annyone heard of a district settlement worker? ive had a call from a strange bloke saying the school gave him my number (way to protect my privacy there school...) he named my kids and said he was calling to see if he could come and meet me and make sure i am using all the local services etc that are available for new settlers and out of province arivals.
he wants to come to my house, and my immediate reaction was - WTF? i dont know you from adam, but then i remembered im in canada, maybe this is normal? maybe people really are this friendly and helpful (certainly have been so far) ive tried calling the school and they are not there right now, and he did already know my address, phone number and kids names so its entirely likely he is kosher and im being paranoid.
but i just thought id ask if anyone here had ever heard of this ( im in prince george, BC if that helps) obvs this would only be applicable to people with school age kids.
anyone?

I'd get his name and the department he works for and then call them to check his credentials. Then I'd call the school and tear them a new arsehole for giving your info out without asking you first

After all that I'd then agree to meet the dude

LOL thanks for that, i will deffo speak to school tomorrow and remind them that they know my number is unlisted, and how this then gives them the idea i might want some controll over who has it?

i did go back over my answerphone and it seems he called on thursday last week as well and left a number, but it was diff than the one he called from, so i googled it and apparently it is kosher, its a settlement in schools programme to help me help the kids to settle faster and integrate into canadian culture more.
the number is listed and ive been to the building they are based in and they deal with the visa etc for the kids at school there so im assuming its all ok.

still asking him for id at the door tho.

Are your kids in a Catholic school?

I got offered this service when I enrolled my son. I ticked a few boxes on info I would have liked at the time but then nothing ever came of it. It sounds like the same service to me?

TJ I do hope this bloke is above board, and if he is, I'd meet him. It sounds like a great idea to me...can he come and meet me too!

Check him out, shout at the school - that's out of order and then if your not comfortable meeting him at home arrange to meet him elsewhere - his office maybe?

What a great resource if it's kosher! Oh and you should also phine the Welcome Wagon if you have one in your area, you'll get some freebies lol.

Wow, you people a just a little paranoid.

Really ?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=773388

That's a fab service if it is above board. Grab with both hands, after you kick the preverbial BUTT of whoever gave out your personal details! But then again, as previously posted, maybe you ticked the boxes and didn't realise what you were ticking...

Oh, and as for being paranoid... I had an unreputable pesron call to my home many years ago selling carpets. I STUIPDLY let him in to my house. When he was there, I offered him a glass of water and when he left I put it in a plastic freezer bag so I'd have his finger prints!! Now that's paranoid!

OK so you would be happy to have your Wife let a unknown man into your home while your not there - when you or your wife have no idea who he is?

Different if it's trades/deliveries etc because you have initiated contact.

Yup - really.

Maybe I missed something, so I reread the initial post. The guy phoned, told her who he was, his position, why he was coming. Doesn't say anything about wanting to come "in" the house -you must have read that into it as she states "he wants to come to my house".

We would get all kinds of people coming to our house trying to sell us stuff, we didn't talk to them thru the door we actually opened it - didn't invite them in though.

She lives in PG - the hotbed for crazzies? So, yeah, if that's your attitude to the small town you choose to move to, you're a little paranoid.

ok, well i called the school and cleared this up. he works for the school district, so they didnt "pass on" my number they used it in a different department so i guess that ok. i didnt tick anything, and the lady said they normally ask if i wouold like contact but in this case she remembers meaning to ask me but didnt so have an apology from her.

the guy was very nice and had all kinds of local information for me, clubs and sports i can get kids into, free programme for 0-5s at the local school (which i knew about) infact he told me everything i wouldnt have known if ihadnt already spoken to the school, neighbours and most of the agencies involved BUT it would be a great boon of info for anyone moving to an area (or country) that doesnt have a hubby already there getting info like this.

he took some info about the kids to pass to their schools but the schools already have it because i was proactive when we got here.

Id heartily reccommend anyone moving to BC with kids to ask your school district for an appt with the settlement worker sooner rather than later, then mabe i wouldnt have had such a nightmare with getting jack in the right grade and accessing the services i now know about. ( and its free

?? whats a welcome wagon??

prince george= hotbed for crazies? yup its the air y'know

Welcome Wagon AKA the Apple Pie Squadron!

nope still not getting ya?

(ps not in a catholic school just a regular one )