tracys

Hi, We're considering a move to Ottawa after a visit in the summer but friends keep saying it's hard to find work if you're not bilingual. Is this the case? If so, may have to look at Toronto instead.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Tracy

Rete

Yes and no. I'm an American who is married to a Canadian. He lived in Ottawa at the time of our marriage 18 years ago. I was going to move to Canada but because I worked as a legal assistant the agencies loved my years of experience and qualifications but said without a working knowledge of French (verbal and written), they would not be able to place me in the legal arena.

My nephew by marriage is working in Ottawa without any knowledge of French in a construction managerial position and his wife in a bank. He, of course, is born Canadian from outside of Montreal (yes, without French) and she is a transplanted American without French.

So it would seem it depends on the profession you are in.

Partially discharged

I'm in Ottawa and have been since 1994. My french is rusty and we spent Christmas time in Nice and the French Alps and I could understand the natives more there than in the Ottawa/Gatineau area.

The real estate executive detailed below

Changes in Senior Management at Ivanhoe Cambridge - Montreal, Quebes - Our Hometown

was married to a distant relative of mine and his lack of french was the reason for his downfall at Ivanhoe Cambridge. Ironically his wife has a degree in french but not much rubbed off.

In the federal government bi-lingualism is quite important in Ottawa but getting hired by the feds is difficult and subject to the whims of government. High tech is not that concerned with bi-lingualism. Retail, especially downtown would view bi-lingualism as an asset.

Cost of living is generally lower in Ottawa vs Toronto.

tracys

That would make sense I guess. If your job requires you to communicate with the public French is obviously an asset.

tracys

OH is in IT/Communications so might not pose a problem.. Daughter studying Political Science and IDS so depending on her plans might be a stumbling block. Though she could always learn French I guess? Son interested in Hospitality/tourism. I know he won't want to learn French.

Lots of work for OH in Toronto but didn't want that fast pace again, had that in London. NS has slowed us all down somewhat

dbd33

K-W? Lots of computing, not a big city, many languages in use but mainly English. Several universities nearby. Easy access to the US for shopping. Not scenic.

tracys

We liked that it wasn't too big a city and the easy access to US is definitely a factor in our wanting to move. Love that it's more diverse too, NS is very white. We miss the diversity of London. Not sure what you mean by k-w?

DandNHill

Hi Tracy. Hadn't realized you were still in NS.
KW is Kitchener Waterloo 😊

dbd33

I was suggesting Kitchener-Waterloo, a town (made of two towns slapped together) west of Toronto (see also Guelph). The area has lots of computer work both for software companies and for insurance companies. Lack of diversity is not a concern in this part of the world.

Housing is cheaper than the GTA, I suspect it's more expensive than Ottawa. Recently the people around me in the office have been buying "just detached" houses on new estates, say 1600 sq ft for around $400,000.

tracys

yes, still here. Waiting for kids to finish school and uni. How's Toronto working out for you now? Have you adjusted? Kids settled?

tracys

Thanks I'll research that area. Would love to go to Vancouver but so expensive! Might have to wait for retirement and buy a reno job, as long as we're still fit enough to cope with a reno

Souvy

Just look at the bones of a place.

tracys

It's my bones I'm worried about

Souvy

Why? None of it is that hard. It's all about technique. I'm not a big bloke but I can get a 50lb sheet of drywall up on a wall with a block of wood and a crowbar.

MarylandNed

Some IT jobs will require French. It's more likely to happen in Ottawa than in Toronto.