(08-06-2014 03:00 PM)vanisle Wrote:  Hats off to you bro...since its not camp work do they give you LOA? Must be tuff being away from your family for 9 months now. Love your term "the ever elusive mythical fucking unicorn" Thats fucking perfect dude.
When they do offer flights to all major Canadian hubs they try and hammer your wage down...going through this now. They call it "flight and camp benefits".

I'm working for a contractor on one of the big oilsand sites so my shift is 14/7 with a LOA. I fly back home at the end of each shift on my own dime. Considering all the costs of living in Fort Mac (rent, food, flights) while at the same time supporting my family at home, I'm still banking money at the end of the day.

Thinking I'm just going to stay in Victoria. JM tradesmen are making 30/hr all day long here. After talking with the recruiter who can hardly speak English BTW...my base rate up there would be 38/hr flights and camp included. Sure you have the OT but your also living\working in the asshole of the planet.

No bong rips, no drinking, no getting laid, no fun.
You gonna go hit the gym, do some yoga after 10-12hrs busting your balls in the Artic tundra?
Lets not forget AB takes 10% on top of the FED tax.
40 below...Fuck, if gets sub 0 its a state of emergency here...they literally tell you on the news to stay home unless you absolutely must go out...bring in your golf clubs and wrap up your hose bibs.
If we get snow...look the fuck out!

I wanted up there so bad after hearing stories from my fellow tradesmen, visions of grandeur, they take care of everything, flights\meals\camp, 100k+.
Everyone of them is back...Everyone of them!

I think the fairy tale is over...TFW killed the sands!

(08-07-2014 05:33 PM)vanisle Wrote:  No bong rips, no drinking, no getting laid, no fun.

.....

I wanted up there so bad after hearing stories from my fellow tradesmen, visions of grandeur, they take care of everything, flights\meals\camp, 100k+.
Everyone of them is back...Everyone of them!

Its hard to soar like an eagle when you are surrounded by turkeys.

Sounds like you and your buddies have the same loser mentality. Its easier to stay on you ass and say it was never possible despite 100+ pages here of people stating otberwise. Zero value and/or actual experience to offer this thread. I recommend not posting on this thread again or Ill ask for a ban.

(08-07-2014 05:44 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  

(08-07-2014 05:33 PM)vanisle Wrote:  No bong rips, no drinking, no getting laid, no fun.

.....

I wanted up there so bad after hearing stories from my fellow tradesmen, visions of grandeur, they take care of everything, flights\meals\camp, 100k+.
Everyone of them is back...Everyone of them!

Its hard to soar like an eagle when you are surrounded by turkeys.

Sounds like you and your buddies have the same loser mentality. Its easier to stay on you ass and say it was never possible despite 100+ pages here of people stating otberwise. Zero value and/or actual experience to offer this thread. I recommend not posting on this thread again or Ill ask for a ban.

Sound pissed...hate your life and new found career that bad...grab another chocolate bar from a pipe would ya!
QUICK...before I throw a wrench!

After working here a while you get good at weeding out the pussies fast.

(08-07-2014 06:04 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  After working here a while you get good at weeding out the pussies fast.

Sounds great...you hiring?
You should come to the island and relax sometime.
We enjoy life, and at the same time make 70k doing it.

Ill go to the Island soon enough. I got invited over by some girls I travelled with in Nicaragua and Costa Rica not too long ago. Im headed to Europe for three weeks though next month so will have to wait.

And if you are going to talk big at least stop editing your posts.

(08-07-2014 05:33 PM)vanisle Wrote:  my base rate up there would be 38/hr flights and camp included. Sure you have the OT but your also living\working in the asshole of the planet.

Thats the worst rate I've ever heard for up north!

(08-07-2014 05:33 PM)vanisle Wrote:  No bong rips, no drinking, no getting laid, no fun.

Some camps are wet ...some people get action at camp (not always the best lol) ...some people even do shit loads of rails every night!(they don't tend to last too long tho)

(08-07-2014 05:33 PM)vanisle Wrote:  You gonna go hit the gym, do some yoga after 10-12hrs busting your balls in the Artic tundra?

The gyms are packed at the end of every shift and we do 14hrs with the bus times included.....

Its not for everyone but tell me a job where you work 2 weeks on 2 weeks off and bank over $90-120K in the hand a shift

If I had 2 weeks holiday an entire year I'd probably kill myself

(08-07-2014 06:27 PM)hedonist Wrote:  If I had 2 weeks holiday an entire year I'd probably kill myself

This. Fucking hate working this 9 to 5 job. I can't understand how people do it? How do you work your whole life with pretty much no free time?

But my #1 goal is the permanent residency which is easiest gotten by a 9 to 5 so I'll wait this out for a year.

You guys know what's a good career path in the oil rigs for a new grad in electrical engineering?
I'm graduating end next next and was wondering what I could do in the meantime to guarantee me a high paying job upon graduation. Should I start directly looking for mwd positions? Should I just move to Alberta right away and begin my search there?

A lot of the newer diesel powered rigs run by generating power through electrical motors (powered by the diesel generators) that is transferred around the rig to run equipment. Having a strong electrical background means you would progress very fast up the ranks on a rig.

If the hard labor side doesnt appeal to you your skills are definitely conducive to working as an MWD. Look back over my posts for information on that.

Also try support companies like Pason who run onsite software/electrical support for rig companies. They pay pretty well Id imagine - lots of driving though.

Atlantic your on to something, I know several mud engineers that are bs electrical engineering, but the pason guys I talk to are always asking me for referral, crap pay from what I gather

(08-08-2014 12:14 PM)CKSEA Wrote:  Atlantic your on to something, I know several mud engineers that are bs electrical engineering, but the pason guys I talk to are always asking me for referral, crap pay from what I gather

I know the mud guys make great cash but I have no idea how you would get into that.

CKSEA thanks for the info on the MBAs. Ive already repped you or I would again.

Is there much room for Accountants or CPAs to make decent coin in Alberta?

(08-07-2014 05:33 PM)vanisle Wrote:  Thinking I'm just going to stay in Victoria. JM tradesmen are making 30/hr all day long here. After talking with the recruiter who can hardly speak English BTW...my base rate up there would be 38/hr flights and camp included. Sure you have the OT but your also living\working in the asshole of the planet.

No bong rips, no drinking, no getting laid, no fun.
You gonna go hit the gym, do some yoga after 10-12hrs busting your balls in the Artic tundra?
Lets not forget AB takes 10% on top of the FED tax.
40 below...Fuck, if gets sub 0 its a state of emergency here...they literally tell you on the news to stay home unless you absolutely must go out...bring in your golf clubs and wrap up your hose bibs.
If we get snow...look the fuck out!

I wanted up there so bad after hearing stories from my fellow tradesmen, visions of grandeur, they take care of everything, flights\meals\camp, 100k+.
Everyone of them is back...Everyone of them!

I think the fairy tale is over...TFW killed the sands!

Well Vanisle had a pretty simplistic and negative view of how the oil sands are, I can't say that I blame the guy for wanting to stay over there if he's able to make 70K and be home everynight. I just spent a few days on the island a couple of weeks ago, my 5th trip there since 06', I'll definitely be back, maybe to live some day.

(08-08-2014 10:17 AM)hervens Wrote:  You guys know what's a good career path in the oil rigs for a new grad in electrical engineering?
I'm graduating end next next and was wondering what I could do in the meantime to guarantee me a high paying job upon graduation. Should I start directly looking for mwd positions? Should I just move to Alberta right away and begin my search there?

I don't much much about the rigs but I can pretty much guarantee that you could find work in the Fort McMurray area at the big oil sands mines that I mention on the first page of this: Suncor, Syncrude, Shell etc they must do some kind of recruiting at your school.

(08-08-2014 08:00 PM)Mike0060 Wrote:  Is there much room for Accountants or CPAs to make decent coin in Alberta?

Hell yes, I have a good buddy who did his two year CA designation in Cowtown and he loved it, there's tons of cash in Calgary and room for advancement if you're an office type. Its definitely a white collar town, unlike Edmonton and especially Fort McMurray (although there's obviously lots of office jobs in those cities as well), Calgary is one of the best cities in the country for a young business guy looking to move up, it probably rivals Toronto for opportunities.

Was coming home from Victoria when I got the call that the tool I originally delivered broke, so I had to divert from going home, drive all the way to god damn Moose Jaw, SK, to find out I was wrongly routed there and actually had to go to Medicine Hat, AB to pick up a replacement, so I back tracked 400 km, loaded, and am headed right back to Victoria! On the AB/BC border right now. I was livid pissed and was about ready to quit.

/venting

(08-08-2014 11:28 PM)Laurifer Wrote:  Was coming home from Victoria when I got the call that the tool I originally delivered broke, so I had to divert from going home, drive all the way to god damn Moose Jaw, SK, to find out I was wrongly routed there and actually had to go to Medicine Hat, AB to pick up a replacement, so I back tracked 400 km, loaded, and am headed right back to Victoria! On the AB/BC border right now. I was livid pissed and was about ready to quit.

/venting

I'd be pretty pissed off too if I had to go to Moose Jaw, what a dump!

Just landed in Edmonton 2 hours ago ! Started my day game on whyte ave. Turns out, a british accent on a borwn guy kinda works good with a nice back up story ! Driving a rental atm, gonna chill for today and Sunday (car hunt in the works, if anyone knows someone selling a nice cheap truck under $1500, that would be great). Pumped for my rig fall safety courses Mon-Tuesday, then pounding the pavement with full force !! PM me if anyone is in the area and wants to link up !

Go on to kijiji and organise all the cars and trucks by price. Start at 300 and keep strolling. Something good will show up every few pages. This is how I got an okay ford for 500.

Welcome to Edmonton man.

Anyone's at the cariwest festival downtown? I want to check it out.

Rambo welcome to Etown , congrats on finding that room on room on Whyte . I got off the "hound" on Wed at noon . I stayed at the commercial for 2 nights . LMAO last night I was at the "herb B " .

I did 2 days of cash paid daily jobs , but I pissed off regular staff for being too slow . Ya , Ya issues in all but the fact if you want to work its here , no bullshit .

Thanks ferro for that post . I gotta make some calls today to some support agencies.

Bad Wolf get your ass out here , trust me you know the Hammer , the vibe here is outstanding.

pffft ...I feel like a kid with gift card for toys are us , when it comes to Whyte lol .

the one downside , here people seem to think im a crackhead, narc , ..gay ..weird . I came with 6 gym bags , got them in lockers at the station looking a ghetto ...meh what the fuck the action is here .

Every canadian should do a road trip across . I get that people would find fields boring in the praries , but to each there own . Stunning scenery from Sudbury to Winnipeg.

Lmao left T.O at 100 AM on Mon after a 12 hour camp out ( was getting a 3 day send off from Port Colborne ) ..

whoever is hesitating now ?? ...MEH you always have the option to return home . Thats no option for me . yup save up the $$$ it will be worth your while

Guys, I'm moving into my condo in Edmonton and decided that I'm gonna take on a roommate, so if any of you are looking for a place to live at the end of September (move in Sept 28th) then send me a PM. Here's some details:

2 bedroom, 2 full bath, I bought it brand new three years ago, about 980 Sq feet, washer/dryer, self contained heat and A/C unit. Balconey overlooking 82nd (Whyte Ave) with gas hook up for BBQ. I will furnish the place except for your bedroom, not sure where I'll buy the furniture but it'll probably be IKEA.

Its on Whyte Avenue but not right where all the bars are, its down by Bonnie Doon mall, so you'd have to drive or take a quick bus to the bars or walk about 20 minutes. In the mall there's a Safeway, Tony Romos, Target, Food court and a bunch of other small stores, there's also a bus stop right in front of the condo building, a Shell gas station across the street, a pub across the street and a Snap Fitness gym right there too. For photos and more details about the place, check out this link, its a pretty nice place: http://comfree.com/condo-for-sale-bonnie...rta-523108

One of the best parts will be that I'm barely ever going to be there, maybe a few days each month when I'm in Alberta working up north, I will definitely be out of the country from December until April, so that's four months you'll have the place to yourself and then after that, I'll just stay there on some of my days off. We'll figure out how much rent will be, condo fees include heat and water so it'll depend on the cable/internet/TV package we get but I'm thinking around $700-800/month, no lease just month to month. I'd prefer someone who works out of town, isn't a complete slob and can pay rent.

Hey that's a sweet building. That's right by that value village no? $254k I didn't know you could get a newer 2 bed condo in that area for under 300k. Nice!

Just sent you a PM scotian.

Guys, if any of you are looking for steady indoors work in Edmonton for the winter and have some concreting or formwork/shuttering experience, let me know.
The people I work for are looking to take on people at the moment.

(08-08-2014 11:28 PM)Laurifer Wrote:  I was livid pissed and was about ready to quit.

/venting

I've been there brother a few times over the past few weeks. I know where you're coming from. I'm back in the old "rectangle of regression" (Saskatchewan) right now and I think a few days will be all I can take of the place!