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Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Old Nov 30th 2013, 5:04 pm
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Question Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

After reading a post on here from a few years ago asking similar questions, I would just like to state that this thread IS NOT a wind up, I can no longer access the post, hence starting a new one.
For about a year now, after failing medical checks to enable me to get in the British Army, day in, day out, I have been considering moving to Canada. I have no children and have worked with horses for around 8 years now, and began working with them full time when I left school 3 years ago, working in different sectors from eventing, livery (boarding) stables and breeding studs. I have finally settled into a small family run racing yard. My boss has agreed to help me gain my qualifications for the management of racehorses and breeding. If I were to move to Canada will my qualifications be recognised there or will I have to undergo the training all over again?
My partner has been in the same job since he left school 6 years ago, he is a farm worker and has tractor, trailer, and JCB licenses. Again, will those licenses be recognised there?
I also read an article titled 'Don't make the mistake of moving to Canada, it's a fools paradise' this is one of the paragraphs; '''My advice to people who are itching to migrate to Canada to give a better future to their children is this: Think hard before you take any decision and don’t fool yourself by painting a rosy picture in your head. You may end up working in factories, call centers, security agencies, Tim Horton’s or packing factories. You will lose your savings. Your will lose your morale and self-esteem. Tensions will destroy your marital and family life. Finally, if you are lucky enough, you may get an entry-level job and then pay someone else’s mortgage while living in their basement as you dream of buying your own little nest.'''
I wouldn't enjoy sitting in an office earning however many thousands. I plan on working with horses, earning enough to live comfortably and my partner wants to stick to working on farms. Is this something that is achievable? I have my heart set on relocating to the Alberta area. Sorry for the long post, but I would love to hear from someone who has successful made a move to Canada and is happy with the decision.
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Old Nov 30th 2013, 5:26 pm
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

I have made a move to Canada and I am happy

Have you watched "Heartland" it is a horse based soap based over here, I think it's in Canada?

It is as close to horse work as I have seen on TV. But they fall off a lot.

http://www.cbc.ca/heartland/m/site/

Last edited by magnumpi; Nov 30th 2013 at 5:31 pm.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 12:21 am
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Originally Posted by emmajayneequestrian
After reading a post on here from a few years ago asking similar questions, I would just like to state that this thread IS NOT a wind up, I can no longer access the post, hence starting a new one.
For about a year now, after failing medical checks to enable me to get in the British Army, day in, day out, I have been considering moving to Canada. I have no children and have worked with horses for around 8 years now, and began working with them full time when I left school 3 years ago, working in different sectors from eventing, livery (boarding) stables and breeding studs. I have finally settled into a small family run racing yard. My boss has agreed to help me gain my qualifications for the management of racehorses and breeding. If I were to move to Canada will my qualifications be recognised there or will I have to undergo the training all over again?
My partner has been in the same job since he left school 6 years ago, he is a farm worker and has tractor, trailer, and JCB licenses. Again, will those licenses be recognised there?
I also read an article titled 'Don't make the mistake of moving to Canada, it's a fools paradise' this is one of the paragraphs; '''My advice to people who are itching to migrate to Canada to give a better future to their children is this: Think hard before you take any decision and don’t fool yourself by painting a rosy picture in your head. You may end up working in factories, call centers, security agencies, Tim Horton’s or packing factories. You will lose your savings. Your will lose your morale and self-esteem. Tensions will destroy your marital and family life. Finally, if you are lucky enough, you may get an entry-level job and then pay someone else’s mortgage while living in their basement as you dream of buying your own little nest.'''
I wouldn't enjoy sitting in an office earning however many thousands. I plan on working with horses, earning enough to live comfortably and my partner wants to stick to working on farms. Is this something that is achievable? I have my heart set on relocating to the Alberta area. Sorry for the long post, but I would love to hear from someone who has successful made a move to Canada and is happy with the decision.
I feel sure what you describe has happened to some who have moved to Canada, and probably some who have moved to the UK. Those who are disgruntled will often blame everything and everyone but themselves.
There are plenty who have migrated and been successful and are happy with their decision. I did it 20 years ago and would do it again.

Work on the basis that qualifications gained overseas will not be recognised. Some occupations will require a little extra trainng or requalification others will require a lot. It also depends how much experience you have. Foreign qualitfications with 10-15 years experience is going to help a lot more than only 1 or 2 years on the job.

Horse racing is not a big thing in Canada. Spruce Meadows in Calgary is worth a look.

Many have found they have to take whatever they can get for a few years and eventually work up to where they want to be. A few are fortunate enough to drop straight into their chosen career path (a minority).

If under 30, come on an IEC, take 2 years to see if you like it and if not, it was part of life's experiences. Take all the opportunities you can get, you never know when it is your last.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 12:42 am
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

I fit into the "worse thing I ever did" category

However, now, 6yrs on things are stabilized I have ventured on a totally different career path and been successful at it - Life is good but holy cxxp when through the grinder to get there!!!
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 1:24 am
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Originally Posted by Aviator
Horse racing is not a big thing in Canada. Spruce Meadows in Calgary is worth a look.
I know of Spruce Meadows because it's a venue for show jumping. It may be that they also have races there but, if so, I don't think that's widely known.

Horse racing, flat, pacers and trotters, has long been a big deal in Ontario but is in crisis. In short, off track gambling here isn't based around horses but American football and it's not at all legal, horse racing tracks used to do ok because you could legally bet on course but not off and once upon a time people bet on the horses. However over the past couple of decades VLT machines have become the standard at race tracks; the horses have run because gambling has been legal if they're there but no one has paid much attention to them, they just provide the cover for the no arm bandits.

Recently the government has decided to allow a casino in Toronto. That's the end of the road for horse racing; the bettors at the tracks are bussed from Toronto and ignore the horses, if they can bet at home there's no need for the track. So, racing is out. There's still a serious jumping scene here but, of course, one needs a well hyphenated name in order to get a leg up.

Yeah, that's Ontario, Alberta may be different. I'd say not.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 2:00 am
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

The article that you cited sounds like a bunch of sour grapes from someone who wasn't able to adapt. I did it in 1969 and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Like Joe Jackson says "Life's been good to me so far".
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 2:14 am
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Originally Posted by Simon Legree
The article that you cited sounds like a bunch of sour grapes from someone who wasn't able to adapt. I did it in 1969 and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Like Joe Jackson says "Life's been good to me so far".
Having just read the original article (which appeared in a blog trying to look like a newspaper), it seems that the writer of it was a teacher and her husband did something in construction.

Perhaps they should have done their research first.

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Old Dec 1st 2013, 4:42 am
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

''My advice to people who are itching to migrate to Canada to give a better future to their children is this: Think hard before you take any decision and don’t fool yourself by painting a rosy picture in your head. You may end up working in factories, call centers, security agencies, Tim Horton’s or packing factories. You will lose your savings. Your will lose your morale and self-esteem. Tensions will destroy your marital and family life. Finally, if you are lucky enough, you may get an entry-level job and then pay someone else’s mortgage while living in their basement as you dream of buying your own little nest.''

errrmmmm....so, painting a rose picture is a dumn thing to do anyways, 'cos chances are that you'll still be doing the same sh**e wherever you live....same mortgage, same bills, same day in - day out routine.....if your 'career' is as a doctor, dentist, lawyer, engineer or any other profession, chances are that you will end up in a similar roll and yep, you may have to re-train in your field, even though you've done it for donkeys years but remember, you live in Canada now with Canadian culture, so be flexible...I ended up doing a job I've never done with a huge pay increase!!!......and who really cares if you work in a factory, or timmies, or a call centre.....lose your savings!!!! to whom? careless I say!!!......tensions will un-doubtable run high in the marital home and yep, it did with us...almost divorce but strength shone through and now we are stronger than ever but hey, that would probably have happened wherever you live, right....as to a high mortgage, don't try and live in an area that you wouldn't have lived in in the uk!!! in other words, don't expect to move from the eastend to Chelsea right?......morale of the story, stay focused and be realistic.....up side, fabulous place to raise your kids, great community spirit practically where ever you live in Canada if you want it to be and always, always a warm welcome....quality of life is like the UK was forty years ago.....
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 4:25 pm
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Originally Posted by dbd33
I know of Spruce Meadows because it's a venue for show jumping. It may be that they also have races there but, if so, I don't think that's widely known.

Horse racing, flat, pacers and trotters, has long been a big deal in Ontario but is in crisis. In short, off track gambling here isn't based around horses but American football and it's not at all legal, horse racing tracks used to do ok because you could legally bet on course but not off and once upon a time people bet on the horses. However over the past couple of decades VLT machines have become the standard at race tracks; the horses have run because gambling has been legal if they're there but no one has paid much attention to them, they just provide the cover for the no arm bandits.

Recently the government has decided to allow a casino in Toronto. That's the end of the road for horse racing; the bettors at the tracks are bussed from Toronto and ignore the horses, if they can bet at home there's no need for the track. So, racing is out. There's still a serious jumping scene here but, of course, one needs a well hyphenated name in order to get a leg up.

Yeah, that's Ontario, Alberta may be different. I'd say not.
Spruce is jumping, not racing. Hastings park on the west coast has racing, but it is not a big thing.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 4:33 pm
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

To the OP: there are no guarantees that it will work out. It doesn't work out for some people, and it's not always their fault (ignore those who claim it is).

Canada is not an easy place to be poor in. The social safety net is pretty shit. Just something to bear in mind.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 5:25 pm
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

To the OP,

I don't think horseracing is a big thing in Canada, certainly we've been in Calgary for about 18 months now and I've never heard of any racing on a commercial scale similar to the UK. As someone else noted, there is Spruce Meadows but it's show jumping and seems to have a fairly short season (I guess due to weather).

My 5 cents worth, if you want to work in horse racing the UK would probably be better than Canada as there seems to be more of it. However, if you want to give Canada a go and are prepared to be flexible on work then why not. BUT, don't come over thinking it's Nirvana; it's not, it's probably neither better nor worse than the UK overall, and we've certainly found both likes and dislikes compared with the UK.

Good luck whatever you decide.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 8:38 pm
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

I'd be concerned about passing the medical to get into Canada if you did not pass a medical to get in the army.

Other than that take a Work Holiday Visa or what ever it is called now and try it for a year. if you like it stay for another year and look into the PR process.

People have different experiences. The word "Rollercoaster" and "For the kids" come up an awful lot. At least the second one doesn't apply to you so there is less risk.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 9:19 pm
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Originally Posted by JamesM
I'd be concerned about passing the medical to get into Canada if you did not pass a medical to get in the army.

Other than that take a Work Holiday Visa or what ever it is called now and try it for a year. if you like it stay for another year and look into the PR process.

People have different experiences. The word "Rollercoaster" and "For the kids" come up an awful lot. At least the second one doesn't apply to you so there is less risk.
Better if they're said in the Geordie language.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 11:35 pm
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Whereas horse racing isn't a big sport in Canada, breeding programs for race horses certainly exist (and for many other disciplines of horsemanship). These friends of mine have an excellent reputation http://todmtnthoroughbreds.com/about_us.html and an ex neighbour breeds and trains reining and cutting horses for rodeo and working ranches.

I moved over here and owned an equestrian facility (livery for 50+, Western and English lessons, clinics and competition). It's perfectly feasible to earn a living and a decent lifestyle if you want to work with horses.
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Old Dec 1st 2013, 11:46 pm
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Default Re: Moving to canada.. Wise choice?

Originally Posted by JamesM
I'd be concerned about passing the medical to get into Canada if you did not pass a medical to get in the army.
I wouldn't. There are rather different criteria.
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