Hi everyone.

We have been lurking for a few weeks now flitting in and out, but now ive joined up and can post, I thought i'd say Hi!

We are looking at coming over to Canada. Area depends on work for my husband as it all hinges on his work. My husband is a Bricklayer (has been for donkeys years) and we aren't sure where the work is at the moment.

Weve seen that there is alot of development due for Nova Scotia etc and Vancouver Island etc and we are looking at migration sites which have employers looking for trades people.

The one question we keep asking ourselves is - In Canada do Trades work all year through?

Over here as you can imagine, if its below 3 degrees they are sent home. If its raining they are sent home and god forbid it snows, they are defo sent home! We really want to make the move but are worried that with Canadian Winters he may not be working for 5+ months of the year and therefore jeopardising our financial situation out there.

Are there any brickies out there who can answer our daft question? We feel a bit dumb asking it but its one that keeps cropping up!

Many thanks for any advice/information received - we really appreciate it.

Many thanks

Nats & Sid

Im not a brickie, but yes, many of them work year round. On the big new subdivisions going up here when its cold they tent up the area they are working on and heat it.

The house down the street from us has been sitting around since the summer with nothing but the plywood siding on it. I looks like it will be brick on the outside eventually.

Its becoming an eyesore. Maybe he could start with that one

Not much brick in Vancouver, but yes, construction seems to continue all year round

Hi

There is a reason that your husband gets sent home at 3C in England, as motar/concrete needs a core temperature of 4C to harden. Below 3C would be the same issue in Canada with brick laying i.e no work.

I can see working 5-7 months a year being a concern for you. Does you husband have any other trade skills that would give him indoor work over the winter?
Where we lived in Ontario the construction guys did other work such as logging,saw mills, snow removal in winter or just go on the dole(spend winters hunting/fishing was common practice where we lived).

I have a friend from Manchester who was a Civil Engineer in the construction season and ski instructor during winter. So you may want to think of having 2 jobs in Canada which reflect your husbands work.

I would expect your husband as a bricklayer would to put in most of his hours in the late spring & summer months to cover winter months when work in winter could be a bit lean.

Hudd

I agree with LivetoSki - it is mostly wooden construction here. I have seen the very occasional ad for a brickie, but I think there will be more demand for his skills out East.

Good luck

And concrete. God, they love their concrete here.

I love concrete!

You're in the right place then...

The big craze out West is cultured stone (stick on rocks) We have a friend who is a mason & bricklayer. He could not find much work in his old trade, but as soon as he got into the cultured stone several years ago he has not stopped. Lots of construction going on through the winter, but may slow down on the few sub zero temps we get around the Lower Mainland of BC.

http://www.hhmedia.com/desView.php?c=100804&cat=100801

There is also a lot of hard landscaping goes on around the big cities, less so in the rural areas. This often involves a lot or rockwork & brickwork.

This is one of the bigger ones that works around the Vancouver area
http://www.blasig.com/

Hi,
Your other half will need a certified qualification to claim points as a brickie.
Try the City and Guilds institute. If you decide to come over on a work permit then you may get the points for that regardless. I am a renovator and builder from London, but had to 'prove' myself' for immigration purposes.
Best Wishes
Stuart

Thanks everyone.

Yes I am well aware of the reasons for getting sent home if the temperature isn't right - its part of our lives watching the weather!

When I say time served, he has gone through all of his trade qualifications including C&G HNC etc. He has furthered that to teach Bricklaying also. We have done the points and seem to be fine with what he has (Although we realise these qualis may mean diddly squat over in Canada).

Not sure what he could do in the Winter - perhaps he could teach Bricklaying or do something completely different - he'd have no problem doing that and if our mortgage was paid I would'nt be bothered what he did.

We were hoping we could move mortgage free but I think the places where brickies are required, the houses are more - so we have some research to do.

We have seem quite a few ads for Brickies but they are in Toronto etc.

Thanks
Nats

[QUOTE=NatsnSid;5376879]Thanks everyone.

Yes I am well aware of the reasons for getting sent home if the temperature isn't right - its part of our lives watching the weather!

My hubby is a bricklayer to, but can cover many other trades in renovation. W are due to land early Nov, heading to Windsor Ontario; he has a few offers from builders and renovation companies, who are convinced there will be enough work all year round.
If all else fails he back finish the brickwork on our house - the builder has been so slow - so far we have had three different completion dates, Aug, Sept and Oct; presently waiting for the Nov date!
Like you we hoped to go mortgage free, but instead have opted for a small mortgage and if necessary, he can stay home and I'll work (from home child minding).

Hi and welcome..have you seen this thread yet?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=483209

Hope this helps

Alison

[QUOTE=manghams;5377287] Thanks Manghams/Alvic. Much appreciated. The lady had also PM'd me too, im just waiting a response - sounds promising though.

Although I used to have a good job and currently work as a secretary, I don't have any pieces of paper to back up what im doing now or what I used to do. Facilities Management is all over the world but unless you have the paperwork - theres no getting in. I worked my way up through the ranks with hard work but didn't study. Its something I've always wanted to do but never had the £6k to do it!

I could go and work for the people im working for now in Canada, I just need to find out their office bases.

I think we will need a small mortgage but then if Sid is working we should be fine - although I don't think I'll be able to not work for long, i'd miss the social interaction of it!.

Places places - we have no idea. It all hinges on a job so wherever the work is we'll go rent and go from there.

Thanks for all the advice its been really helpful

Nats