dustydee:

I didnt see the Abuja address,do they really have one in Abuja.I am based in Abuja.

Delta007:

I never said there were no jobs in BC, I said, "Unless you have guaranteed income (a good job, business, etc), do not move to BC. There's more to living than weather and scenery.

debosky:

I agree with Delta to an extent - cost of living IS high in BC, higher compared to many places in Eastern Canada. Having lived in Vancouver (for 2 years) and on the Eastern side of Canada, I can comment from experience. Housing costs are significantly higher than many regions of Canada.

However, it seems to be more difficult to get jobs in other fields of endeavour outside of nursing type jobs and maybe - most Nigerians who go to school in BC end up leaving for Alberta, Ontario or other regions of Canada.

However, it will be tougher to start off here compared to Toronto if you have no job offers etc.

debosky:

Having lived in Vancouver (for 2 years) and on the Eastern side of Canada, I can comment from experience.

Bros! You sef don waka small o!

MeNutty:

@ canuk, am coming to quebec as a student, pls can u tell me about the province and also heard that hairdressers are in high demand in Canada, someone advised to go and get a skill in hairdressing, that i can get get a part time job that pays very much with it.

Hi MeNutty - Going to an English-speaking school in Quebec? Or do you speak French? Your command of French will be invaluable to have a meaningful impact in francophone Quebec.

Visited Montreal QC severally, but never lived there.

Check out Quebec immigration website, if you have not done so already:

http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/informations/learning-quebec.html

On a lighter note, with a name like MeNutty, you will definitely enjoy Quebec!  Dem sabi jollof life those Québécois

Fhemmmy:

BC is nice, no doubt about it, but like they have said, cost of living is high and jobs are not there compared to Ontario.

Fhemmmy:

Also, if you ever get caught in the middle of the Asian war, you will halla

True that. In the spirit of fair reporting, please mention the Jamaican/Caribbean or Eastern European gang wars in Toronto too 

canuck:


Bros! You sef don waka small o!

canuck:

These are legitimate concerns, especially higher housing cost.

However, economic prosperity has been shifting in BC's favor over the years. Toronto is now replete with BC government adverts attracting skilled workers (not just nurses) to the province. And people are moving!

Ontario's May 2010 unemployment rate is 8.9%, while BC's is 7.5%. (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/subjects-sujets/labour-travail/lfs-epa/t100604a4-eng.htm)

Eastern Canada (east of Ontario) should be at the bottom of the list for my people - There is not much ethnic diversity in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, etc unlike Ontario and BC.

debosky:

How I for do na?

Regarding unemployment rate, you have to take it relative to the province's population - Ontario is about 13m while BC is less than 5m, so you need to consider that as well. In Ontario there is a large variety of cities you can choose to live in, from Toronto and the GTA, to Ottawa, Hamilton, Kingston, etc.

There is a drug problem in Vancouver/BC, mostly weed and some heavy drug use in the city centre.

Apart from Vancouver, Victoria on Vancouver Island is also not a bad place to live, though most people there are retiring like Florida. My memories of that city are wonderful, especially in 2007 when we went to support Naija in the U-20 world cup. Crazy naija fans got on the front cover of the local newspaper the next day because we won.

Delta007:

This is the mistake lots of immigrants make i.e. writing off Eastern Canada or other provinces like say na ethnic diversity we go chop. As someone that has travelled (and lived) the length of Canada, I'd always advise immigrants (especially professional immigrants) to settle in the smaller provinces (NS, NB or even NFLD). There's no point moving to Toronto to rent or buy a house and compete with fellow immigrants to get jobs, while the Eastern provinces are always tweaking their programs to attract immigrants. For instance, if you are a medical practioner looking to practice, you are more likely to get your license easier in NFLD than in ON; infact, you can start practicing in less than a year and get a full license 2yrs afterwards then you can relocate to any province of your choice; but guess what? There are thousands of MDs in ON, AB & BC that have been applying for years trying to get in the system because of ethnic diversity. Same thing with Engineering. NB just started a program that will accept foreign experience and grant you a P.Eng  ceritificate without writing exams all over again within a few mths; the P.Eng certs are interchangeable within the provinces; but guess what? There are several hundreds of Engineers that have been writing exams in ON. I can go on and on; The trick to immigrating is planning properly and knowing what each province can provide you based on your outlook & priorities in life. If my parents were immigrating to Canada today, I'd tell them, go to Victoria cos it's a beautiful & nice place to retire. If you are into full time business, I'd advice you to move to Toronto because it;s very close to the US and you'd most likely be doing business in the US. If you are looking to settle as a professional and need a license to practice, you need to look for a province that has a clear cut program that will absorb you. Once you are absorbed into the system, you can move anywhere you want to. If you are looking for manual labour jobs, every province offers something although there are obviously more factories in ON, so there are more opportunities there. But then again, there are usually lesser applicants for every position advertised in the Eastern province compared to cities like Toronto and the cost of living is obviously relatively cheaper. When you find your feet, then you can move to wherever you can to find your diversity wahala; but quite frankly, no offence to other immigrants, I like my non-diverse neighbourhoods, relatively little or no crimes, house value appreciating everyday and you get to deal with people that know how to deal with other people. Unfortunately, immigrants (Africans, Indians, etc) most times end up in this part of the world very arrogant and ignorant, rude, loud and could care less about their neighbours. . .same traits we exhibit at home. I will not buy an overpriced property in Jane and Finch (Toronto) but I'd willingly buy properties in the Eastcoast.

A very useful rejoinder indeed!

You make good points on medical professionals and engineers in Eastern Canada.

Please provide the link for the NB engineering program that does not require exams for the P.Eng certification; I'm sure it will help a lot of people here (Or do you mean their MIT - Members In Training program? if yes, that's not a P.Eng certificate)

Good call on ditching Jane/Finch for the East Coast! 

lovelynk:

Canada,Canada,Canada?
What is it about this country sef?

Don't mind dem jor! Canada ko, karate ni!

Medlabgirl:

@ house, thanks for all the contributions. CANUCK is a lifesaver; you know your stuff Canuck.

I went to the dentist today, had to have a root canal done, so no be me dey here. I will be back tomorrow when hopefully I'll be feeling better.

Root canal?! Ouch!!!!!

My dentist is nudging me in that direction, and I am nudging her in the other direction! No be me she go take complete money buy house for Florida. . .my teeth dey kampe! Let me show you ->

Medlabgirl:

Delta007 can you please try to write in smaller paragraphs. I was trying to read your post, and the anaesthetic I got at the dentist just wore off instantly, now I am seeing stars!!!

Delta007:

This is the mistake lots of immigrants make i.e. writing off Eastern Canada or other provinces like say na ethnic diversity we go chop. As someone that has travelled (and lived) the length of Canada, I'd always advise immigrants (especially professional immigrants) to settle in the smaller provinces (NS, NB or even NFLD). There's no point moving to Toronto to rent or buy a house and compete with fellow immigrants to get jobs, while the Eastern provinces are always tweaking their programs to attract immigrants. For instance, if you are a medical practioner looking to practice, you are more likely to get your license easier in NFLD than in ON; infact, you can start practicing in less than a year and get a full license 2yrs afterwards then you can relocate to any province of your choice; but guess what? There are thousands of MDs in ON, AB & BC that have been applying for years trying to get in the system because of ethnic diversity. Same thing with Engineering. NB just started a program that will accept foreign experience and grant you a P.Eng  ceritificate without writing exams all over again within a few mths; the P.Eng certs are interchangeable within the provinces; but guess what? There are several hundreds of Engineers that have been writing exams in ON. I can go on and on; The trick to immigrating is planning properly and knowing what each province can provide you based on your outlook & priorities in life. If my parents were immigrating to Canada today, I'd tell them, go to Victoria cos it's a beautiful & nice place to retire. If you are into full time business, I'd advice you to move to Toronto because it;s very close to the US and you'd most likely be doing business in the US. If you are looking to settle as a professional and need a license to practice, you need to look for a province that has a clear cut program that will absorb you. Once you are absorbed into the system, you can move anywhere you want to. If you are looking for manual labour jobs, every province offers something although there are obviously more factories in ON, so there are more opportunities there. But then again, there are usually lesser applicants for every position advertised in the Eastern province compared to cities like Toronto and the cost of living is obviously relatively cheaper. When you find your feet, then you can move to wherever you can to find your diversity wahala; but quite frankly, no offence to other immigrants, I like my non-diverse neighbourhoods, relatively little or no crimes, house value appreciating everyday and you get to deal with people that know how to deal with other people. Unfortunately, immigrants (Africans, Indians, etc) most times end up in this part of the world very arrogant and ignorant, rude, loud and could care less about their neighbours. . .same traits we exhibit at home. I will not buy an overpriced property in Jane and Finch (Toronto) but I'd willingly buy properties in the Eastcoast.

Delta007:

Same thing with Engineering. NB just started a program that will accept foreign experience and grant you a P.Eng  ceritificate without writing exams all over again within a few mths

canuck:

Please provide the link for the NB engineering program that does not require exams for the P.Eng certification; I'm sure it will help a lot of people here (Or do you mean their MIT - Members In Training program? if yes, that's not a P.Eng certificate)

Oga Delta-JamesBond, we're still waiting for info on the P.Eng Certificate with NO exams in New Brunswick o! Don't go quiet on me now 

Vie:

@canuck
What province will u recommend for a legal practitioner into medical law with a masters degree from the UK but not interested in returning to nigeria immediately as this aspect of the law is still new in nigeria. Can you recommend sites where info can be obtained?

tunnytox:

Well may be there may be a cheaper phone plans as well in Canada which I didn’t know about. However, the fact remains that there are not many mobile phones company to beat the price down and that’s the more reason why companies like Rogers or Bell are ripping Canadian residents off. (I believe there are far more better/cheaper plans in the UK)

You see like you said earlier most people always believe the grass is greener at the other end whereas the devil you now is better than a pretending angel. In my own case I decided to maintain my UK residency and travel to Canada to land with my PR before it lapses. This enables me to ensure that I don’t leave UK without finding out first what I stand to gain by migrating to Canada. Canada is good for people who are just coming from Nigeria or people who are having difficulties on their papers in other countries BUT if your papers are secured in places like the US/UK its not worth it to migrate to Canada without a prior job offer.

Yes! its advisable for your sister to relocate to Canada if she has the opportunity. There’s no doubt that Canada is a wonderful place but not without its challenges; what amazes me most times is the way people portray Canada as if it’s a place where you have no problems. Its always advisable not to raise people’s hope high to heavens but to let them know that Canada like every other places in the world is not for the faint hearted and to be a success in Canada you have to be ready to face challenges