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Build a life of opportunity in construction
Information for construction workers interested in moving to Alberta
Alberta
Canada 1*1
Alberta - for a life ofopportunity in construction
Located inwestern Canada,Alberta iswell knownforitsthriving energyindustry,
"Nowtheviewfrom mykitchen is outstanding sceneryand cosmopolitan cities.Asa resultofthedevelopmentof
ofsnow-capped mountains, itsvastenergyresources,Alberta hasoneofthefastest-growing economies inthe
it'sjustso beautiful." world.With an abundanceofconstruction opportunities immediatelyavailable,
Alberta isa greatdestinationforconstruction workers.
Alberta's high standard ofliving and excellentqualityoflifearesupported by
an excellent public healthcaresystem,world-classstate-funded education and
a huge rangeofleisureactivities.
Whetherskiing inthe RockyMountains, hikingthrough spectacularnatural
landscapesorexperiencingthe manyrestaurants,cultural eventsand
nightspots-Alberta has itall.
Alberta isa greatplaceto live.Whetheryou chooseto live in a smalltown ora big
city,theairisclean andyou'llfind someoftheworld's bestoutdooractivitieson
yourdoorstep- hiking,skiing, kayaking,camping,to nameafew.Alberta'scities
havean arrayofmuseums,theatres, restaurants,concertsand sporting events,
whilesmalltowns buzzwith clubs,festivalsand events reflectingtheirhistorical
past,ethnic rootsand local industries.
Alberta isexperiencingthestrongest period ofeconomicgrowth everrecorded
bya Canadian province. Itistheworld'ssecond-largestexporterandthe
fourth-largest producerofnatural gas.Alberta'soil sandsareestimatedto hold
moreoilthan all the Middle East reservescombined.Oil,gasand natural resource
companiesaregrowing and expandingtheirinvestmentsand infrastructure
intheAlberta oil sandsandthegrowth intheenergysectorisexpectedto
continue,translating intoa strong,sustainableeconomyand ongoing
demandforqualified workers.
BymovingtoAlberta,you will bejoining avibranteconomywith averyhealthy
job market. Forconstruction workers in particular,there has rarelybeen a more
exciting destinationto build a new life.
.
Living in Alberta - for a better quality of life
Athome Village,LakeLouise,MarmotBasin,
Albertansenjoyahighstandardofliving NorquayandNakiska.Cross-countryskiing
withnoprovincialsalestaxandthelowest andsnowshoeingarealsopopularsports
incometaxrateofanyprovinceinCanada. enjoyedthroughoutthearea.
Owningyourownhomecanbeareality Ifit’snightlifeyou’reafter,thenthe
whateveryourstageinlife. HouseUsKaremore cosmopolitancitiesofCalgaryand
affordableandspaciousthanthe and Edmontonhaveahugerangeofbars
arefittedwithallthemodernconveniences andrestaurantswithinternationalcuisine.
youneed.Albertansarealsoknownfor Musicfestivalsandperformancevenues
theirfriendlinessandwelcomingnature,and areregularlyplayedbythebiggestnamesin
witharangeofprogrammesdesignedto showbusiness.BothEdmontonandCalgary
helpyousettlein,itiseasytofeelrightat areproudoftheirperformingartscentres,
homeinyournewcommunity. whicharehometoseveraltheatregroups,
Albertahastwointernationalairports operacompaniesandsymphonyorchestras.
"Herewehavetheopen space.. rleogciaotneadlianiErpdomrtosnltoocnataedndthCraoluggahroyuatntdhe Thefamily
theopportunitytogoskiingor province.FlightstotheUK,Europeand WhenyoumovetoAlberta,youand
hiking ...there'sso muchto otherinternationaldestinationsdepartdaily. yourfamilywillhaveaccesstoeverything
theprovincehastoofferintermsof
do here." J Atleisure employment,healthcareandeducation.
V- Albertahaseverythingtoofferthosewho Healthcareandpubliceducationsystems
loveanoutdoorlife.Itishometothe inAlbertaareworld-class—accessibleto
famousBanffNationalParkandJasper yourwholefamilyfreeofcharge.Asa
NationalParkaswellas 500provincial skilledworker,yourspouseorcommon-law
parks,wilderness,recreationandother partnerwillbeeligibleforanopenwork
protectedareasforyoutoexploreand permitandmayworkforanyemployer,in
enjoy.Therangeofstunningnatural anyoccupation.
landscapesrivalsanywhereelseinthe Theweather
world,andprovidestheperfectbackdrop
Alberta’sclimatehas fourdistinctseasons:
foractivitieslikewalking,riding,cycling,
canoeingorgolf—allwithineasyreachof apleasantspring,ahotsummer,acolourful
themajorcities. autumnandasnowywinter.Daylighthours
rangefrom 16to 18hoursinJunetosixto
Inwinter,Albertaoffersunparalleledskiing eighthoursinDecember.Inthesummer,
andsnowboarding.Famousfordry,fluffy daytimehighsaverage20°Cto25°C
snowandbrilliantcloudlesswinterskies, andinwinter-15°Cto-5 °C.Annual
skiresortsintheCanadianRockiesare averageprecipitationranges from30cm
beyondcompare.Theprovinceisknown insoutheasternAlbertato40cmin
forworld-classskiresortssuchasSunshine northernAlberta.
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Alberta construction - a thriving industry
Alberta’sconstructionindustryrangesfrom Albertaisalsorapidlybecomingacentrefor
small-scalehousebuildingtobilliondollar innovationinconstruction,developingnewand
industrialprojects. effectivetechnologiestoenableittomeetthe
environmentalandengineeringchallengesfaced
Benefittingfromrobustoilandgasactivityin insustainingthescopeandpaceofdemandfor
recentyears,Albertahasseengrowthinallareas constructionservices.
ofconstructionincludinginfrastructureand
residentialprojects.Andthefutureislooking MovingtoAlbertawillmeanyouwilljoinlike-
good—theindustryisexpectedtocontinue mindedindividualswhothriveonachallenge!
growingfortheforeseeablefuture.Itisa
thrivingindustry.
Withsuchawiderangeofprojects,thereare
opportunitiesforworkthroughouttheprovince
inalargerangeofroles.WithinAlberta,the
constructionsectorismadeupofbothgeneral
andspecialitycontractingfirmsandtrades
people.Beyondthecoreconstructionprojects,
thereisalsoenormousgrowthininfrastructure
management,renovationandmaintenance.
Gary, Plumber (Calgary,Alberta)
"WemovedtoCanadaearlierin2008.Wefirstwenttoanemigrationshow,
wherewespoketosomepeoplefromAlbertaonthestands.Aftertalkingto
them,AlbertaandCalgaryjustfeltright. Idon'tknowwhatmadeourmindsup,
whetheritwasthelowhouseprices,thegoodworkoptionsorjustbeingclose
tothemountains-itjustfeltright!
Ithinkthemostdifficultthingwastheterminology.ButnowthatI'vebeenhere
forafewmonths,it'slikeI'vebeenhereforyears.Youpickitallupreallyquickly.
WorkinginAlbertaissolaidback.IhavefoundthatIcanstartandfinishwhen
wantaslongas getthejobdone."
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srta construction wants you!
ThesustainedgrowthinAlberta’soiland Therearenumerousjobopportunitiesin
gassectorisattheheartoftheeconomic Albertaforconstructionworkersfrom
boomintheprovince.Tosupportthe alldisciplinesandmarketsectors.Itis
majorcommercialprojects,infrastructure alsoanenvironmentwhereyoucanearn
andhousingneededfortheexpanding moremoney,beatthecuttingedgeof
population,experiencedworkersacross innovationandbehighlyvaluedasaskilled
allbuildingtradesareindemand. professional.Atthesametime,itisa
well-regulatedenvironmentforsupporting
Typicalrolesinclude:
andprotectingworkers,withstrong
Carpenters tiesbetweenthetradeunions,industry
associationsandbusinessowners.
Constructionlabourers
Craneoperators
Industrialelectricians
Roofers
Pipe-fitters
Steam-fitters
Welders
Manufacturingandprocessing
labourers
Heavydutyequipmentmechanics
Ironworkers
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Machinists
Long-distancetruckdrivers
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Becoming a construction worker in Alberta
WorkinginAlberta WheredoIstart? WorkinginAlberta
asaTemporaryForeignWorker
Alberta,inconjunctionwithindustry,sets DuetothestrongeconomyinAlberta,there
standardsforalltradestoensurethequality areavastarrayofopportunitiesforqualified Manyemployersareseekingoverseasworkers
ofworkishighandthathealthandsafetyisa tradespeople. tosupplementtheirteams.Withthehuge
priority.AlbertaApprenticeshipandIndustry growthintheeconomy,thereisashortage
Trainingisresponsibleforregulatingdesignated ofskilledworkers.Oncecompanieshave
tradeoccupationsinAlberta. Hereareafewplacestohelpyoufind demonstratedthattheycannotrecruitsufficient
Therearetwocategories: employmentasaconstructionworkerinAlberta: Albertaworkers,theyarefreetoseekemployees
fromabroad.Tofindoutmoreaboutliving
www.albertacanada.com/construction
Compulsorytradessuchasplumbers,welders andworkinginAlberta,visit:
andsteam-fitters. www.alberta-learning.ab.ca/ www.AlbertaCanada.com/immigration.
employment/jobpostings/main.asp
Optionaltradessuchascarpenters,
millwrightsandinstrumenttechnicians. www.alis.gov.ab.ca/employment/
Ifyouwishtoworkinacompulsorytrade,you jobpostings/industry.asp
willneedtohaveyourexperienceassessedby www.albertacanada.com/industries
AlbertaApprenticeshipandIndustryTraining /859.html
beforearrivinginAlberta.OnceinAlberta,you
arerequiredtoworktowardsattainingyourtrade www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca
certificationwithinthefirstsixmonths. V
Whenyousuccessfullypassthetrade
examinationandreceiveapositiveletterof Couldthisbealifetimecommitment?
declarationfromyouremployer,youwillbe
issuedatradecertificate.Oncecertified,youwill Thisisentirelyuptoyou.Therearetwotypes
ofimmigrationstatuswithinCanada.Youcan
beeligibletoapplyfortheAlbertaImmigrant
NomineeProgram(AINP)andwillalsobe eitherapplyasaTemporaryForeignWorker
orapplyforPermanentResidentStatus.Many
eligibleforaworkpermitextensionfromthe
GovernmentofCanada. peoplewhocometoAlbertaasatemporary
foreignworkergoontoobtainpermanent
residentstatusinduecourse.
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Genera!websites Constructionwebsites
GeneralinformationonimmigrationtoAlberta: AlbertaBuildingTradesCouncil:
www.AlbertaCanada.com/immigration www.albertabuildingtrades.com
AlbertaImmigrantNomineeProgram: ConstructionOwnersAssociationofAlberta(COAA):
www.AlbertaCanada.com/ainp www.coaa.ab.ca
Workpermitapplicationformsandvisainformation: CanadianWeldingAssociation:
www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions.asp www.cwa-acs.org
Countriesandterritoriesrequiringvisas: AlbertaConstructionAssociation(ACA):
www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp www.abconst.org
Medicalexaminationrequirements: CalgaryConstructionAssociation(CCA):
www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/medical/medexams-temp.asp www.cca.cc
JobsinAlberta(provincialwebsite): ChristianLabourAssociationofCanada(CLAC):
www.alis.gov.ab.ca/jobseeker www.clac.ca/index.asp
Workinginatrade: ConstructionLabourRelationsAlberta(CLRA):
www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca/working_in_alberta www.clra.org
EdmontonConstructionAssociation(EAC):
www.edmca.com
MeritContractorsAssociation:
www.meritalberta.com
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iDm-iLiirilinlfl1.e"quee«trA^rncihvivceasUCAaNnAaUd/a3
For further information contact:
Alberta Foreign Worker Hotline
Phone: 001)7804276419
(
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.AlbertaCanada.com/construction
ISBN:978-0-7785-7844-4 /dlbsrfa
©2008GovernmentofAlberta
PrintedinUKforfreedistribution Canada 1*1
