Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Mar 31st 2012, 6:46 am
#16
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Personally, my realistic research would go like this (high level):
- Decide why I believe i want to move to Canada
- Decide what lifestyle I want out of the move
- Decide on the type of weather I would be happy living with year after year
- Narrow down options based on above
- Visit as many of the places short listed
- Reevaluate whether the move is right
- If no, repeat points 2 through 5 within the UK
- If yes, short list further based on physical research in point 5
- Look for work based in or around the areas short listed.
- Move where job offer is based
Mar 31st 2012, 7:05 am
#17
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
My thoughts are - if I couldn't get a decent job in a place that actually appeals to me and offers a better standard of living or longer term prospects, I wouldn't bother emigrating. The pay-offs need to be pretty alluring to make the upheaval, expense and risk worth while.
Mar 31st 2012, 7:47 am
#18
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Personally, my realistic research would go like this (high level):
- Decide why I believe i want to move to Canada
- Decide what lifestyle I want out of the move
- Decide on the type of weather I would be happy living with year after year
- Narrow down options based on above
- Visit as many of the places short listed
- Reevaluate whether the move is right
- If no, repeat points 2 through 5 within the UK
- If yes, short list further based on physical research in point 5
- Look for work based in or around the areas short listed.
- Move where job offer is based
As ive said we have chosen to focus on Ontario mainly due to the amount of choice of cities / towns.
This can be looked at as a positive or a tick in the Canada box compared to Scotland. As realistically there is only 2 - maybe 3 main cities to choose from.. = less scope in terms of career movement etc
But again, as there is so many places to choose from its a bit overwhelmig.
My thinking is, IF IF IF we get a PR visa through fed skilled worker route, then we have the whole province / country open to us. (my wife and myself)
I would rather research and choose my top destinations (ones which tick all the boxes and would give us 'the life' we want)
Instead of relying on finding the job first... than hoping the area is suitable and fits into place?
Again the main point of the thread is to work out how to do this process of choosing where to research.
Do I get a map, close my eyes and pick wherever the finger points to ?!
Im sure this dilema has been met by many immigrants
Last edited by alcat2010; Mar 31st 2012 at 8:40 am.
Mar 31st 2012, 8:02 am
#19
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
My thoughts are - if I couldn't get a decent job in a place that actually appeals to me and offers a better standard of living or longer term prospects, I wouldn't bother emigrating. The pay-offs need to be pretty alluring to make the upheaval, expense and risk worth while.
Simple as that.
Basically our dilemma is actually getting that job.
Its really (obviously) not that easy when based in the UK.
We have a couple of options, but are in no way reliable or guaranteed
Mar 31st 2012, 8:09 am
#20
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Are you happy with crazy cold winters or do you prefer it milder?
Are you happy with crazy hot and humid summers or do you prefer it milder?
Do bugs in the summer bother you?
Do you want to be near the ocean?
Do you want to be in or near mountains?
Do you want access to a large city?
Do you want easy access to international travel (UK for example)
Do you want skiing through winter?
Do you like regular events like concerts, theatre, sports?
Would you prefer to be closer to New York or California or somewhere in between?
And so on...
Visit, travel round, take time to carefully figure out what you want and don't want. Invest time and money into probably one of the biggest decisions of your life.
Mar 31st 2012, 10:16 am
#21
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
It's quite easy IMO. Something like:
Are you happy with crazy cold winters or do you prefer it milder?
----Yep, we like proper seasons.
Are you happy with crazy hot and humid summers or do you prefer it milder?
---Itl be great to actually HAVE a summer! lol
Do bugs in the summer bother you?
---Ever exprienced midges in the west of Scotland?!
Do you want to be near the ocean?
---Not particularly
Do you want to be in or near mountains?
---Near some mountains would b nice, weekend hillwalking etc.
Used to that here in abundance..
Do you want access to a large city?
---Yep. Want to be near a city, but also on outskirts for a nice balance between city opportunities and 'country' access..
Do you want easy access to international travel (UK for example)
---Would be handy but not greatly important. for ourselves and visiting family.
Do you want skiing through winter?
---Nah. But wouldnt sat no..
Do you like regular events like concerts, theatre, sports?
---Doesn't have to be regular. But need to spend our money on something!
Would you prefer to be closer to New York or California or somewhere in between?
---New York..
Visit, travel round, take time to carefully figure out what you want and don't want. Invest time and money into probably one of the biggest decisions of your life.
Are you happy with crazy cold winters or do you prefer it milder?
----Yep, we like proper seasons.
Are you happy with crazy hot and humid summers or do you prefer it milder?
---Itl be great to actually HAVE a summer! lol
Do bugs in the summer bother you?
---Ever exprienced midges in the west of Scotland?!
Do you want to be near the ocean?
---Not particularly
Do you want to be in or near mountains?
---Near some mountains would b nice, weekend hillwalking etc.
Used to that here in abundance..
Do you want access to a large city?
---Yep. Want to be near a city, but also on outskirts for a nice balance between city opportunities and 'country' access..
Do you want easy access to international travel (UK for example)
---Would be handy but not greatly important. for ourselves and visiting family.
Do you want skiing through winter?
---Nah. But wouldnt sat no..
Do you like regular events like concerts, theatre, sports?
---Doesn't have to be regular. But need to spend our money on something!
Would you prefer to be closer to New York or California or somewhere in between?
---New York..
Visit, travel round, take time to carefully figure out what you want and don't want. Invest time and money into probably one of the biggest decisions of your life.
Last edited by alcat2010; Mar 31st 2012 at 10:20 am.
Mar 31st 2012, 11:42 am
#22
Happy
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Nova Scotia
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Its not so long ago that we did this and I recall having the whole where to start scenario. I think we googled Canada and got a website that explained each province in a very top level way - a paragraph each and it was mostly based on the climate there.
So, from that we started to look at Nova Scotia and Kelowna region. Google images showed a dryer more mediteranean look in Kelowna and the more Maritime view of NS.
Having a very romantic view and wanting proximity to the Florida Keys for stage 2 of our master plan, we went for NS. We did a bit of research on Kelowna but the house prices on mls kind of put paid to that idea.
We decided to try to pick a place that we would feel happy in and do our recce based on that, as Canada is of course enormous and you could recce trip your way around it for years.
We were lucky I guess in our choice as it DOES tick our boxes, we are in a place that we like, we do have jobs, I have been able to land a job better than one I ever had before that allows me to travel too.
We came to NS for a city with some history, for some quaintness, for location, for a laid back life away from the ratrace, for us we managed to get that. Its really not all plain sailing at all, but on the whole its all good.
Anyway, thats how we found our spot.
So, from that we started to look at Nova Scotia and Kelowna region. Google images showed a dryer more mediteranean look in Kelowna and the more Maritime view of NS.
Having a very romantic view and wanting proximity to the Florida Keys for stage 2 of our master plan, we went for NS. We did a bit of research on Kelowna but the house prices on mls kind of put paid to that idea.
We decided to try to pick a place that we would feel happy in and do our recce based on that, as Canada is of course enormous and you could recce trip your way around it for years.
We were lucky I guess in our choice as it DOES tick our boxes, we are in a place that we like, we do have jobs, I have been able to land a job better than one I ever had before that allows me to travel too.
We came to NS for a city with some history, for some quaintness, for location, for a laid back life away from the ratrace, for us we managed to get that. Its really not all plain sailing at all, but on the whole its all good.
Anyway, thats how we found our spot.
Mar 31st 2012, 12:33 pm
#23
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Location: Cumbernauld, near Glasgow
Posts: 220
Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Jobs mate jobs. How are both of you going to get work? It's been all said before.
Are RN's not currently off the fed worker's list? It can also take months to get registered with College of Ontario. My wife is struggling to even get casual district work lined up for when we return and she worked in Toronto for 7 years previously. Police clearance is becoming a headache too.
You've read all the warnings about your line of work.
Employment has to be your top priority right now. Not about cold/hot or views. Focus is required. How are we going to earn/provide?
Are RN's not currently off the fed worker's list? It can also take months to get registered with College of Ontario. My wife is struggling to even get casual district work lined up for when we return and she worked in Toronto for 7 years previously. Police clearance is becoming a headache too.
You've read all the warnings about your line of work.
Employment has to be your top priority right now. Not about cold/hot or views. Focus is required. How are we going to earn/provide?
Mar 31st 2012, 12:41 pm
#24
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
I bet many people on this site, emigrated prior to the internet era. No Expats forum or Google street views, web cams or job searches. These days, searching for employment from the UK is little different from over in Canada.
Mar 31st 2012, 1:15 pm
#25
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
I would say there actually an advantage to targeting work while based in the UK. At least you can decide where's the best area to relocate to.
I bet many people on this site, emigrated prior to the internet era. No Expats forum or Google street views, web cams or job searches. These days, searching for employment from the UK is little different from over in Canada.
I bet many people on this site, emigrated prior to the internet era. No Expats forum or Google street views, web cams or job searches. These days, searching for employment from the UK is little different from over in Canada.
Mar 31st 2012, 1:29 pm
#26
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
I wish I could help you in some way.
We put our house up for sale yesterday and now I'm officially bricking it!
Mar 31st 2012, 1:36 pm
#27
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
The dilemma is getting a job somewhere worth spending thousands of pounds to move to, not just the job in itself.
Last edited by R I C H; Mar 31st 2012 at 1:40 pm.
Mar 31st 2012, 1:51 pm
#28
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Jobs mate jobs. How are both of you going to get work? It's been all said before.
Are RN's not currently off the fed worker's list? It can also take months to get registered with College of Ontario. My wife is struggling to even get casual district work lined up for when we return and she worked in Toronto for 7 years previously. Police clearance is becoming a headache too.
You've read all the warnings about your line of work.
Employment has to be your top priority right now. Not about cold/hot or views. Focus is required. How are we going to earn/provide?
Are RN's not currently off the fed worker's list? It can also take months to get registered with College of Ontario. My wife is struggling to even get casual district work lined up for when we return and she worked in Toronto for 7 years previously. Police clearance is becoming a headache too.
You've read all the warnings about your line of work.
Employment has to be your top priority right now. Not about cold/hot or views. Focus is required. How are we going to earn/provide?
As far as im aware, nurses have only reached their cap for 2011. New list in July obviously, but havent heard any news on them being off the list?
My focus initially will always be on good jobs. But no point in having a great job if its in an area thats no better than clydebank/ Glasgow!
You're from sunny Scotland mate, you've posted before the negatives about this place that we would like to live without, you've also lived in Toronto.
It's a question that is varied to personal opinions.. but is it really better? The general condition of the areas, the 'standard' and mentality of the people ( its hard to explain what I mean with that...)
Mar 31st 2012, 1:56 pm
#29
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Canada obviously arent needing qualified skilled nurses as much as we think!
Mar 31st 2012, 2:48 pm
#30
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Re: Choosing an area.. Where to start?!
Of course a job is necessary, but my opinion is that going somewhere just because there's a job available doesn't necessarily justify emigrating. Choose somewhere you really want to live (scenery, climate, amenities etc). Why move to a location that pays bills but meets no other expectation? You have that in the UK. If where you really want to move to can't offer work, I wouldn't emigrate - the process for me was about improving a situation, not making compromises. You could do that with far less cost in your own country.
The dilemma is getting a job somewhere worth spending thousands of pounds to move to, not just the job in itself.
The dilemma is getting a job somewhere worth spending thousands of pounds to move to, not just the job in itself.