Moving to Canada
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- ETM0
monNom is right about most agencies being in Toronto. However, many have offices in Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary (in some combination).
Critical Mass started here in Calgary. Venture Communications started here. Taxi has an office here.
- ETM0
One thing to be aware of. Saskatoon, Vancouver and Toronto are on the verge of housing bubbles busting. It won't be the US problem. But you don't want to buy a house then have it devalue a large percentage, locking you in.
Not sure about Montreal or Ottawa, but Calgary recently have a "market correction" rather than a bust that saw some homes drop 10-15%. The average home here costs about $350k-$400k. During a recent provincial worker shortage in 2007-2009, the average home price jumped up to $475k-$500k.
- ETM0
Also, maybe some helpful info here:
- hereswhatidid0
Great info, guys! I'm actually web developer but the agency info is really good.
- ETM0
Oh in that case, Calgary IS a good spot. What's your experience?
- Been doing dev full time since about 2001. Mostly php/wordpress/javasc... stuff at this point.hereswhatidid
- monNom0
I bet you could kill it as a sharepoint developer in Calgary.
- utopian0
The American Dream Is Alive and Well — in Canada!
Quick: Name a wealthy, North American country that values self-reliance, individual freedom and personal ambition.
Sure, you could take the easy way out and say the United States. But you’d be just as accurate if you said Canada. In fact, new research shows the American Dream — the ability to improve your prospects through hard work, personal initiative and grit — is more vibrant in Canada than its native land.
- very true,
bonus: real map syrup, not that corn shitGeorgesIV - < yuputopian
- http://burnsyfootbal…ok_not_ok
- very true,
- stoplying0
I have a co-worker who took a position up in Canada recently - he's a beast who often puts in 70 hour weeks as a CMO. His one big comment on the Canadian workers is that they are all very aware of the hours they work per week. I think he said when they get to around 39 hours for the week, they sort of indicate that they won't be available since they're almost at their limit.
Does that make sense, and is it the case?- i am no stranger to pulling ridiculous hours to get a project live but there's more to lifeprophetone
- i mean up here all you have to do is look out the window! so much to do. welcome to canada!prophetone
- just wait until your friend buys a kayak and empties his credit card at MEC. he will soon live in the woods.prophetone
- and build a log cabin with his bare, maple syrup stained hands.prophetone
- Is that it? Just more recreationally minded?stoplying
- sure, that would be part of it, maybe all of it for some. i live in a city with 3 local ski/mtb mountains + the ocean right there.prophetone
- what city is he living in? Sounds like the west coast.Al_dizzle
- I know a lot of people that put in big hours, what you're describing happens in the US too... think west coast or florida.zarkonite
- When I was in Vancouver, I never wanted to leave my house because of the constant grey sky and rain...ughFawnDog
- ThisIsMe0
I am in Edmonton. Seems to be lots of Jobs here. It's is way to cold though. More blue-collar then calgary.
Concerning the weekly hours. Most positions I've taken (in-house design, and small studios) have been very adamant about maintaining a proper work-life balance and try and schedule work accordingly. On occasion we have to pull some overtime. But it's always been compensated.
I've never worked in an agency, but I hear they are all about the long hours.
- yurimon0
I want to get a drivers license from canada and register my car there to avoid parking ticket jurisdiction. how can i proceed to do so?