Hi there,

Well I'm a Police officer in Portsmouth, UK at present & have started looking into Canada as the place I'd like to live, work & more importantly, raise my 3 girls. They're are 10, 7 & 3 years old & I can't help thinking I owe them a better start in life than the sinking ship that is the UK.

Emigrating is something I have always wanted to do. I have always been prepared to move abroad as England frustrates me in so many ways. It's especially frustrating with regards to my job although I love it & would never choose a different vocation. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud to be British but just don't like the direction it's taking as a country.

My Mum & Dad are the only ties I have to stay but they do like to travel & they love Canada so would come to visit regularly. Dad is really supportive as he lived in Australia when he was younger (& would've stayed if he had family then) but my Mum is not so keen. I am the only family she has on her side, along with my girls & I think it saddens her to think we'd be a long way away.

I have started looking at & fancy the Calgary Police with Okotoks as a possible residential choice. I realise that I have alot of thinking & discussion to carry out with my wife before any definite decisions are made but I wont take much persuading. My wife is currently a higher level teaching assistant just about to start studying for her teaching qualifications. She would obviously need to halt the process if we emigrated as her course is 6-7 years long & I would want to move asap to start my career. Is there a call for teaching assistants in Canada? Would she need to take courses first? (which she'd be prepared to do) & how likely will she be able to work in this field? My wife is also a level 3 NVQ hairdresser but hasn't done that for some 10+ years now as she didn't enjoy it. Is that something she could fall back on temporarily whilst training?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. My friend from Hampshire Constabulary has not long joined Edmonton Police & loves his choice of life change, I'm very jealous! I will do some research on these forums & hopefully it will help me to make the correct decision.

Ben

Hello, Ben, and welcome to the BE forum.

It's tough for teachers to get their toe in the door. It can be done, but it takes time.

Sorry, I don't know what the situation with teaching assistants is.

Many members of this forum claim that Canadian hair stylists are bad. There's an ongoing debate about it. I don't know whom to believe. But, regardless of who's right, British expats get all excited when they hear of a British hair stylist moving out here.

There is heaps of information in the Wiki section of the BE website.

Hope that helps.

Hi Ben
My husband and I moved to Canada in Nov 2007, we live in Calgary and it is a great lifestyle. We have a lovely house, Andy really enjoys his work and the people are very friendly. We have no kids yet but I have seen that there is so much more to do as a family here. The area we live in organizes all sorts of family activities and at the New Year there was a big family ice skating party.
As for your parents, mine were sad to see us go but also happy for our new life. There are loads of cheap flights for them to come and visit and we have set up 'Skype' on our computers so we can talk with them for free... and see them too using the webcam. It is amazing the difference that makes.
I was talking to an Englishwoman who came here with her husband a couple of years ago, they were both in the police in London and she ways it is much quieter in the police here. They are very happy here anyway.
I don't know what the weather is like in Portsmouth but we really enjoy waking up to sunshine nearly every day, even if it can get a bit cold (you just wear more layers). We can go skiing every weekend at the moment and I can't wait for the summer to make the most of the great outdoors.
All I would say is, it is a big move and both you and your wife need to be totally committed to it before you make any decisions. For example, I haven't been able to get a job because of the LMO delays and this has been the hardest part for me, but I would still rather be here and unemployed than in England and working. However if I didn't want to live here so much, this could have been a problem...
I was watching a film last night and there was a horse galloping across a meadow with the snow capped mountains in the background and I thought wow, that is on my doorstep.
Hope this has been some help and lots of luck!

From what I understand, you could transfer to the Calgary or Edmonton police fairly easily. In fact, they'd help you do it.
There's an English lady on here, a reator- Julie Parry, and her husband was a UK policeman who did exactly that. From my exchange of emails with him, he said he enjoyed the job much more in Canada- he was policing more, rather than filling out paper work.

Hi Ben & welcome aboard BE.

All the best with everything.

Arris

Hi and welcome, this site is full of information and advice. Good luck

Welcome to BE - have a plough through the "Working Abroad by Profession - Police " section and come and have a chat in there too Lots of good info specific to Calgary Police ....

Welcome BEN, we moved to BC 16 years ago when our children were 9,7, and 18 months. We have never looked back. We did it for our kids future, but what we got out of it is really what you put into it. You may find a job that requires Law enforcement back ground there is so much to choose from. Teaching skills are so flexible and cangive a great basis to any facilitation or instructors positions. I'm trying to get you to think outside the box.... employment is vast and plentiful, just depends on what you are looking for. Our children became involved in the 4-H movement (Young farmers) and now the little one is 17 and going to University to become a livestock inspector to work for the government and in her spare time she is a professional Dog handler, and shows all kinds of breeds. We have a great house and some land with Llamas on it. Looking back I know we are doing things we never thought possible. It is so easy to get caught up in the same hum drum. Read as much as you can in the WIki and ask lots of questions. If you want adventure and to try new things then take the plunge. It may not be easy at first and people do get home sick, if you all stick together, and learn and grow you will di fine, everyone else has given you good advise. I live in Rosedale, BC and work in Chilliwack helping people find jobs...my services are free. You only have to have a work visa, or be a landed immigrant, who is unemployed or underemployed (That's less then 20hours per week) I can help you.
Good luck Ben and remember when thinking of employment come with an open mind... Don't focus in the one area there are so many occupations to choose from with all your qualifications. You may change your mind several times. Gald to hear you have some support. Best of luck, Lesley

Ben74:

Here is the link to the official Calgary Police website.

http://www.calgarypolice.ca/recruiti...d_officers.htm

NOTE the part about "Immigration status " of potential applicants.

Policing in Canada is a great deal different than in the UK, for sure. For one thing there is much more attention paid to individual officer training and career paths. Uniform coppers are encouraged to keep learning, and many hold University degrees in related subject areas. You can't be promoted beyond P.C. unless you "punch your career tickets " by working in various types of policing, such as community response, drugs, youth, car theft, gangs unit, and the like. The comptetion for advancement/promotion is fierce , and not very many 20 year men are still a P.C. in uniform, working in a division.

Just a note about the various Police services in Canada.

The RCMP is the national Police service, providing services in 8 out of the 10 Provinces ( Ontario and Quebec have their own Provincial Police Services ) and all three of the Territories. To join the RCMP you MUST be a Canadian citizen. The city and Regional Police services, like Calgary, do their own training, and they will accept a person who is in the process of applying for their PR status. Before being sworn, after completing the training school, that person must have their PR card in hand. All Police oficers in Canada, while on duty are armed, even detectives and senior officers and all of those officers in uniform are required to be wearing issued duty body armor. The standard side arm is either a 40 cal Smith and Wesson, or a 9mm Berreta or a 9mm Glock. Most city forces work a 10 hour shift, with a 4 day week, ritating around the day, afternoon and midnight shifts. Court appearances are scheduled on a regular duty day shift, and over time is limited to a total of 12 hours per 7 day week. Paid duty shifts are limited to one per two weeks period of time and a city wide call in is very rare event , indeed.

Off duty coppers are NOT armed, they leave their issue weapon in their individual gun locker at the station at the end of their shift . Off duty Police officers are NOT encouraged to get involved in an arrest, or to chase a bad guy in a car. Call 911, just like the rest of us.

Un-like the USA, Canada does not go for the Rambo attitude of major aggessive behaviour by our Police. But we also are not so ham strung by rules and PC attitudes as in the UK. A nice balance I'd say.

Here are some photos of the RCMP in action. The "musicial ride " is a long standing tradition of the RCMP with a national tour each year, from May to October, with 36 horses. A great public realations bit. RCMP officers have to agree to serve " anywhere in Canada " but they won't be assigned to their home Province, so they are not put in the position of having to investigate or arrest friends or family members. Being bi-lingual in English and French is a career bonus.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/262492083NtQiTf

Peel Regional Police, located just to the west of the city of Toronto.

http://www.peelpolice.on.ca/

RCMP " Most Wanted List ".

http://www.rcmp.ca/wanted/index_e.htm


Jim Bunting. Toronto . Retired CF military Police, CWO 1.

Hi Ben
I was previously a police officer in the Nottinghamshire Constabulary. I moved to B.C. with my husband in 2005 and we decided to settle in the Okanagan. I re-trained in Real Estate and am now working as a Realtor in Vernon, B.C. I love my job and it was definitely the right career choice for me. I know the RCMP are having a mass recruitment at the moment as they are very understaffed. They are constantly advertising for new members and they may even speed up your application if they were interested. Many Brits tend to only look at Alberta as a place to live, but I would strongly recommend researching the Okanagan also. The lifestyle is amazing......close to ski hills, hiking, amazing lakes, wineries and the climate is much milder than Alberta. We dont tend to get those freezing winters! If you need any more info on house prices, RCMP etc, please send me a PM.

Rachel.

Rachel:

The RCMP will ONLY accept applicants who hold Canadian citizenship, so immigrants should look at other Regional or city Police services who will accept them as trainees, while they go thru the PR process. Some will also help thru the Provincial Nomination Program.

Jim Bunting. Toronto.

Along with the minor issue of your posting. I understand they can send you pretty much anywhere - usually WAY up north for a a few years

ann m.

That is dependant on "the needs of the service ".

In general, the RCMP tries to place newbies in a small city or large town detachment at first, partnered with a training senior Constable,. This is to continue the learning process that is begun at the training depot at Regina. Training depot is 9 months long.

As I said the RCMP is our " National Police Force " so yes you may be assigned to any part of the country, BUT that is done with family considerations in mind. Postings are usually two to three years in duration.

I spent 30 years in the CF and that was a similar situation, except that as a soldier I knew that I could be sent outside of Canada, at any time.

Jim B. Toronto.