Moving to Manitoba! (From Iceland)

Hi, all.

I just wanted to say hi, really. I'm a 28 year old software engineer about to immigrate to Manitoba from Iceland. I'll probably be settling in Gimli but possibly Winnipeg, it all depends on job opportunities. Still, I'm willing to do basically whatever, so Gimli is definately where I'll start.

Apparently Manitoba's economy hasn't been run by completely incompetent and breathtakingly naive morons like in my country, the trust fund formerly known as the Republic of Iceland.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi, in case someone's up for a beer in early July. I'll be landing in late June, so I'll be up for social stuff in early July, once I've found a place to stay and applied to a couple of million business.

Oh, and the name's Helgi, not "Hell Geek".

Peace.

July's a great time to be in Winnipeg. You'll have a chance to see our busy, vibrant city and mingle with all the urbanites during festival season. Make sure you go to the Fringe Festival in the Exchange District!

Welcome to another Winnipeg forum, the more laid back one!
Glad you found us. Some of the regulars do get together so you'll have chances to meet them.
Ever seen Bjork?

Well Gimli may seem like a short distance to the peg for a job, it definately wont seem that way from November to April ( our fun increasingly longer despite global warming winter time ). It is NOT a short drive. And depending on where in Winnipeg you end up with a job you could be looking at a 2 hour commute.

Not saying not to do it, just dont be fooled by a map.


and WELCOME TO WINNIPEG!

oh and hell geek ( its your new kickname ) ... start applying now, alot of Winnipeg employers are perfectly fine with doing phone interviews when thinking of hiring people as long as they are qualified enough or better yet, just apply to one of the local head hunters and you may even have a job before you get here.

Welcome to Winnipeg Helgi. And good luck on your immigration and move. We have much expertise and experience in the sandbox for you to lean on and are happy to share.

And many sandbox members do get together for brunches and lunches. We are discussing a bar-b-que now. You'll be welcome.

BTW excellent English and grasp on the Canadian economy.

cheers, gom

here is one headhunter site that has helped alot of friends of mine

http://www.sapphireca.com/

currently 13 jobs in Winnipeg listed.

Wow, everyone's really helpful. Thanks, everyone.

Triniman wrote:Ever seen Bjork?

Actually, yes. Before she became famous she did some short films in Iceland and my mom happens to be a film maker (executive producer or something like that), so I met her multiple times in my childhood, but that was long before she became world famous. My mom even has some original photos of her, I keep telling her to try and auction the negatives but she doesn't want to for some twisted reason.

Deank wrote:Well Gimli may seem like a short distance to the peg for
a job, it definately wont seem that way from November to April ( our
fun increasingly longer despite global warming winter time ). It is NOT
a short drive. And depending on where in Winnipeg you end up with a job
you could be looking at a 2 hour commute.

Thanks for the hint. I've sort of decided to live in whichever city/town I get a job at. Driving to work at all seems like too much of a hazzle to me, I'd much rather use public transportation. For some reason I just hate driving altogether. I only took a driver's test to get rid of my family's constant whining about it.

Deank wrote:here is one headhunter site that has helped alot of friends of mine

Thanks a lot, man! Looks promising!

And thanks to all for the heads-up. My choice of destination seems like a wiser choice every day.

One question... how much could I expect to pay for a room? I just need a roof over my head until I get a job and get some income flowing. Anything with a bed and a radiatior will do until then. I've been trying to figure it out, but I'm having a hard time finding anything but hostels and motels which cost a lot of money, charging something like $80 per day. I need something that charges per month, or per week at least. I have a couple of contacts to help me out with it in Gimli so I'm not exactly on the street when I land, I'm just curious. I'd like to know as much as possible, in fact.

At the very least, you'll be able to get a room at Hostelling International in downtown Winnipeg the first few nights you're here. Check out craigslist and kijiji for Winnipeg apartment ads. There are some gems out there, though the affordable apartments (one-bedroom around the $500 mark) in a good neighbourhood are hard to find.

Well finding something in Gimli in the summer months would I think be rather difficult. But if you have contacts then perhaps it would work out
in a pinch.. got a tent? Seriously... book say birdshill park, its close by.. shower facilities are available..

a new winnipeg rent site just went online recently
http://www.winnipegrentnet.ca/

has lots of options.... BUT.... you may want to ask on here or with contacts you may already have in and around the city if an area is indeed a good place to go live... Some people get swayed by an online or newspaper advertisement and end up renting in a very crappy place.

Also, being downtown when without a car will help when getting around by transit.

There is a hotel in Winnipeg, also downtown, that lets furnished apartments by the week($500~). I can't recall the name just now but it is on Donald and St. Mary (area I think). Maybe other sandbox members know of what I speak.

ooo.. not to pry.. but are you of any particular religous persuasion? If so, getting in touch with a local church of the same type is often a good choice as well. Because often rooms become quite quickly available for very small amounts of money to people who "believe" the same way.

(as an example a friend of mine moved to Vancouver and got a room for $200 per month for the first 6 months in order to help him get acquainted with the area)

I believe that Gimli may be expecting a few of their countrymen to come over and work since the news of the economic difficulties has arisen.

Welcome to the Sandbox.

Manitoba Immigration hosted a meeting in Reykjavik recently. As I understand it is was very well attended. In addition to immigrants businesses are relocating to Manitoba also.

The sandbox is truly international now. We have an Italian and an Icelander as members. Plus ex-pat Americans. AND rosen!

Welcome to Sandbox and best of Luck to the future for you and family if you have one .

What field are you employed in, Helgi?

Ummm...

helgihg wrote:I just wanted to say hi, really. I'm a 28 year old software engineer

Heh heh

grumpy old man wrote:Ummm...

helgihg wrote:I just wanted to say hi, really. I'm a 28 year old software engineer

Heh heh

Ummm, yeah

Sussex Realty are managers of many apartment blocks, 427 Academy Road, 204 488 4444. When I needed an apartment for a worker that came in from out of town, I phoned Ron Campbell, the manager, and he sent us down to 250 Colony Street, and a huge 1 bedroom was $585 approximately per month, unfurnished. Right downtown across fron The bay, included a parking spot, air conditioning, kitchen. I would e-mail them or fax them when you are coming in and they will check out what vacancies they have, Tell them you want a month to month.
You can tell Mr. Campbell that Phil Rosen gave you his name.
Apartments are in short supply. If they have nothing, that is if you are going to need something in Winnipeg, let me know and I will get you 2 more managers from other agencies.
Month to month may be your best bet, but also the older management companies will generally want to get you to sign a one year lease. Explain to them that you are coming in from another country and need the flexibility, especially if you do not have a job yet. I don't think that I would tell them that, as that might scare them away!

G.O.M. I gave you a thumbs up for the above mention! Did you want to get back to +88?
If so can you unhook the 60 second delay in voting so i can do it in 13 minutes?
DeanK has asked me to get him back to -100. Is that Ok? Again , can you unhook the 60 second delay, because my time is very valuable!

Thanks, rosencrentz!

There are also furnished suites available sometimes.

anny wrote:There are also furnished suites available sometimes.

yeah but those a pretty expensive.. not really worth even 2 months of the extra rent.

NEver mind all this stuff about job availability, lifestyle, accomodation, and all that, what about important things? Are Icelanders circumcised?