hi all
 

Hiya just joined!
So a bit of info, I'm 29 and me and the missus have 3 children and are
Looking to move to canada. I'm an iron worker by trade but just completed
My health and safety advisor qualifications!
I'm looking at alberta(calgary) so if anybody has any advice
On the work front or day to day living I.e schools and sports clubs
That would be great :thumbsup:

Thanks
Phil

Re: hi all
 

Hi, and welcome to BE.

Best thing to do is grab a cuppa (or a beer?) and have a good read of the Wiki which will give you loads of info.

Are you planning on going over on a IEC visa? If so, there is a huge thread about it in the immi section of the forum which should answer any questions.

HTH, good luck.

Re: hi all
 

Hiya pal thanks for the reply!
I have done a lot of reading up on the place and it seems great
And great opportunities for the kids and myself also.
Don't mean to sound dumb but what is an IEC mean?

Phil

Re: hi all
 

Have you visited before? Not sure what you mean by 'great opportunities for the kids' - same opportunities as in the UK really other than the opportunity to watch ice hocked and eat poutine regularly! :lol:

But IEC is a visa for people aged 30 and under - have a look at the Wiki which has info on all the available visa options to you, and a list of abbreviations too.

If you do want to go on the IEC program, then it's due to open today or tomorrow so you'll need to get your skates on (back to ice hockey again! :D).

Best of luck.

Re: hi all
 

Well I meant it on the basis of there would be more to keep them entertained
And to lead a better lifestyle from what I can tell from pictures,videos
And friends who have moved there.

I'm planning to visit this year or early next year. But I'm already sold on the fact it has on average 33 days of rain a year which is a bonus as in manchester we probably have about 33 days of sunshine!!! (If that)

Thanks again

Phil

Re: hi all
 

I'm intrigued by this, what sort of thing do you mean? Other than skiing, I can't see that there is anything that kids can do in Calgary that they can't do in the UK.

Ah, Manchester, yes! Only been a couple of times, but it does seem to rain an awful lot there from what I can gather. Although Manchester doesn't get the -37 that some of our forum members in AB are currently experiencing. :lol:

So if you are visiting later this year or next and then planning on moving after that, then the IEC visa may not apply to you as the age limit for it is 30. So you'll need to look at other visas, the CIC website and the Wiki will help you there, do shout with any questions.

Good luck.

Re: hi all
 

Yeah does sound cold that ha have been working night shift outside but doesn't really phase me the cold just rain I hate the stuff!

Do is the IEC up to the age of 30?

Thanks again
Phil

Re: hi all
 

Don't blame you, I can take the cold more than the rain too. I'm in the south of England though, so thankfully a lot less rain than Manchester!

Yes, IEC is up to age 30. It would be your quickest and easiest route to a visa, so might be worth considering? When do you turn 30?

Re: hi all
 

July ill be 30 so might have a look into the IEC!
Really appreciate you help :)

Thanks
Phil

Re: hi all
 

You would actually be able to apply next year then, as it's aged 30 and under (so you can apply up until you turn 31). But at the moment you can get 2 visas, each for 1 year, so giving you 2 years - if you applied next year then obviously you'd only be able to get 1 year in total as the following year you'd be too old.

Might be worth looking in to, once you've got it you don't have to use it for a year so there wouldn't be any need to rush to move.

But if you're going to spend £20-25k or so on moving your family to Canada then a visit is a definite must before you do that imo!

Re: hi all
 

Yeah defo something I'm gonna look into!
Appreciate you comments and feedback!
Thanks
Phil

Re: hi all
 

We moved from Manchester to Ottawa nearly 3 years ago.

I have to agree with the OP, at least where we live, there is lots more for the kids to do than back home.

Municipal recreational activities in Ottawa (ballet, gymnastics, skating lessons) are second to none, and dirt cheap. In Manchester, there's no such thing.

In the summer, we take the kids to the beaches, splash pools and parks. In the winter we skate on the canal, the rink in the park or go tobogganing. In Manchester, in summer, it rained, so more often than not we took the kids to a jungle gym (at a cost). In winter, it rained, so more often than not we took the kids to a jungle gym (at a cost).

We've just bought an acre of land in the countryside and we are building a house. We'll have a pool, which will keep the kids entertained for 4 - 5 months of the year. We'd never have been able to do that in Manchester.

I know if we move back to the UK (and tbh, we've considered it a lot) the kids would be bored rotten.

I guess it depends where you are moving from.

Re: hi all
 

I guess it does, mine do ballet, tennis, rugby etc, all at much cheaper than I ever found in Canada and we spend most of our family time outside too, whether it's at the beach, parks, walking the dog, etc. I've never taken my two to a jungle gym, can't imagine anything worse. Granted, no ice skating on our pond though! :lol:

Re: hi all
 

Cheers pal that's what I was getting at in a round about way! I live in north manc so not really a great deal apart from like u say indoor activities at a cost!
Did u find it hard work leaving england at first? I'm not too bothered its just the missus!

Phil

Re: hi all
 

Ours are nearly 5, just 3 and 1.

We went home over Christmas and were looking forward to take them to the park (without snow suits!) to run off some energy from being couped up in my mother's house.

Then it rained, and literally didn’t stop for the rest of the visit.

Don’t get me wrong, we took them to museums too, but at that age all they really want to do is run around.

In Manchester, with small kids, the jungle gym is a lifesaver.


We were from North Mancs too. Whereabouts are you? We lived in Blackley…

Leaving England didn’t really bother me, but it did more my wife who lost the family support with the kids. However, after a year or so when the novelty wears off you really start missing the place (even Blackley). Then you go home for a visit and look forward to getting back to Canada. Then the homesickness starts again...