ifegy:


Pearson airport is actually in Mississauga. There is public transportation from the airport to the rest of Mississauga. Go to torontopearson dot com and search for 'public transportation'.
Temp accommodation: you could try searching on airbnb, kijiji, tripadvisor for short term rentals before you get here. If you can't get the place because you're not in the country, maybe plan for a budget hotel for a few days to either allow you meet the landlords in person and persuade them/give them comfort that you are real, or so you can let them know you are making the request while present in the country, not outside.
Cost of renting: try looking for rental listings on kijiji; rental listings at rentboard dot ca (can also sign up there for rental listing alerts). Generally, rent depends on the area; the nicer, the more costly. Miss. is a suburb of Toronto and is overall considered a 'nice' area. Perhaps budget at least 700 - 1,000. You can probably find ways to reduce this once you get used to the place.
Cost of living: there is a study on numbeo dot com on the cost of living in Canada. To be safe you might want to budget close to 1,000 a month on top of rent to cover public transit (get a monthly pass), food (try to do your own cooking, and buy suppliesfrom lower cost grocery stores like no frills. African food is expensive), clothes (try cheap places like value village, at least for a start), phone bills (get a cheap cell phone plan with a discount carrier like wind, chatr/mobilicity, koodo, pcmobile), etc.
Bottomline: research, over budget, plan well and make up your mind to make the best of things. You will be fine. All the best.

TheCongo2:


I have been living in London, Ontario since 2009. London is 2 hours west of Toronto(right in the middle of Toronto and Detroit, Michigan). So, you can use either airport for international flights.

London is home of one of the majors universities in Canada, University of Western Ontario. The city is mostly white. I have a colleague from Quebec who is white Canadian who always told me that London is a white capital of Canada. According to her, there are more white people per square inch in London than anywhere else in Canada. I don't know how true this is. However, we have a growing immigrant community. The black community is getting bigger. There are 3 African churches in London, Ontario.

The rate of living is relatively lower in London comparing to that of Toronto. Most of the people I know who have moved to London have been able to purchase their first home (something some people claim would have been difficult to do should have they stay in Montreal or Toronto). Nevertheless, housing in very cheap in London comparing to Toronto.

I have young kids and I find London to be a very nice place to raise kids. There are a number of Africans who have been able to open their own business in London. As far as jobs, I am in IT and have basically been working with the same company ever since I am in London, I wouldn't be able to tell you how easy or difficult it is to find a job here. But, I have seen new comers getting jobs all the time.
Adding to that, the government of Canada has programs that would help new comers to enter the work force.

If you want to move to London, I would say go for it.

If I may ask, what is your field of interest?

LOSKYXANDER:

I am studying geology but would like to switch to IT (Majoring in web and software development). How feasible is this for me in Canada. any advice?

TheCongo2:


All I can say is that North America (Canada & USA) is the land of opportunities. Nothing can stop you to achieve what you want except yourself. I have seen people with degree in history switching to IT. So, you can do it. Just keep upgrading your skills each year by getting different certificate in IT and you will be fine.

czaratwork:
Please are you in toronto or neighbouring city? then what is your next step of action from toronto airport if you are looking to stay at mississauga and you need accomodation from day 1. Are they commuter buses from airport to mississauga? is there a place one can stay temporary while looking for accomodation?. i want to also ask how much one room apartment goes for in mississauga and estimate of how much one person will be spending on living expenses (all inclusive) monthly.

Blackbuddy:


Hi, I've replied all recent emails from Nairalanders, please resend yours and I will respond.

yettyopy:


The way the subsidy work is they use taxes filed after a year of working to calculate how much you should pay in a day for daycare . So if you just moved here and have not worked for a year, you probably wont pay anything as said by a friend i made here. As for me , hubby has been working here for a year so we will have to pay some amount. Although the subsidy office gives you 40-60 days to find a job once your child starts daycare.

Iamsheye:
Just went through your blog,i must say its very very good blog and i like the way you compose your posts. Looking forward to more posts on your blog

impish:
Thanks Iamsheye for your kind words.

Mrs. O, mycanadianfling blog

pauloverdi:
Thanks for all the wonderful posts so far. Very insightful. God bless u guys. My pr visa is valid till March and I would really love to hold on till January before I move. However impending school resumption in September for the kids and associated costs coupled with rent being due as early as December is making me consider leaving earlier. Please I'd like to get advice from someone who arrived canada with their family in the ember months. Bc to be precise. Was it easy getting the kids into school immediately or were there aNY special protocols to observe? Considering the earlier factors I stated should I wait till next yr (though I can move earlier but would love to do so in a more "tidy" fashion)? Im trying to book our flight tickets so I'm really trying to avoid a situation where ill be pressed to reschedule at the last minute. Me and wifey can quit our jobs easy... nothing stopping us. However my pals over there say the cold might b a concern and d best apartments are taken before September by students... just want to here some naija canadian tots on the matter

TheCongo2:


All I can say is that North America (Canada & USA) is the land of opportunities. Nothing can stop you to achieve what you want except yourself. I have seen people with degree in history switching to IT. So, you can do it. Just keep upgrading your skills each year by getting different certificate in IT and you will be fine.

Blingyrie:
Please all, any idea on getting accommodation at nanaimo bc?? Am going as a matured student for MBA. Tnx

impish:
Thanks yetty. Just a few follow on question in respect of the highlighted portion:
1. What happens if I am not looking for work at all? Am I then ineligible to apply for the subsidy?
2. What happens if I do not find work after 60 days, but can show that I have been actively looking?

Thanks in advance.

Mrs. O, mycanadianfling blog

Well to qualify for daycare /subsidy , you have to be working for minimum of certain hours in a week i think 30hrs or schooling. Otherwise, u won't qualify. Again am speaking based on experience in Toronto not sure of the requirements in other provinces . If u don't get a job within the stipulated tim,e you will be back to the waitlist.

TheCongo2:


All I can say is that North America (Canada & USA) is the land of opportunities. Nothing can stop you to achieve what you want except yourself. I have seen people with degree in history switching to IT. So, you can do it. Just keep upgrading your skills each year by getting different certificate in IT and you will be fine.

TheCongo2:


All I can say is that North America (Canada & USA) is the land of opportunities. Nothing can stop you to achieve what you want except yourself. I have seen people with degree in history switching to IT. So, you can do it. Just keep upgrading your skills each year by getting different certificate in IT and you will be fine.

jugzy:
Thanks for the insights . Can you please suggest good and safe neighbourhoods where one can get apartments? This will help me narrow down my search when viewing property listings. How much does it cost to rent a two bedroom apartment in west or North London please? I gathered these areas are good.

Planning to stay in a hotel for some days when I land to enable me search for accommodation in good areas with good school districts, was it difficult for you to get an apartment to rent as a newcomer in London? Can one rent a place prior to one's arrival?

What is the cost of preschool for children under the age of 5; a rough estimate will do if you don't mind.

Ayoola03:
I am coming in as a graduate student, UWO to be precise and not coming to London immediately i land coz my fams who are already a citizen lives in Toronto so there is no how I can avoid stopping over at their place . Although non of them has ever been to London, they dont seems to have an idea. But will love to come down to london few days after my arrival, sort out accommodation issh before I finally move in in sept. As I already no Toronto-london is around 2hrs 12min. Sometimes you feel good communicating with your fellow Nigerians in a no-man's land especially when you are still a jjc.

Yooku:


The more the better?? I'm at 10 now ...Should I double it? Lol

lumzy1:
I plan to settle in Alberta or Ontario and my occupation is Petroleum Geologist. Since functioning as a Geologist requires getting registered as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.), I want to ask what is the possibility of registering with Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) from Nigeria. And also between Ontario and Alberta which has a better prospect for a Petroleum Geologist in terms of job availability.

Aig84:


PM pls

lumzy1:
I plan to settle in Alberta or Ontario and my occupation is Petroleum Geologist. Since functioning as a Geologist requires getting registered as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.), I want to ask what is the possibility of registering with Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) from Nigeria. And also between Ontario and Alberta which has a better prospect for a Petroleum Geologist in terms of job availability.

maternal:


Alberta without a doubt. If I knew what I know now (I sound old) I would have never step foot in Ontario. I always tell newcomers to come to Alberta. The opportunities here is unbelievable.

TheCongo2:


Getting an apartment in London was very easy for me. From my perception, there is greater supply than demand in London as oppose to greater demand than supply in places like Toronto. You can go on kijiji to check apartments in London and get in touch with landlords via pohone or email.
https://www.kijiji.ca/b-apartments-condos/london/c37l1700214

As for the cost of preschool for children, Kindergarten is free. A child has to be 4 years old of age to start Kindergarten. Any child under 4 should be put in daycare. The cost of daycare may be around $50 per day. But, if you are a permanent resident, you can apply for financial assistance from the government.

Blingyrie:

Hi been trying to pm ya but I don't know how. Tips pls?

maternal:


Alberta without a doubt. If I knew what I know now (I sound old) I would have never step foot in Ontario. I always tell newcomers to come to Alberta. The opportunities here is unbelievable. To answer your question, if you plan to be a geologist, Alberta is obviously the place to be with the oil being here. I currently work in the oilfields along with many Nigerians. My guy is actually a geologist. Though I don't know how to get certified. I would suggest to do the certification here (in Canada). Nothing done in naija would be trusted.

One last advice to newcomers. Chase stability and prosperity, NOT the name of a fancy degree. People here don't care about your status or what fancy degree you have. I work with literally small boys (mid 20's) with just a high school diploma, along with some professional courses, and years of experience making 100-250k per year. If you have a relevant trade, you'd be worshiped here. Whereas, I know people with fancy degrees but are unemployed or under-employed. My point is do what makes sense, not what you think others think of you.

salford1:
I believe it mostly depends on career path and economic situation in a province. I have also seen people move out east to Ontario cos they could not get a decent job in Alberta. A friend just relocated to Ontario to take up an offer after he could not get a job as a power engineering/process operator in Alberta for over 1 year...due to state of the economy (over saturation of process operators and to a lesser extent the oil downturn). There are also more financial and IT related jobs in Ontario e.g the common financial jobs in the prairies are branch banking related.

Alberta/Sask are tradespeople/technologist/engineers heaven due to high wage being offered (especially whenever the economy is booming)....Just as maternal mentioned, fancy degrees don't cut it much out here in the west. i dont know about the east. Its not uncommon to see electrician, millwrights, welders, instrumentation techs e.t.c making more money than PEngs in the same company.

In tech related professions in AB/SK...trades have more job openings than technicians/technologists, and techs have more job openings than Engineers. In a typical Engineering offices, the structures are usually like: 1 or 2 P.engineer/PGeo to manage about 20 techs and 40 tradespeople. Engineers would mostly be placed on a monthly salary while techs and trade would be placed on hourly with the advantage of overtime hours.

Bottomline: what worked for mr. A might not work for mr. B. Dont chose a province because people are rushing to that province. Each province is unique. You need to work out your own plan. Conduct a thorough research....would it be wise for an investment banker or trader to move to Alberta? Is it a good idea for an Agric professional to move to Ontario? e.t.c Get on indeed..search for job openings in your career. Get on forums related to your career to view what people in that profession are discussing about. What professions are saturated in a particular province, what wage should i expect e.t.c Don't follow the crowd.

otokx:


Interesting at the care jobs.

papaking1:
Winnipeg is a nice beautiful city and the people are very nice.
Most Nigeria guys here seems to be doing care jobs which I do not actually fancy.

I am a bit confused on the right career path to pursue. I am ready to do any job right now but I need a long term career plan that will put good cash in my pocket.

Anybody living in Manitoba here that can give me some advice on the right career opportunities to pursue?

VEIL1234:
Hi Maternal and other gurus in the house,

What advise would you give regarding career path in canada to someone who has MSc Sustainable Environmental Management from USask?

Just planning ahead, my husband is on study permit and would be done next year, just want to be strategic about the next stage after school.
.

papaking1:
Arrived Winnipeg yesterday with my family. All glory to God.

Royal Air Maroc was great. Was really impressed. to think I wanted to go for more expensive airline because of the bad reviews I read about them.

Canada is now mine to dominate and excel in.

papaking1:


We left Lagos about 6:35am and landed in Casablanca after 10:am.
From there a bus drove us to a place with lots of chairs and a free wifi where we rested for about 6 hours till we were later driven again to the airport to checkin to Motreal.

We were fed four times. On the trip to Cassablanca, at the waiting hall and two time during the flight to Montreal.

I was most impressed by the way the flight crew attended to a white lady who was having health issue. they went all out to help the lady regain consciousness. she was handed to proper doctors immediately the plane landed at Montreal.

We got to Montreal around 8:30pm and after we cleared with immigration and had our PR paper signed, we had to wait till 5:am inside the airport to check in with Air Canada to board a flight to Winnipeg.

The most interesting part of the journey was when the immigration officer signed our papers and said "Congratulation, you now have all the rights of a Canadian citizen except the right to vote."