Sault Ste Marie, Ontario - Possible Job Opportunity
Discussion
I have been contacted through LinkedIn about a role in Sault Ste Marie. The role is interesting but I am looking for some more info on the location, google has provided some information but was wondering if any Canadian PHers could give me any further detail. Its with a multi national company but I am a single guy and concerned it won't have enough going on socially for me, anyone give me any advice or knowledge of the area?
Hi, I'm not Canadian nor am I from the 'Soo', but my wife is and I've been there a few times in winter and summer - we were actually there last week.
We love visiting to see friends and family. The countryside is extremely beautiful and we just spent a week at a cabin about 60km away in Batchewana Bay which was great.
In summer it's hot, in winter it's very cold (snow falls from November to about April). I've done a couple of Christmas's out there and you will need to have some proper gear as I've seen it get to -20C on some days. The novelty and wonder off all the snow and the cold might wear off very quickly. However, they're used to it and geared up for it.
The city itself has a population of about 70,000 and is pretty spread out over a large area. There's the International Bridge which links it with Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan... there isn't much point going over there. The next largest town is Sudbury which is a few hours drive away, then it's Toronto which is about 8 hours drive or you can fly there in about an hour, Porter airlines will take you to the Toronto City airport and Air Canada will get you to Pearson International.
Socially, there's a few bars that I've been to, they are not glamorous and can make dive bars here look like the Ritz, but catch them on a busy night and you will have a good time; 'Reggies', 'Coch's Corner', 'Loplop's' and 'The New American' are the ones. There are nicer establishments to be found but I enjoy those ones for the novelty value and casual approach to life. There's a mall, a cinema, a local Ice Hockey team (the Soo Greyhounds). There's also 'Wacky Wings' which is a local chain that has a few locations and is now expanding further afield and they do great chicken wings with loads of flavours. Aurora's for massive pizza's and Mrs B's for a single slice are famous there. You will have to do your food shopping at 'Pino's' supermarket as they do the best sausages or at Paesano's for extra bits. There's a heavy Italian influence there which means it's a very friendly town and everyone I've ever met has made me feel very welcome and immediately like I was part of the family.
My wife and I have both discussed whether or not we could live there and property prices offer great value (we live in London) and some of the areas are truly gorgeous, especially the waterfront ones at Pointe Louise out near the airport. But it would be too small for us. We're in our mid-30s and all our friends over there are having kids now and doing less of the nightlife lifestyle. I also don't think there's a job market for what we do out there - obviously not a concern for you though. It's an amazing, friendly, clean and lovely place to visit and if you have family/friends there then that's a huge bonus. You would make friends pretty quickly. If you're being offered really good money all the better as I find it goes pretty far out there too.
If you decide to go for it then all the best of luck!!!
We love visiting to see friends and family. The countryside is extremely beautiful and we just spent a week at a cabin about 60km away in Batchewana Bay which was great.
In summer it's hot, in winter it's very cold (snow falls from November to about April). I've done a couple of Christmas's out there and you will need to have some proper gear as I've seen it get to -20C on some days. The novelty and wonder off all the snow and the cold might wear off very quickly. However, they're used to it and geared up for it.
The city itself has a population of about 70,000 and is pretty spread out over a large area. There's the International Bridge which links it with Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan... there isn't much point going over there. The next largest town is Sudbury which is a few hours drive away, then it's Toronto which is about 8 hours drive or you can fly there in about an hour, Porter airlines will take you to the Toronto City airport and Air Canada will get you to Pearson International.
Socially, there's a few bars that I've been to, they are not glamorous and can make dive bars here look like the Ritz, but catch them on a busy night and you will have a good time; 'Reggies', 'Coch's Corner', 'Loplop's' and 'The New American' are the ones. There are nicer establishments to be found but I enjoy those ones for the novelty value and casual approach to life. There's a mall, a cinema, a local Ice Hockey team (the Soo Greyhounds). There's also 'Wacky Wings' which is a local chain that has a few locations and is now expanding further afield and they do great chicken wings with loads of flavours. Aurora's for massive pizza's and Mrs B's for a single slice are famous there. You will have to do your food shopping at 'Pino's' supermarket as they do the best sausages or at Paesano's for extra bits. There's a heavy Italian influence there which means it's a very friendly town and everyone I've ever met has made me feel very welcome and immediately like I was part of the family.
My wife and I have both discussed whether or not we could live there and property prices offer great value (we live in London) and some of the areas are truly gorgeous, especially the waterfront ones at Pointe Louise out near the airport. But it would be too small for us. We're in our mid-30s and all our friends over there are having kids now and doing less of the nightlife lifestyle. I also don't think there's a job market for what we do out there - obviously not a concern for you though. It's an amazing, friendly, clean and lovely place to visit and if you have family/friends there then that's a huge bonus. You would make friends pretty quickly. If you're being offered really good money all the better as I find it goes pretty far out there too.
If you decide to go for it then all the best of luck!!!
Relli said:
Hi, I'm not Canadian nor am I from the 'Soo', but my wife is and I've been there a few times in winter and summer - we were actually there last week.
We love visiting to see friends and family. The countryside is extremely beautiful and we just spent a week at a cabin about 60km away in Batchewana Bay which was great.
In summer it's hot, in winter it's very cold (snow falls from November to about April). I've done a couple of Christmas's out there and you will need to have some proper gear as I've seen it get to -20C on some days. The novelty and wonder off all the snow and the cold might wear off very quickly. However, they're used to it and geared up for it.
The city itself has a population of about 70,000 and is pretty spread out over a large area. There's the International Bridge which links it with Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan... there isn't much point going over there. The next largest town is Sudbury which is a few hours drive away, then it's Toronto which is about 8 hours drive or you can fly there in about an hour, Porter airlines will take you to the Toronto City airport and Air Canada will get you to Pearson International.
Socially, there's a few bars that I've been to, they are not glamorous and can make dive bars here look like the Ritz, but catch them on a busy night and you will have a good time; 'Reggies', 'Coch's Corner', 'Loplop's' and 'The New American' are the ones. There are nicer establishments to be found but I enjoy those ones for the novelty value and casual approach to life. There's a mall, a cinema, a local Ice Hockey team (the Soo Greyhounds). There's also 'Wacky Wings' which is a local chain that has a few locations and is now expanding further afield and they do great chicken wings with loads of flavours. Aurora's for massive pizza's and Mrs B's for a single slice are famous there. You will have to do your food shopping at 'Pino's' supermarket as they do the best sausages or at Paesano's for extra bits. There's a heavy Italian influence there which means it's a very friendly town and everyone I've ever met has made me feel very welcome and immediately like I was part of the family.
My wife and I have both discussed whether or not we could live there and property prices offer great value (we live in London) and some of the areas are truly gorgeous, especially the waterfront ones at Pointe Louise out near the airport. But it would be too small for us. We're in our mid-30s and all our friends over there are having kids now and doing less of the nightlife lifestyle. I also don't think there's a job market for what we do out there - obviously not a concern for you though. It's an amazing, friendly, clean and lovely place to visit and if you have family/friends there then that's a huge bonus. You would make friends pretty quickly. If you're being offered really good money all the better as I find it goes pretty far out there too.
If you decide to go for it then all the best of luck!!!
Thanks for getting back to me, really appreciate it, information is somewhat limited online and its hard to get a flavour of what its like. I don't know anyone out there at all and I am a 36 year old single guy and my main concern is having a non - work life. Like the gym, playing football and having a few beers and would want to continue that, how easy would it be to meet new people, with the snow being so bad, assume it stops people socialising for much of the year.We love visiting to see friends and family. The countryside is extremely beautiful and we just spent a week at a cabin about 60km away in Batchewana Bay which was great.
In summer it's hot, in winter it's very cold (snow falls from November to about April). I've done a couple of Christmas's out there and you will need to have some proper gear as I've seen it get to -20C on some days. The novelty and wonder off all the snow and the cold might wear off very quickly. However, they're used to it and geared up for it.
The city itself has a population of about 70,000 and is pretty spread out over a large area. There's the International Bridge which links it with Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan... there isn't much point going over there. The next largest town is Sudbury which is a few hours drive away, then it's Toronto which is about 8 hours drive or you can fly there in about an hour, Porter airlines will take you to the Toronto City airport and Air Canada will get you to Pearson International.
Socially, there's a few bars that I've been to, they are not glamorous and can make dive bars here look like the Ritz, but catch them on a busy night and you will have a good time; 'Reggies', 'Coch's Corner', 'Loplop's' and 'The New American' are the ones. There are nicer establishments to be found but I enjoy those ones for the novelty value and casual approach to life. There's a mall, a cinema, a local Ice Hockey team (the Soo Greyhounds). There's also 'Wacky Wings' which is a local chain that has a few locations and is now expanding further afield and they do great chicken wings with loads of flavours. Aurora's for massive pizza's and Mrs B's for a single slice are famous there. You will have to do your food shopping at 'Pino's' supermarket as they do the best sausages or at Paesano's for extra bits. There's a heavy Italian influence there which means it's a very friendly town and everyone I've ever met has made me feel very welcome and immediately like I was part of the family.
My wife and I have both discussed whether or not we could live there and property prices offer great value (we live in London) and some of the areas are truly gorgeous, especially the waterfront ones at Pointe Louise out near the airport. But it would be too small for us. We're in our mid-30s and all our friends over there are having kids now and doing less of the nightlife lifestyle. I also don't think there's a job market for what we do out there - obviously not a concern for you though. It's an amazing, friendly, clean and lovely place to visit and if you have family/friends there then that's a huge bonus. You would make friends pretty quickly. If you're being offered really good money all the better as I find it goes pretty far out there too.
If you decide to go for it then all the best of luck!!!
I have had some feedback from a friend who lives in Toronto saying how isolated it is and how she couldn't live there. Would seem to be a massive change from where I currently live in Glasgow, concerned its too remote. Money is 60% more than what I am currently on, converting the salary to pounds and the role seems like a good one. All my mates here have kids and settling down so a new adventure does appeal, I am just not sure, this specific place, would being so isolated be too much for me. If you were in my position, would you go for it?
They have football (soccer), indoor and outdoor. There's plenty to do activities-wise. There are plenty of places to grab a beer too!!
People DEFINITELY still go out in the winter. The snow doesn't stop'em!! Last Christmas we practically had to ice-skate to the bar which was amusing for sure.
You'd make friends and they'll get you into all their sports too so before too long you'll be watching the hockey/baseball/american football - it sucks you in.
I probably would go, but I love Canada and would use it as a stepping stone to eventually get to a more populous area.
Even if you just do it for a year, it'll be an adventure and you can say you tried it.
People DEFINITELY still go out in the winter. The snow doesn't stop'em!! Last Christmas we practically had to ice-skate to the bar which was amusing for sure.
You'd make friends and they'll get you into all their sports too so before too long you'll be watching the hockey/baseball/american football - it sucks you in.
I probably would go, but I love Canada and would use it as a stepping stone to eventually get to a more populous area.
Even if you just do it for a year, it'll be an adventure and you can say you tried it.
I have been to Sault Ste Marie both on the Canadian and US side. The areas around them are picturesque and if you like a nice lake view you're in paradise.
My home is in Michigan about 4 hours south of the Soo. People are very prepared for winter and it doesn't stop them from getting on with their lives. About 90 minutes from the Soo you have a good number of ski resorts in the Michigan Lower Peninsula.
There are a lot of positives to the Soo's location so it would be worth investigating further.
My home is in Michigan about 4 hours south of the Soo. People are very prepared for winter and it doesn't stop them from getting on with their lives. About 90 minutes from the Soo you have a good number of ski resorts in the Michigan Lower Peninsula.
There are a lot of positives to the Soo's location so it would be worth investigating further.
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