Thinking of a move to Canada.

Thinking of a move to Canada.

AidanHarrison

#1Jan 18th, 2012

Hey everyone !
I am a 19 year old Scottish student currently studying Computer-Aided design. I am thinking of a move to Canada in the next two years, as I feel there is a higher chance of employment over there. I am considering two trips to Canada for a week or two, one in the winter and one in the summer to get a feel of what life in Canada would be like.
I just thought I would give a wee post here to see what everyone's views are of living in Canada.

Thanks,
Aidan.

L Gilbert

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Not many grumbles about living in southern BC, Aidan. But I'm not sure of the market for CAD jobs and other such stuff. In general, Canada is doing relatively ok economy-wise. Politics are screwy, as always.

wizard

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

... might be more opportunity than in scotland. what's the economy like there?

Sinix

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Pick your Canadian destination closely. A few hours east of Vancouver, we currently have about 15cm of snow and more expected to come.

SLM

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by AidanHarrison

Hey everyone !
I am a 19 year old Scottish student currently studying Computer-Aided design. I am thinking of a move to Canada in the next two years, as I feel there is a higher chance of employment over there. I am considering two trips to Canada for a week or two, one in the winter and one in the summer to get a feel of what life in Canada would be like.
I just thought I would give a wee post here to see what everyone's views are of living in Canada.

Thanks,
Aidan.

I think that's a fine idea. Mostly because I dig a Scottish brogue.

Also, I happen to believe Canada is a pretty sweet nation to reside in.

One thought, if you're going to check out the country (summer and winter trips) I'd figure out where you'll want to be moving first, because neither winter nor summer is the same anywhere across the country. I figure you'll be needing a major city for your line of work and cost of living varies greatly depending on which city you choose. Just a thought.

L Gilbert

#6 Top Rated Post

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Sinix

Pick your Canadian destination closely. A few hours east of Vancouver, we currently have about 15cm of snow and more expected to come.

wow 15 cm? How can you move even? lol

Quote: Originally Posted by wizard

... might be more opportunity than in scotland. what's the economy like there?

"One of the key objectives of this Review is to provide recommendations that could help Scotland make faster progress against the national economic targets published in the Government Economic Strategy in 2007. This chapter looks at current trends in the Scottish economy and the key challenges and opportunities that are likely to impact upon future performance.

The Scottish economy is around 8% of the size of the overall UK economy. With the inclusion of Scotland's geographical share of oil, the size of the Scottish economy increases by just under 18% [1] The Scottish population is similarly around 8% of the size of the UK population. Scotland's Gross Value Added ( GVA) per head is marginally smaller than the UK wide figure at £19,744 in 2009. However, of the 12 UK countries and regions, Scotland has the fourth highest GVA per head. At present, Scotland has a higher rate of employment and an equal rate of unemployment to the UK as a whole. In 2009, Scotland had 34 business registrations (births) per 10,000 of the adult population in comparison to the UK figure of 47. Excluding London and the South East, the UK figure would be 40 per 10,000 resident adults. Of the 12 UK countries and regions Scotland has the fourth lowest rate of business registrations per 10,000 resident adults."

Rolling 10 year average annual GDP growth rates for Scotland, UK and Small EU

Um, yeah, what SLM said.

Durry

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Lots of jobs in Engineering consulting companies in Calgary for those who have CAD training.
Calgary is a good place to check out for this type of work.

SLM

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by L Gilbert

Um, yeah, what SLM said.

Well, what I said didn't come with a graph though.

I'm feeling slightly inadequate.

Ok, now I'm over it.

L Gilbert

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by SLM

Well, what I said didn't come with a graph though.

I'm feeling slightly inadequate.

Ok, now I'm over it.

Don't feel bad. You weren't replying to the dingbat. I was. lol

SLM

#10

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by L Gilbert

Don't feel bad. You weren't replying to the dingbat. I was. lol

It's all in the past now.

I'm easily amused but have a short attention span, lol.

Cliffy

#11

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by SLM

It's all in the past now.

I'm easily amused but have a short attention span, lol.

You wouldn't be eyeing up the wee Scotish lad as cougar bait, would ya?

SLM

#12

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Cliffy

You wouldn't be eyeing up the wee Scotish lad as cougar bait, would ya?

Why do you think that'll scare him off?

Cliffy

#13

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by SLM

Why do you think that'll scare him off?

Might make him move here sooner. Ya never know.

Just wish younger women were into older guys like younger men are into older women. Just might be a jealousy thing.

SLM

#14

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Cliffy

Might make him move here sooner. Ya never know.

Well it's not like we don't have the room, lol.

Quote:

Just wish younger women were into older guys like younger men are into older women. Just might be a jealousy thing.

Truthfully? I've always dug older guys. But being 43, don't know if I still qualify as "younger".

Cliffy

#15

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by SLM

Well it's not like we don't have the room, lol.

Truthfully? I've always dug older guys. But being 43, don't know if I still qualify as "younger".

I'm 65. That is just not fair. Women get a cool title like cougar. And I'm considered a dirty old man.

SLM

#16

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Cliffy

I'm 65. That is just not fair. Women get a cool title like cougar. And I'm considered a dirty old man.

Life's not fair Cliffy. And I don't know that the title is so cool, I think it's used in a mocking/demeaning manner most of the time. Which is pretty much why I joke about it. (I tend to flock to mocking/demeaning in case it's escaped your attention.)

Cliffy

#17

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by SLM

Life's not fair Cliffy. And I don't know that the title is so cool, I think it's used in a mocking/demeaning manner most of the time. Which is pretty much why I joke about it. (I tend to flock to mocking/demeaning in case it's escaped your attention.)

I've never heard it used in a derogatory way. I know two 39 year olds who can't wait until they are officially cougars. Maybe we are just behind the times out here in the boonies.

SLM

#18

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Cliffy

I've never heard it used in a derogatory way. I know two 39 year olds who can't wait until they are officially cougars. Maybe we are just behind the times out here in the boonies.

I've heard lots of women mock it. But sometimes women can be cat-ty, pun intended.

My niece, who is not quite 25, has informed me that here in the clubs a woman who is 30 is considered a cougar.

Honestly, I think it's all just labelling. I eschew labels. Women are women, and men are men and age is but a number. Provisions for legalities of course.

Vancouverite

#19

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 18th, 2012

I'm biased, but I would say Canada has more opportunities than Scotland. So, if you can get your permanent residency and then citizenship, do so.

darkbeaver

#20

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 19th, 2012

Why not move to New Scotland on the east coast. I don't recommend travel further inland unless you've had extensive bush training and all your shots.

Ariadne

#21

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 19th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by AidanHarrison

Hey everyone !
I am a 19 year old Scottish student currently studying Computer-Aided design. I am thinking of a move to Canada in the next two years, as I feel there is a higher chance of employment over there. I am considering two trips to Canada for a week or two, one in the winter and one in the summer to get a feel of what life in Canada would be like.
I just thought I would give a wee post here to see what everyone's views are of living in Canada.

Thanks,
Aidan.

What specifally do you mean by CAD? Are you referring to architectural CAD, engineering CAD ... some software programs are in higher demand than others, but for the most part the software specialization alone isn't enough. For example, with architectural CAD, you also need to know the building code. With engineering CAD, you also need to know the theory for a specific specialization like piping or mechanical. If it is software like Maya or MAX, then human figure hand drawing is your biggest asset. What area are you specializing in?

AidanHarrison

#22

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 19th, 2012

The course I am taking is a general AutoCAD course, we learn up on a bit of everything. We have been using:
- AutoCAD
- 3DS Max
- Inventor
We have also been programming in AutoCAD, so we can customise the package to do repetitive tasks and increase productivity.

Ariadne

#23

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 19th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by AidanHarrison

The course I am taking is a general AutoCAD course, we learn up on a bit of everything. We have been using:
- AutoCAD
- 3DS Max
- Inventor
We have also been programming in AutoCAD, so we can customise the package to do repetitive tasks and increase productivity.

The software you mentioned is offered in high school here ... there too?

With AutoCAD, you would be working in Engineering related fields. Architecture is using some Autocad, but more Revit (better visuals) and it's a BIM system. 3D max is good for adding some materials/lighting and a virtual tour if required, but its not in high demand. Some Architecture firms use Max or Maya, but they also want you to be pretty good with photoshop ... you'd be doing the presentation renderings. With AutoCAD, most engineering companies also want you to have Microstation. The jobs are basically being a CAD monkey where engineers make decisions, they tell the CAD monkeys to make specific modificatoin and that's all you would do all day. However, AutoCAD without a field of study probably won't get you very far ... just saying. Graduates in 2 year Technology programs across the country learn AutoCAD but also the field of study, like Mech eng or Piping. Inventor is mostly replaced with Solidworks in industry. Are you doing 3D AutoCAD too?

There might be some manufacturing related jobs in Eastern Canada that may use Inventor for assembly illustration ... not sure. For the oil industry, Autocad alone will not help in getting a job and Inventor or Max are not in demand.

AidanHarrison

#24

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 19th, 2012

Nah we didn't get any of those software packages in high school. We use 3D AutoCAD and I am very familiar with it but we concentrate more on using inventor as my lecturer see's this package as the future, with more companies beginning to use it.
Would being a 'CAD Monkey' not be for example:
being a draughtsperson and producing certain types of drawings with the information that the engineers provide you with, and picking up the knowledge of that certain field along the way as you become more experienced ?

Ariadne

#25

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 19th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by AidanHarrison

Nah we didn't get any of those software packages in high school. We use 3D AutoCAD and I am very familiar with it but we concentrate more on using inventor as my lecturer see's this package as the future, with more companies beginning to use it.
Would being a 'CAD Monkey' not be for example:
being a draughtsperson and producing certain types of drawings with the information that the engineers provide you with, and picking up the knowledge of that certain field along the way as you become more experienced ?

That is indeed what a cad monkey is, however, industry wants Microstation and industry specific skills in addition to autocad. You would need the piping engineering technology program to use autocad in the piping industry, or mech eng tech to use autocad in the mechanical engineering field. Engineers don't want to take the time to explain how tolerances work ... they expect the tech guy to know that. The tool of autocad is not sufficient to secure employment in any field ... as far as I know.

Inventor has been around for many years, but industry here seems to favour solidworks ... but that could change.

Spade

#26

Re: Thinking of a move to Canada.

Jan 19th, 2012

Canada has been called (not happily) the Scotland of North America.

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