Induction

The next part of the journey begins, moving from Toronto to Calgary.

I wish it were that simple to be honest with you I had to fly to Edmonton first as this is where my work induction is. To make things even more complicated they won’t let me start my work induction until I have a Canadian drivers licence including my class 4 (C1 equivalent). Just to make it even MORE complicated I couldn’t do this in Toronto because they require you to undertake lessons and do a practical test (would have cost a fortune), where as Alberta only require the theory. So basically, I had to leave Toronto early with all my belongings, stay in a hostel and obtain my licence.

This whole ordeal would have be made much easier and also would have been much cheaper if I’d just decided on the province I wanted to work on before moving. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. I really did love Toronto but the way they work things regarding employing international staff alongside some personal issues meant moving to Calgary was a good decision for me.

Part 2

I arrived at the airport and was met at arrivals by Jones who was renting me his car for the day, he handed me the keys and left. I thought I’d be productive with my time and so I headed straight to the registry to get my licence transferred. This turned into a mild nightmare because they were clearly so confused by the English licence they messed this up. They gave me a class 5 (normal car licence) but with a GDL restriction (meaning they thought I had <2 years experience, when in fact I have 11). This means I can’t get my ambulance licence until this is removed. I tried arguing this but they weren’t having it and said to wait until the actual card arrives in the post and come back, to say I was FUMING would be an understatement. This messed up all my plans because now I couldn’t get my ambulance license or the medical required. Now I was stuck in Edmonton (nicknamed Deadmonton) for 3 extra days I didn’t need. I arrived at my hostel and check into my 2 bed dorm, I booked this secretly hoping nobody else would be in Deadmonton but alas I was let down. Val, a women in her 50s was in town for Edmonton Fringe from Ottawa. I really hope when I’m her age I won’t be staying in hostels but you never know, I guess it’s all an experience.

On the Saturday I was picked up by Cheryl and taken to brunch. Cheryl is a WONDERFUL lady I met on Twitter who is a paramedic in Alberta and has been assisting me on this journey. After treating me to brunch, she showed me around the river, introduced me to green onion cakes (a really tasty Edmonton delicacy) and we headed to her (bloody stunning) house. Cheryl kindly agreed to house me for the night and then drop me at my hotel the next day, these small gestures have meant so much to me and honestly Canadians are living up to their notoriously nice stereotype.

Sunday came around and after a day of drinks and lunch, Cheryl dropped me to my hotel (in the middle of nowhere, aka St Albert). The receptionist asked if I was ‘moving in’ and laughed when I told her I currently had my life belongings in these bags, not sure she believed me. What a luxurious experience it was to be in a hotel after staying in a hostel (which I might add, had no AC).

Monday morning my induction began and I tactically sat and ate my complimentary hotel breakfast in view of the room so I could watch as the other new starters arrived. We were given a pack of sweets (every day actually) and treated to nice bakery goodies each morning. The class was a mix of new starters (aka fresh meat), return to work after maternity, movers from other provinces and me. It was a fun 4 days and I learning new skills and met some great people. Associated Ambulance is family run and the people who help them run it couldn’t be nicer. I'm nervous to start rural work and potentially be the only resource for 1-2 hours, but there's also some excitement in that. Nothing says fun like 'let's RSI this combative head injury patient in the middle of a farm in thigh high snow'. I won’t bore you with the ins and outs but here I am, with my fancy new uniform and fancy new epaulettes!!

I’m now in a poparide (again) from Edmonton to Calgary, my final stop. My phone charging port has stopped working so I’m down to 5% and aim to head to apple on arrival. I hope Moe my driver doesn’t kill me but he seems lovely and keeps talking about his new 70 inch tv. Calgary is where I’ll pitch up and call home for a while, I should start work whenever this nonsense about my driving licence is sorted.

Tomorrow is my birthday and what better way to spend it that heading to the registry to argue about this damn licence. Then a night with ‘the girls’ (I know one of them and she’s invited me to tag along and make it a birthday thing), it’s a different kind of birthday this year but change isn’t always bad.

I’m about to post this and it’s now 9am on my actual birthday (happy birthday to me). I spent $60 on a wireless charger for my phone as the port is officially broken so that’s GREAT. Turning 28 in a new country with almost no friends, what’s the worst that can happen?

Ta Ta for now

Em x