in Vancouver, and I think they're looking for people. http://www.hays.com/jobs/internation...ltscanada.aspx

Go to here and click on the pdf document for British Columbia.

Hiya Bandit,

I guess a visit to both places will pay dividends, perhaps make a list of what you really want from the place, then compare these 2 fine cities. In addition, I find you get 'a feel' for a place and just know 'it's right' or not, once you've experienced it.

You may know - Vancouver island is a bit dryer than Vancouver city, especially the south - Victoria, Duncan etc. maybe this gives you more sun, still get the blue pacific and a lotta nature!

Even though property prices in Calgary have shot up, Vancouver is still less value for money in homes, unless you live way out. But what do I know....plenty of people living in both, will give you stacks of opinions - as is already happening!

I like both, for different reasons.

All The Best To You.

Check out this thread

Note that today is still officially summer.

HTH

Hi Bandit,

I moved here on my own last year & have never looked back! My social circle is twice what it was in the UK, in fact I have had to learn to say no more, otherwise I'd be out every night!! It can be scary turning up out of the blue on your own, but if you're open to making new friends (& prepared to be a bit pushy), it all slots in easily :-)

Nope, unfortunately, it doesn't. It rains less in Victoria than Vancouver but the oppressive, dull overcast is still omnipresent from late October til March.

Hi, Interested to hear why you werent so keen on Vancouver Island....any info would be great.

Well, perhaps not the greatest of reasons, but went there when I was younger, and although I enjoyed it then, I don't think the small ness of it would suit my situation now - I am moving on my own to a new country and would prefer to be in a larger city for the first part in order to make friends etc.


Hope that makes sense?

Hi Bandit,

Me and my partner have just moved to Vancouver and are absolutely loving it. We're curently living in North Vanc and we are so close to everything - the mountains, good walking trails, the beach, downtown, everything.

We haven't really made any friends yet but we're kind of not working yet so there's plenty of time. Well my partner is still freelancing for his UK employer and I have been offered 2 jobs, however the first one i'm still waiting for them to get back to me with a package (chased a few times - us Brits just aren't used to the whole laid back Canadian ways yet!) and the 2nd one i'm going for a trial Monday morning to see if I like it.

I personally found it imposible to find employment before we landed (I am/was an IT purchaser/AS/400 configurator), and was quite worried. However we've been here 2 weeks now and i've had almost 10 interviews, so I wouldn't worry too much about not lining something up before hand. I also posted my resume on Monster which i've had a few calls about and i've applied for loads via Craigslist, which have mainly lead to the interviews (In fact the job i'm trying out on Monday is via Craigslist).
I personally thought the site was a bit dodgy to start with but it's not at all and a lot of big companies use it, so that might be worth checking out.(There's jobs advertised for the whole of Canada).

Also I had a couple of interviews for a recruitment agency in Burnaby last week called WPCG which seemed a really cool & good comany to work for, so if you're in that industry already it may be worth checking them out as the company is growing rapidly and they are employing lots of new people (except me! LOL)

Anyway i've babbled on for far too long now so I hope whatever you decide it's for the best.

MissMellyShoes

Hi MissMellieShoes!!!

That was a great reply - thanks!

I don't want to post my CV on Monster yet as I work in Rec and we use it here to source CV's so can't have my boss seeing it on there - even for a job in Canada as it's too early in the planning to tell anyone.

Will check out that Company you mentioned - thanks.

It's reassuring to know that jobs are quickly found on arrival - did you have a house sorted already?

I've built up a massive list of questions I've been working on over the w/end which I may post up here - but it's a rather extensive list so most would fall asleep reading it!!! LOL

Thanks again for replying!
Bandit.

Not at all, I had an amazing Fall trip with bright blue sky! Besides, it's not 'oppressive' (re 'dull' weather), too strong a word. I found the people easygoing, friendly and upbeat. It rained on the last day, but people didn't seem that bothered.
The pace on Vancouver island seemed less hurried than the city, but you'd expect that.

If we had as much rain in Calgary as Vancouver gets we'd have an ocean too.

Serioulsy, book a holiday, spend a couple of weeks in each place and decide for yourself. My wife's family is in Calgary so there was little choice for me but i'd happily live in either one tomorrow. Both have endless world class, scenery, recreation, park space, family things to do and employment opportunities.

For me the main difference for me was in Calgary you need a good winter coat, gloves, boots and sun glasses. In Vancouver you need to get good rain gear and no need for sunnies.

Did your 'fall trip' encompass Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb and March?

Perhaps you came when we had that stretch of unseasonably nice weather around Halloween. If you did, lucky for you as it was stunning, yes, but that's not normal winter weather.

I've lived on Vancouver Island for most of my life and me saying that the overcast skies are oppressive is me being upbeat and positive! Seriously... winters here can be very difficult, psychologically... around the end of February people are like zombies gathering around light fixtures like moths.

hi guys

I am kinda in the same boat and hoping later this year to head out to Calgary (and possibly Vancouver Island)for a reccy having been to London(ON) and Vancouver....have to say though that the wife didn't like the cold weather too much in London although the snow was so easy to get off the car compared to ol' Blighty.... so I reckon she might not like Calgary however when we went to Vancouver it was raining constantly. Beautiful place but the rain did make us feel a little depressed.

It sure is a hard choice and interesting about the Vancouver island comments as we were thinking of maybe checking out there due to less rain ........