Hi there - couldn't find any relevant search results so just wondering if anyone has been to North Battleford or the surrounding are in Sask ? We're looking for a move, possibly in this direction - just wondered what impressions were about the town, surrounding countryside, possibly family home location.

Thanks very much

Ladymoose you are gonig to think this is a crazy reply, but I did talk to someone on here before from North Battleford but it was a few months ago and I dont remember who.

I will try to locate them for you

martin60 moved to North Battleford SK.

Stevie Wevie to the rescue again

You're going to Saskatchewan now???

Thanks for the reply - I'll PM him if he's around - don't remember that id from recently.

Gavin - who knows??? The world is our oyster - well a Canadian oyster anyway!

We want cheapish house and land (or build), rural, FI school, access to Edmonton a couple of times a month for short term (until hubby can ditch the job) - access to reasonable size centre (Stony-sized) for weekly shop - access to larger centre for monthly shops and bigger purchases and entertainment for sproglet - ideally a university town (obviously no pressure on said child of course ) Oh - yeah and hubby wants rolling land with some trees if possible with nearby fishable water source, ATV and skidoo trails.

On paper, the Battlefords fits the bill - but I'm open to other suggestions

Oh well - I've pm'd and emailed so hopefully he might turn up.

Thanks again for the heads-up

Hi Sue have pm'd you

martin

Hi Martin - thanks for your messages

Just wondered about the Battlefords area as a potential place to set up a home with my hubby and young son (8).

We've been in AB for 3 years but are considering a move to Sask to see if we can better find the lifestyle we're looking for. We haven't seen a house as yet (though there is one farm listed that looks good though rather pricey) but I'm trying to do some research on a few different places and than hope to visit fairly shortly.

I listed the sort of things I'd like to know about in the thread above:

"We want cheapish house and land (or build), rural, FI school, access to Edmonton a couple of times a month for short term (until hubby can ditch the job) - access to reasonable size centre (Stony-sized) for weekly shop - access to larger centre for monthly shops and bigger purchases and entertainment for sproglet - ideally a university town (obviously no pressure on said child of course ) Oh - yeah and hubby wants rolling land with some trees if possible with nearby fishable water source, ATV and skidoo trails".

But would also be interested in learning how settled you feel there, how your family is fitting in, getting on with the locals etc? Are there enough things to do? I like the location cos everything seems to be in reach - ie Saskatoon, Lloydminster, Edmonton when you need them - but far enough away the rest of the time that you can forget about the rat race.

Anyway, any info you can give would be very helpful - and decided to post my questions and your answers in the thread in case it helps others too.

Thanks again

You see I keep telling everyone that Sask is a lovely Province...don't knock it till you've tried it and all that

Hi Alvic - yep I think the secret is getting out!

I've fancied Saskatchewan from the day when I was 21 and having a really bad day at college and feeling against the world in general (there may have been a little alcohol involved ) that I opened up the atlas randomly and stuck my finger on the page with my eyes shut - landed bang on central Sask! Hadn't even heard of it before then and had no thoughts of moving to Canada - xxx years later - I'm here!

This is not, may I add, the only reason we are now considering the move :rofl Our neighbours are originally from Weyburn, they are very friendly people who have gone out of their way to help us since we've arrived. Given us a really good impression of the people in Sask - as have other ex-Sask residents we've met in AB.

Our neighbours are also thinking of returning and have offered to go halves on a piece of land down there with us. We are not so keen on the landscape and climate of the south (I'm really not good in too much heat in the summer) but its made us consider the province more seriously.

From the tone of your posts, you're happy there I presume?

Fishing, ATV and skidoo trails, what more could you want, that'd be great. Not having kids (yet) I was wondering what the benefits of a FI school are, apart from teaching them how to converse French of course, do they get more funding etc, is the tuition better?

Not having kids (yet) I was wondering what the benefits of a FI school are, apart from teaching them how to converse French of course, do they get more funding etc, is the tuition better?

No to more funding or better tuition - though in the Stony school K attends the FI teaching is generally thought of as the better option. If you want your child to learn in the english stream, there are better schools in the area. I don't think it'll be long before it'll be a solely FI school the numbers are so stacked in this direction.

We simply wanted K to learn something different when we came over, as he'd aleady completed Reception year in the UK but cos of his age would only be able to get him into Kindergarden here. At least in FI kindergarden he needed to think about new stuff.

Having said that, he suits the FI environment (most of the time in that he has to pay more attention (and talk less which is the challenge) in order to keep up. They have to watch the teacher at this age all the time to see hand gestures, emphasis, mouth shape etc to make any sense of what is being said.

This has started to show in how disciplined he is at home about study and his focussing has improved no end. There's been times however, when we've been in and out of the school office having "discussions" about his enormous desire to socialise 100% of the time.

His english language skills have also improved no end and he's now reading english books for 11 year olds quite happily (he's 8).

I wouldn't say its for every child though - it can be quite pressured if you have a natural figet monkey with problems concentrating - or a child who continues to be nervous/frightened speaking up. There is a big emphasis on learning to speak french in the first few years - less on reading and writing (though that is part of it). Some kids are not happy to speak out in an all english environment, let alone a french one.

Sounds interesting. We'll have to chat more about this at the weekend. You guys like Innis and Gunn beer?

No clue??? Brian will drink anything though so I say YES