Hi, Me, My wife and my 2yr old daughter are thinking of making the move to NS... we have not been yet but it appeals and would be looking to come and have a look. We are in the Uk at the mo, but lived in Cyprus for 7 years previously.

We like the quite life and love the look of the place. Although we are not sure on the best way to get in? the best areas to move to? We will be having visitors so near(ish) to the Int airport would be an advantage. We have looked at Chester and Lunenburg ares?

We would be looking to be mortgage free, but wanted to know about work too? I am a full qualified Corgi/gas safe plumber with a degree in renewable energy and my wife is a lettings agent. Is there work available? maybe not even in our trades?

Any other info would be nice, like schools, activites etc...

Thanks

Darren

Hi. I have no idea on advice regarding work for your trade but we are here in Nova Scotia and it is a lovely place. Chester is beautiful!
If you are on FB, there is a group there for expats in NS, a really friendly and helpful bunch
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/185209748193973/

There is lots to do here and people are lovely.

Good luck

Hi Darrenmarks, welcome to the forum ;-)

I can highly recommend taking the time to have a chat with Relocation Nova Scotia. We stayed with them for a week on a recce 1 month ago.
They have provided us with so much support and guidance that it would take ages to list! they are well versed about the local economy and job prospects.
On return to Uk we returned to NS immediately (after only 4 days!) to chase up a potential job and get settled whilst we wait for our PR visas to process.
The move was definately made easier knowing someone here.
We are working our new network of friends and contacts and going from strength to strength.
Hubby now has a job offer and we now wait for LMO & work permits to be processed.

That sounds helpful, thanks. I have sent them a message, see what happens.

Where abouts did you relocate too?

We are currently living in Lunenburg in a rented apartment until we find somewhere to purchase in the area.
The idea of living in a city frightened us before coming here, but we spent some time around Halifax and its a very lovely city, lots of green and trees everywhere.
Are you planning a recce trip here?

forgot to mention, if you are ex-military June (Relocation Nova Scotia) is well worth talking to. Well versed in dealing with ex-military she can discuss your needs and options.

when you phone her tell her Team Jones recommended her!

No i am not military but yeah, was thinking of coming over and checking a few areas and see whats available. What would a week recce cost roughly?

Chester/lunenberg thats the area we like the look of, whats it like day to day? what about evenings/going out?

cheers

Welcome I hope your move goes well, Canada to me is a wonderful place although I live on the prairies not the coast.

Wow!! just how did you manage to wangle this one. I've never heard of anybody obtaining LMO and PR inside Canada on a visitors visa. Nova Scotia must have very lax provincial guidelines compared to the rest of Canada. We have just had wait 18mths to jump through hoops to get Saskatchewan to sponsor our son and daughter in law.

Haven't explored Chester yet, Lunenburg is lovely but mostly closing down for the winter (its a tourism dominated area). Having said that it looks likely some social places will remain open. Its a quiet town. We would be happy to meet up if you are coming over?
cost of recce = flights, air canada are the only direct flights now until may next year, car hire, accomadation can be negotiated as its now off season (have a chat with Mumford B&B in Halifax, you will also get relocation coaching etc). eating out and shopping isnt cheap here either, we are learning to shop better.

I hope someone else will pipe up shortly and fill in the blanks or clarify stuff

actually we already applied for PR 18 months ago which is currently 'in process'. we got fed up waiting and decided to explore options from within the province. we got lucky and an employer has made an offer to hubby which will get a work permit to keep us going while we wait on the PR visa. we are currently awaiting LMO.

Yeah Cyprus was expensive for food etc as it was imported, so we are clued up on the shopping stuff.

I will put some time aside to visit soon, thanks for the info.

When we are booked i will get in touch and see where you are.

Cheers

You need to look at a few things really - where are you most likely to find work - usually this would be within the HRM (better pay, more jobs within this area) How far are you happy to commit to commuting per day - also think about doing this commute in the winter weather. Do you have kids - what age? If they are teenage kids - what do they want out of the move? What is your budget for buying property out here?

HRM?? I dont mind a bit of travel to and from work, dont really want to be on the road more that 45mins morning and night.

We have a daughter who is only 2 right now.. but schools have to be taken into account.

As for property budget, we would be selling up here in the Uk and we are nearly mortgage free on our family home so we would be able to come across with a nice sum.. hopefully not have to have a mortgage there.

We have seen some nice properties on 'rightmove' for around the $200-250,000 mark. Are there any better property websites you know of locally?

Thanks

Sorry! Halifax Regional Municipality - so basically Halifax and Dartmouth (in job terms anyway).

What do you both do for work?

Have a look at viewpoint.ca - it is a great site and gives lots more detail than MLS.

ok will check it out..

I am a Corgi reg. Plumber with a deploma in Renewable energy (solar,wind etc)
And my wife is a lettings agent.