(12-31-2014 04:49 PM)Jack Of All Trades Wrote:  @seanchai

I'm in a metal trade, currently an apprentice. It sucks being on the short end of the stick till your a journeyman. Not gona lie, sometimes I get jealous of the high wages the oilfield guys get when they start out so high and the nice bonuses like fly in fly out etc. Then again, I don't have to deal with all the shit that goes on the rigs, so I'm happy about that.

I always hear of guys getting super nice jobs with no experience, but I've never had it that easy. I think I might be unlucky working up here compared to some of the other guys.

I'm sure it's frustrating to hear about people with zero qualifications in their field earning high wages from the jump. While someone like yourself is in a recognized trade and your not being justly compensated for your effort. However don't let the dollar signs fool you. In a few years you will be qualified and will be able move around as you please. Sick of these fucking Winters? How does Australia sound.

In a few years you'll have something that is significantly more important than fast money. You'll have the freedom that having a internationally recognized skill set brings. Whereas the rig pigs like myself are somewhat tied down to certain locations. While it's true that the Canadian North is not the only place drilling is taking place it's still a very location dependent and seasonal occupation.

If I had the option to be apprentice in a trade for four years I would certainly choose that over the rigs. Mainly because once your established in your trade, guess what you can do, work for yourself. Pick and choose your jobs, get a few men under you (no homo) and ultimately have some freedom in your life.

I think of Father from time to time who has his own plumbing business and although on the surface that may not appear to be a idyllic lifestyle the reality is he never gets out of bed for anyone else. He never does anything unless he wants to do it, that to me is ultimate freedom and an important aspect of being a man. And it's something that is achievable if you have a trade.

Hey everyone, my first posts here, finally got approved after almost a month of waiting lol.

I wish I had found out this thread a lot earlier as I had already made up my mind moving to Alberta through my own researches. I will be moving out in either the 3rd or 4th week of this month. This thread had been extremely helpful to me, it had eliminated many of my doubts and fears about coming out here in Alberta alone. But what I like the most is a REALISTIC expectation of what to expect when I arrive.

Myself is a recent Ontario university graduate with sales and office experience. Once I arrive after taking care of shelter, admin and tickets I will find/take any general labor/starter positions I can find related to Oil & Gas, if I can't find any, I will take any jobs to stay afloat. It probably isn't the best time of the year to move and given the current oil prices but I will tough it out.

I haven't figure out exactly what I want to do yet. For me it wasn't about making a quick cash and then bounce, it was more of a long term and permanent move. I don't plan going back to Ontario regardless what happens there. Like many have posted before, once I started working I will talk to different people and by then hopefully I will have a better idea on what to do.

I have to give to get, I wish I have a lot meaningful info to contribute at the moment, I hope this will change soon.

Good luck to anyone who is making the move to Alberta soon!

I got ridiculously unlucky with timing while trying to switch careers. I was a couple days short of getting something at the ideal company (twice in a row!) and then oil tanked. Now it is resume approaching time again. Hopefully I will get something related to my new career, otherwise in the meantime I can fall back to the old one or find something else (maybe welder's helper again, fun crazy times).

What website do you guys use to keep an eye in the oil and lng prices??

(01-05-2015 03:26 PM)Fuego Wrote:  What website do you guys use to keep an eye in the oil and lng prices??

its all about rig activity if you want work.
rigs are up right now, time to apply for drilling positions.

(01-05-2015 08:03 PM)Tresdus Wrote:  http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/crude-oil....meframe=1m

Thanks.

(01-06-2015 10:04 AM)oilbreh Wrote:  

(01-05-2015 03:26 PM)Fuego Wrote:  What website do you guys use to keep an eye in the oil and lng prices??

its all about rig activity if you want work.
rigs are up right now, time to apply for drilling positions.

I'm in a trade, currently in Grande Prairie, and Encana and CNRL have scaled down quite a bit which has slowed my work down a bit. I just want to keep an eye out on prices now because I'm a little worried

hey guys, I will be driving out to the west soon (like within 2-3 week's time) what about engine block heater and battery heater as they don't come standard in Ontario? Everyone here in Toronto is telling me oh you need engine block/battery heater in Edmonton, you won't be able to start your car in the morning if you don't have them. I have seen people on the posts mentioning about how to get a car/truck, I haven't seen anyone talking about engine block/battery heater. Maybe they come standard in Alberta? I just don't want to shell out another couple hundred dollars installing them on my leased car if I don't absolutely have to.

thanks!

The easiest way to avoid needing one is where you park. If you park in a heated garage you probably won't need it. Of course if you're out in the wilderness for work this won't apply. Same goes for street parking.

Also, your type of oil is important. 5W 30 synthetic is decent, but 0W 30 synthetic is the best for the extreme cold.

Most cars come with a block heater standard though. Check your manual to see if your car does, and if it doesn't, just get the 0W 30 when you get to Alberta at any lube shop. I would get the 0W 30 in any case.

You do mention you have a lease though, and sometimes you may void your warranty or service plan if you use oil that is not the type recommended by the manufacturer. You should check to see if this is the case.

(01-07-2015 05:32 PM)malil73 Wrote:  hey guys, I will be driving out to the west soon (like within 2-3 week's time) what about engine block heater and battery heater as they don't come standard in Ontario? Everyone here in Toronto is telling me oh you need engine block/battery heater in Edmonton, you won't be able to start your car in the morning if you don't have them. I have seen people on the posts mentioning about how to get a car/truck, I haven't seen anyone talking about engine block/battery heater. Maybe they come standard in Alberta? I just don't want to shell out another couple hundred dollars installing them on my leased car if I don't absolutely have to.

thanks!

I drove a 2000 Toyota Echo for two Alberta winters and never plugged it in, although the battery did die one day in January 2010 when it was below -30, what a dirty whore that was to replace!

Block heaters are nice to have, and some cars (older ones) just will not start when it gets real cold. You can buy one at an auto parts store for about 30 bucks and depending on your model put it in yourself pretty easily. You yank out one of the freeze plugs on the block and put it in its place. You tube is your friend. If it looks like yours would be too difficult for you to do, an auto shop will do it for $150 to $200 usually. Wait until you get somewhere cold so the mechanics have done it before.
Here in Alaska I feel like a block heater is a necessity, but no one I know bothers with a battery heater.

@Big Country, thanks for the tip, I just had my regular maintenance done last month, probably will be a while before I need oil change, if I do need to buy new oils, I will take your recommendation. Like you said it also depends on where I park, if my future room doesn't have a parking spot, then I will have to park on the street and I won't have a place to plug in.

@scotian, haha, your statement certainly makes me feel a little more confident about my car in the winter, I have a 2014 model, I leased it last year. I think what I will do for now is to buy a battery booster from Canadian Tire and use it if I can't start my car. If the issue persist then I will install a engine block heater in Edmonton.

@deerhunter, for sure if I am going to install a engine block heater, I will have it done somewhere reputable in Edmonton.

This would seem like an appropriate time for me to post on the subject of vehicles. Obviously as has been said before a 4x4 is worth it's weight in gold, engine block heater is also important and a garage to park it up in would be ideal. At the end of the day you can be lucky or unlucky with a vehicle a beater truck might make it through the Winter with no problem (mine is touch wood) or you could sink a few grand into something decent and it might shit out on you immediately.

I would advise anyone who's moving out here to get AMA Membership, this is probably a no-brainer for some of you but I was unaware of it until recently. I locked my keys in my truck a couple of nights ago, as is typical with life when it goes wrong it goes very wrong. It was cauld as fook as you all know, my wallet and phone were locked in their and I was a long ways from home. So I was just going to use a tool (a rock) to solve this dilemma, I've had to do this before, there's nothing worse than having to damage your own property.

Thankfully before I committed to this a jogger went by, I told him my dilemma and asked if I could use his phone. He told me to call AMA, they'll send someone out and you can pay for membership in cash when he gets here. Sure enough a 1/2 hour later I was in my truck. For the sake of $100 lads get it, it might save you and if your not retarded like me and don't leave your keys in your truck they also tow you if you get stuck.

Sidenote: My truck doesn't reverse, big shout out to the two forum members who recently helped me push it, ye know who ye are

Non essential construction projects are getting slashed or deferred. I was just told to go back and cut my 2015 drilling scope by 75%. Things might be getting dicey if you work for a contractor or consultant and your company isn't critical to operations.
Good luck guys. Keep working hard and smart and we'll all get through this in no time.

I was pm scotian on a question, but then this question will not just benefit me but also to anyone who has just arrived at the west or are coming to the west especially for those who are on a tight budget myself included.

On kijiji single rooms in Edmonton area goes for around $500-$800 plus damage deposits upward to a month's rent. I have been hearing things that the landlord here use the damage deposit as an extra way to earn some free money because they never plan to give it back at the end, they will also find some excuses not to. I have never lived in the west before so I could be totally/partially wrong about this.

May the more experienced folks here shed some more light on this question? Perhaps any tips/advices helping out our newbies , thanks!

The whole months rent for dd is whack as shit but it's super common.

I paid mine in cash and probably won't see it again but I won't pay last month's rent and tell my roomie to suck it if need be.

A good option is a post dated cheque for when you plan to move out. But even then landlords can be dicks

I've also heard terrible things about pretty much every property management company out there.

Also about your block heater question. You probably won't need it. my car is fine without it so far . just get a good winter coat, gloves, toque and you should be set

Are there rigs still hiring in Canada right now?

I drove through Nisku today and saw a few hiring signs but it's definitely way down from last January.

I saw one drilling company with a now hiring sign, but it didn't specify what kind of applications they're looking for. Couldn't even be drilling related for all I know.

(01-08-2015 07:18 PM)malil73 Wrote:  I was pm scotian on a question, but then this question will not just benefit me but also to anyone who has just arrived at the west or are coming to the west especially for those who are on a tight budget myself included.

On kijiji single rooms in Edmonton area goes for around $500-$800 plus damage deposits upward to a month's rent. I have been hearing things that the landlord here use the damage deposit as an extra way to earn some free money because they never plan to give it back at the end, they will also find some excuses not to. I have never lived in the west before so I could be totally/partially wrong about this.

May the more experienced folks here shed some more light on this question? Perhaps any tips/advices helping out our newbies , thanks!

I experienced this once with a house I rented in Edmonton for a year, the land lord refused to refund our $1100 deposit over some BS, we spent hours cleaning the house and I even paid a contractor to come over to fix a hole in the drywall. I was really busy with work and so was my roommate so we didn't do anything about it but probably should have, at the very least spray painted a big hairy cock on the front door or something. That same roommate had the same experience at the place he rented before this, he lost out on $1600 over a dented fridge, so yes, the rumours are true. Of course, I've had much better landlords, especially in Calgary who were totally cool and didn't rip me off, I'd say its hit or miss, best to just pay it and get working then see what happens.

Looks like its going ahead... again

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/525076...10th-time/

^^It might be vetoed still.

It will certainly be vetoed. Fourth last paragraph in the article mentions the veto.

It'll be reliant upon Jeb Bush or Mitt Romney winning the next election. Hard to believe Hillary Clinton would approve of it.

For Europeans looking to make a move to Canada better act fast as Canada is closing it's doors now it seems. Mostly to European countries for youth immigrant workers.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/poli...e22372492/

Quote:“Of note is that 24 of the 32 countries’ programs (predominantly in the EU) are slated to be cut between 50 and 99 per cent,” states the Oct. 27 document, which describes a letter from Mr. Alexander to Mr. Harper outlining the minister’s “optimal approach” for reforming the program.

“The letter notes that the cuts will present bilateral irritants in many cases, however consideration has been given to deferring any changes to the quota for South Korea until the [free trade agreement] has been ratified,” it states.

The letter goes on to say that the Prime Minister would respond to the minister in the next few weeks. The Dec. 12 document describes Mr. Harper’s decision.

“The PM indicated that 2015 quotas will be maintained at the 2014 levels but reductions will be implemented in 2016, based on a detailed assessment to be conducted by [Citizenship and Immigration] in consultation with [Foreign Affairs],” the document states.

Sources confirmed to The Globe that there will be no quota reductions when the 2015 program rules are announced soon but that future reductions have not been ruled out. The government is planning to increase its promotion of the program this year in an effort to get more Canadians to participate.

In 2012, 58,094 foreign youth came to Canada under the program, while only 17,731 Canadians went abroad.

I just read that article and was going to post it but you beat me to it. This is pretty shitty news for the fellas from overseas and I feel that its stupid to discourage the intake of capable, qualified, educated people from industrialized nations, while accepting tens of thousands of refugees every year (under pressure the Harper government just announced a huge increase in Syrian refugees this year). As shitty as it is, it doesn't surprise me it reeks of a knee-jerk almost populist move by Harper to look like he's doing something about the economy and foreign young people are an easy target, I'd like to see what he'll do about the TFW situation.

Other news stories of broke Maritimers and other east coast FIFO guys who are out of work: Maritimers working in the Alberta oilsands are feeling the pressure of plummeting oil prices, with some forced to return home jobless. http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/as-crude-pr...z3ONpgRomP

I say fuck those out-of-province guys, first dibs on work goes to us Alberta residents, the ones who made the move and invested in the province's future and especially those of us who own homes, which cost a lot more in Alberta than some butt-fuck nowhere town down east. Also, the FIFO guy's are often non-union workers who would never cross a pick line to stand up for the rights of us Alberta tradesmen, they actually undercut our wages, same goes for the TFWs. I'm saying all of that as someone from the east coast who's friends and family are FIFO workers.

I've been saying this all along; live within your means and save for a rainy day, you guys all got into this when it was on an upswing, especially the guys who first came out, but now its on an downswing and it could be a bit rough fellas. For those of you just starting out or who haven't made the move yet, it kinda sucks but that's the way she goes boys, the way she fuckin' goes!

I'm not really down with the male centric immigration changes. Alberta is already a sausage-fest. We need more women immigrating here.