Regina, Saskatoon or Fort McMurray.
Feb 19th 2013, 6:28 pm
#61
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Almonte, ON
Posts: 1,061
Re: Regina, Saskatoon or Fort McMurray.
oh for sure.
It rains a lot in winter, but summers here are fab. We definitely have true seasons. It is also densely populated, but it doesn't feel like that to me: lots of green space and highrises etc are designed to be surrounded by greenspace, amenities etc so it really doesn't feel like that. There is forest only 10 mins walk from my house and I only live 15 mins drive from downtown vancouver.
It is expensive. Yes. But, again, if you are willing to live in the fraser valley it's not that bad and out there, the weather is less rainy too.
It rains a lot in winter, but summers here are fab. We definitely have true seasons. It is also densely populated, but it doesn't feel like that to me: lots of green space and highrises etc are designed to be surrounded by greenspace, amenities etc so it really doesn't feel like that. There is forest only 10 mins walk from my house and I only live 15 mins drive from downtown vancouver.
It is expensive. Yes. But, again, if you are willing to live in the fraser valley it's not that bad and out there, the weather is less rainy too.
Last edited by ninaDGBCA; Feb 19th 2013 at 6:30 pm.
Feb 19th 2013, 6:30 pm
#62
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,083
Feb 19th 2013, 6:39 pm
#64
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Heritage Valley in Edmonton
Posts: 894
Re: Regina, Saskatoon or Fort McMurray.
I've not read all the thread, just the OP really.
I have lived in Saskatoon and currently I'm living in Edmonton but working on a project in Fort MacMurray that means I live 2 out of every 3 weeks in Fort MacMurray.
Looking at the salary they plan to start you off on, then it would be difficult in Fort MacMurray but not impossible for a single person.
Property here starts around the 500K mark. I'm in a rented apartment in the old town centre, 2 beds and I believe my company pays about $3K a month.
I've never been to Regina, but believe its not too different to Saskatoon. It is nearer to the US and other main cities than Saskatoon.
Saskatoon I found a little isolated, there was a bit of nightlife downtown and one or two areas just outside the Centre like Broadway. No-where is near to visit though, around is all Prarie.
Housing and renting is a lot cheaper, I rented a downtown apartment for just over $1K a month.
To be honest, if I was single though, even though the higher cost, I would be tempted to look at Fort MacMurray and get PR while working there. Once here you maybe able to plead poverty with the company to get more money and once you have PR and a few contacts you could look to move to a better paying company.
A lot of the companies here employ people on shift rotations and the people do not live in Fort MacMurray, the companies tend to fly people to and from their home and they stay in camps etc. The guy I share the apartment with lives on Vancouver Island for example.
So in the end you could live wherever you wanted.
The only thing to be wary about with Fort macMurray is the fact its driven by oil, if the price drops then a lot of work can get cancelled. Also the pipeline to the US, if that is not approved, then again a lot of job losses.
I have lived in Saskatoon and currently I'm living in Edmonton but working on a project in Fort MacMurray that means I live 2 out of every 3 weeks in Fort MacMurray.
Looking at the salary they plan to start you off on, then it would be difficult in Fort MacMurray but not impossible for a single person.
Property here starts around the 500K mark. I'm in a rented apartment in the old town centre, 2 beds and I believe my company pays about $3K a month.
I've never been to Regina, but believe its not too different to Saskatoon. It is nearer to the US and other main cities than Saskatoon.
Saskatoon I found a little isolated, there was a bit of nightlife downtown and one or two areas just outside the Centre like Broadway. No-where is near to visit though, around is all Prarie.
Housing and renting is a lot cheaper, I rented a downtown apartment for just over $1K a month.
To be honest, if I was single though, even though the higher cost, I would be tempted to look at Fort MacMurray and get PR while working there. Once here you maybe able to plead poverty with the company to get more money and once you have PR and a few contacts you could look to move to a better paying company.
A lot of the companies here employ people on shift rotations and the people do not live in Fort MacMurray, the companies tend to fly people to and from their home and they stay in camps etc. The guy I share the apartment with lives on Vancouver Island for example.
So in the end you could live wherever you wanted.
The only thing to be wary about with Fort macMurray is the fact its driven by oil, if the price drops then a lot of work can get cancelled. Also the pipeline to the US, if that is not approved, then again a lot of job losses.
Feb 19th 2013, 6:40 pm
#65
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Feb 19th 2013, 6:41 pm
#66
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,083
But nope. I remember the Ontario summers with nothing but dismay, hot and humid just ain't my thing.
Feb 19th 2013, 6:41 pm
#67
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Heritage Valley in Edmonton
Posts: 894
Re: Regina, Saskatoon or Fort McMurray.
I should say I lived in Manchester as well 
Feb 19th 2013, 6:42 pm
#68
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: Regina, Saskatoon or Fort McMurray.
Feb 19th 2013, 7:02 pm
#69
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Heritage Valley in Edmonton
Posts: 894
Feb 19th 2013, 9:41 pm
#70
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 58
Re: Regina, Saskatoon or Fort McMurray.
PeterF - Thanks a lot for your comments. Presumably, you understand my apprehension a bit more as you have lived in Manchester yourself. A lot of posters on this thread have discounted Fort Mcmurray, but I think you have shed a bit more light on things. How long do you have to live in Canada for to get the PR? Obviously, I will be going on a work permit for a few years, so I will be restricted to one employer. Can you get a PR from having a work permit?
Thanks
Thanks
Feb 19th 2013, 9:50 pm
#71
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,083
Feb 19th 2013, 9:54 pm
#72
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 58
Feb 19th 2013, 9:57 pm
#73
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Posts: 19,866
Re: Regina, Saskatoon or Fort McMurray.
PeterF - Thanks a lot for your comments. Presumably, you understand my apprehension a bit more as you have lived in Manchester yourself. A lot of posters on this thread have discounted Fort Mcmurray, but I think you have shed a bit more light on things. How long do you have to live in Canada for to get the PR? Obviously, I will be going on a work permit for a few years, so I will be restricted to one employer. Can you get a PR from having a work permit?
Thanks
Thanks
Perhaps you should read the following Provincial Nominee Programmes.
http://www.albertacanada.com/immigra...ting/ainp.aspx
http://www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca/
http://www.immigratemanitoba.com/
http://www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/immigrat...out/index.page
They all vary in timeframes and how they administer them.
Yes you can get PR from a TWP through various means the PNP being the easier ones.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp
Wiki is in the blue header box at the top of the page
Feb 19th 2013, 9:58 pm
#74
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,083
Feb 19th 2013, 11:49 pm
#75
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 58
Re: Regina, Saskatoon or Fort McMurray.
Thanks Former Lancastrian- The Saskatchewan PNP indicates that you can be eligible for a PR after 6 months on a TWP. Is that correct? Obviously I will not be leaving my employer after 6 months of relocating to Canada.