Moving
To Canada
Choosing
The Right Destination ~
by Thelma O’ Connor
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| Moving
to Canada? Choosing the right destination for you.
You’ve decided
to move to Canada but before you go you must choose a destination in which
to settle. Canada, with over 10 million square kilometers of territory,
is the second largest country in the world, with many wonderful cities,
towns and rural communities beckoning the newcomer. The vastness of this
country makes choosing a destination all that more difficult. Do you choose
to live near the ocean, in the mountains, in a large city, on the prairies,
or in the lake regions? Suddenly, choosing somewhere seems overwhelming!
So how do you
go about deciding which place is best for you and your family? You might
imagine that most newcomers would suggest that economic factors were the
chief reason for their choice of final destination, perhaps even climate
or the existence of a particular ethnic community in an area. |
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However, surprisingly
enough, according to a recent survey of immigrants to Canada, most newcomers
(78%) settle in areas where their network of friends and relatives live!
Three quarters of all new immigrants also settle in one of Canada’s three
largest cities, Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. Only 19% chose their
destination because of job prospects, 7% lifestyle, 6% education prospects
and 6% because of housing prices in the area.
Choosing to
move to where your relatives live, or picking a city that is well known
might seem like an obvious and logical thing to do under the circumstances,
but it may not always be the wisest choice. Strategically choosing your
settlement destination may bring greater rewards in the short and longer
term.
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There
are many areas in Canada where business is booming but there are severe
shortages of skilled trades people. For example, a recent TV broadcast
in Alberta highlighted the desperate need for more than 40 electricians,
welders, meat cutters and construction workers in rural communities throughout
the province. If you are a skilled trades person and prepared to
settle in a rural community, you will be in high demand by Canadian employers
in many provinces and may qualify for a work permit within 4-6 months.
Gaining Canadian work experience will be viewed favourably should you then
choose to apply for a Permanent Resident visa or if your employer nominates
you for the Provincial Nominee Program while you are living temporarily
in Canada.
When choosing
a settlement destination it clearly pays to do choose strategically. Start
your research by finding out if there is a high demand for your particular
skills or trade. Find out where in Canada those skill shortages exist and
target those areas as possible settlement destinations in the first instance. |
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Find out as
much as possible about all the Canadian provinces and territories. Consider
choosing a destination that is less well known, but which may offer you
job prospects and a quality of life far superior to that which the three
main metropolitan areas can offer. Do your homework, and you will not be
disappointed!
Thelma O’ Connor
B.A. emigrated to Canada in 1995 and now runs Canada Wise, a settlement
and information service for newcomers. Contact Thelma on tel: (403) 226-4999
To contact
Thelma by email Click Here
To see her
web site on relocating to Canada Click
Here
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