Saskatoon Travel Forum

Hello, at present myself and my family live in the UK, however my husband has been offered a job driving trucks throughout the United States and Canada but based in Saskatoon. Obviously this is a big move. If anyone can help what are the average wages for a truck driver, do they earn good money? Is 50 to 60 thousand dollars a year a good wage out there. Also we have 3 children and I would like to know what the education standards are like out there. I apolgise for all the questions but we are trying to find out as much as we can before we make the decision to emigrate. Thanks in advance.

Saskatoon is on the prairies, which is quite different from England. In the summer there is a lot of sunshine but the winters are cold. The first winter
will be a shock but you will get used to it.
It is a 381 mile drive to Calgary and a 325 mile drive to Edmonton. You will have to drive long distance to go anywhere. Again you get used to it.
Average house price is $ 130,000 which is positive. Is $60 k a year adequate? It would be better if the wife worked to make it $ 90 k per year.
The University of Saskatchewan is a research oriented university and with their new synchnotron Saskatoon is becoming a high tech center. This has to spill over into the eductaion system.Google " Saskatoon School Board". Saskatoon is close to Nortern Alberta and the oil sands.There is lots of money up there. Do some more research .

My brother goes back and forth there, quite a lot as his girlfriend lives there and works at the University,
from his photos and stories it sounds like a brilliant place. More space, great people, fun things to do,
cheaper to eat out etc etc..... I think the wages will seem lower, but relative to life there. It certainly does sound very appealing to me - hope everything goes well for the big move, I honestly think it sounds as if you would have a better quality of life out there. Sure if not.... you can always come back. Hope all goes well!

Di

Saskatoon is a nice city-smaller but with everything you want or need. I believe that you would be pleased with the education system found there.

When we first arrived in Canada Saskatoon was one of the stops we made on our trans Canada journey from Montreal to Nanaimo. We had relatives there but the biggest shock which other posters have mentioned is its remotemess. Our relatives rarely got visitors from friends and family within Canada, let alone from overseas. In saying that I thought the town was quite nice during the summer but I imagine the winters extremly bitter. Its the size of a small english city or large town but I found the folks who live there to be very freindly. Earning $50-60 in "Toon" would be considered a fairly good salary especially if you could work too. Rent is pretty cheap but moving over from the UK you'd probably be able to by something farily quickly with a very small mortgage. Flights are plentyful via Toronto or Calgary, or direct flights are available from Edmonton and Calgary with Zoom. Don't know much about the education system out there but I do understand uni is pretty good.

you have to remember that long haul driving will be extremely differnt then what your husband and you are used to...prob gone for WEEKS at a time
as well there are plenty of small towns 20 min from the city which have extremely reasonable housing
our last neighbor was a long haul driver from England and went back home as they did not realize what long haul ment as in comparison