Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

What are you fed up with in the UK? What is it you are afraid of losing exactly? And why does Canada solve these problems? If you don't have very specific answers for these questions, I would start there for your year long deliberations.

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

You mention vet techs have much more responsibility in Canada - have you checked to ensure that you have the necessary experience and certifications to claim the Vet Technician title/NOC? Canada is the land of certification, without them you will struggle to obtain work in this field. To use it for your NOC in a permanent residence application, you will need to be doing at least half of the main duties.

https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/Structure/Noc...UPUND34zyFo%3D
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketrepo...ements/4226/ca

https://www.canadianveterinarians.ne...aht-vt-careers
https://rvttcanada.ca/become-a-rvt/

https://oavt.org/internationally-trained-rvts/

These threads may be of use :)

https://britishexpats.com/forum/cana...canada-891935/
https://britishexpats.com/forum/cana...g-help-883069/
https://britishexpats.com/forum/cana...e-help-884363/

There are other job titles / NOC codes that might also work (see below).

https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/Structure/Noc...NGGL5WoScyE%3D
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketrepo...ation/14241/ca

• Veterinary attendant
• Veterinary helper

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

I would echo Christmasoompa and say give it a go. You are young and life should include some adventures. You are also fortunate that you both have jobs where opportunities will exist all over Canada, as opposed to someone whose occupation constrains them to a big city - financial sector for example. You just need to do your research to work out how to convert your UK qualifications into the most useful ones here and it sounds like you have started that. I don't think you are ever safe from housing developments but you can mitigate the risk by choosing location carefully. We moved from the Greater Toronto Area a few years ago about an hour north to a township with two villages and a few hamlets. The villages are due for development and the last thing I read said that over the next few years one will go from a population of just over 500 to 2500 and the other one from 2500 to approx 5500. Our postal address is one of the hamlets, although we are 5km away from it, I think we are reasonably safe for the foreseeable future.

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

I’d take a look at Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Chemainus, BC might fit the bill for you, where it is a sort of “locked in time” seaside town, compared to Parksville for example that has been experiencing a lot of new construction.

Not much inventory anywhere at the moment though due to covid.

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

Great points from Lychee and dbd33 as usual. Echoing CanadaJimmy, Vancouver island might be a fit. Personally, I'm not sure that Canada will fit your bill given your initial concerns and frustrations but YVR Island is at least more laid back. It has a high tsunami risk in the event of an earthquake.

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

So, having read the back-and-forth in your thread up to August 3:
- I'd summarise your *prospects* for the move as quite good, in that both you (immediately) and your husband (potentially with more effort needed on the visa and job-search front) seem to have highly-portable skills, that are useful in any number of out-of-the-way places, 'seaside' or other.
- The mystery from your OP is why you picked "Alberta, Ottawa and Kelowna" as potential settlement targets. Alberta is a province, Ottawa is a major city (in Canadian terms, anyway), and Kelowna is an idyllic, yet expensive part of inland British Columbia which might well be regarded in the same "very busy and over populated" terms that you're attempting to escape...?

Just curious if you have any other factors that you're considering for your move?

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

I think you should do it for the adventure. You're not signing up for a career position in a fixed location and your chances of finding work are about the same anywhere so pick the place that looks like it'll be the most fun. Assuming that is, that either vet techs don't specialize or you deal with small animals; if you're focused on horses, cows or elephants different criteria come into play.

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

I am a Registered Vet Nurse here in the UK. Depending on which province, would depend on whether I would need to become registered with their governing body. So yeah, I am aware of what I need to do. The only extra responsibilities they have are thing that I can do, but we just don't usually do it here in the UK. However, if I did make the decision to go Canada then I would probably get registered with their body anyway because I think its important. Which would require exams.
I have spoken to quite a few people who have been UK vet nurses and moved to Canada and not found an issue since we are very sought after :). Thank you for those links, I will bare them in mind 😊

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

Hiya, thank you for your reply. Can I ask why you think Canada wouldn't be a fit with the information I gave? We plan on booking a holiday at least next year to see how much we like it. We thought of Canada because we know a few people that have moved there and have nothing but great things to say. We love the landscapes and heard the people are nice and great job opportunities. Plus we wouldn't struggle with a language barrier as much as we would elsewhere. X

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

To be honest, I haven't the faintest idea where would be best for us to move. We know we definitely don't want a busy city as find crowds uncomfortable. I had heard ottawa, although a city, felt more like a town? But honestly, this is just Google and fb pages. I think we both just feel fed up, stuck in a rut, family dramas, rude people. We kind of wanted a "new start" or an adventure. The prospect scares me to death, but I don't want to live with regrets! X

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

Haha, whilst elephants would be super fun, I work with small animals and will hold an additional certificate in animal behaviour. At least if we went on an IEC, if it changed our lives to the point where we didn't want to come back, then we would cross that bridge if we came to it. X

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

If you want to be by the ocean and not in the tundra, then your choices are, BC (expensive, damp, population of dull stoners and retirees) NL (cheap, damp, cold, wild drunks with squiddly diddly music) NS (moderate, moderate, moderate, moderate) Qc (need French) NB (just no). Other opinions may differ.

Ottawa is a government town, Even by Canadian standards it's a bit dull. I'd look at Halifax.

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

Thank you for this advice, its good to hear from people who know tbh. I'll have a look at Halifax. We dont have to live by the sea, but thought for the familiar feel it may be nice. We also love the countryside.

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

Perhaps bear in mind that dbd is known to be a little biased when it comes to Canada and has a tendency to be creative in his opinions.. his comments should be taken a little tongue in cheek.

Better to take advice from people who actually live in the areas.. :D

Re: Where to live? Thoughts?
 

Oh, I'm new here so wouldn't have a clue. But he's put Halifax on my radar and I've had a look and doesn't sound too far from what we would be looking for. I'm glad to have gotten some advice from this thread, even if a lot of it has been a bit disheartening.