Emigration series: Moving to Canada

Why did you leave? Was it out of necessity or a desire to travel?

“I think that it was a mix of both, but leaning more towards necessity. I had spent pretty much the entire summer of 2012 (I finished university in May and graduated in August with a BA in Journalism and New Media) applying for jobs to little or no avail. I wrote for a website throughout that summer, as well as working as receptionist at a dairy company in west Cork.

“My boyfriend Mike and I both applied for the Canadian IEC visa earlier in 2012 as a fallback option. He’s an engineer, so there was nothing for him in Ireland either, and we made the decision that summer to make the move to a city called Calgary in the province of Alberta. I’ve been here since November 2012 and I can genuinely say that I don’t regret the move.”

What were your first impressions of your new home?

“I’m from Clonakilty in west Cork so to make the transition from a relatively small town to such a large city was different. Alberta is a great place and living in a city like Calgary is really enjoyable – you’re so close to the Rocky Mountains, which make both summer activities (rock climbing, kayaking, hiking) and winter activities (snowboarding, skiing) so accessible. Sometimes I think that I take all of this for granted, but the scenery can be simply majestic at times. Calgary is dominated by oil and gas, making it a thriving city for engineering and construction.”

What kind of opportunities

are there in Alberta?

“There are actually quite a lot of opportunities for young people here in Alberta, particularly in Calgary. I think that having a degree certainly strengthens your chances of quick employment out here. I signed up with a few agencies and began my job as a receptionist with a large accounting firm in early December. In terms of required skills, it really does depend on what job you are looking for. Since my degree is in journalism, I would like to break into the communications industry, but it’s quite a tough one to join. If you are looking to work in the trades, I believe that you need the skills requirements.”

What’s the cost of living like in comparison to Ireland?

“When we got here first, I thought that the cost of living was very high in comparison to Ireland, but it’s actually not that bad. The Canadian dollar equates to 66 cents. A typical week’s grocery shopping for us would be approximately $150-$200 which, at the moment, equates to €100-€130.

“Rent can be a little expensive. Right now we are paying $1,425 (roughly €920) per month for our three-bed townhouse. I’ve heard that cities such as Vancouver and Toronto are much more expensive than Calgary. Salaries are much higher over here, so it may seem expensive but you are also getting paid much more than you would in Ireland.”

Can you imagine staying in Canada permanently or would you like to come home?

“It may seem harsh enough, but I do see myself staying here permanently. It’s sad but there’s really not much for either of us back in Ireland, so we will stay and work here for as long as we can and then consider our options again when things do improve in Ireland. I find it hard to justify leaving everything that we have here to go back to a job in Ireland that pays poorly. We submitted our permanent residency application in late February. It’s a lovely thought to think that we will be able to move back to Ireland in years to come, but right now it’s not a decision we are considering, purely due to the way things currently are at home in terms of employment.”

What is it like to socialise in Alberta?

“Socialising here in Calgary, or Alberta in general, is good fun. It does tend to be a little more expensive than at home but I really enjoy the fact that bars have food menus available for most of the night – great when you feel hungry at 11pm. Thanks to the Gaelic football team here in Calgary (Calgary Chieftains) we have made so many friends, most of whom are Irish.

“The fact that we spend so much time with fellow Irish certainly helps with homesickness as it feels like you’re still in Ireland, not thousands of miles away. It’s always nice to be welcoming to fellow Irish people as it’s not an easy decision to pretty much leave everyone and everything and move half way across the world.”

Visit www.cic.gc.ca for more information on applying for a visa to work in Canada. CL

MOVING TO CANADA

Director of the Irish Canadian Immigration Centre, Cathy Murphy, explains more about moving to Canada.

“Canada is not the land of milk and honey. Yes, the economy is better than Ireland, but Irish emigrants should manage their expectations.

“The visa lottery usually opens from December to February. There are 10,000 spots every year and anyone under the age of 35 can apply. Applicants can opt for a visa under the following categories: working holiday, international coop or young professional.”

Availability is as follows.

“However, working holiday visas are no longer available, they were claimed within minutes. For the working holiday visa, applicants don’t need to already have a job offer in Canada. But jobs are needed for the internship and young professional visa.

“You need a clean criminal record – even a drink driving conviction can prevent entry to Canada as it’s a criminal offence there. You also need an up-to-date passport, $2,500 in the bank and two years travel insurance

“We tell people to take any work to keep themselves going for a few months. It takes a few months to get on the career ladder. The hiring process is slower in Canada. Hayes recruitment is a good place to start looking for a job, and we can also recommend other agencies.

“Don’t stay in a menial job for too long if you want your career to progress. Residency in Canada is based on your ability to do a skilled job, unless you’re married to a Canadian.

“Networking is very important. Young Irish people aren’t very comfortable with it, but it’s essential for jobseekers. The first step is getting involved with the local Irish community and going to events. Join associations and attend meet-up events in your career field.

“Skilled workers are in demand – plumbers, pipe fitters, electricians. There is a definite shortage of skilled labourers in Canada.

“There’s no point in sending out your CV without a Canadian address and phone number. After getting your social insurance number (their equivalent to our PPS number) buy a Canadian phone.

“Emigrants should know that they can reach out to us anytime at the immigration centre. We are always there to help.”

Visit www.irishcanadianimmigrationcentre.org/essentials-guides for more information on moving to Canada.