hi,
Me and my freind are thinking about going canada next year and maybe spending a season in whistler, snowboarding.
Do you think it would be hard for 2 limies to get a part time job over there to cover our boarding costs etc? we wanted to try and get one, before we actually get there...for visa reasons etc.
Also we want to see as much of canada as we can, is there anywhere you all would suggest visiting on our travels?

Cheers,
Andy

well i dont live in whistler, so i dont know how difficile it will be getting a job up there but i def have reccomendations as to what to see. The atlantic provinces way on the other end are really stunning......BC's coast is really pretty.... montreal's a great city.....if u could, try and make it down to calgary for their annual stampede.....other than that im not sure. As a whole i find Canada a fairly pretty country so u wont be put off anywhere u go, really.

Don't know about limies, but aussies and kiwis seem to have no trouble finding jobs...another area you could look is in the Rockies around Banff. My sister worked there for a season and was one of the very few canucks on staff. There's also good skiing (and maybe jobs) in BC's interior, but I'm from the coast so prefer the area myself. If you write to Tourism BC they'll send you a great magazine about all the ski resorts, and you could take a look at which suit you and then try to contact them directly about jobs...

Being from BC I'll vote for exploring all of it, but the rest of the country has so much to offer - have you considered doing a cross country train trip? They used to have a pass on VIA rail, but I don't know if it still exists...anyone know?

How long do you have in country? Something lots of Europeans tend to forget is that Canada's about 45 zillion times bigger (roughly) than the average European country, so it takes a lot longer just to get from place to place. And domestic flights can be really pricey...

Thank for the ideas,
We have around a year out, basically just saving as much as possible and seeing how long we can last, Having a good time along the way...hopefully.
so where have u 2 travelled to? got any good tips for a first timer ;)

I noticed that even in the height of summer alot of ski resort style towns (Banff in particular) are always looking for help. Students tend to come 'n go so the work is rather temporary but I assume great for travelling peoples!

I have to agree about the Calgary Stampede! I'm from Ontario, Canada and absolutely loved it. All those cowboys! Yee haw. :D

Canada is a very large country and have everything one can imagine from glaciers to great beaches, and awesome cities. (Yes I am horribly biased). I've taken the bus from one end to the other and it's very hard to travel that way, but if you have stops in between that's a good way to go. I heard the railway is also alittle crappy, but at least you can get up and walk around!

Alot of the smaller towns have their own, more historical draws, as well. Take in a Pow-wow too, they're a great way to see the native culture! (Again, I'm totally biased) lol. Have a great trip!!

Jenn

Im from Kitchener ontario, a city close to Toronto. i recommend Toronto, its big and fun and you can go see the CN tower etc. good shopping too! and great nightlife for all kinds ialso go to niagara falls thats cool and a fun town.. and i really recommend going up north to Georgian Bay to camp. go when its warm, its so much fun and you go on the hikes up to the bay and its crystal clear blue water and u can jump off the cliffs its really nice.. and theres the caves to explore also, really beautiful. You could hit Wasaga and Grand Bend or Sauble for greta beaches too but yeh they arent close together so take your time

toronto, vancouver and montreal are nice and all if you wanna see another big city.....if you want a unique experience, come to newfoundland and labrador...not that the three places I mentioned aren't worth a visit, but imo there's so much more to see.

http://www.newfoundlandandlabrador.com

taking the train cross country here is a drag and you'd probably get plane tickets for cheaper.

yeah, once you leave Vancouver heading east there isn't too much until Toronto. No offence to the flat provinces, I've driven across the prairies a few times and its some of the most boring driving ever.

hell yeah, I drove from Banff to Toronto one time and I literally thought I was going to die of boredom. And even once I got to Kenora, Ontario I thought it was the homestretch....still many, many more hours of driving til Toronto. :unsure:

Hey Guys,

Whistler is a fantastic place to spend a season, but a word of warning: it'll cost you an arm and a leg. There are part-time and full-time positions available, but boarding and cost of living is so expensive there that your cash will be stretched. If you're really keen on it, think about applying for a night job at one of the hotels. That way you can spend your days snowboarding.

Another thing to think about: Winters have been pretty mild in the Coastal mountains over the last few years, so the snow might not be as good at Whistler as it would be in Banff. I'd recommend spending a week or so in Whistler max (plenty of time to board all the runs) and then head to the Rockies.

As for the not-skiing: Vancouver's a beautiful city, especially if you like hiking and beaches, but to be frank, our nightlife is nothing like what you'll find in Europe or the States. Toronto's much better for that kind of thing. Be sure to visit Montreal for a little Quebec culture, see the Calgary Stampede if you have a chance. The prairies are worth seeing as well, but I agree that driving across them would probably bore you to tears (Just slap "the Club" on your steering wheel and take a nap). See the maritimes for sure. PEI is gorgeous and if you like Lobster (mmm) then the maritimes are the place to sample it. If in Winter you're headed anywhere east of the Rockies (or up north) though, don't forget to invest in a good warm jacket (down is light and packs small) and some long underwear for layering, becuz it's freakin cold!

Also, don't forget how big the bloody country is. It takes more time to get from Vancouver to Whistler than it does from London to Oxford. And Vancouver Island (the long island just off the BC coast) is bigger than all of England. France fits into Canada roughly 14 times...... yadda yadda... you get the point.

Have a great trip!