Neither! Have a read of the Job Hunting section of the Wiki to understand how different the hiring culture in Canada is, that will give you a good strategy.

Good luck.

There aren't very many space rocket and plane manufacturers in Canada. Since you're in the industry you can probably make a complete list; CAE, Bombardier and the arm people spring to mind. I'd try those firms first. If they say no try and get them to tell you which firms supply them, they'll be your second list.

I seen the jobs on this site:

https://workingin-events.com/events/...arch-2016/#s=1

I've been to both 'workingin' and 'CanadaLive' events twice. Don't bother, all you'll see at workingin are these jobs printed on paper, nobody to talk to about them. CanadaLive is similar, but worse. Both are terrible, I complained and got a refund.

From research and reading the Wiki, you really need to be in Canada to get a job unless you're super qualified and exactly what they want or you get an intra-company transfer. The Irving Shipbuilding one Irving Shipbuilding: Home was pretty unique as they were struggling for people so started looking in the UK... but by started looking I mean they just posted the job on workingin so you'd have to contact them.

The type of welding you do is similar to the level possessed by people in the organisation I'm currently contracted to. I'm sure you'd be able to turn your hand to any industry.

Good luck, keep us informed how you get on

I'll keep an eye on that page, been trawling the internet looking for places that specifically advertise for overseas but pretty hard to come by.

It would be much easier to get to Canada then find a job but the uncertainty scares me. We could save up hard for a while to cover while I'm over there but if I don't find anything after a few months it's back to square one and I'd have to find work when I got back. Unfortunately the gf doesn't make enough to sustain us both. I'll keep looking though, sending emails and waiting. There will be a time when there aren't enough welders anywhere, not just in Canada. I can see it happening already our firm are struggling to find people but that's probably down to the awful pay

Nobody is suggesting that you move out there for a few months, just a 2 week job hunting trip should do it, so not giving up your UK job etc. There's info in the Wiki about how to plan a trip to meet potential employers, that should help.

Good luck.

SeaSpan in North Vancouver has got another part of the ship building government contract that Irving is doing, and is supposed to be expanding its work force.

Be warned though .......... I understand that one part of those contracts is that Canadians (citizens and residents) should be hired first.

I don't know whether they would be willing to go through the process of proving there are not enough welders or whatever here in order to hire someone from overseas.

That's why it's easier to get jobs from inside Canada

Do you have an idea of where in Canada you want to go (sorry if you have said this and missed it)? The reasons I ask is that with an open work permit (via IEC)you could work anywhere so could get a job unrelated to your skills initially whilst you find something better. Locations is important as Vancouver and Toronto are more geared towards this due to the tourist market.

Somewhere out in the sticks! I'm not a city person or even a big town person really but ultimately it will be wherever there is plenty of good welding fabrication work. Good idea on getting any old job to start, even if I went to a city where it's easier to get any type of work and then I can move to wherever if I got a job offer.

I think I'm going to wait for a bit until work picks up then go on an open visa and will have a pretty sizable lump in savings

https://www.sitecproject.com/

This is rural, I'd imagine there must be plenty of site fabrication required.

if the actually work goes ahead. I believe the province has only announced consultant level work at this stage and there is some huge opposition by NGO's to the Site C project.