SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

We moved from England to Nova Scotia a couple of years back, then last February moved to Iroquois Falls in northern Ontario.
We may have a chance to move to Saskatoon with work in the iminent future and we've never been there.

So my question is - would ya?? :huh:

Cheers.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Hell no :eek:

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Pour qoi?? :huh:

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Do you have the chance to work anywhere else? :fingerscrossed:

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Nice to see the Prairie bashers emerging :lol:
To some its like asking would you move from London to Liverpool sort of thing.
Just be thankful you didnt say Regina:ohmy:
There are lots of places worse than Saskatoon.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

The weather and seclusion is enough to put me off. Crime statistics would also come into it since it ranks near the top of the list across the country.

A client of mine had their offices moved from Vancouver to Saskatoon because the new CEO wanted it closer to where he lived. Over 90% of the staff refused so I guess that's good for the local employment in Saskatoon :thumbup:

A good friend works for the same company and decided to give it ago. She said she'll stick it out until she finishes her MBA then she's out of there.

To each his own though.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

That's true. Someone broke into my girlfriend's car about ten years ago, and someone stole a neighbour's bike back in 2007.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

+1

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

How many saying No have actually been to Saskatoon?

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

My sons bike was stolen in 1996. Sounds like a ghetto.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

My work requires me to go to different places, usually for a year or two. If you go with the right attitude, you can find something to enjoy anywhere. Some places are great, some are unexpectedly good, and some you might not care to rush back to, but at least you now know that for yourself.

It's better to know that you've experienced a variety of lifestyles first-hand than to wake up one morning and realise that your life is exactly the same as it was 10 years ago.

Would I emigrate to Saskatoon? "Hell, no". Would I go for a year or so? Why the hell not?

I've no idea what Iroquois Falls in Northern Ontario is like, but it sounds like a reasonable place to move on from. ;)

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

What is it genuinely like to live there?

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

+2

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

No....was there for a week....crap, small isolated city. Bit better than regina though where I lived for 6 months.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Two big factors? Will the potential job pay significantly more and how do the house prices compare?

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

+1 and to add does the job appear to be more secure regarding getting laid off etc depending on industry you are in.

Ive visited Saskatoon many times and as a city there is nothing wrong with it. Most prairie cities seem to have a reputation of high crime rates but it is usually isolated to certain areas and within certain ethnic demographics in some cases.
Saskatoon has had a bit of a boom over the last few years so house prices have risen but still less than Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton & Toronto.
Would I live there by choice the answer is No would I live there if I had to then Yes and that also applies to the other cities mentioned and others not mentioned.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

I'm saying the crime statistics would be a factor. Perception is pretty much everything in this context.

That's not the question the OP asked to quantify valid replies.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Did. :thumbup:

Started out in QC (Japanese company - shite management style) left for a job in ON for a company owned by a US finance group who closed the doors in the early part of the recession. Moved to a new job in Saskatoon in 2009 and have not regretted it one bit.

It's a great small city, the people are really friendly and if I had to do it again would not change a thing.

If you're into the great outdoors stuff the its the place for you. If however you hanker for the big city bright lights stuff, pick somewhere else.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

So what? The OP presumably wants informed responses- not replies from people who have never been there.
If you've never been to Saskatoon, or even Saskatchewan, how can you have an opinion on what it's like to live there?

I see similar responses when people mention cities like Moncton etc. If you've never been there, how can you comment?
The fact is, you're no better placed to comment than the OP.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

I actually agree with Former Lancastrian and Jings. Choose to? No way. But do it for a year or two? Why not? Let's be honest, it's got a heck of a lot more to it than Iroquois Falls.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

It's a small city that's starting to become a larger one; the local paper was claiming it could double in size over the next decade or two if the commodity boom continues. That means that the infrastructure is struggling to cope with all the new arrivals and it isn't helped by the road works that are being carried out to try to improve them. I can normally drive to work in ten minutes, but last night there was a huge traffic jam blocking the ring road; going the other way, a breakdown or crash on the university bridge can grid-lock most of the city.

Crime is really a non-issue unless you live in one of the areas where drug gangs hang out. I looked on the Saskatoon police site and there were a handful of crimes in our housing development last month, most or all of which appeared to be people stealing construction supplies from the building sites. There was a shoot-out a couple of miles away a few months back, but otherwise most violence seem to consist of drunks stabbing each other.

We'll probably move to Edmonton one day as my girlfriend's parents still live there, but Saskatoon is no worse than any country town I've lived in the UK.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

So you disagree that the weather, isolation, and its often highest rank in the crime stats would make people think twice? Even though I've not lived there I can form an opinion as to whether it's my cup of tea. It's not and I gave the OP those reasons as he asked. There are more.

Experience and perception can be very different and the latter is often much more prevalent in choice these days. This forum shows that.

Wording is also everything on a public internet forum. If they wanted experienced posters only then say so. That way they don't need your forum policing.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

You have shoot outs and stabbings in the country towns you've lived in back in the Uk ?!?!?

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

None that I was involved in. None here that I've been involved in either. A quick web search found several reports of stabbings in the town where I grew up in the UK over the last few years, and so far we haven't had anyone walking down the street firing an AK-47, as happened near a friend's house in the UK.

If Saskatoon's murder rate worries you then you should stay in the UK, because Canada's is substantially higher than Britain's. But from the news reports I've seen, it's unlikely to affect you here unless you get involved with drug gangs or like to get drunk and pick fights.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Doesnt worry me dude I'm not moving there. I was curious which country towns you were referring to as it didn't sound like the ones I lived in durin my time in the Cotswolds.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

We moved here just over a year ago and I can honestly say that the crime is no worse than anywhere in England, and as others have already stated unless you are into drugs and crime yourself it will never effect you - Murders always seem to be family arguments gone wrong, most often natives and again they tend to live in certain areas.

The economy is booming in Saskatchewan with Mining in the forefront! As a province we currently have more jobs vacant than there are people to fill them and the pay is equal if not higher than some other provinces. House prices are average, especially if you buy in one of the satellite town/cities which are within 15 mins of the city.

I can think of worse places to live and to be honest I would rather live here than anywhere I could chose in the UK!!

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

I asked a very simple question- how many of those saying No have actually been to Saskatoon.

No attempt at forum policing- just trying to show the OP to take what they read on here with a pinch of salt.
Clearly, despite what YOU might think of a city you've never been to, the nearly 300,000 who live and work there, have a different opinion.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

:D Usual suspects knocking Western Canada again :zzz: I wouldn't choose to live there but work there most weeks,it's a thriving city with stacks of work.
Regards the crime "statistics",easy answer,bomb the small area between 22nd street and Avenue P,no more crime :D.Stats Canada who come out with all this rubbish say Victoria BC is the most violent city in Canada,work that one out ??

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

If We only take the opinion of those who choose to live somewhere, the replies would be A tad biased.

So do you disagree that people can cite the isolation, weather, and crime stats as reasons for not wanting to live somewhere even though they've not visited? Or do you believe it's not valid unless they physically go to a place?

I can firmly say I would not want to live in Siberia even though I've never been. I have reasons for that too which are equally as valid.

The OP didn't specifically ask for experienced reasons only.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

How about the opinion of people who have actually visited then? Dont you agree that would help the OP more than an ignorant opinion?

You keep mentioning the weather / crime / isolation. If you want to help the OP, why not tell him what it is about the weather that you dont think you'll like. The winter, maybe? The summer? And as for the isolation- what does that even mean? Isolated from where? Is it any more isolated than say, Fredericton, or Winnipeg?
Why not try to be at least a little helpful?

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Since you're being no help with your lack of insight other than forum policing, here goes:

Weather - winter in Saskatoon is far too cold for me with average lows in negative double digits. Statistically it has more wind than I would care to live with.

Crime - statistically Saskatoon is rated one of the worst cities in the country for crime. Last year it was reported that you're more likely to be assaulted over any other city in Canada. Crime in the area is way higher than the national average. That alone puts me off. Perception is a huge factor and as we see on this forum, it can often outweigh experience.

Isolation - its nowhere near the ocean, of which I love. It doesn't appear to have direct flights to the UK which is important for me and my family. The travel time is far too off putting. It's also too far away from other holiday destinations I like to visit, and/or doesn't have direct access to them. That makes holidays very difficult for me.

My friend who lives there mentioned drug use is high and Saskatchewan has the highest rate of HIV in Canada. That again is something that would make me want to research more even though I'd no doubt not be affected. Perception perception perception.

The lack of decent snowboarding is also a factor, as is the seeming lack of cultural and racial diversity.

I admit some of my perceptions could be outdated or incorrect but I tried to stick with the BritishExpats tried and tested way of crossing areas off a list.

Hope my own opinions help the OP somewhat.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

That emmerdale farm place looks a bit hairy......

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

I've a friend who lives in Saskatoon. Visited her once too for a week. In winter.

Boy oh boy, it was cold. Not terribly so - but it was whole different 'cold' to me at -20 odd than obviously I'd ever been used to in the U.K.

Decisions she'd have to make are little things like if it reaches -xx (forget the number) - it's time to make sure the heater is connected and on for the starter motor or something.

It felt like a city plonked in the middle of nowhere to me. Didn't seem bad, but maybe wouldn't be my first choice.

I guess it depends on your needs and desires and which one is heavier on the scales so to speak.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Having lived in Southern Ontario (Waterloo) and Saskatoon, I have something to compare against. Colder? perhaps on average but -10 or -20 to me are both the same, bloody cold, I have to wrap up with both, I never noticed any difference. If anything the winter lasts slightly longer in Saskatoon, as it does here in Edmonton, than it did in Waterloo. In Waterloo I experienced more snow, although both were white all winter, it was far deeper in Waterloo.

Wind ??? hmmm, never noticed a difference.

The summer is noticeably hotter in Waterloo, at the peak very uncomfortable.

Never seen any violence, although as some posters said, there are some rough areas, which quite simply you avoid going to. Most trouble was gang related in those ares. I lived near the City Centre in Saskatoon, never saw any trouble at all. Waterloo was also trouble free although I never felt comfortable in Kitchener Centre.

This part is true and one of the reasons I moved away, too far from anywhere of interest and the shopping is limited (more for the wife that one).

Probably true, although I never met anyone one drugs, nor was I offered any and I didn't see signs of drugs used. Again, I suspect a lot of this type of thing would be within the areas that you would avoid (areas of which you have in every City). When I was going to live in Vancouver, I was told the areas to avoid where the drug gangs roamed.


I agree with the other posters, your help to the OP is virtually non-existent, I personally wouldn't presume the gall to offer information on something I know nothing about. You say you base your views on statistical data, well there's lies, damn lies and then there's statistics.

In reality Saskatoon is a pleasant enough City, about the size of a Northampton, with a real City Centre and a bit of a nightlife there. Its growing and as someone mentioned, they are struggling to keep up. All in all its not too different than other Canadian Cities, if the statistical data puts you off, then really it shouldn't. If there's work there, then I would go there and make up your own mind, there are plenty of people there who love the place.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

So you disagree with the reasons i choose not to live there?

Do disagree that the OP didn't specifically ask for only experienced opinions as to why people would or would not move to Saskatoon?

Do you also disagree that a persons reasons for not choosing to live somewhere is valid even though they have not visited the place?

I gave the OP my reasons for not choosing to live in Saskatoon. My wife has been given options to work around Canada and Saskatoon was one of them. As was Edmonton, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal. We have valid reasons for not choosing any of them, even though we've not visited all of them.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Nope, I wouldn't. Saskatoon has absolutely nothing of what matters to me in a city so I wouldn't do it long term.

I'd do it for a year though. I'd even live in the 'Peg for a year. Or Nunavut. Or Yellowknife. It would be an adventure but there would HAVE to be an end date.

FWIW I work with a lot of people from prairie cities and, bar, maybe, Calgary, none of them want to go back. We do a lot of project work in different areas and living in the prairies is something you have to suck up for your career, not something enjoyable.

And compared to Vancouver Sk winters are freaking cold. End of.

And now I'm going to wait patiently for jericho to tell me I'm not allowed to have an opinion as I've never lived there, haha

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

richo, I'd normally agree 100%, but you're in Vancouver while the OP is in Iroquois Falls. Have you bothered to google that? Saskatoon has no threats after Iroquois Falls.

And to pacify PeterF, I have been there, if only once.

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

:rofl:

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

Good point. Just googled it and...........holy shit :ohmy:

Of the two, i retract everything i've written and would head to Saskatoon* :thumbup:















*for the kids

Re: SASKATOON - Would ya??
 

We live just outside Saskatoon in Martensville, and love the area Saskatoon in the fastest growing economy in Canada six years running, there is not much you cant get here we have some fantastic facilities the arts and convention centre brings in acts from across the world. Yes we have lousy roads lots of pot holes but we also have some of the most extremes of weather in the world. Traffic is alot better than the larger cities I love that my commute is only 20 minutes to downtown, there are many beautiful area's I suspect people who slate the city haven't actually lived here long, though everyone has differing opinions on what is good.