Hi all, first post, be gentle!

Looking at moving to Alberta, and it seems to me that the best possibility for me is to get a job offer with an employer who's prepared to get an LMO, particularly in an occupation under pressure. I'm currently a vehicle paint refinisher, and my Wife is a senior manager in re-insurance.

My question is: is it worth actually going over to say, Edmonton/Calgary for example with a view to actually eyeballing some employment agencies and or vehicle dealers (in my case)
We can take a week and leave the kids at home, but if anyone else has done this and consider it a waste of time it'd be worth knowing!

I really can't see otherwise how it's practically possible to get a job offer, even on a TWP.

worth a trip?

There are only three answers:

Yes! Yes! Yes!x

good God Judy that was quick!
thanks for your reply, I thought that would be the case.
If I head to Calgary, I take it there's a fair few agencies. If nothing else it'd be a great little break!!

We came out on three trips before we moved over here. Money well spent.

I disagree. There are at least six answers. The fourth, fifth and sixth are


Yes! Yes! Yes!

Would you buy a car without taking a test drive?

I agree Iain, it's more to try and get a job though, so I can actually drive the car!

I've no doubt the canadian job market works much better with personal contacts, rather than through a long distance email / phone hunt. Go for it.

My OH is also a vehicle paint repairer, but we are based in Ontario.
We are also looking into Alberta to relocate to. We have had lots of job offers, so OH is looking to fly up in april to meet with employers before we decide. We know that some of the companies will help with relocating cost.
good luck to you with what you decide.

We have a saying in my line of work...Time spent on recce is seldom wasted" although more often than not, the reverse is true....

all pretty conclusive. I'll book the flights!
You're all right really, a good eyeballing can't be replaced by a long distance hunt.

After being quoted circa £5000 from a consultant at the Sandown expo last week, just to find a job a couple of airfare tickets is nothing.

Interesting what you say canbritdenise, about loads of offers. A guy I met last week said he visited his Bro in Saskatchewan, who also went over on a PnP, and could have had 10 spraying jobs. Quite encouraging.

We did a week in Caglary and left the kiddos behind. It is hard leaving them but we thought big picture. We only had a short time to do a lot of research and you can't take a 3yr old and 5yr old and get it done dragging the poor bored kids with you. Our two had a ball with the grandparents so they felt like they had a little holiday and we got what we needed.

Hope it all works out good for you. Happy researching.

It's absolutely worthwhile ... almost essential, I'd say. Can you contact anyone before you come out and set up some meetings???

Yes absolutely - look round the area, check out schools, jobs, get yourself in-front of people and network network and network. You can never do to much of this before making the big move

yeah that's what I'm gonna try and do. The more of that I can do the better I think rather than winging it. If I could dare to think I could come back with a job offer I'd be in 7th Heaven. Just the easy part of the paperwork to do then!