Going to Canada - Can't wait :)

junglequestions

Hi,

I'm off to Canada hopefully in September for a year on the under 35 work programme. Has anybody done it? any tips for me? probably going to Vancouver first... whats the weather like over there?

humbleCounty

lived near Toronto for a year, and Calgary the year after, but that was a while ago, (96ish) so things my have changed slightly,

Vancouver is lovely though, weather is kind of like here to be honest, but just that little bit nicer, there is a Rain Forest a bit north of Vancouver (cant remember the name) and it is absolutley gorgeous, you know the beaches like you see in the caribbean, with the light water fading out to darker... smashing!

Go skiing too, whistler is near vancouver, tis great fun, and if you enjoy it you can get season passes which are quite cheap (or were...)

Tom Dunne

Vancouver is incredible. The people, the city, the weather, everything.

I recommend taking a seaplane tour around the bay. Certainly a different way to see the city.

I was there for the 4th of July last year (I know, ironic) the weather was hot, but nice (around 24-28 degrees).

junglequestions

Hi,

Everybody i've talked to has had great things to say about Vancouver. Can't wait to go and get away from ireland (especially Dublin) for a while.

What about work? Hopefully, I'll be able to relax for a bit but the money will soon run out... any hassles finding work??

CCCP^

Where can i find out more about this programme, im seriously interested

2+2=5

yo Junglequestions, did you have any trouble getting your visa?
i know they are issued january, but did you have to que for hours, or (if you got the visa online) did you have trouble accessing the site?

junglequestions

Hi,

I applied on-line (the only place you can I think). The application opened at 9am online and when I'd completed it at 9.20 I had been put on a waiting list. It was a simple application, but I didn't think so many people would have applied! I was affraid I wouldn't get off the waiting list for a while but I eventually did. The under 35 work programme is cloese for this year but I think there is another programme for skilled workers. I'd contact USIT to find out if I was you.

Anyway, if anybody has any other info on Canada please send it on.
I'm a web developer and wouldn't mind doing similar work over there!

Thanks

yeraulone

Weathers getting better - between 15 and 22 degrees. Gonna be a hot summer though.

eskimo

I'm off to canada on wednesday week (june 8th) on the student program - and I am sh*tttttin it!!! In a good way though

I'm going to Toronto for the summer, to work. Never been before. Can't wait either!

comfortablynumb

eskimo wrote:

I'm off to canada on wednesday week (june 8th)

Me too! Can't wait, it should be absolutely brilliant.

Very very early flight though, should be funny...

eskimo

comfortablynumb wrote:

Me too! Can't wait, it should be absolutely brilliant.

Very very early flight though, should be funny...

Well isn't that strange!! See ya on the plane, I guess!

Taxi straight from the Rosie, yeah??

jjbrien

Im off myself to Toronto this moth on the 29th if your in Toronto look me up. I was one of the lucky ones to get the visa. I cant wait If anybody else is going soon give me a shout.

Fungtank

Hey i got into toronto last week. Just went to the orientation today. Pm me you info and i'll send you my email and mobile number when i'm set up.

junglequestions

Hi,
Who did you book your flights with and who did you take your insurance with?
Is it necessary to take it with USIT?

aniascor

I spent a year in Toronto (2002/2003) under that USIT programme. It's brilliant. Canada is a great place, and I had no problems finding work. The two main sites to check out are workopolis.ca and monster.ca. Since you won't be a permanent resident, and therefore most companies wont want to know if you look for permanent jobs, your best bet is to look for contract work. I worked on a couple of different contracts during the year (mostly with the same company.)

Be careful when you are putting your CV together - Canada has different laws in terms of what employers can look for on your CV - and putting your gender, nationality, or DOB on your CV are big no-nos. I can't remember where I found out about what you need on a Canadian resume, but there were a lot of resources on the net. I'm sure if you google it, you'll be able to get lots of info.

Good luck - and enjoy the year!

LegacyUser

i've been thinking of taking a year out and doing this.

is the cut off age not 30 though?

junglequestions

to the last post - the cut off is 35.

booked tickets. will arrive in vancouver on the 22nd september. if anybody can recommend where to live great. if anybody knows of a 1 bedroom apt. even better.

also lookin for a job....

roberteboot

To the OP.Vancouver.Hit the Cambi and The Bourban.Fantastic bars.And believe me we were in every bar in the city.Dont bother with the Irish bars.
Dicks on Dicks(ask around) is a meat market if your looking to score.Any Irish people are set over there anyway they love the accent.

Jobs can be hard to come by.Hit the croatian cultural centre for either an Ireland or any of the Celtic matches and you can get talking to ex Irish lads living over there who might have work.Or just keep looking.Ask everyone.

Stay away from Hastings.Although you can buy some cheap stuff in the pawn shops down there.Just dont go walking around alone down there.Seriously.Theyll eat you alive.

roberteboot

junglequestions wrote:

to the last post - the cut off is 35.

booked tickets. will arrive in vancouver on the 22nd september. if anybody can recommend where to live great. if anybody knows of a 1 bedroom apt. even better.

also lookin for a job....

As i said before stay away from Hastings.Although lived down there and had a blast but i cant help but think we just managed to get away with it through pure luck.Theres crack addicts everywhere,dealers,pimps and their crack addicted "ho's".Seriously.

If you can get a place anywhere on the skytrain your pretty much okay but it stops at one or something so do your best to find somewhere near to downtowwn or else out near the beach.Out there you wont be able to head downtown everynight but theres clubs and that out there that are quality so you wont miss it that much.

When you get there the Cambi hostel is a good place to stay til you get yourself set up.Its above a great bar and its prices are standard.They actually gave us a few free nights accomodation after the hostel we'd been staying in burned down one morning.Which was alot of fun.

Its tough enough to find a house and jobs too.Just ask anyone you meet out and about if theyre hiring.