When we got to Yellowknife, we found a community that...

* had a cosmopolitan population where most got along. We made many friends quickly, both native and non-native.

* offered facilities far greater than any city of comparable size in the South.

* while prices are higher, other than housing (we get $900 in housing allowance as two people employed in Education), they are not much higher.

* the opportunities for our children for funding for higher education are greater here. In the South, our income would prevent us from getting any student assistance for our children.

* the employment situation is better... Education funding is higher and the physical shape of schools superior.

* the state of health care is better here... I have no waiting time to see my internist --> he is always able to fit patients in (though seeing my preferred GP can take awhile)... And, other specialists can be seen much more quickly than in Edmonton (where they fly in from).

The North is great, safe (although crime stats will say different) clean air and water. Good stuff especially if you're outdoorsy.

You won't get rich here, as the cost of living is high....food, fuel, housing etc. But if you waltz into town with a degree or specialized schooling you will climb the corperate ladder quickly. Kind of the big fish in a small pond story.

[ 29 July 2005: Message edited by: charlieM ]

Asking to do practise teaching in the North would be beneficial to finding a job as we do give preference to hiring our own. Coming up North on speculation can also prove advantageous as we (too) often have openings early in the school year for a variety of reasons.

One difficulty I should mention is the "cost" of moving in and out. While the Board covers the cost of a "move-in" if you are from out-of-province (that is, did not come up here on speculation), it only starts to help with the "cost" of moving out once you've stayed for two years.

Also, I have noticed that people from larger centres (like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal) tend to leave shortly after arriving. How do you think you'd like living on the frontier?

I purchase everything in Yellowknife. The prices are about 5% higher on most things. Right now, for example, gasoline at the Co-op is .949, which isn't much higher than in the South. We have two large supermarkets and grocery prices are perhaps 10% more. However, housing is expensive and the up-front costs of setting up a household are high -- first/last month rent, deposits (which you eventually get back) for telephone, water, electricity.

More here and here.

A word of caution though. New teachers often find themselves in the communities for their first year or two, so be prepared for that.

EDIT: Fixed your link. RD

[ 29 July 2005: Message edited by: robbie_dee ]