Hello Everyone!

My Husband and I are considering a move to Canada. We're both designers (in the New Media and Fashion industries, respectively), so it looks like Toronto would be the best place (?). We also have 2 small children, so are concerned about living in a big city with them.

Which is the best way to apply?, as it seems the Skilled Worker route will take upto 5 years (which is what we were expecting - but would be happier if it was less).

We're happy to consider anywhere, but would like some sort of Creative Hub and don't really want to be too remote - but would like a good standard of living. (Not much then!)

Any advice would be much appreciated.
thanks!
Jo

Hello & welcome....

Here is where to start...

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:Canada

Then ask specific questions or search the main lifestyle forum & also join in the fun and games in the Maple Leaf.

Look at the Community Identified fast-track route in Nova Scotia.

Check out Dartmouth, Nova Scotia or if you want creativity Bear River, near Digby and its US connectivity. The Nova Scotia Northern Shore creative area (Tatamagouche) has easy good connections with Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

Hi and welcome to the site.....great place to find info you need, and I have found there is always someone who knows what you want or try doing a forum search for any similar questions you have. Good luck

I would have thought that Toronto would be a good place for your trades (centre of the universe for films and all). I am sure the locals around there will have loads of good advice for you. Good luck.

Wow! Hi Everyone
Thanks for all your replies!

I did already check out the Wiki links, which gives alot of food for thought.
Will look at the Nova Scotia route too.

Thanks again - look forward to chatting to you again on Maple Leaf

Cheers
Jo

Hi OnTheBoat

This looks very interesting but I can't find any info
Please can you give me a link?

Thanks

links
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=nov...ient=firefox-a

Toronto is a big creative hub but that also means there is about a billion other people doing similar jobs. My OH does some photography but found it hard to break in to that area as photographers are pretty much ten a penny there.
And networking can be difficult as people there are as miserable as fck.

Nova Scotia is smaller, has a lot of creative types and is great for families.

Hi TiggyP

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, although Toronto did seem the obvious place, it also sounds like the equivalent of living in London - which is not what we want.

My brother-in-law is spending New Year with us and his family are from NS, so we can bend his ear about it then.

Thanks to all and Happy New Year!

Tronto Film Studios are buidling a whole new complex down by the lake.

www.filmport.ca

If you check workopolis.com there is a slew of design jobs in various fields all over the country. You can even have an RSS feed from workopolis.

Another place to look is www.mediajobsearchcanada.com

It is a "new" and unpublicized" route in Nova Scotia - I am not sure it happens in other Provinces. Basically you need to get involved in community life and get letters of recommendation from such as neighbours, clubs, school, church etc and have an interview with the regional development agency (ours was Cumberland County (CREDA) who were great. They then recommend your application to the Province and off you go! There is an annual allocation so it is worth contacting immigration to see how that is going - yes, you even get to speak to senior immigration officers!

Now the hard and scary bit - you ideally need to buy a property and live here. We had previously bought a property. Then after being so depressed on our return we came out on a six month visitors visa then extended it for a further year (surprisingly easily). We were on the long haul Skilled Worker when we found out about the Community Identified route by chance. After 9 months of living here we applied (getting involved with the community just comes naturally). It took just six months from application to landing. It is free to apply but you still have to pay the normal Federal landing fees. I would recommend it to anyone who can afford to live here without work for nine months - that was the scary bit! We sold up in the UK to do it - a risk but we are here and living the dream!

http://www.novascotiaimmigration.com/en-page1095.aspx

Thanks for that - but you seem alot more daring than we are!
We went to America that way years ago after graduating, but unsurprisingly, it didn't work out. So after having our fingers burnt there - we're now pretty risk-averse.
Plus having 2 pre-school children, we would hate to make another expensive mistake.

Glad to hear it all worked out well for you though - Happy New Year.

That's great - Thanks for all the helpful links.

I can't believe how helpful everyone is on here - it's certainly making me think Canada could be really good for us!