Working holiday in Canada

[Coooombe]

I've been swithering with the idea of going to work in Canada for a couple of years now and I've finally nailed my colours to the mast and committed to doing it. Has anyone else done a year of working abroad before, or have experience in Canada? If so I've a few questions. I've considered going through a company called BUNAC who say they will set you up with a job, provide you with information on obtaining a visa, answer any questions, put you in touch will fellow travellers etc but charge a £600 fee for the privilege. I've done a bit of research on this and the general consensus is that it's a waste of money though as they generally just give you advice rather than solve any problems.

What is it like trying to find a job/roommate/decent place to stay if I organise it on my own? I'd quite like to work on the ski slopes (which is what BUNAC say they will set you up with) but I'd be open to other work. I have a degree in marketing so I'm sure I could be of use to someone.

I'm also unsure on whereabouts in Canada I should go. I've heard British Colombia be advisable if I'm wanting to work on the slopes, but I'd also like to travel a bit and experience Canada and I'm not sure how ideally placed these places are. Can anyone provide me with a basic rundown of where to go and where to avoid?

Cheers in advance.

[banana]

I did it years ago, but not through BUNAC. I think it was just a specialist visa company who sorted out a working holiday visa and that's it, sorted all my own flights, research, job hunting. Worked well for me, had an exceptionally good time.

"What is it like trying to find a job/roommate/decent place to stay if I organise it on my own?"

What's it like doing that in the UK? You're going to Canada, not Rwanda.

"I'd quite like to work on the ski slopes (which is what BUNAC say they will set you up with) but I'd be open to other work. I have a degree in marketing so I'm sure I could be of use to someone."

Work wherever the fcuk you want, the whole country is open to you. I worked in a ski town during the summer working in food/bev. Paid OK, managed to save a bit to fund travelling while still having enough to party. If you want to go a businessy route, you'd be up against Canadian graduates, so not sure you'd have great luck there. On the other hand, some places will want short term folk with a marketing background. It also depends on whether you want to live in a big city, a small town or out in tourist nature spots. Or farms (check out WWOOFing).

"I'm also unsure on whereabouts in Canada I should go. I've heard British Colombia be advisable if I'm wanting to work on the slopes, but I'd also like to travel a bit and experience Canada and I'm not sure how ideally placed these places are."

You can travel and experience Canada regardless of your work situations. Travel about a bit at first to get a feel of the country, which vibe you like best, then find work there.

[Mon_The_Fife]

I did a working holiday in Canada last year. When I applied for my visa there was a cap of only 3000 UK places so you have to be quick. Not sure what it's like now.

Beautiful country with some of the friendliest people I have ever met.

I managed to pick up a job in a holiday resort in the middle of the Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Banff. An amazing 3 hour drive that just gets better and better.

I did a fair bit of traveling across the country and loved St Johns in Newfoundland although the weather can be pretty grim, but it's customary to be 'screeched in'. Toronto was ok, but preferred Vancouver. Loved the fact you can be in the heart of the city but walk a few blocks and you are in Stanley Park. Very nice harbour and trip up Grouse Mountian is worth a visit too.

I spent most of my time in Alberta and in and around Jasper. Small little town that is jam packed in the summer, just watch out for bears.

You will have a blast.

[throbber]

I think its still got a cap on how many folk they let unlike Australia which seems to let all the riff raff in willy nilly

Canada requires a criminal background check and think you need work references etc to get in. A mate of mine says he had to explain his drink driving charge when he was applying there saying it was a long time ago and that he has got his licence back and a lot of carry on like this although he may have been exaggerating slightly

[Coooombe]

Cheers for the responses guys. I phoned up the BUNAC helpline and they told me that the Visas were gone within 28 minutes of the application opening last year so I'll need to be on the ball. How easy/expensive is travelling , given the distances involved? I've seen a few people suggest it s quite pricey.

Also, what routes did you take? I quite like the idea of flying out to Vancouver in the summer, touring about for a month or two then making my way to Whistler for the ski season, then deciding where I've liked best and spending the remaining months there.

[Mon_The_Fife]

I flew into Toronto from Glasgow, I got a flight for around £250. Very cheap.

I found internal flights pretty reasonable too with Westjet. If you plan on heading to Whistler for winter, I would start on the east coast and make my way west and see some of the country.

Also, don't stop in Saskatchewan or Manitoba, there isn't much there and the joke goes that if your dog runs away, you can watch him for 24 hours as its so flat.

I got the train from Winnipeg to Jasper, amazing scenery once you hit the Rockies.

[welshbairn]

. I have a degree in marketing so I'm sure I could be of use to someone.

[bud1876]

I think its still got a cap on how many folk they let unlike Australia which seems to let all the riff raff in willy nilly

Canada requires a criminal background check and think you need work references etc to get in. A mate of mine says he had to explain his drink driving charge when he was applying there saying it was a long time ago and that he has got his licence back and a lot of carry on like this although he may have been exaggerating slightly

I had to send away for a report from Central Scotland police in 2011 when i applied for my residency.

It came back clean....my last conviction was in 1981 and i'd had 3 previous before that.

In saying that when my brother was interviewed for the foreign office around 1988 he was asked if any members of his family had any criminal convictions.... he said he knew of a couple so the guy told him exactly who had what convictions and when they were ( even the stuff i got up to as a teenager and was never charged with ), so i'm assuming it depends a lot on what the persons applying for.

[ScottyB]

Don't go through BUNAC. If you're under 30 then get your visa through IEC (International Experience Canada). It allows you to spend a year working, then renew for another year. This usually takes 1-2 months to process which is so much quicker than the other visa routes. The downside is that the places fill up within 30 minutes so if you're going to apply down this route then make sure you have your passport beside you, up-to-date CV in PDF/Word format and all other relevant information! The application costs $150 (About £85 currently).

I got a job in Toronto last year and went through the Provincial Nominee Programme route which meant I could apply for permanent residency immediately upon arrival. It took several months to process but it was all handled by an immigration lawyer that the company hired so that took a lot of the application pain away from me.

With the exception of the Niagara area I haven't actually done much travel outside of Toronto since I moved. It's a great city with plenty of things to do but expensive to live in. Everyone is very friendly, there's great restaurants, bars and it's really easy to get around the city. There's plenty of different sports teams to watch/follow but they're all shit apart from the Raptors (which are among the best NBA teams). The summers are really warm and humid but it's great heading to the islands or beaches on the lake. Winter is pretty horrific though!

For snow sports near Toronto you're probably limited to the Collingwood/Blue Mountain area. Everyone knows that much further west (Jasper, Whistler, Banff) have far better options with regards to snow sports!

Kind of wrote this in a rush so sorry if it's not really helpful!

[Andershen]

This is something that really appeals to me to do this year.

I have one question which I can't seem to answer online: My mum was born in Canada but moved to Scotland. Does this mean I can apply for a Citizenship? Any help would be great.

[Latino Lover]

This is something that really appeals to me to do this year.

I have one question which I can't seem to answer online: My mum was born in Canada but moved to Scotland. Does this mean I can apply for a Citizenship? Any help would be great.

If your mother still carries a Canadian passport you should be able to apply for one I believe. Not 100%

[bullywee]

This is something that really appeals to me to do this year.

I have one question which I can't seem to answer online: My mum was born in Canada but moved to Scotland. Does this mean I can apply for a Citizenship? Any help would be great.

I have a friend in a similar situation and he will ultimately get a Canadian passport, but the process has already taken a couple of years so far and he still doesn't have it.

Although, seeing as your mum was born in Canada (and if she still has the passport) then it should be a bit quicker for you as my pal's mum was born in Scotland then moved to Canada, became a citizen and then eventually came back here.