Moving to Saskatoon
Mar 26th 2013 | 6:45 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3
From: Wigan, near Manchester in UK
Moving to Saskatoon
Hi everyone, I am new to this forum thing so go easy on me. Me (31) and my partner (29) are seriously looking into making a massive decision in life and moving to Saskatoon with our 2 young children (1 & 3). Our reasons for choosing Saskatoon is that we see massive potential for finding work out there in the construction industry and a better way of life and future for our kids than here in the UK.
I have a qualification in drywall installation but I mainly carry out a Site Foreman / Manager role on residential house building but have worked on schools, offices etc. My partner is a Health, Safety and Environment Manager in the construction industry too. Any feedback you have on potential work in these positions out there would be great, however I would also consider a change of careers if I could find a position out there in a thriving industry (i they would entertain taking someone with no experience on).
The weather isn't really an issue for us but what we would like to hear about is peoples general experiences in moving to Saskatoon/Regina/Saskatchewan and any information you could possibly give with regards to costs of living, taxes, schooling etc.
Thank you for your replies in advance
I have a qualification in drywall installation but I mainly carry out a Site Foreman / Manager role on residential house building but have worked on schools, offices etc. My partner is a Health, Safety and Environment Manager in the construction industry too. Any feedback you have on potential work in these positions out there would be great, however I would also consider a change of careers if I could find a position out there in a thriving industry (i they would entertain taking someone with no experience on).
The weather isn't really an issue for us but what we would like to hear about is peoples general experiences in moving to Saskatoon/Regina/Saskatchewan and any information you could possibly give with regards to costs of living, taxes, schooling etc.
Thank you for your replies in advance
Mar 27th 2013 | 1:22 am
#2
Every day's a school day
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,667
From: Was Calgary back in Edmonton again !!
Re: Moving to Saskatoon
Calgary or Edmonton would be a better bet IMO.
Mar 31st 2013 | 4:06 pm
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11
From: Saskatchewan previously Leicestershire
Re: Moving to Saskatoon
Hi Tinkjake, welcome to this website - it is a really useful tool if you are looking to move to Canada.
Saskatoon, in my opinion, is a beautiful city. Summers in SK are great, but winter can be hard going.
Living in Canada is more expensive that the UK in a lot of regards - but you will have better choices in the city (we are rural and pay more for services), for instance most of SK only has coverage with 'Sasktel' Mobile service - but in the city you will have other companies (Rogers, Bell) and price options. Mobile phone service in Canada is about 100% more than in the UK - we pay for 2 phones, one is on a 3 year contract with no data plan, limited longdistace, but unlimited local and text messages. Our 2nd phone is paid for (brought it from the UK), has the larger data plan and free long distance in Canada - we pay $120 a month for the 2 phones. In the UK, our mobile phones cost us about $60 Canadian.
Internet for us, being rural, is expensive - but you see in the city (again Sasktel) has great bundle packages for phone, internet and cable.
We love SK. We have been here since August 2012. I am Canadian, and my partner is from the UK. We came to SK on 2 separate occasions before we decided to move here. We are very fortunate that I have family in the provence that helped us to get settled (but lucky him the inlaws are in BC!).
There is a really good post on here a guy wrote about living in Regina - a lot of it applies to other areas in the provence.
Winter is hard. period. This one probably harder than most as we have had some crazy levels of snow - but then again, so has the UK. Driving conditions in the city are pretty bad in the winter, and I am not sure why they seem to have such difficulty with snow removal, but it can be pretty bad.
It gets cold, and then it is even colder with the wind. The good thing is the sun is always there. It is a different type of cold that in England, it is very dry. I have lived in other parts of this country and always feared the prairie winters - but you dress for them and you find activities to keep you indoors.
There is a lot to do in Saskatoon, we are only about 1 1/2 hours from the city and go quite a bit. I am sure someone else can give you more info on living in the city.
My partner is a plumber from the UK - and I am sure he will tell you, be prepared for some high prices on building materials in Canada. I can't tell you how many times I have been to Home Depot (the Canadian B&Q) to here him say 'HOW MUCH !". That being said the trade prices for labour are very good out here - and from what we have seen SK can always used more skilled people.
I don't know if you have had the chance to come to Canada in the past - but I hope you will find that in general Canadians are nice and helpful people. We are always impressed with the way we are treated by the people in our area. He says it is like the UK was 40 years ago - like I said we live pretty rural - but I would hope the same can be said for the folks in the city. Around here if you put your car in the ditch (easy to do this winter!), people stop and help you out and not just the 1st car that comes by, others stop as well.
Hope this helps.
Saskatoon, in my opinion, is a beautiful city. Summers in SK are great, but winter can be hard going.
Living in Canada is more expensive that the UK in a lot of regards - but you will have better choices in the city (we are rural and pay more for services), for instance most of SK only has coverage with 'Sasktel' Mobile service - but in the city you will have other companies (Rogers, Bell) and price options. Mobile phone service in Canada is about 100% more than in the UK - we pay for 2 phones, one is on a 3 year contract with no data plan, limited longdistace, but unlimited local and text messages. Our 2nd phone is paid for (brought it from the UK), has the larger data plan and free long distance in Canada - we pay $120 a month for the 2 phones. In the UK, our mobile phones cost us about $60 Canadian.
Internet for us, being rural, is expensive - but you see in the city (again Sasktel) has great bundle packages for phone, internet and cable.
We love SK. We have been here since August 2012. I am Canadian, and my partner is from the UK. We came to SK on 2 separate occasions before we decided to move here. We are very fortunate that I have family in the provence that helped us to get settled (but lucky him the inlaws are in BC!).
There is a really good post on here a guy wrote about living in Regina - a lot of it applies to other areas in the provence.
Winter is hard. period. This one probably harder than most as we have had some crazy levels of snow - but then again, so has the UK. Driving conditions in the city are pretty bad in the winter, and I am not sure why they seem to have such difficulty with snow removal, but it can be pretty bad.
It gets cold, and then it is even colder with the wind. The good thing is the sun is always there. It is a different type of cold that in England, it is very dry. I have lived in other parts of this country and always feared the prairie winters - but you dress for them and you find activities to keep you indoors.
There is a lot to do in Saskatoon, we are only about 1 1/2 hours from the city and go quite a bit. I am sure someone else can give you more info on living in the city.
My partner is a plumber from the UK - and I am sure he will tell you, be prepared for some high prices on building materials in Canada. I can't tell you how many times I have been to Home Depot (the Canadian B&Q) to here him say 'HOW MUCH !". That being said the trade prices for labour are very good out here - and from what we have seen SK can always used more skilled people.
I don't know if you have had the chance to come to Canada in the past - but I hope you will find that in general Canadians are nice and helpful people. We are always impressed with the way we are treated by the people in our area. He says it is like the UK was 40 years ago - like I said we live pretty rural - but I would hope the same can be said for the folks in the city. Around here if you put your car in the ditch (easy to do this winter!), people stop and help you out and not just the 1st car that comes by, others stop as well.
Hope this helps.
