Another point of clarification, Ibby. I don't know if you'll be coming to Canada via Alberta's Provincial Nominee Program (which will give you permanent residence) or on a temporary work permit (TWP). It's true that, if you come on a TWP, the terms of the TWP usually tie you to a single employer. That's usually true of any kind of job in any part of Canada. It's the nature of the beast when you're dealing with a TWP. I admit it's one of the things I don't like about TWPs.
x

Hi Judy

Thanks a lot for reassuring me. I saw in a post that you have left Calgary.
Good luck in your new place. How will be the average weather in December in Calgary. I know i have to expect snow. I am landing sometime in December or January 09. Any advice regarding clothing and where to get good stuff at reasonable price pls? Been to Calgary twice since last October and the latest one was in July this year. I can manage downtown on my own. I really like the green spaces and parks.

Bye

Ibby

Winter weather can be all over the map. It could be as low as -30 deg C or, if a warm Chinook Wind blows for a couple of days, it could be well above freezing. For more details, see the Wiki article called Calgary Climate.

Take your warmest coat, gloves and hat from the UK. That will be enough to get from the airport to your accommodation.

Then, once you're in Calgary, head to Mountain Equipment Coop. It's at the corner of 10th Avenue and 8th Street SW, in the Beltline district, within easy walking distance of the downtown core.

Alternatively, head to one of the many branches of Mark's Work Wearhouse.

These are the two best places to buy outdoor jackets, etc., for winter. They provide the best value for money.

Ask the staff in either of those stores to give you advice about a parka and boots.

Here is my suggested packing list:

• long underwear - can be synthetic or silk
• wool trousers
• cotton trousers, e.g., jeans or corduroy trousers
• long-sleeved shirts - turtlenecks are good for layering
• sweater / jumper - wool or fleece
• parka - hooded, thigh-length jacket insulated with down or Thinsulate
• mittens or gloves - mittens are warmer
• scarf
• warm cap, e.g., wool
• wool socks
• hiking boots - once you are in Calgary it would be a good idea to invest in a pair of Sorel boots, which are lined with felt
• sunglasses - sunlight reflecting off snow can be blinding
• lip balm and moisturizer - the air is very dry in winter

Every month Steve_P publishes a link to a website that compares grocery prices in Calgary.

Real Canadian Superstore always comes out the cheapest. However, there are no branches of it really close to downtown.

Sobeys and Safeway come out in the middle price range for Calgary. There is a branch of Safeway at the intersection of 11th Avenue and 8th Street SW, a block south of Mountain Equipment Coop. There's also a Safeway in Kensington, near Sunnyside Train Station. These would be two branches that would be easy to reach if you were in the downtown core. But there are plenty of branches of Safeway all over Calgary.

Calgary Co-op usually comes out as the most expensive of the four major supermarket chains in Calgary.

If you're in the downtown core, you also may enjoy going to the small green grocers in Chinatown at the northeast end of downtown. I like going into those stores and asking the owners how to prepare and eat their fruits and vegetables that are new to me.

Although it's far from the downtown core, you may be interested in T&T Supermarket. It carries a lot of Asian foods.

Hope that helps.
x

Hi we are going to the Leeds one in November, Nothing to lose other than the ticket money, I think its worth gathering as much info as you can!

Nikki

Judy you got it spot on. It is the agencies that tie you in so it wasnt really worth signing up with them as Judy says you have to work with one employer in a job we didnt fancy.

I would say Calgary Health have been pretty good but we find them trying to hard to please "dont worry we will sort everything" "any probs with CARNA we can sort them out" which doesnt seem to true when there are probs. This is only from people we have talked to so we are getting our registration first then dealing with CH. it may take longer but it stops you getting your hopes up.

Hi MD

Thanks for your reply. Are you already in Calgary? Are you a nurse too? I just got my TWP last week. So I am moving there before the end of the year. Resignation letter has been typed but not yet submitted. Needs to submit it soon as period of notice for me is 8 weeks.

Regards

Ibby

Hi Judy

Thanks for the info. I could have cooked you nice some Chinese food as I love cooking on my days off. I have seen those little grocers in Chinatown where I can go and get my fresh vegetables.

Bye

Ibby

I would find out which companies are going to be there, and then do some research about them. If they are in your field, and your area of Canada you're planning to live, then go. If neither applies then I'm afraid you're wasting your time.

My experience of the last one in London was to say the lease rubbish - ran out of sandwiches by 12, 5 tables for all the people to sit on, so most people were sat on the floor!
Saying that if I was in the medical field, a pipe fitter, bus driver, bus mechanic, anthing to do with oil exploration or a software developer in the space industry, I would have been fine, but as I'm in Telecoms, then nothing. There were a few agencies and removal firms trying for business also.
Really does depend on your expetise and where you plan to live, or if a complete novice about emigrating, then there were the usual talks about the whole experience and how to go about it; length of waiting lists, types of visa etc.

Good luck, and you maybe writing on this forum in 10 years time if you haven't applied yet, as that is the approx waiting list for a skilled worker visa. They are changing the regulations so hopefully it will be different soon.

I've decided. I'm going to give it a go. Like they say, its only the ticket money to lose ands its not like its an airticket price.

ubdai

Hi,

How do you find out what companies are going to be there? Sorry to ask a dumb question but I am a bottle blonde

Hi,

If I remember right you have to buy a ticket and they send you the list of companies later on; catch 22!!

So the best thing would be to wait till closer to the time and then ask the forum if anyone is going and could they send the list to you, or email the Expo themselves - you never know. Good luck.

Nobody seems to have mentioned BC when talking about these expos? Is there not a stall for this province? Thanks

I cant remember seeing anything from BC but i will stand corrected as it isnt a place we were looking at

Hi,

We will be there - that is relocation2bc - and I have been told that there will be representatives from BC's PNP as well as 10 employers from the province. It is about time that BC promoted itself better at these kinds of shows - after all we have a lot to offer.

Warmly,

Frank