recommendations for housing/living in NS
#1
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 9
recommendations for housing/living in NS
Hi All,
I am looking to relocate from the UK to NS Halifax/ Dartmouth area and wanted some advise on nice family friendly areas that are fairly close to ice/leisure facilities for my young boys.
I also work as a Nurse and hoping to work in the local hospitals in or surrounding Haifax. My husband would ideally work as a plumbers mate/ apprentice until he converts to a qualified plumber once he has gained enough experience/ hours/ qualifications etc.
So far I have looked at Bedford, Clayton Park and some of Dartmouth but it is limited to see whats to offer on the web considering that I have not been to NS before.
We were originally looking to re-locate to GTA--Burlington or Milton area as I have been over to visit twice before but the prices are jumping up fairly quickly and we may find ourselves financially restricted until we become established with work etc.
Any advise or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I am looking to relocate from the UK to NS Halifax/ Dartmouth area and wanted some advise on nice family friendly areas that are fairly close to ice/leisure facilities for my young boys.
I also work as a Nurse and hoping to work in the local hospitals in or surrounding Haifax. My husband would ideally work as a plumbers mate/ apprentice until he converts to a qualified plumber once he has gained enough experience/ hours/ qualifications etc.
So far I have looked at Bedford, Clayton Park and some of Dartmouth but it is limited to see whats to offer on the web considering that I have not been to NS before.
We were originally looking to re-locate to GTA--Burlington or Milton area as I have been over to visit twice before but the prices are jumping up fairly quickly and we may find ourselves financially restricted until we become established with work etc.
Any advise or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
#2
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
Your first step should be to find out if you are eligible to get a visa to come to Canada, then to look at where you might be able to get work.
As a nurse, you will have to have your qualifications assessed by one of the nursing associations .......... each province has its own association, so you could first try the NS one. From what other people have posted, it may well be that you will have to some upgrading.
As a nurse, you will have to have your qualifications assessed by one of the nursing associations .......... each province has its own association, so you could first try the NS one. From what other people have posted, it may well be that you will have to some upgrading.
#3
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
Registration as a RN is a long drawn out process regardless on province. Depending on when you did your training will depend on whether you need to do further training or courses. As mentioned you need to get visa sorted and if able come for a visit. Just because jobs are advertised doesn’t mean getting job will be easy. Union is very strong in the nursing profession and people already working in that area will have seniority over you for getting a job so you will more than likely be looking at casual work before part time and full time
#4
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
No comment on the visa or the nursing side (as I simply dont have that expertise) but if that all pans out for you, then from what you have said, and depending on your budget (of course) the south end of Halifax sounds like a great fit for you. Its near to the Halifax hospitals and the Emera oval (free skating rink all winter). Its a very nice area of Halifax indeed although can be pricey.
#5
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Joined: Jun 2018
Location: England
Posts: 97
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
Visa stuff aside...
I'm from Bedford (currently live in UK but working on moving back). I love Bedford, however it is starting to really build up. Lots of condo's/apartments now with more on the way, and the Bedford Highway into Halifax is only one lane each way so you can imagine how busy it gets at rush hour! (However you can jump on the 102 to get to downtown Halifax as well, which will run a bit quicker most of the time). There's two small shopping malls there but they aren't great - one of them especially is pretty bad and has slowly been losing majority of its stores.
Saying that, West Bedford is virtually all new, nice housing, but with that comes slightly higher pricing as well. There's a huge 4-pad state of the art ice arena called the BMO Centre (the likes of MacKinnon and Crosby etc practice there all the time in the summer), and the new C.P Allen High School was built there and opened about 5 years ago I believe. I'm hoping I'll be able to live around there whenever I move back since my parents live there and I'm willing to put up with the traffic ha.
Clayton Park is just 10 mins down the road and is closer to the Canada Games centre which has a massive pool/slides, running track, courts, outdoor fields, so a great place for family stuff. Bayers Lake is also right by there where there's shopping and restaurants. I only ever drive through there so not much info on the top of my head about housing/schools, but it's a decent area.
Dartmouth is a hit or miss place. North Dartmouth is a place to avoid, lots of crime. I know there's some nice neighbourhoods but unfortunately I can't name exactly where as I rarely spend time over there. They've also built one of the 4-pad arenas there that's just recently opened in the past year or so which is very nice. There's a place called Dartmouth Crossing which has great shopping/restaurants and a brand new Ikea. The downside to living in Dartmouth is if you work in Halifax, you have the joy of having to cross the bridges every day to and from work. They're often very busy, closed due to high winds or construction, or other issues. For that reason alone I would not want to live on one side and work on the other (one of them was closed for nearly two years recently I think for construction). Plus it's another daily cost.
South End of Halifax is another place I'd recommend but it's another spot where you'll definitely be forking out a bit more for housing.
Good luck!
I'm from Bedford (currently live in UK but working on moving back). I love Bedford, however it is starting to really build up. Lots of condo's/apartments now with more on the way, and the Bedford Highway into Halifax is only one lane each way so you can imagine how busy it gets at rush hour! (However you can jump on the 102 to get to downtown Halifax as well, which will run a bit quicker most of the time). There's two small shopping malls there but they aren't great - one of them especially is pretty bad and has slowly been losing majority of its stores.
Saying that, West Bedford is virtually all new, nice housing, but with that comes slightly higher pricing as well. There's a huge 4-pad state of the art ice arena called the BMO Centre (the likes of MacKinnon and Crosby etc practice there all the time in the summer), and the new C.P Allen High School was built there and opened about 5 years ago I believe. I'm hoping I'll be able to live around there whenever I move back since my parents live there and I'm willing to put up with the traffic ha.
Clayton Park is just 10 mins down the road and is closer to the Canada Games centre which has a massive pool/slides, running track, courts, outdoor fields, so a great place for family stuff. Bayers Lake is also right by there where there's shopping and restaurants. I only ever drive through there so not much info on the top of my head about housing/schools, but it's a decent area.
Dartmouth is a hit or miss place. North Dartmouth is a place to avoid, lots of crime. I know there's some nice neighbourhoods but unfortunately I can't name exactly where as I rarely spend time over there. They've also built one of the 4-pad arenas there that's just recently opened in the past year or so which is very nice. There's a place called Dartmouth Crossing which has great shopping/restaurants and a brand new Ikea. The downside to living in Dartmouth is if you work in Halifax, you have the joy of having to cross the bridges every day to and from work. They're often very busy, closed due to high winds or construction, or other issues. For that reason alone I would not want to live on one side and work on the other (one of them was closed for nearly two years recently I think for construction). Plus it's another daily cost.
South End of Halifax is another place I'd recommend but it's another spot where you'll definitely be forking out a bit more for housing.
Good luck!
Last edited by glb19; Aug 21st 2018 at 2:57 pm.
#6
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Joined: Sep 2017
Location: Halifax, NS
Posts: 345
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
I live in Clayton Park and I would sum it up as convenient and not much more. Some great running / walking trails, close to the 102 and Bayer's Lake, other smaller shopping plaza's and a non-NSLC boozer. It is a typical, beige, family area, and pretty good value for accommodation. But it is boring as hell.. no soul, and a definite requirement for a car. They recently changed the bus service, which took an hour (!!!) into Halifax in the first place (ironically, you could be in downtown Dartmouth quicker). Now it is much worse as you have to go via Lacewood Terminal.
So, if you want room, convenience, and not much other than a nice, quiet place to live, it could fit the bill. If you like walking to a pub for a swift one, or a non-chain cafe, forget it.
So, if you want room, convenience, and not much other than a nice, quiet place to live, it could fit the bill. If you like walking to a pub for a swift one, or a non-chain cafe, forget it.
#7
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Joined: Feb 2013
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Posts: 3,874
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
Areas of Clayton Park had a very bad reputation ca 10 years ago ....... has that improved?
Don't forget the ferries ............... you can very easily live in Dartmouth and work in Halifax if you forego using the car. The bus services are reliable, or you can walk, to the ferry terminal in Dartmouth, a lovely 10-15 minute ferry ride, then walk or take a bus to where you work in Halifax.
Saves one heck of a lot of money on tolls on the bridge and parking fees.
Don't forget the ferries ............... you can very easily live in Dartmouth and work in Halifax if you forego using the car. The bus services are reliable, or you can walk, to the ferry terminal in Dartmouth, a lovely 10-15 minute ferry ride, then walk or take a bus to where you work in Halifax.
Saves one heck of a lot of money on tolls on the bridge and parking fees.
#8
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Joined: Sep 2017
Location: Halifax, NS
Posts: 345
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
#9
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Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
I did ask "if that had improved" as it was about 10 years ago that we were told that.
Did you know Clayton Park back then????
Did you know Clayton Park back then????
#10
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Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
This is quite cool - you can choose the year using the dropdown to the top right (years) and then watch the graphic change as the months go past.
http://www.crimeheatmap.ca/
http://www.crimeheatmap.ca/
#12
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Location: between Calgary alberta and sunny doncaster
Posts: 446
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
me and the wife currently in calgary looking at heading to scotia too. i switched from plumbing to class 1 driving, i would recommend it. worked out for me in alberda. no hassle plenty of work in maritimes for it too, you just may struggle to find a decent company to take a new driver.
because trucking is so plentiful we have the ability to look pretty much where ever we like, your fella may have to work away in week or maybe drive in states for a year or two. were looking for a quiet life with a bit of land so we headed away from city but like to be close enough so when my daughter grows up she can have a nightlife in town bars wi her mates. al so i like a tipple now n then. planning a fact fiding missin in winter to see where we like the best, 80 grand for a mortgage in east compared to 350 or 400 grand in calgary, no brainer for me. we looked at pugwash and amhurst, springhill and so on, but also south shore lunenberg county.
because trucking is so plentiful we have the ability to look pretty much where ever we like, your fella may have to work away in week or maybe drive in states for a year or two. were looking for a quiet life with a bit of land so we headed away from city but like to be close enough so when my daughter grows up she can have a nightlife in town bars wi her mates. al so i like a tipple now n then. planning a fact fiding missin in winter to see where we like the best, 80 grand for a mortgage in east compared to 350 or 400 grand in calgary, no brainer for me. we looked at pugwash and amhurst, springhill and so on, but also south shore lunenberg county.
#13
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Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
me and the wife currently in calgary looking at heading to scotia too. i switched from plumbing to class 1 driving, i would recommend it. worked out for me in alberda. no hassle plenty of work in maritimes for it too, you just may struggle to find a decent company to take a new driver.
because trucking is so plentiful we have the ability to look pretty much where ever we like, your fella may have to work away in week or maybe drive in states for a year or two. were looking for a quiet life with a bit of land so we headed away from city but like to be close enough so when my daughter grows up she can have a nightlife in town bars wi her mates. al so i like a tipple now n then. planning a fact fiding missin in winter to see where we like the best, 80 grand for a mortgage in east compared to 350 or 400 grand in calgary, no brainer for me. we looked at pugwash and amhurst, springhill and so on, but also south shore lunenberg county.
because trucking is so plentiful we have the ability to look pretty much where ever we like, your fella may have to work away in week or maybe drive in states for a year or two. were looking for a quiet life with a bit of land so we headed away from city but like to be close enough so when my daughter grows up she can have a nightlife in town bars wi her mates. al so i like a tipple now n then. planning a fact fiding missin in winter to see where we like the best, 80 grand for a mortgage in east compared to 350 or 400 grand in calgary, no brainer for me. we looked at pugwash and amhurst, springhill and so on, but also south shore lunenberg county.
#14
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Location: between Calgary alberta and sunny doncaster
Posts: 446
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
I doubt they do "alot" more hours, in the oil field i was one if a handful of guys who even followed hours of service, 15 16 hour days is common fracking up north. I took the best job I've had yet and it's still 12 hours for 5 days a week and ten hours for the 6th at times. Driving In states is 10 hours I believe way better than Alberta. Also we are not moving for excitement just so she is close enough for a drink with pals not mental every weekend like back home. I have a good 16 years before I when to worry about that anyway. Less pay? 70 grand mortgage or 300 grand mortgage? Being paid less doesn't matter if I have lower out goings surely.
I spent my holidays on east coast of Yorkshire I know how quiet old fishing villages are and the problems on social side I've lived around my fair share in sunny Doncaster. Nova Scotia still seems like a more laid back pace of life.
I mean you are still living there so how bad can it be
I spent my holidays on east coast of Yorkshire I know how quiet old fishing villages are and the problems on social side I've lived around my fair share in sunny Doncaster. Nova Scotia still seems like a more laid back pace of life.
I mean you are still living there so how bad can it be
#15
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Posts: 0
Re: recommendations for housing/living in NS
I doubt they do "alot" more hours, in the oil field i was one if a handful of guys who even followed hours of service, 15 16 hour days is common fracking up north. I took the best job I've had yet and it's still 12 hours for 5 days a week and ten hours for the 6th at times. Driving In states is 10 hours I believe way better than Alberta. Also we are not moving for excitement just so she is close enough for a drink with pals not mental every weekend like back home. I have a good 16 years before I when to worry about that anyway. Less pay? 70 grand mortgage or 300 grand mortgage? Being paid less doesn't matter if I have lower out goings surely.
I spent my holidays on east coast of Yorkshire I know how quiet old fishing villages are and the problems on social side I've lived around my fair share in sunny Doncaster. Nova Scotia still seems like a more laid back pace of life.
I mean you are still living there so how bad can it be
I spent my holidays on east coast of Yorkshire I know how quiet old fishing villages are and the problems on social side I've lived around my fair share in sunny Doncaster. Nova Scotia still seems like a more laid back pace of life.
I mean you are still living there so how bad can it be
I am only responding to what you posted regarding your daughter and nightlife, entertainment etc, Its simply non existent in the places that you mentioned. I would strongly recommend that if you are heading for NS then be in close proximity to Halifax as that is the only area that will afford you reasonable opportunities and entertainment for your family. Halifax is good for a meal or a night out.
I still live here for another 4 days before I move to ON. I can honestly say that there is'nt a single thing that I will miss about the place after 8 1 /2 years. Just some friends and family. I have been here far longer than I wanted to be as a result of circumstances. Some beyond my control and some poor choices that I made. The latest of which was taking 14 months to sell my house. Bought 3 bed 1 1/2 bath in good area. I finished the basement, added a legal 4th bed and another bath. Sold the now 4 bed 2 1/2 bath for less than I paid for it 4 years ago.
Dont get me wrong mate I am not just trying to be negative or wee in your cornflakes. I am just trying to give you an honest picture of what the transport industry and life is like here. I am more than happy to help if you have any questions about transport industry and companies here.