Hi all,

As you will see in my signature, I just started my application and I'm obviously looking around, searching for info, comparing.... Guess it's always better to prepare, prepare, prepare, rather than having all kinds of deceptions and bad surprises upon arrival.

So, I have applied via Quebec, which seems, as I'm French, as the ideal choice really. I am really interested by the Gatineau/Ottawa area, not so much by Montreal. Thing is though I heard many many horror stories from my countrymates, who said that Quebec is in a dire state and that there is a latent hostility towards French people from a certain amount of the French speaking locals.

I can understand that some go to Quebec with false expectations, and get back very quickly to their good old whining ways from "notre beau pays". Got me thinking though, and for me this adventure is really about Canada, not necessarily Quebec only (I'll leave the myth of the cousins from over the Atlantic that France has to others...).

I am currently looking a several jobs, particularly in the IT/call center business (I myself being a customer service trainer/HR in a big online poker company based in Ireland), and I see that Moncton, NB, has a lot of jobs in that field. The city/province as well seems to be very proactice in recruiting people from the outside (or luring Maritimers back), so it seems as a very dynamic environment for me. Thing though is that is seems a bit remote from the big population centers (Montreal 8hrs, Boston 8hrs, etc...) if I wanted my fix of downtown madness

I am of course looking at jobs in my field, but requalifying would not be an issue as I'm a serial part-time studier really, and I'd be happy to study to enhance my Canadian profile - why not at the Université de Moncton or any other college - I have studied coaching and HR, so something similar preferably.

So, if some of you out there have experiences with Moncton and NB, or even Atlantic Canada in general, I'm all ears! I am of the opinion that job determines where we will land, and it seems that maybe New Brunswick could be a lucky place. Any tips?

I will move this to the Canada forum as it's not related to visas etc, and is a more general enquiry so belongs there.

Cool, no probs.

Anybody with tips and feeback?

Myself and OH have been out to NB twice this year on reccie trips and love it. It's a beautiful area and Fredricton seems to be growing as an IT hub.

We didn't go to Moncton I'm afraid just Fredericton, St Andrews and Sait John. From what I've hear Moncton is pretty lively and vibrant but a bit more industrial than Fredricton.

I've only spent a night in Moncton but I've heard a bit about it from colleagues (who are generally on $120,000+ and thus LOVE Moncton!). It's definitely not a sprawling metropolis but it seems like a very pleasant city. New Brunswick is the only bilingual province, and I think the split is about 70/30 English/French but most kids end up fluent or at least capable in both languages.
Have a look on MLS to make sure, but I reckon a nice family home need not cost more than $200,000. It's a fairly short drive to Shediak where Monctonites seem to have their cabins, and Halifax is a reasonable drive for a long day out. It's pretty close, if you're willing to fly, for a weekend away in New York, Boston or Monteal. Pay attention to the provincial income tax and sales taxes though. It's heavy in the Maritimes!

Can be revised downwards considerably.

In our street is a semi-detached, 2 bedroom home with separate 1 bedroom apt in the basement (can help with mortgage or semi retirement) built about 3 years ago for under $150k.

Here's a nice 2 bedroom house for under $120k

Fancy a triplex for under $110k?

3 bed, 2 bathrooms under $100k

Hi,

Thanks so much for all this info, looking at the houses and job boards, well it sure looks like NB is to be considered! We are totally amazed by the prizes to say the least!!!

Of course, dreaming and settling are two different things. So we will keep studying, looking around and eventually sending CVs out. Shoudl be easier for me, as my gf has more an academic profile (PHD in history) and would be looking first at employement in her field - will be tough as I can guess. Anybody with an academic job to offer?

We will visit Ottawa and Montreal this coming September, too bad we won't have the time for NB - surely for the next one!

Again, thanks so much for the help, highly appreciated

Anyone got any thoughts or recommendations on places to live in the areas between Fredericton and Moncton - a reasonable commutable distance to both?

CB - what line of work are your colleagues in to earn $120k + ....?

Cheers
J2FCM

Nope. There is a big lot of nothingness in the middle. Two hours of highway and neverending trees (well there are some villages / hamlets, but unless you are really a sadist you probably wouldn't want to live there )

I would recommend picking one or the other and sticking nearby.

What Tupp said. Very rural. I wouldn't want to be doing an hour commute in a NB winter, even on the TransCanada.