JonboyE

Unfortunately, you need trade qualifications for the PNP.

Tangram

And isn't there a restiction on trades etc with work permit LMO's ? And skilled worker application too ?

---mlm---

i suppose the only good thing is that he has his hgv licence also, so if nothing comes off with the painting then he can always try with the driving??

---mlm---

Until we go out in jan, i suppose i can't really say whether i am mentally committed. I think so but until i've seen what it's like, you know i have a picture in my mind what its like but we'll see. Probably nothin like it

---mlm---

Thanks we are going to the immigration show, hopefully come back with a bit more of a clearer view of what, where & how long etc.

TinaH

phew! glad you are, and hope you get lots of info and a better idea of which direction you can go in!

Good luck to you

moondevil

Should be a good day

We are heading off to the show, just to have a look, we have already decided on location etc etc, but doesnt harm to check out the stuff

Gill

ladymoose

When you go to the show - try to talk to the various provincial reps that will be there. That way you'll get a good feel of which province wants what type of immigrant etc. They also have different schemes to get you there - some Provinces have more ways to get you there than others.

Also (a tip from bitter experience!) if you have a choice - don't take the kids if you can possibly find a babysitter - the shows get packed, with lots of queues and not really very much for younger kids to do accept get under everyone's feet. We did this ... we know!

moondevil

thanks for that, we are dropping our 3 at a friends

Afull day without the kids
Will post and let people know what we thought ..thanks for the advise

gill

---mlm---

Thanks for that! Whats it like where you live?

ladymoose

Hi mlm - we're on a rural acreage just outside 2 fairly large towns (Stony Plain/Spruce Grove (actually a small city)) in Alberta. We're also only 20 minutes from the west side of Edmonton. So there are lots of opportunities for jobs, activities for kids etc.

Schools are good, though the teachers are generally restless in this part of AB and our lot held a strike last Spring for 8 weeks which was pretty worrying.

Our son is in French Immersion which I think is a great idea for some kids (not all) and am happy to talk about our experience of that if you're interested for your 5 yr old.

Overall, weather is good - lots of sunshine even in the deepest winter days with snow on the ground. In 3 winters, last year was the worst for snow (2 snowdays off school) but this summer was great with the whole of July it seemed being +30ish.

We are 3.5 hrs from the mountains and Jasper which is beautiful but we're also pretty close to the northern lakes and parks which are lovely. There's quite a few lakes around here too - big enough to waterski on or ice-fish on in the winter.

The landscape around here is a mixture of rolling hills and flatish fields but not anywhere near as flat as the real prairie areas down to the south east. Lots of farms - animal and grain. Lots of rural subdivisions - like big estates with far fewer houses on big plots eg our house is on 4 acres and in a subdivision of around 20 others.

Overall we're very happy here - gives us the right mix of rural life with the city access we were after, and also gives us neighbours close by.

---mlm---

Hi Ladymoose, Thanks for that, we have thought about living in edmonton and wonder what this is like. It would be great if you could tell us about your French immersion experience? Not that i know what that is??? It is so confusing and frustrating looking at all these lovely places and trying to pick somewhere to concentrate on. Maybe Jan things will be clearer. Thanks again

Amber and Chris

Truckers are in demand in Saskatchewan. There are a large number of Brits based in Saskatoon who are drivers. I dont know about companies or anything - sorry - I just know I met lots of Brits in Saskatchwan and they were all truck drivers!

Saskatoon is one of Canada's best kept secrets for immigrants I think.(I lived there for 3 years and miss it!) I met one Brit there who had been there 30 years who said, "if British people knew about this place, we'd be inundated". It is very cheap for living costs. Easy to get around, good amenities, good schools. French immersion is available, and if you are English parents who don't speak French, they have special meetings and parents' evenings to include you and help you out.

The library system in S'toon is second to none and is something like the "second-most-used library system in the world" (!) As it is so cold in winter, there are realy good indoor sports facilities and pools.

It's 250,000 for population; manageable, but enough of a city to have good facilities. Also is a university town with attendant benefits.

It's very socialist with good unions. This also means your utilities and car insurance are way cheaper than other provinces - you get phone, internet, utils and insurance from the government provider. One choice - less time on the phone comparing prices. This is a _major_ factor on your lifestyle; when we moved away we realised how lucky we were - absolutely no worry about the cost of those bills - the prices are laughable now we are elsewhere in the real world and paying private companies' prices! You can "live well on much less" in Saskatchewan, allowing for saving much more easily, having treats, eating out - whatever you like to spend on.

Drawbacks: It isn't a greatly cultural place like eg places in Ontario, for things like theatres, galleries etc, though this is changing a bit. The cultural heritage of its people is quite homogenous - white european. It is far from everywhere - it's six hours to Edmonton, which is basically just Big Saskatoon. Thought Regina is quite close by Canadian standards. The secenery is unchanging and you are far from the sea.

If you go in January, you will step off the plane, take one breath, and step back on it. Saskatchewan is bone-crackingly cold in winter. Sometimes there will be days when the kids can't go outside to play. You can boil a kettle, take it outside, throw the boiling water in the air and it freezes. HOWEVER there is good central heating even in rental apartments, and everywhere is double glazed. There are probably only a couple of weeks in winter when you really don;t want to go outside. Other times you just wrap up for it, or take the car. We lived there without a car, so it can be done!

Just wanted to put in for Saskatchewan, as most people wouldn't even consider it becuse they haven't really heard of it.

Amber and Chris

...o, and Saskatchewan is one of the sunniest places on earth! Blue skies and bright sunshine! Cheers you up even in the depths of winter!

sas-lou

Hi mlm..

Im in the same boat, with 2 boys of 12 and 10, have got to be able to find a decent school, in a nice city.
Wikipedia is great for info on cities, but then im just offered to much info.
I am narrowing it down to Ontario, but as i work in banking, i need to find employment in a processing centre (wiki doesnt give me that info unfortunately), so im just stuck in a rut.
I love ottawa (even if it is slightly bland and boring), but hubby says as i dont do french, my chances are not good for employment.
I think i might try and email some bank and take it from there.
Good luck in your quest.