Hi all

Thinking of moving to Canada on WP. Have started the process but we have so many questions. Hubby works in construction and we have been told the areas that the Immigration consultant suggested are Vancouver BC and Edmonton and Calgary AB. We have two kids 3yrs & 2 months. I know that we have little choice as we will be going to the area that is closest to his work but can anyone recommend the best areas to live.

Can anyone advise on how the construction industry is faring amidst all the financial turmoil in the above areas as I have been reading that the contruction industry is not doing very well.

Can anyone advise on the approx cost of childcare, rent for a family of four and the average cost of a car.

look forward to your replies

Sean & Nicole

Hi and welcome to BE.

Have you considered Regina or Saskatoon in Saskatchewan?? Saskatchewan is the best Province economically wise in the whole of the Nation with the lowest unemployment rate at the minute...construction industry is booming.

A lovely Province with all you can ask for...unless you want mountains...lol...just a thought.

Hi all
Welcome to BE. A lot of your questions may be answered on the WIKI ( in the blue bar at the top)
Childcare varies I pay $1100 a month for one child full time ( in Vancouver)Z. Same as rent it varies depending on size and area. A good place to look is Craigslist (www.vancouver.en.craigslist.ca) and I'm sure other recommendations will follow.
Good luck
Terese

What area of construction does he work in?

Hi Amy

He installs and supervises Commercial and Residential builds as a drywall installer. I think it comes under lather/drywall installer/plasterer. Under the criteria for NOC his duties fall under several categories.

Sean&Nicole

My OH is here doing the very same thing. You can really have your pick of where you want to go in Canada as Drywallers are needed in every Province - we are in NS and have work coming out of our ears.

Hi AmyDavid

Thats good to know. Are you there on a WP or have PR. We have never been to Canada but we are just looking for the country that will give us the right work/life balance with lots of greenery and activities for the kids - and as my OH is from Ireland(lots of greenery) we decided that Canada ticks all the right boxes.

We are just waiting for our consultants to come back to us with interview dates. Hope that goes well. The areas they are looking at are AB and BC.
Has anyone any idea of the cost of cars and the price of the insurance premiums.

Nicole&Sean

If its lots of greenery your're after you better not come to Saskatchewan then...
At the minute, on my computers background I have a gorgeous picture of the Mountains of Mourne, in County Down, taken from my Mum's garden....the mountains have a dusting of snow, the sky is blue and the fields are sooo green. I have never appreciated the, "green green grass of home" as much before moving here where the fields are white at this time of the year!!

As AlvicSK says Saskatchewan and, for that part, most of Canada is white this time of year except, perhaps, the very west coast (Vancouver). When winter settles in it does so for 5-6 months and there is not a lot of relief from it. Spring, Summer, Fall are generally super over most of the country. As you do your thinking about whether Canada is for you, please absorb the facts about winter. As you go through research on this site you will encounter many (countless) posts from others who hate and were shocked by the winter`s severity. The snow and cold experienced in the UK recently is only a whiff of what you`ll experience here. If you can embrace the winter and are into winter sports then it can be an exciting time. Canada is equipped to deal with its winters. All buildings and homes are well centrally heated and good, inexpensive clothing is available for the whole family.
You will not find Ireland`s green land here. The countryside is spectacular, but different. In Ireland everything is small, here it is immense.
Please do not approach this wearing blinders. You will end up disappointed if you do.
Good Luck.

We are here on a TWP at the moment, with our PR application going through as we speak. We have been in Canada for 18 months now and I am so glad we made the move. I couldn't imagine moving back to the UK now.

It depends on what car you go for as to the amount of insurance you will pay, as well as whether you can find an insurance company that will accept your UK no claims. ICBC in BC are very picky about accepting UK no claims...sometime they do....sometimes they don't!