00:00:00:10 - 00:00:11:01
Unknown

00:00:11:03 - 00:00:33:15
Unknown
Welcome to the Move Rural Canada podcast, where every week we showcase incredible businesses and rural Northern Canada businesses that are not only growing but are looking to hire. We're here to show you companies and communities outside of the big cities that are building stronger and more inclusive workplaces, workplaces that want and are encouraging newcomers, immigrants and refugees to work with them.

00:00:33:17 - 00:00:52:05
Unknown
Let us be your guides to help you find the best places in Canada to not only immigrate, but build a career in Seattle. I'm your host, Leah Mitchell, and I am your co-host, Lindsay Rubeniuk. Join us as you learn about all of the amazing career opportunities in places that you may not have ever thought of moving. Let's get started.

00:00:52:07 - 00:00:57:06
Unknown
I'm.

00:00:57:08 - 00:01:21:10
Unknown
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the new ten minute change seen here in the Manitoba. And we have with us Gabrielle Swan. She is a rural community member and the chair of the Destination Marketing committee. We also have Annalynne Le TVO. She has been in the Pas for over 12 years and she is the manager of the PA Immigrant Services.

00:01:21:15 - 00:01:44:13
Unknown
Welcome everyone. Thank you so much. Thank you. I just have to add and I mean, this isn't I've always loved the North. I moved there when I was younger to Thompson with my husband. He worked for Comair, so I was a teacher up there. He was a pilot and I just loved it. It was beautiful. And my, my biggest regret is I didn't get to the part.

00:01:44:13 - 00:02:01:17
Unknown
And Flynn flaunt enough. I always wanted to go to the Trapper's Festival and I never made it. There's still time. Yeah, I know, so time to to to to do. We have to come back to the park. I know, I know, I'm it's on my list. Yeah. My kids are older now so I can, like, drive them, so.

00:02:01:17 - 00:02:25:03
Unknown
Yeah. Hi. Maybe next year. So we're going to get started right into it. I was really happy that we were able to do this, because you both have super cool experiences that I would love to. You know, Lindsay and I want to really chat about, because I think a lot of people don't think about moving north. And I'm always like, you should move north, even if you don't stay there forever, you probably will end up staying because it's amazing.

00:02:25:07 - 00:02:44:17
Unknown
But it's a great way to just even start your career. Get some really cool experiences. I know for myself and I moved north and taught I was head of my department in a year. You know, you wouldn't have got that in Winnipeg or a large city. So unless you want to kind of start with you, what was your experience?

00:02:44:20 - 00:03:11:17
Unknown
How did you end up, moving to The Pas? It's a long story. So I came to Canada by 2013. So that was about 12 years ago. So temporary foreign worker and I had that contract for two years to work at subway, and I didn't even know, the Pas, you know, I was searching the place when I was in Taiwan because prior to this journey in Canada, I was in Taiwan for a contract also for about six years.

00:03:11:17 - 00:03:31:15
Unknown
So I worked in a light company. So we we have this product called Lady. So we inspect them. So I was a visual inspector. I had an opportunity to work there for six years. And I met a lot of people, you know, from different, you know, country also. But it's a different lifestyle compared to kind of that.

00:03:31:17 - 00:03:47:22
Unknown
So. And in Taiwan, it's not that far from the Philippines. It was just like two hours, you know, if you go, you know, right on the plane. But prior to that, I had to your background, you know, teaching back home. But, you know, as I mentioned, you know, it's not enough, you know, to support your family.

00:03:47:22 - 00:04:10:18
Unknown
Even I have this. Yeah. So you have to you got to find, you know, a good opportunity to to get a better life for your, for your family. So that was the, experience I had before I came here. And then the my journey began. When I came to Canada, it was the challenges and lonely, you know, experience, you know, because I have no no one here.

00:04:10:20 - 00:04:28:23
Unknown
They I didn't have family, even friends. I know my employer, but he wasn't, you know, he wasn't living in the past like he live in Winnipeg. I was farm, he just took me here and then brought me here and then dropped me somewhere and then stuck, you know, working. You know, it's no no supports or anything like nothing.

00:04:29:00 - 00:04:47:23
Unknown
No, nothing. When I came here, it was just I just know the place, the path. And there's no offense like settlement like this in, in, you know, in the previous. So it was hard to find resources. You know, I only know the library. So what you can bring, you know, and start something, you know and use their computer.

00:04:48:01 - 00:05:05:23
Unknown
But having a settlement, it was a big relief. You know, that's why I found my passion, you know, to help people. You know, who's coming here and help them, you know, navigate in this community. And, you know, we shared all the resources that we have. And have you found the resources have really grown since you've come here?

00:05:06:02 - 00:05:32:03
Unknown
Like they there's a lot more supports for newcomers moving to the park. Yes. Yeah. You know, like living here for for over 12 years I've seen the changes, so many changes. And, you know, a lot of, businesses close and also open up, you know, that that's that's the, you know, like, changes that. I've seen here. A lot of people moving also coming here, you know, it's it's a hard decision to to leave and say that.

00:05:32:04 - 00:05:47:19
Unknown
Yeah, I'm going to stay here. It depends what you want to do. The lifestyle you want. I think if you're young, you want to move to the city and, you know, have there, enjoy the life there. But if you are, you know, like, you know, going to this age, like 40, you want the quiet, I think life.

00:05:47:21 - 00:06:07:16
Unknown
That was, the thing that I found here in the past. I was young when they moved here, but then now I'm also so I the city. But I live in the city. Like when I was in Taiwan, it was a city. It was a huge city. And then a lot of people, I also have that, you know, like homesick.

00:06:07:16 - 00:06:28:00
Unknown
I felt the homesick, but it was totally different in Canada because this is on fire from from my home. Yeah. So, how did you when you got down your subway contract or how did you move out from that? So when you were working at subway, then where did you transition to after that? I'm glad I yeah, that's a good question.

00:06:28:00 - 00:06:53:08
Unknown
So when I was in Taiwan, they had this, agency, I think they give this poster to people, you know, if you want to work in Canada, there was an opportunity to work in the fast food. There was the, the the biggest here before, like, okay, you can come in, work as a temporary foreign worker, but you have to pay the agency and you have to give them money in order for them to process you paperwork and staff.

00:06:53:10 - 00:07:15:00
Unknown
So I have a savings. When I was in Taiwan because I was working for like almost six years when when I found that opportunity. And so I said, okay, I'm going to give it a try because my contract is ending, you know, after six years and I have to go back to the Philippines. So the money I had before is I said, I can put a business in the oil, to make it grow.

00:07:15:00 - 00:07:51:00
Unknown
And, but then my friend was saying, okay, try Canada because they're saying, you know, they offer, you know, a better opportunity. And then they offered permanent residence for you to bring your family here. So then when I said, okay, I say that it was a big decision for me to do it because I have to. And the savings that I had in Taiwan just to pay the agency, because coming here, it's not just I've known a lot of people that they came here and they never, you know, go to the agency to directly travel, though, and then employer will hire them and come here.

00:07:51:02 - 00:08:21:02
Unknown
And but for me, it's a different pathway. I have to decide, very smart because the money that I'm making in that one, which is supposed to be I'm, I'm planning to use it for business. I have to pay the agency just for me to get here. Yeah. So make it short story. Short, I came here in 2013, so I think the the process is it takes 6 to 7 months, so the agency passes my people, works, and then I get subway as an employer.

00:08:21:04 - 00:08:38:16
Unknown
And then I came here. I was so excited. And also, you know, like, you know, nervous a little bit because I don't know the people, I don't know the culture and I know who I'm working with, the, the people that I have to work with. So it was, you know, you have to be brave to do it, I guess.

00:08:38:16 - 00:09:06:16
Unknown
And, you know, don't be scared to to meet people and know the people. You know, when you come to the strange places. And where did you go after subway? What was your sort of your next step in finding a position after that? Yeah. So it's a good question too. So after, working at some way. So I had two year contract and then they extended it because I don't have it was a close work permit, so I can't work with any employer if I decided, you know, and I'm not happy with that job.

00:09:06:18 - 00:09:31:02
Unknown
So even I wasn't happy because, you know, things doesn't go smoothly when you came here. This are limited resources when you are right there. So even if I wanted to try some new one, I have no choice to stay in that employer. So I just work for four years and then, sometimes you meet people in your life that will help, you know, to, you know, to, to the, to the level you want it.

00:09:31:02 - 00:09:52:17
Unknown
So ask me, get my PR. After a few years, I think it was back 2017. So like four years after. And then that's when I decided to to applying for a job at the Northern Health region. So I get this job, it's, medical receptionist. I worked there for like three years, full time, and even up to now, I still work as a part time.

00:09:52:17 - 00:10:17:06
Unknown
So I have to help them. You know, if I'm if I'm available in the weekends, I do accept some shifts in staff. And then I found this job after two years working at the Northern Health Region. And I found that this is so interesting to me. And every time I meet newcomers, I feel like I know them already because of the experience I had, and I'm connected already to them.

00:10:17:08 - 00:10:40:12
Unknown
So no matter where they came from, you know, whether, you know, can they not just the Philippines or India or Nigeria? So I just found myself. This is my purpose, I guess. And if all my has been here. So that was a valid reason to stay here. Yeah, that's a good reason. It is. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So that's that's an amazing experience.

00:10:40:12 - 00:10:58:02
Unknown
Thank you for sharing that. Tell us about your experience because I think it's a very interesting one as well because you come from a larger city initially as well. Right. That's right, that's right. Yeah. So I grew up in Winnipeg, which is about just for context, for people that aren't familiar with the region. It's about a seven hour drive.

00:10:58:04 - 00:11:23:04
Unknown
If you're driving regulation limits, north of Winnipeg. So I grew up there, but then I left school after high school and went to Toronto and then went to New York and then was in San Francisco for a little while, and then, Montreal and Miami. And then I ended up actually meeting a gentleman who, who grew up here who became, my fiancé recently.

00:11:23:06 - 00:11:43:01
Unknown
So similar to an in we're both we both found love here and stayed for it. But that's what that was. What kind of the driving factor? What brought me up here in the first place? So, you know, I had met, as people do nowadays on a dating app. He was very committed to his community up here in the PA and made it very clear from our first date, you know, this is where I live.

00:11:43:01 - 00:12:02:03
Unknown
This is this is my lifestyle, and this is where my work is. And I'm not willing to compromise that. So as long as you're okay with that, we can keep going out. And I said to him, well, I kind of. And the, you know, Nomad and I work remotely, and as long as you're okay with that, we can keep going out.

00:12:02:05 - 00:12:22:17
Unknown
And then I came up to visit after about six months of dating, and I never I never left my. So. Gabrielle, I guess. So, Gabrielle, when you said, do you do remote work, that was going to be my question for you about what do you do? And I know, I know, we're gonna ask you about what you do currently, but.

00:12:22:17 - 00:12:44:04
Unknown
So you have the ability to work remotely and that works up in the Pas, like you would say for people that are doing remote work, that that's a that's a strong possibility, then. Absolutely. We have a couple different options locally for internet. And, we ended up going with the Starlink setup. So, we're, we're I live even further outside of town.

00:12:44:04 - 00:13:03:03
Unknown
I'm about a ten minute drive outside of the the port proper. So technically I live in the rural municipality of Kelsey, in an area called Rose Island, which is really beautiful. A lot of small acreages and some larger acreage is up where we are. And yeah, so I work for a company. I, I'm, I'm happy to share if that's okay.

00:13:03:05 - 00:13:26:16
Unknown
Called insight which is base to their global headquarters is based in Arizona. And their Montreal headquarters is a Canadian headquarters. So I report to the Montreal office. I technically work in eastern time, so it's at 1018 for me and work hours. And I live in central, and it's great. I end work an hour earlier than everybody else has.

00:13:26:17 - 00:13:44:18
Unknown
So I get a little bit of, flexibility with my schedule. And what was your experience, starting out living in a smaller town because, like you said, you've been in cities your whole life. Was. Was that an adjustment for you initially? You know, I had been looking for something like Allen's had a little bit more, relaxed.

00:13:44:18 - 00:14:12:07
Unknown
When you're in a city, it's very, Go go go go go. You have to be extremely efficient with how you plan things. You know, you you're just being pulled in a lot of different directions, and it's a very competitive environment. The pause is not that it's a very slow pace. It's not competitive in the sense that, you know, there is there aren't 17 or 20 other people trying to do the exact same thing that you're trying to do.

00:14:12:09 - 00:14:33:07
Unknown
You know, my my partner has a small plumbing business and he has an employee, and he's very important to our community because there's only one other ticketed plumber in our community other than himself. So, you know, there's not a lot of competition to the point that when people have needs, it's hard because he can't work 24 hours a day.

00:14:33:07 - 00:14:47:03
Unknown
Nobody can. So you end up having to say no a lot. So when I first came up here, you know, I was introduced to our circle of friends, and one of the same the second week I was here, somebody said to me, you know, anything that you want to do in the Pas, you can do here.

00:14:47:05 - 00:15:08:21
Unknown
If you have an idea for a business or a vision for what you want to create in your life, you can do that here. And you can do it successfully. And you can do it with a really great support system and with low competition. So really what that means is for somebody that's coming from a different country or a different background that has an idea of what they want to create for themselves.

00:15:08:21 - 00:15:32:14
Unknown
If you try to do that in a city, there's 1002 thousand, 10,000 other people trying to do that alongside you. The real estate costs are really expensive here, and it's a lot less expensive to get into the game. So if you're coming like an Olympian without a lot of support, without any family, without any resources, it's really hard in the city to get anywhere.

00:15:32:15 - 00:15:55:09
Unknown
Whereas if you come here and you're in that same position, you can really create something for yourself. You can create something legacy for your family that you can pass on to your children. There's a lot of really businesses in town that you know would be an amazing thing to pass on to children. Some of those people don't even have children, so they're looking for young, hungry entrepreneurs that want to come and take over those businesses, buy those, turn them over.

00:15:55:09 - 00:16:13:05
Unknown
And we've seen that time and time again. And and I'm sure you have an even closer perspective to that as a newcomer. Families that have bought local businesses that are running them successfully and really being able to bring over their whole family because there's also jobs for their whole family when they come over. So there's a lot of that happening here.

00:16:13:07 - 00:16:33:20
Unknown
I just speak from a non newcomer standpoint as well. We see a lot of really good talent coming to our community because again, of that low competition. So there is a woman that meet here recently from Ottawa, who's working for the Northern Health Authority. And it's something to do with mental health awareness and supports in our community.

00:16:33:20 - 00:16:54:19
Unknown
But she was working on a national level before. She's very young. She wants to move up in her career and get experience. It's a little bit like the startup world. Being in a rural community, you know, you wear a lot of hats in the areas that you're you're working in, but you get that broad experience. You're given opportunities to actually lead projects and take things on and develop things in a way that really can help you make your mark.

00:16:54:19 - 00:17:10:20
Unknown
So whether you choose to stay and build a life here around that, or whether you choose to go and follow a different path and go to a big city, in the end you're going, better equipped to do the job. You're going with more skills that's going to help separate you from the competition that we talked about earlier.

00:17:11:01 - 00:17:33:04
Unknown
And you're going from a position of have as opposed to have not. So this is a place where whatever you want to have, you can create. I feel like you nailed it pretty much exactly that. Like, you know, that's exactly it. Like there's just so much effort, unrealized offer too, that people don't realize that you can do. Because like you said, there's there's no competition at every small community we've talked to.

00:17:33:04 - 00:17:53:22
Unknown
They're like, here's an opportunity right here. Here's an opportunity right here. Like, you know, no, you didn't last year. I remember people in this community talking about, oh, there's 300 open job postings right now, and I don't know what that number is exactly today, but there were 300 open jobs. So in the PA area in the past specifically.

00:17:54:04 - 00:18:15:12
Unknown
And so it's it's you know, people are always and oh, it's so hard to get a job. It's just come here if you want to work, if you're willing to step up and do the job, like obviously I don't think it was an Elon's dream to work at subway. I'm for. I can confidently say it was never her dream, but just because I know her well, I'm just thinking that it would be so.

00:18:15:12 - 00:18:35:00
Unknown
So exactly. And like, if you're the kind of person that's willing to do something that's maybe not exactly your dream job, you can then turn that into your dream job. So there's like an island, which is a pretty special thing. And I think a lot of other areas, it's not that supportive. I did also just want to mention one other thing, because I noticed it last week.

00:18:35:00 - 00:19:00:00
Unknown
I was at a nail salon in town. And there's a couple of them, but not a lot. Again, because it's a little competition here. But I noticed when I was leaving the salon, they do, you know, facials and things like that there, too. And I noticed they had a business card for one of their competitors at the times, which I thought was just, you know, really sweet and just kind of sets the tone of how we are here in the Paul and the surrounding communities.

00:19:00:00 - 00:19:17:03
Unknown
We call it the tri community because it's the Paul, it's the opacity at creation, and then the Rural Municipality of Chelsea and all of the people, from what I've seen and experienced in the last three and a half years, they're very supportive of each other. People aren't here to undermine each other or step on each other's toes.

00:19:17:03 - 00:19:38:16
Unknown
I'm sure it happens from time to time, but it's not an intentional thing. You know, there was a friend of mine who was a business owner and someone was saying just yesterday, yeah, if he sounds a lot of things at his store and he always does a walk around the mall first to make sure if he's thinking about bringing something in to somebody else in this area, selling this already, because if they are, then I'm not going to sell it because somebody is already doing it.

00:19:38:16 - 00:19:56:00
Unknown
But if they're not, then I'll fill that gap. And I think that's just a really beautiful sentiment for how we kind of work together here as much as possible. So I'm going to follow that up and put you guys on the spot here a little bit and just even throw me a couple examples. But let's go back to your workforce opportunities.

00:19:56:00 - 00:20:14:12
Unknown
Right. And I agree I agree with you, Gabrielle. Everybody has to start somewhere. Even the young Canadians. You know, I think that you could honestly say everybody's had a CSR, a job, a customer service some way, right? Like nobody jumps in, not even a Canadian jumps in to, you know, work to the restaurant to a nice clean.

00:20:14:14 - 00:20:34:10
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We did. It also doesn't matter if you're a young Canadian or if you're somebody that has to immigrate. We all start with those kind of jobs. So it just it's, you know, it creates like experience. So when we talk about the pot also, they don't let me forget to follow this up. But when we talk about the pot afterwards, I want to hear more about what the pot is.

00:20:34:10 - 00:20:51:14
Unknown
And then we looked it up. You're going to see that. Everybody okay. Call it the pass because this pays. And I think we'll talk about that, the history and the meat and stuff like that. But let's just jump back though. Workforce. What are some workforce opportunities because we just generally say, oh, there's lots to do. But like, are we talking education?

00:20:51:14 - 00:21:17:22
Unknown
Are we talking trades? Are we talking mining? You know, so just some examples. So when people are thinking they could say, yeah, that seems like something I'm able to do. So we have the big company here called Sam Seiki Peak and Ethan Kraft in a recent they pass some paper, you know, products. And so for people that has that, you know, experience in that industry, so they have that opportunity to come in within, they offer good benefits and good wages for people.

00:21:17:22 - 00:21:37:03
Unknown
So that's something that we offered here in the North like, I think when it comes to wages, we have very competitive grades, you know, you know, in, in this community. So I think that's a really good reason, you know, for people to stay in, you know, because if you leave in to the, you know, big city, you know, you won't find that opportunity in depends what kind of job you have.

00:21:37:05 - 00:22:08:18
Unknown
But yeah, I found this community, you know, oh for good wages for, for for people, you know, to work in that company. Also we have University College of North. So I think, you know, one of the top 20, 25, employers, you know, in, in this area, in this community. So people who wanted to go for education. And if you want to get a good program, you know, like nursing, you know, they can go, and, you know, the University College of North, also the Northern Health region, which provide medical, you know, job, services.

00:22:08:18 - 00:22:30:07
Unknown
So, also, it's my employer and from before I get this job. So it's a good opportunity. And I think they have that program that, you know, if you have that experience back home or education and you can, you know, bridge that here and then get this, you know, nursing degree or health care aid, you know, it's very popular in common here in town.

00:22:30:07 - 00:22:52:00
Unknown
So other is, Photo Depot and some local businesses and found that offer good wages. And I was also working at women's shelter before it was a part time job. And I was working in the hospital also, working with, First Nation people. Are these clients, you know, they have this trauma story that, you know, they were abused by their partner.

00:22:52:00 - 00:23:10:03
Unknown
So working there, I feel like I'm so lucky in here because I never had an experience in the past. But seeing this woman, you know, get abused, and it was a good experience for me to to know them. Some kind of a story. I don't know. I like to be able to share some other, you know, opportunity and.

00:23:10:05 - 00:23:33:05
Unknown
Yeah, you really touched on on the key ones and some things I just wanted to add to it. With regards to KP, Canadian craft paper, you can start as an unskilled laborer there. And they provide opportunities where you're getting paid to be trained to do whatever aspect of the job that interests you. So, there's a definitely opportunities for growth there.

00:23:33:05 - 00:24:14:16
Unknown
And then again, to point the compensation from that specific employer. It's it's very competitive. Especially for unskilled. And then as you, you gain the skills through their training programs, obviously your increases in wage are reflected to match what your education and the learning that you do. There and then with regards to Yukon University College of the North as well, I know friends of ours who are instructors there that are doing continuing education programs and, you know, leveling up their own university educations, through different programs and having opportunities to go to conferences that the school pays for.

00:24:14:18 - 00:24:37:08
Unknown
So if you have, again, a vision of what you want for yourself and you want to start, you know, start over here and end up over there, there are paths through employment here where they will help to cover some of those expenses for you. So that can be very valuable again, especially somebody coming that doesn't have the same resources that maybe somebody whose family has been in Canada for several generations has.

00:24:37:10 - 00:24:55:12
Unknown
I think it's helps to level the playing field a little bit. And it's nice that you don't have to move, right. Like you don't have to go to Winnipeg for education. You can live, work and get your training, you know, through UCM. And I think that's yeah, that's really nice. Are there a lot of would you say, sort of entry level customer service positions as well?

00:24:55:12 - 00:25:12:15
Unknown
Like, you know, like you talked about subway like sort of more of that for maybe someone who's moving, who has maybe lower level and you've got maybe can't get those professional jobs right away. Definitely. And there's supports too. Like, I don't want to I don't have permission to speak on behalf of other employers, in the community. So I want to be mindful of that.

00:25:12:15 - 00:25:36:10
Unknown
But just some of the things that I know about certain, you know, we'll call service jobs, there's people who own a service business, a restaurant, for example, and they also own an apartment building. So when they're helping people to come over to fill those service jobs, they're also able to provide them with low cost housing that's safe and clean and, and, you know, maintained.

00:25:36:12 - 00:25:58:14
Unknown
So it's not just, oh, here, show up to this job that again, you know, we're going to just say it's not everybody's dream job to, to do that business, but it's a start a stepping stone. And then you have this additional layer of support with some of the owners there. And I know and a little be able to speak to that more in terms of what some of the additional supports I know some of the other service restaurants can provide to.

00:25:58:16 - 00:26:15:10
Unknown
Yeah, and I'd be good to know what all as a newcomer moves to the part, what what supports are offered. So I think that that's really important for people. Right. To know, like, how can they get their English, how can they, you know, do all those things that they need to do? Yeah. So yeah, that's a good question.

00:26:15:10 - 00:26:42:17
Unknown
Also because working in this sector, when they come here, when when you say newcomers, you know, you would, you know, probably, you know, ask about a lot about the language, you know, like before they came here, they don't speak. But then after a few years, they able to speak and communicate. So that's one of the success that, I've seen for one of my friend that moved here, I think, five years ago, and when she came here, barely speak English.

00:26:42:18 - 00:27:02:06
Unknown
You know, the speak, yes or no? And then her name and that was her. So it was hard for me to understand her, you know, at the beginning. But then I never gave up helping her. So I referred her to, to study online, like, like online platforms, like the, say, English online and, but also it doesn't work for some people like her.

00:27:02:06 - 00:27:32:19
Unknown
So we have some resources here, like a learning center. And they provide this language support for people, you know, so they can go and study or, you know, practice their English. And then after six months, one year, they will give them, you know, this, a mature graduate diploma and then they can register. And then the success that I've seen from her is after two years, she graduated in the, mature diploma, and, and now she's working as, administration and then dental clinic, and then she can communicate with people.

00:27:32:19 - 00:27:59:23
Unknown
And that was, you know, like, it's funny stories to share because seeing her, you know, success, you know, and how she, she, she, she started here and then through here. And she's very active in community also. And she was volunteering, you know, every time we have events here, so is a good one. And also we also provide in, in our office we have some conversation that they can come and practice, you know, and we have some, you know, very good volunteers.

00:27:59:23 - 00:28:18:12
Unknown
You know, the Veronika, previous teacher before and they would volunteer their time to, to have this conversation for newcomers so they can practice and meet new people. And it was a good way, you know, to learn the language. I think you have to speak it and practice it for you to to be able to speak and communicate.

00:28:18:14 - 00:28:33:04
Unknown
And that all people who come here, they know how to speak the language. And that's great to hear that. Their support. So that's that's the realm I work in, is working with companies and language. And I mean, that's the number one thing I tell people, you, you have to support your employees. You have to have the language supports.

00:28:33:04 - 00:28:51:08
Unknown
Otherwise people can't grow into those other professional positions. And especially I think, you know, in a place like the PA, if you want people to stay, you have to offer those support so that they stay right for. And that's for anything, not just language. But, Gabriel, like you mentioned, there needs to be housing. There needs to be people need to see, you know, opportunities.

00:28:51:10 - 00:29:13:19
Unknown
And so in terms of that, Gabriel, can you speak a bit about the PA, like what? How large is it, in terms of population and things like housing that I was sort of looking beforehand it it's pretty affordable, like. Yeah. In terms of size, it depends who you ask it on which day. But, we say about 5000 people in the PA proper, which is in the within the town limits.

00:29:13:19 - 00:29:37:18
Unknown
And then there's about another 5000 people in the Rural Municipality of Chelsea, which is where I live. And then there's about another 5 or 7000 people on, on the reserve. On OCN. Yeah. So a collect and bind were about 15,000. But then our community services, a larger, scope than that as well, because there's a lot of smaller communities around us, some fly in community.

00:29:37:18 - 00:29:58:01
Unknown
So we have a really great hospital here. And a lot of people are coming in just to utilize us for services like that. And I was looking just at how this is that, I mean, I was seeing houses between the 200 to 400,000, which to me, I mean, that's amazing, a nice house. It's not. Yeah. Like in Winnipeg, if you're getting a house for 2 to 400,000, it's made.

00:29:58:01 - 00:30:16:15
Unknown
It probably needs a lot of work or it's really old or it's in, you know, a neighborhood that maybe isn't safe. And here that's that's like a luxury home. Like it's a beautiful home, like. Yeah, million dollar home somewhere else. That's I, you know, I just live about 15 minutes north of Winnipeg, and I would say a starter home is over 400,000 where I am.

00:30:16:15 - 00:30:35:23
Unknown
And that's like a three bedroom bungalow, you know, built 40 years ago, you know. So yeah, that's and that's another great example of you can come to the park, you can get a good paint job and you can buy a good house, you know, and you can afford that. And I think and as a young person that's so hard to do in a city, it's you can't do it in a city, you know, you can.

00:30:35:23 - 00:31:03:13
Unknown
And the other thing I just wanted to circle back to really quickly with regards to the language, we have a really strong French speaking community here as well because of the meaty roots of our area. So for people who are French speakers that are newcomers or just French speakers in general that want opportunities, and I know, Leah, you had mentioned, you started out as a teacher in Thompson, and after a year we're running a division, I think our superintendent of the of the school division.

00:31:03:19 - 00:31:23:22
Unknown
He was he was promoted from principal of the high school to superintendent of the school division last year. And I think he's only a couple of years older than me. So he's early 40s. And to be a superintendent of a school division at 40 years old is almost unheard of. And I remember him speaking about that. And if he wasn't where he was and he grew up here.

00:31:23:22 - 00:31:52:04
Unknown
So it's a really beautiful thing to see somebody born and raised here, stay here, make this their home and really take on leadership roles. And within their, their, their career trajectory. And so just the idea of anybody that speaks French, I know our French school division is desperately seeking more French teachers. So if there is somebody listening that has a French background that has been considering moving north or looking at rural opportunities, that would be something that would be very valuable to us here.

00:31:52:04 - 00:32:11:19
Unknown
And so a very easy and it's just a little bit easier, you know, if you don't have English but you have French, it helps with that transition too. So just something for people to keep in mind. Yeah. And there's an international mobility pathway that the government of Canada is really pushing. And so you basically, you get to bypass the provincial nominee program.

00:32:11:19 - 00:32:31:14
Unknown
So which is we're struggling with that right now. But anyway, so you get to Pasco and I really, you know, I think that's would be a great strategy for the port to look at and say, you know, we are a French speaking community region. And oftentimes rural northern Canada doesn't take advantage of those like pathways. Right.

00:32:31:14 - 00:32:59:04
Unknown
So it's very, that the employer doesn't need to do a labor market impact, study. They don't need to do any of that. They just need to have a valid job offer and offer it to someone that basically has a clue what would be a very a tough of seven, let's say. Right. So, yeah. So any of our French speaking listeners in Canada or abroad, this is definitely a great pathway for you to look at and lots of good jobs, especially in the education system.

00:32:59:06 - 00:33:23:17
Unknown
So what would you say in terms of, you know, newcomers moving to the PA? What are the challenges that you you have noticed that that people have coming? So if someone was thinking of moving to Northern Manitoba, the PA, what are the things you would say? Maybe things they should research or what they need to prepare for, or what are some things they should do when they first, you know, think about, you know, obviously they need to connect with you, number one.

00:33:23:18 - 00:33:46:16
Unknown
But but what other things should they be thinking about or, or just be prepared for? I think, the climate, the weather, because it's it's not, it's not that, you know, winning. When I moved here, there was a time that I experienced -50. That was way, way back before. But, the weather is changing, you know, every year, you know, so then they have to research about the weather.

00:33:46:18 - 00:34:07:04
Unknown
Also the housing availability, because if they are, you know, planning to work with employers that doesn't provide those services, it's hard to find a housing. It's limited. You know, options here. So they need to know someone to get a, you know, a place to stay here. You know, you're lucky if you find there's some people that over there, you know, you know, like basement or room.

00:34:07:04 - 00:34:27:00
Unknown
I've rented a room for, like, over five years when that the people I know and, you know, it's not the best place to stay, but. And if you don't have an option, you have to get it. You need. So for you to, to just to get in this place and stay in town to work. So, you know, for them to come in here, they have to research about the climate.

00:34:27:02 - 00:34:47:00
Unknown
I think, resources depends what they want to do and what what do they have to work for? I think people are different. You know, I, you know, I, I like, you know, going out in winter and spend time outside, you know, with my dog and my husband, and, you know, they have to find, you know, their, their interests and passion.

00:34:47:00 - 00:35:05:11
Unknown
You know, what to do in here because winter is longer than summer. And if they love summer, this is a short summer, you know, partly because we have, you know, a a past winter here, you know, time to time. So also for the resources, yes. They have to come and step by to us and then get some resources.

00:35:05:17 - 00:35:29:02
Unknown
And we don't have here, you know, we can refer them to, you know, to, to the services that they, they are being offered in terms of rental properties. Is that a bit more challenging? Say just buying a house, finding a place to rent is a little more tricky. Yes, I think so. Yeah. When you when you are planning to stay here, buying a house, there's some, you know, options to buy a house and a good price.

00:35:29:04 - 00:35:51:00
Unknown
And it's like Gabrielle said, you know, you'll find a good house here. You know, better than in a city for just $250,000, you know, but, you know, for renting, we have some, you know, lately some landlords. But then it's it's a long way for them to get to get, you know, space, you know, you have to wait for, for a year or two to get, you know, the apartment or the space you want it.

00:35:51:02 - 00:36:10:02
Unknown
So sometimes that's the, the, you know, challenges for people to come here also the place to stay if, employers doesn't offer those services. So that's a, that's an opportunity for a construction company. Definitely. Yes. So let's talk a little bit about, coming to visit you guys because I'm a huge believer. I'm a real developer by training.

00:36:10:04 - 00:36:36:23
Unknown
That's my background. So I'm a huge believer of telling people to before they relocate to somewhere is to go experience that place for a period of time. Right. Like at the at camping or whatever it may be. You guys have the Trappers Festival, which I love. I've been there a couple times. So anyways, tell us about the Trappers Festival and maybe that could be a destination for, somebody looking to relocate or immigrate and that if they're in Canada, just tell us about it.

00:36:36:23 - 00:36:56:11
Unknown
And and what it's about and why they should come and visit the festival or any other opportunities you guys have there for somebody to come visit. Well, I think that's a good time of year to suggest, because it is the coldest time of year that that it happens that, I would say February 1st to 15th is typically the coldest two weeks of the year that we get.

00:36:56:11 - 00:37:17:15
Unknown
But as Annalynne mentioned, with, climate change, the weather does change a little bit. So every year is a little different. Two years ago, we didn't even get enough snow that they had to cancel the dog sled races for the Traverse Festival. That was sad. And to Hamlin's point, you know, you want to if you want to live in the past, it helps that you like winter a little bit, right?

00:37:17:15 - 00:37:34:16
Unknown
Like if it's summer is your thing that you love the most, then maybe like, I love when it's hot. Don't get me wrong, I love it. It's going to be 29 degrees here on Friday. I'm planning to take half a day off work and go to the lake because we have one of the clearest lakes in the world, about a 20 minute drive from us.

00:37:34:16 - 00:37:55:14
Unknown
It's called Clearwater Lake. But with regards to to visiting and you can you can camp like Clearwater is a national park or, or a provincial park, so you can go camping there. There's lots of different areas you can do camping, like in tents, or you can bring your RV and there's an RV park and, and do that in the winter.

00:37:55:14 - 00:38:18:20
Unknown
There's a few different hotel options. I would say if you're coming for Traverse Festival, you would need to book your hotel a few months in advance because it'll be very busy with it's such a popular time of the year. But the festival really goes back to the trappers who made their their living, by trapping animals and selling the fur to foreigners and to to different merchants.

00:38:18:22 - 00:38:35:16
Unknown
And so the time of the festival is actually based on the time of year that the trap line dries up, where the trappers weren't seeing a lot, and they would come to the community after being out in the bush for months and months collecting all these hides. And they would come in and sell them. So that's kind of the origins of the festival.

00:38:35:16 - 00:38:57:11
Unknown
And I have to forgive me. I'm not that up to speed on my trappers festival. No, but I believe it was 1916 or 1914. That was the first year. And I think it's happened every year except for two years, during World War two. And I believe there was one year of Covid where it didn't happen. But yeah, it's a really fun celebration for anybody that is very unfamiliar with, the northern lifestyle.

00:38:57:11 - 00:39:34:07
Unknown
It's a really great crash course on what it's like to live in the North, what it's like to experience the temperatures and you get to really get a sense for what the community looks like when it comes together. There's a lot of different things that happen throughout the year. Those are really special. The PA is known as one of the top five rural communities in Canada for participation in in culture days, and that's actually how Annalynne and I met MLA and through the immigration center, with myself through the Arts Council, and some other great people worked together to put together a cultural festival which highlights and showcases, I think

00:39:34:07 - 00:40:03:02
Unknown
last year was 18 different communities from nationalities of newcomers that have made the park their home and really allowed everybody in the park to better understand and celebrate the different cultures that we have happening here. So things like that are constantly taking place in our communities as ways just for, you know, depending on what type of things you like to engage with, whether it's arts and culture or whether it's fishing and hunting, we have really everything on both ends.

00:40:03:02 - 00:40:20:03
Unknown
It's just, again, it's not like a city. You can't go out every Thursday night and go to a different gallery opening. That's not going to happen. We have one local gallery, and every three months they do a gallery opening and a new show. And, you know, it's there's just less of the same things that you can get everywhere else.

00:40:20:05 - 00:40:42:18
Unknown
Yes. That's true. But like you said, there's still lots of activities going on. And I think that's you know, and I think what's important is just variety for people. Right. You have something for something for everyone right. Like I'm assuming things like have a gym and. Right. And a pool. Multiple. Yeah. Multiple gyms. We have an amazing pool facility that's connected to the high school building, but some aren't run by the town.

00:40:42:20 - 00:41:06:06
Unknown
But like, when I moved here, like I was living in New York City, I was hustling every day, working every day, 17 to 20 hours with 6 to 7 days a week. Okay. So, like, I didn't have a work life balance. I didn't know about what's a hobby. I didn't have those. And then I moved here, and my partner really likes to cross-country ski, so I try cross-country skiing.

00:41:06:10 - 00:41:28:00
Unknown
I love cross-country skiing more than anything. I cannot believe that I went, you know, 35 years of my life without cross-country skiing, because now all summer, even though I love the heat and I love being outside, all I think about is, okay, there's 120 days we can pass the test. Well, and you guys have lots. I when I moved to Thompson, I didn't realize there's a ski hill there.

00:41:28:00 - 00:41:43:08
Unknown
So I mean, even in the north, like, you can go downhill skiing if you want. You don't even have to go south or go out to the mountains like. And it was a it's a great hill. You know, there's, there's so many opportunities in the north, to do things and like you said, especially if you love winter activities.

00:41:43:08 - 00:42:11:11
Unknown
Right? Like you're hunting, you're fishing, you're snowmobiling, you're like everything. Yeah. No, there's a lot I just and I just ordered my first snowmobile and it'll be here in October, so I that makes me official and. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. You are in now. Yeah yeah yeah. I mean, so I want to see the park really I think is a community and a region that's often overlooked even by, people that live in the prairie provinces.

00:42:11:13 - 00:42:32:06
Unknown
So, you know, I think we've summarized there is your education, which you have, you see, in University of the North and, they have the early childhood education program. I remember correctly, they have trades, they have our nursing. And I think for all those immigrating or even relocating to rural and northern areas, you got to really keep in mind.

00:42:32:06 - 00:42:53:22
Unknown
So this for our listeners, is that you got to keep in mind that you are you are looking at places that are offering education that meet the needs, the provincial immigration strategy as well as has jobs to offer. So I think if you look at, the pot, you guys really wrap that up. Well, you have the workforce opportunities for those who take the proper education.

00:42:54:00 - 00:43:17:23
Unknown
And you have a really great community to live in that's affordable and welcoming, that has resources such as the settlement office. You I think you have a community futures there as well. So you have like different and really great resources to help newcomers and even those that want to relocate. So I just, you know, I know, I know we're running out of time, but I just want to really put that out there to people that, the Pi is really a one stop shop.

00:43:17:23 - 00:43:50:08
Unknown
If you really, give it a chance. I think it's a great town. It is. And I. Can I add something that you can cut out later if you don't think it? It's a good thing to say. And maybe cut that part for sure. If you, you know, look up the part online and you see a lot of the media that comes out of our community, we struggle with maintaining good public relations with the big media outlets down south, and they only almost only feature us when something bad is happening.

00:43:50:10 - 00:44:14:08
Unknown
So for those of you who are looking it up and thinking, oh, I don't know that that's safe, I don't know that I want to live there. This is a really great place to live. And for the most part, if you have street smarts about you, this is a very safe place to live. And we just struggle with getting all of the really cool and interesting and diverse things that we are constantly programing for ourselves here to be featured outside of our community.

00:44:14:10 - 00:44:40:21
Unknown
So I would say, you know, don't judge a book by a cover that's designed by people that have never been here or that only come here when they hear, you know, oh, there was, something that happened, because that's, I think, something that, you know, I've been working really hard to try to flip the script on in terms of what the outside media is covering, in terms of what we do here and what we're about, and all the positive things that are coming together and happening.

00:44:40:23 - 00:45:01:12
Unknown
And so, yeah, it's it's hard it's hard to to know really what, what a place is until you actually experience it, especially when the media lens is so skewed. Yeah. Well, I really hope that changes for you guys. But I do want to say encountering that, that, you know, anywhere can be an unsafe place to live.

00:45:01:18 - 00:45:18:23
Unknown
But not everywhere has the opportunities and affordability like you guys do. So, you do really have a lot going for you. So that's what I would say back to that. The media. Yeah. And I mean, and to talk about that too, I mean, you know, and people think, oh, it's so far it's really not that far. It's, you know, six, seven now.

00:45:18:23 - 00:45:33:01
Unknown
I mean, we're obviously we're all in Manitoba. So we think nothing, you know, I think nothing of driving a couple hours to a party or something. Right. But you know, six, seven hours is not that long. You have airlines, you can fly. You know, there's it's really not if you need to get out for a weekend, you can it's 100% easy to do.

00:45:33:01 - 00:45:52:15
Unknown
And I think there's lots of benefits. I find employers in north, you know, sometimes there's northern living benefits. There's, you know, opportunities like that if people need to get out for certain things. And I think that's really important to be able to live. Like if you have a medical situation, that is something that can be handled here. You can fly down to Winnipeg on a medical flight.

00:45:52:17 - 00:46:09:19
Unknown
So there are and I don't remember the exact cost anymore, but it's it's extremely affordable compared to, what a retail flight is. So yeah, there's definitely supports in place for that. Yeah. And I think exactly. So I think that's important for people to know that you can still have all those supports that you need as well.

00:46:09:22 - 00:46:30:11
Unknown
So yeah, I think we're we're coming to the end here. You both have showcased amaze me I would love we always like to showcase, you know, a couple. So I'd love to hear from both of you. Is there a certain maybe place restaurant or something that you could each recommend that's in the park or in the region that you would recommend to people coming to visit?

00:46:30:12 - 00:46:53:09
Unknown
I can start with asking like, I think I love anything, you know, exploring and, you know, trying new foods and cultural cuisine. But there's one of a good place that I always wanted to go. Every time we have some celebration, like birthday or party. So this restaurant, call it good times. It's not just because the name is good times or having a prime.

00:46:53:11 - 00:47:12:14
Unknown
But I like I like the, the, the environment, the food there. And it's a nice place. You know, when I have some friends visiting here in the past, I always, you know to them that and then, you know, dine and have some food. It's a nice place. I don't know, Gabriel. You agree with me? Absolutely. It's definitely the restaurant to eat out for sure.

00:47:12:16 - 00:47:42:08
Unknown
I would also say, it's not really a restaurant, but there's a bison farm. About 20 minutes. I guess it's west. Yeah, 20 minutes west of town. And they'll sometimes do fun barbecues or, cookouts and things like that on the bison farm. And that's a pretty special experience. So if you're if you're coming up and you want to reach out to Around the Bend Bison Farm, I know they are really great about hosting people in and out of town guests and things like that,

00:47:42:10 - 00:48:03:16
Unknown
Yeah. That's there. Yeah. That's both very cool, interesting, interesting places. Will have to try. When I come up to the Trappers Festival, I'll come in the winter and then I come in the summer. Then I will come. Yeah, exactly. Well, amazing. Thank you to both of you for coming in chatting with us today. We really appreciate it. You've really you're speaking like exactly how we feel about rule in northern Canada.

00:48:03:17 - 00:48:22:05
Unknown
Like, these are the opportunities that people are missing out on. So the more we can talk about it and showcase it, the more we can get people to see, like just move north, move rule like you won't be disappointed. The opportunities are endless, you know? Thanks, ladies. Thank you. Thank you so much for for for focusing on our community.

00:48:22:05 - 00:48:41:04
Unknown
It's I mean, I know for myself I think for Annalynne as well, it's a very special place and it's really awesome to be able to share that with other people who've either never heard of us or aren't really sure what to think when they did hear about. Yes, and thank you for this opportunity. I think me and Gabby are lucky to be here, and you guys give this opportunity to to share our stories.

00:48:41:06 - 00:49:00:17
Unknown
And I'm sure a lot of people have, you know, like inspiring stories like us. But yeah, I think we're just lucky to be here and have this conversation with you guys. Thank you. As we close here, we're going to these places we've talked about. We're going to have all that in the show notes for everyone listening. You can find all that in the show notes if people want to connect with you.

00:49:00:19 - 00:49:16:11
Unknown
Obviously afterwards we'll get the information. And then if people want to connect with you about about moving or, you know, Gabriel, about opportunities in the North, we'd love to have that for people to reach out as well, if they're interested. So we'll make sure to have all that to everyone, in the notes as well. Thank you everyone, once again for listening.

00:49:16:13 - 00:49:23:17
Unknown
Lindsay closes down. Till next time, Liberal liver.

00:49:23:19 - 00:49:38:16
Unknown
If you feel this, assist other people like yourself, please like and share a podcast as well. We will leave links below to the topics we spoke about today. Thank you for listening and join us next time to learn about another great company and community. That is a great place to work and settle.