Hey,

As you may have heard on the news, Ireland's is a spot of bother economically and the construction sector is somewhat screwed for the next few years. As a Civil/Structural Engineer that equals a fairly bleak outlook for the next few years.

But, all is not lost! I'm 28 and Canada seems to be a great place where I can put all my years of experience to good use while seeing a country that I've always wanted to see.

Unfornately, my BB will have to find a new home but I plan to find a nice BB over there when I get settled.

So, where is the best place to be in Canada for motorcycle roads?

Seán.

Anywhere but Saskatchewan and Manitoba. No offense to the prairie boys, but dead flat and poker straight are only good if you're riding a Campbell-Hausfeld or DeVilbiss..

Ontario has great roads and they get better as you go east through Quebec - I have ridden them for nearly 30 years and have seen about 0.8% of them; the Maritimes are beautiful (Cabot Trail is on my bucket list), the people are among the friendliest I have ever met and you can never have too much lobster; the western provinces have the mountains and the coastal highways and CanadianBird .

pics!

Sorry, I don't take them much.

i visited your area via google earth and was missing something like a hill or mountain. for hundreds of miles... seems to be really flat there.

I'm sure CanadianBird will enlighten us, but as far as I know, Calgary and Edmonton (in Alberta) have a good construction market. And then you would have the Rockies right next door for riding

You could inquire with a couple of large Canadian engineering firms, such as SNC Lavalin or Hatch for employment opportunities, they have projects going worldwide (they have websites).

Originally Posted by heisti

i visited your area via google earth and was missing something like a hill or mountain. for hundreds of miles... seems to be really flat there.

When did I ever say Ontario had mountains? We do have moraines, doldrums, calderas, folds, and lots of lakes and forest all sitting on the Canadian Shield. The elevation may only vary by less than 500 metres, but you could hardly call it "flat", with the south-western section excluded.

Elevation changes of 60m will, if sudden enough, make for a good road, particularly when it is combined with a series of tight corners and interesting scenery. Until you have seen the prairies you don't truly understand what "really flat" means.

Sean,
Like most others, I tend to be biased toward where I am living at the time. Hard to justify staying in a place you don't like right? However, if your only criteria of where you live is the quality of motorcycle roads, then what has been said already is true. The prairie provinces are not motorcycle nirvana. However, living in motorcycle heaven doesn't do you much good if you are unemployed and can't afford to ride.
So......don't discount Saskatchewan when seeking employment. It's economy was politically suppressed for over 60 years and only recently has been able to climb out from under that. It has the fastest growing and most robust economy of the western world (not my assessment, but that of those who know about such things).
I only toss this out (I live in Alberta) for advice. Don't pass up a good opportunity for the sake of a hobby.

Rod

Originally Posted by drrod

Sean,
Like most others, I tend to be biased toward where I am living at the time. Hard to justify staying in a place you don't like right? However, if your only criteria of where you live is the quality of motorcycle roads, then what has been said already is true. The prairie provinces are not motorcycle nirvana. However, living in motorcycle heaven doesn't do you much good if you are unemployed and can't afford to ride.
So......don't discount Saskatchewan when seeking employment. It's economy was politically suppressed for over 60 years and only recently has been able to climb out from under that. It has the fastest growing and most robust economy of the western world (not my assessment, but that of those who know about such things).
I only toss this out (I live in Alberta) for advice. Don't pass up a good opportunity for the sake of a hobby.

Rod

Yeah, Rod, the quaility of the twisties will be a definate second to job opportunites. I would be happy with a morning commute if the right job was available. That said, if I can tick both boxes!!! At the moment, frontrunner is Calgary with Vancover & Edmonton close behind. But that is based on zero research and I'll need to look into the details more!

Oh, I just remembered. Aside from SNC Lavalin and Hatch, Genivar is also a sizable Canadian engineering firm. Hope this helps!

Canada is experiencing an influx from Ireland for the reasons you mentioned. There are a few, quite a few questions you might need to answer.

Is your professional qualifications accepted by the profession in Canada, and provinces? Is there a Canada House near you for as much info as you can get?

You will have search out Gov't web sites and go from there, imo

Search the newspapers such as the Globe and Mail, and the like.

I'm assumning employment is the highest priority and riding roads second. I think the mining sector in Canada is experiencing some growth. Have you concidered the Alberta Tar Sands? Go North young man, go North. Edmonton, gateway to the North and oil industry.

Saskatchawan is more a "have" province than a "half not". Affordable housing but very cold winters and and endless prairie as far as the eye can see.

Natuarally I prefer BC and I have ridden most of the roads and they tend to be twisty and mountainous. Cost of living is high in Vancouver and housing costs are exorbitant! check out www.destinationhighways.com BC, Washington, N California.

I have ridden often in Western Alberta as well as Washington State. Roads in Washington are fantastic, imo. I have riddent to Calgary and Edmonton many, many times through the Rockies from the north to the south. I never get tired of them.

Housing starts are down in BC/Alberta so employment is limited. You have a great deal of research to do, imo. I have ridden to Ontario but I wouldn't want to live there. My bro loves it, that's where the money is.

Good Luck, I would ship my Bird over if it's one you love and have tarted up with performance and bling. I suppose you can find one in Canada but I don't see a lot for sale.

look up hungaria. i know what flat means!

Originally Posted by CanadianBird

Canada is experiencing an influx from Ireland for the reasons you mentioned. There are a few, quite a few questions you might need to answer.

Is your professional qualifications accepted by the profession in Canada, and provinces? Is there a Canada House near you for as much info as you can get?

You will have search out Gov't web sites and go from there, imo

Search the newspapers such as the Globe and Mail, and the like.

I'm assumning employment is the highest priority and riding roads second. I think the mining sector in Canada is experiencing some growth. Have you concidered the Alberta Tar Sands? Go North young man, go North. Edmonton, gateway to the North and oil industry.

Saskatchawan is more a "have" province than a "half not". Affordable housing but very cold winters and and endless prairie as far as the eye can see.

Natuarally I prefer BC and I have ridden most of the roads and they tend to be twisty and mountainous. Cost of living is high in Vancouver and housing costs are exorbitant! check out www.destinationhighways.com BC, Washington, N California.

I have ridden often in Western Alberta as well as Washington State. Roads in Washington are fantastic, imo. I have riddent to Calgary and Edmonton many, many times through the Rockies from the north to the south. I never get tired of them.

Housing starts are down in BC/Alberta so employment is limited. You have a great deal of research to do, imo. I have ridden to Ontario but I wouldn't want to live there. My bro loves it, that's where the money is.

Good Luck, I would ship my Bird over if it's one you love and have tarted up with performance and bling. I suppose you can find one in Canada but I don't see a lot for sale.

Yeah, qualifications are recognised so I can practice as an engineer pretty much straight away. I have a friend living in Edmonton and she mentioned the oil sands were great for employment, but I reckon selling the winters up there to my girlfriend might be a struggle!!

As you said, a lot more research to do over the christmas period and hopefully in January I'll have some sort of a plan!

Thanks for the replies guys and maybe next summer I might even pass some of you on the road.

Seán.

One day am gonna live in Canada... i hope after finishing my engineering carreer...
It´s something i really wish, i can´t stand anymore living in here.

Originally Posted by IrishXXmk2

I might even pass some of you on the road.

Seán.

Now, that's presumptuous