Western Canadian provinces

In the first of two parts covering the whole of the country, Ben Lewis examines what the territories and provinces in Canada’s western half have to offer those looking for a life away from the UK

If you have ever thought that Canada is a big country then you would be, well, right. It is, in a word, huge. In fact, it is the second largest country in the world covering an area of 9,976,140 square kilometres. What's more it has a population of only 32 million. To put that in perspective the UK covers an area of 244,820 square kilometres and is home to 60 million people.

The long and short of it all is that, when it comes to emigrating, Canada has an awful lot of space to choose from. So, which of the ten provinces or three territories will you choose to be your new home?

Most decisions will be based on experiences of a previous visit or possibly because you have a relative or friend in a certain area. However, it is important to realise that this could be the biggest move you will ever make so it is vital you get it right. The first thing you need to do is figure out the reason for your move. Are you looking for a better quality of life? If so, what do you consider a better quality of life?

If you are due to retire soon you might want somewhere peaceful where you can enjoy long walks, fabulous golf courses and a slower pace of living. However, if you are planning to move your young family out there then it is going to be vital that you find somewhere that will offer you the employment opportunities you are going to need. Otherwise that better quality of life will never be realised. According to relocation specialist Helen Willy there is not one right destination or reason for emigrating for everyone. "It's very much down to  personal needs, wants and desires. Picking a destination shouldn't be based on just going to an area because you had a terrific time there on vacation, or from a 'just in case' comfort zone point of view alone, to rejoin family."

So what are your options? "Those who have been most successful at establishing themselves in Canada are those that have invested time and money and researched more than one or two locations before making the decision. They have assessed, first, what lifestyle expectations can be met or happily compromised on, and balanced this with their need for work," says Willy. Obviously, we would all like to be millionaires with the option of any remote outpost in Canada as a bolt-hole for both work and fun but in reality this is rarely the case and compromises will have to be made somewhere along the line. So where are the best places for that work/play balance that we all crave but rarely achieve?

Alberta
Alberta would be a strong contender for your interest if you were looking to move solely for employment purposes. According to Immigration expert Warren Green, "Alberta has the highest rate of economic growth and lowest unemployment rates in Canada. There's a booming oil and gas sector, the highest construction starts in the country and a strong service and retail sector." The independent research organisation, the Conference Board of Canada, believes that Alberta's economy could hardly be better. In fact they are even worried that the province has such low unemployment that it could have difficulties fulfiling its potential growth. Thanks to a couple of natural disasters increasing international demand for gas and oil in 2005, much of Alberta's economic stability can be put down to the success of the energy sector. In turn this has produced a ripple effect across the province that has seen a rise in personal income and house demand. As such, analysts predict that there is likely to be an increased output in the construction sector of over 15 per throughout 2005 and 2006.

According to experts this all means that there has never been such a good time to own a small business, particularly if you specialise in any trade that is compatible with house construction. In the period between 2000 and 2004, the rise in small business activity accounted for around 31 per cent of the 178,000 new jobs that were generated in the province during that time. However, according to Willy, all this economic growth does have its negative points. "Because of the growth the province is getting busier overall and with the huge worker shortages we find it quite frustrating trying to get the service that we've become accustomed to. Also, be warned, if you looked at real estate prices a year ago, you will be in for a shock when you look where they are headed now!" she says.

When it comes to playtime Alberta is as good a place to be as anywhere in Canada. ""If you are into lakes, water sports, golfing, skiing, white water rafting, horses, ranching, arts, theatre and numerous other activities then Alberta is the place to be," says Willy. Green agrees with this statement: "There is something for everyone in Alberta. It boasts some of the best skiing in the world at Lake Louise, Banff, Sunshine and Jasper. The Bow Valley Provincial Park is famous for its world-class fly fishing (George Bush Senior is amongst its fans). Also, Kananakis country offers breathtaking views for hikers, bike riders and horse riders alike."

British Columbia
Thanks to an overall upturn in the economy that is creating jobs nationwide, in the neighbouring province of British Columbia (BC) chances of finding work are similarly good. According to employment counsellor, Shadi Norman, "BC is home to a number of booming industries such as  construction, mining, forestry, printing, retail, transportation, business services and health and social services. Although it is worth bearing in mind that nearly three times as many people work in the retail and wholesale industries as in construction and the largest employer is in the goods sector."

In a recent report in the Vancouver Sun Helmut Pastrick, chief economist at Credit Union Central, argued that the increased investment, higher wages and consumer spending that the province is witnessing will drive the economy into the best five years it has experienced in decades. Pastrick also suggests that between now and 2010 the economy will grow by about 20 per cent, ensuring prosperity for some time to come.

In addition, the announcement that BC will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics will not only give a boost to the lagging tourism industry but will ensure steady government investment on transportation and infrastructure that will further benefit the province. Pastrick predicts that the top growth areas will be found in mining, construction, retail and the wholesale trade. The weak link in the economy is said to be a poor import-export sector with a strong Canadian dollar seriously reducing exports.

Despite agreeing that BC is a great place, Willy believes that it is worth remembering that even with a booming economy it can still be an expensive place to live. "If BC is where your heart is and you have thoroughly done your research and budgets then go for it. However, do consider that Vancouver is noted as one of the most expensive cities in the world to live. As a rule of thumb, for couples and singles renting with little overheads it is an awesome place to consider. For a family of four considering moving to the Vancouver vicinity, it is really worth considering other areas carefully unless you have close to CDN$500,000 to settle with," she says. However, despite the cost, there is no question that BC offers some of the best leisure activities of all the country's provinces. In fact, if you had no other responsibilities, Norman believes that you could play for 365 days of the year in British Columbia. "BC is a huge province, offering rugged coastline, rainforest, semi-desert in the interior, the Rocky Mountains and of course tranquil Vancouver Island." In particular, Norman recommends the Greater Vancouver area which, she claims, has it all. "It has all the scenery, all the culture, all the attractions, beautiful clean sandy beaches, three ski resorts within half an hour of the city and the unbelievable ski resort of Whistler less than two hours away."

Of course, winter brings with it all the snow-related activities you can think of but, during the summer, entertainment options are increased even further. During the sunny months you can experience brilliant beach life and go boating, surfing, kayaking, whale watching and fishing on the coast.

Saskatchewan
Employment opportunities in Saskatchewan are fairly broad but not as unlimited as Alberta or BC. The province has a particularly strong farming sector and as such there are good opportunities for those in related professions such as agricultural mechanics, heavy equipment operators and millwrights.

"Major economic impact is driven by agriculture and agricultural equipment but the province also has a strong advanced technology sector which includes IT and telecommunications, agricultural bio technology and light source manufacturing," says Green. Other professions in demand include welders, chefs, doctors, nurses, miners, truck drivers, heavy duty mechanics, electricians and those in the construction industry. According to Norman, "over the next five years 65 per cent of total projected job openings in Saskatchewan are expected to occur in occupations that require management skills or post secondary education." On top of this ,"Semi-skilled workers will continue to play a significant role in the province's labour market with one quarter of the job openings expected to occur in occupations that will require the equivalent of high school graduation or up to two years on the job training." The housing market is stable and relatively cheap but if your looking for an investment and an equity build-up then it is probably not the ideal province to pick.

It has been said about Saskatchewan that you can watch you dog run away for four days, such is the flatness of the terrain. With this being the case, perhaps it isn't the spot for mountain biking but if camping is your bag then it is a different story altogether. "Camping is a very popular summer activity and province has 34 provincial parks. From Cypress Hills, an oasis on the prairie in the far south, to the lakes in the north, the parks offer excellent fishing in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter," says Green. Much of the activities available centre around this wide open space and as such popular pursuits include hunting, dog sledding and other, similar activities. If this sounds a little too rural then the main cities of Regina and Saskatoon offer all the benefits of a modern metropolis.

Yukon
Employment opportunities in the Yukon territory are a little more limited than in its neighbouring provinces. But  then what would you expect from an area almost twice the size of the UK with a population of only 31,000.

Historically, the major industry is mining, including lead, zinc, silver, gold, asbestos and copper. In fact, the territory can thank the famous Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s for its existence. The national interest in this period, as well as the territory's stunning natural wilderness and the opportunities to outdoor recreation, makes tourism another important industry.

The territory has a small manufacturing sector, which includes furniture, clothing and handicraft production. The renewable energy sector provides some jobs, particularly in hydroelectricity, but the traditional outdoor industries of trapping and fishing have declined in recent years. However, it is the government sector that is by far the biggest employer in the Yukon. In fact, it is directly responsible for employing around 40 per cent of the province's entire labour force.

When it comes to leisure time in the Yukon, the usual outdoor snow-related activities come high up on the list. The territory's relationship with sled dogs is celebrated annually in the Yukon Quest and a pair of snow shoes is advisable if you are into your hiking. Cross country skiing will keep anyone fit but if you are looking for a night out on the tiles then, apart from a few pubs in one horse towns, the province's capital, Whitehorse, is really the only option.

When it is time to choose the destination of your relocation be sure to factor in all the important issues. Obviously you are going to be looking for an improved lifestyle with less stress and more fun, after all, this is an important factor in most people's decision to emigrate. However, a life of leisure is all very well, but of equal, if not more importance is the availability of work to fund your new, more relaxed life. After all, if your not employed, that new pair of skis you have you eye on might just be out of reach – in which case it could be a long, cold and boring first
Canadian winter!

For further information:
Home is Canada 
Jobsearch in Canada 
Alberta Immigration
Canilink Relocation 

Read other articles about Western Canada:
Discovering British Columbia
A trip to Saskatoon

Search EmiLinks for other Canadian provinces

Register for your FREE emigration starter pack

Subscribe to Emigrate Canada newspaper

12 December 2006