Hi there,

My wife and I are looking into emigrating to Canada, but after a substantial amount of time researching we're still no clearer really, so hoping for a little guidance.

I'm 35, a welder with 18 years experience, she's 29 with an Arts degree and a postal clerk, no kids and have both visited Canada before. We're hoping to aim for Alberta (we were married in Banff, so would love to be at a visitable distance) or Nova Scotia for ease of family and friends visiting from UK, but in reality, we know we don't want to stay in UK and want to be in Canada so we're not about to turn away any leads or opportunities. I was apprenticed in the Naval Dockyard so would love to work shipyards again, but again, I wouldn't pass up any opportunity for work.

I've been applying for jobs with a cv and cover letter, as well as emailing whatever companies I can find that seem suitable, but any sort of response is like gold dust. I know residency is difficult so it seems the best way is through a job offer/work permit and applying for residency somewhere down the line. Beyond trying to find a job from here, all I'm coming up with is 1001 agencies that claim to be able to sort everything.

So, what should I be doing to get started?

Thanks for any help

To get started have a good read of the Wiki section. It's the fourth tab from the left on the blue bar above. It contains a wealth of information and should answer most of your questions. When you have done that come back with some more specific questions and doubtless help will be forthcoming. Good luck.

Read this link about Express Entry which starts on 1 January 2015.
Pay particular attention to the Federal Skilled Trades program as opposed to the Federal Skilled Worker though don't discount it.
Express Entry

I know a company from Nova Scotia came to Portsmouth to recruit quite a few people for ship building not so long ago. It may be worth trying to find out who this company is and contacting them directly.

I may have got it regarding the location in Canada. Please see attached link

Canadian shipbuilder steps in to recruit Portsmouth BAE workers - Portsmouth News

It may help.

I know Seaspan and Irving were looking, emailed both but I know Irving don't start production until September 2015, so they won't be recruiting trades until that sort of time...

This is a bit of a myth, that Nova Scotia is somehow easier to access from the UK over somewhere like Alberta.

Yes, Nova Scotia is physically closer to the UK when you look at flat projection map, but there are other factors to consider:

Due to the smaller population in the Maritime provinces (of which Nova Scotia is a part), there lower demands for UK flights, so prices are higher, and direct flights to the UK from the Maritimes are elusive.

If you look up a national airline such as Air Canada, you'll notice that most Nova Scotia flights to the UK require you to first fly west to Montreal or Toronto before connecting on a UK-bound flight. Again, using Air Canada as an example, you're looking at anywhere between 11-15 hours of travel to get from Halifax to London.

By contrast, a direct flight from London to Calgary or Vancouver is approximately 9 hours in length. A direct flight from London to Toronto is 7 hours.

Flights from the UK to western Canada do not fly over the Atlantic and continental North America - they fly over the Arctic, saving hours of time. The UK is significantly closer to western Canada than most people would expect, but this only becomes apparent when you look at a globe.

There is also bigger demand for direct flights between the UK and Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. Prices are therefore typically more competitive.

Ultimately, wherever you are in Canada, the UK will usually be a 7-9 hour flight away. Don't move to Nova Scotia because it is closer on a map, move there because the land and its culture and its climate and its job opportunities are appealing.

I'll end this by copying and pasting something I wrote a few months ago:

You shouldn't let proximity to the UK be a major factor in where you move to in Canada. Factors such as climate (ie: how many months of subzero temperatures you'll realistically experience, the month when you start to see greenery on the trees for the first time since September... February or May... or June?), geography (mountains, ocean, prairie - how many hours or days you'll have to drive to see mountains, ocean, or prairies, or a change in geography), growing season (gardening from May-September, or year round?), humidity (or lack thereof), local urban culture (liberal? conservative? old fashioned?), public transportation options, walkability, population density, etc. will play a larger role on your life day to day.

Westjet have started daily seasonal flights (may 29th til oct 24th) from Halifax NS to Glasgow if that helps.The best way I think to obtain a job offer to visit companies in Canada.They will be more interested in you if you make the effort to turn up at their door ,it shows you are serious about moving to Canada.You can imagine companies receive 100s of emails a week from people around the world enquiring for work,so most of them dont bother replying.