In Brandon, Manitoba for the day - its approx a 90 minute drive to Rocanville SK. I'm staying at a motel until my room is ready at the camp site.
While I am still in my own country it feels much different here on the Canadian prairies than in southern Ontario.
First of all its cold, fukking seriously cold, -19C right now, I took my car to a heated indoor self serv wash and sprayed it down with warm water that froze on contact with the metal body. Never seen that before.
Having said that it doesn't feel colder here as it isn't windy and I am dressed for the weather.
It felt cold in Dryden Ontario where it was -25C with a 80km/h wind blowing. Luckily I only stopped there for fuel and a coffee.
People here in western Canada are friendly, very very friendly compared to the big city.
People here are also much less sarcastic and not used to my dry/sarcastic sense of humour. I have made wise cracks to cashiers/waitresses etc that some laughed out loud to and others couldn't tell if I was being serious or not. I'm used to dealing with outgoing personalities which are plentiful in Toronto, here people appear to be much more reserved. They will need to get used to me.
Looking forward to getting settled in and starting work on Monday, thats the whole point of being here.
I made it.
PS: Prices are also higher here (paid $55 for an oil change) than back home but the economy is also much better, lots of work available and wages are excellent. Overall it seems like western Canada is a good place to be.
Listening to local radio stations I've heard many commercials from employers looking to recruit workers for oilsands jobs and other high paying work in the natural resource based economy in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Skilled and semi-skilled workers are in huge demand here, there is such a shortage its mind boggling.
I know the majority of employees at the mine are from other parts of the country.