Hello ETE
I am happy that you're interested in the best that Canada has to offer just like all of us here. Please note that initially I didn't know anything about Calgary before coming here. I was in Ontario (specifically Toronto and Niagara Area...Ottawa also in Ontario). I then thought long and hard about my future and started to do some research. At that time I would have even gone to the North pole (Yukon, Nunavut or Northwest Territories). I just wanted to earn the highest I possible can for my job level and field (Geomatics). Alberta provide approximately 40 percent of Canada's entire budget and is Canada's backbone. If you look at the oil crisis now you will realize whenever Alberta crumbles Canada does. Biggest beneficiary and non contributor is Quebec.. but heard it is very historical there (that is what my Physiotherapist says. She is from there but came to Alberta to work). The Chief Financial Officer at my company tells me not to go there as it economy is weak. He is from there as well. Maybe some Jamaicans there can share their experience for a more balanced view.
Lets look at the example of two persons I know. Lets give them pet name Susie and Tom. Susie was in Toronto for many years. She went there as a teen and was working for 20 plus years but didn't earn much. She came to Calgary looking for a change (in her early 40s) and got a job in a Call Centre as a Tech support representative and was earning 19.71 per hr. After 14 months she decided she wanted to be back close to her parents (she is an only child) she asked the company for a transfer and the company decided that her situation calls for the transfer. When they rewrote her package for the transfer to Ontario she would be earning $13.21! But why? not many Canadians in Alberta will accept 13 dollars for a job (some people do when they have two jobs and want to earn a little extra), but Ontario cities are some what densely populated with people unwilling to venture out. Therefore, due to the high numbers in the labour force companies will offer closer to the minimum wage. Simple case of demand and supply.
On the other hand Tom went to school with me. We worked together on most team projects in school. He is Canadian, but we shared good work ethics and the same Jamaican Barber. He said he will not move from Toronto as his girl friend was there. He got a mid level job in Geomatics and what he thought he was earning was good. When I came to Alberta. I told him what I was earning (other classmates told him what they were earning as well)... it wasn't hard to convince him and his girlfriend to move here. He applied for a job and got it in March of this year and is quite happy, hoping to earn enough to move back East in the next five years.
In my previous post I mentioned the pros and cons as I know them. Maybe other Jamaicans here can share there experience. Vancouver is beautiful with and an amazing life style. It is pretty expensive though. The Oil and Gas industry in BC Saskatchewan and Southern Manitoba is controlled by Alberta based companies which allows Alberta to pull the strings. Saskatchewan has jobs and a lot of resource based industries as well as agriculture. The Salary is not as high, but it is a good place to start out and then migrate to Alberta as has been the trend. Calgary and Edmonton are pretty much the same. However, I believe that if you want to start in Alberta you should try to start in Edmonton and the migrate south to Calgary which has been the trend for migrants both Internationals and Canadians (please note this only a suggestion). Edmonton has mostly local offices of larger companies, but it serves as Alberta's administrative capital. Calgary is largely oil and gas with many head offices and oil and gas service industries. Also, what I have realized in Alberta is that they are willing to re-train people so all you need is that networking opportunity. So even if you have a degree in history or literature you still stand a chance once you network and share your interest. One of the Protrend data analyst in the company I work for have a degree in Library Science (she is from Nova Scotia). This is oil and gas analysis (chemistry) she is doing on a day to day basis. She was employed and trained on the job while bouncing around between administrative roles and administrative here also includes going out and meeting with clients etc. It was the same with me too I started in Production Measurement and Instrumentation (Wells and Pipelines quality assurance). I couldn't appreciate this more because I realized that we are few and far hence the very good pay. I was later migrated to geomatics which is my area of interest. Now I mix both which gives me an advantage. So yes guys things can happen if we remain open minded. The good thing about us Jamaicans is that we have no limitations.. we are always willing to try.
The real con in Alberta is that you have to network sending out resumes alone won't do it. People are more comfortable when they know you face to face. Also many people here in Calgary don't even know much Jamaica. Don't get me wrong guys, but this is a huge plus, because sometimes as Jamaicans we are stereotyped. "my boss believed all Jamaicans smoked weed, grow locks and have lots of kids". Initially he thought I was just from Ontario but once I was going on vacation and he asked me where to and I said home.. Jamaica. It was quite hilarious. when he asked about marijuana and said he use to smoke it iway back in college in 70's. He was surprised when I told him I never smoked anything before (well except experimenting with cho cho leaf when in primary school lol...it looked like tobacco leaf so forgive me there). I had to re-educate him. I am encouraging him to go there with his family for vacation and I think he is buying into it.
Just my take on it again guys.
I hope some other Jamaicans in Canada can also share their experiences and why they chose certain localities.
