I live in BC right now, and all I hear is how much labour work there is in the oil rigs/oil sands in Alberta. Does anyone know anything about this? Basically, I need information, or somewhere to get my foot in the door. I want to leave as soon as possible but I don't want to get to Alberta and not be able to find a job. Help?

There is a labor shortage. You could get a flight there w/o talking to anybody and get a job the same day. Fast food pays like $20 an hour. Construction and on the tarsands is considerably higher. If I were you I'd try and get on in a camp though - free lodging and food and high pay - stay away from the drugs and gambling though or you'll come home w/ nothing in your pocket.

There is a labor shortage. You could get a flight there w/o talking to anybody and get a job the same day. Fast food pays like $20 an hour. Construction and on the tarsands is considerably higher. If I were you I'd try and get on in a camp though - free lodging and food and high pay - stay away from the drugs and gambling though or you'll come home w/ nothing in your pocket.

Yeah that was what I was looking at one of those camps, I just don't really have any contacts and don't know where to start.

One thing you may want to take note of is that the cost of living in these places is ridiculous. The huge wages seem very tempting, but as a fellow British Columbian I can tell you everyone I know who has done the working in Alberta for a few months / years thing ends up not having that fond of a memory for the experience. Nonetheless if you just want to work really hard for a while to save up a bunch of money it's not a bad way to do it.

I've heard something similar; that although there's work to be done, the housing/living situation is pretty bad over there. I'm taking some time off school and, like you said, I basically just want to save up as much money as I possibly can in a year or so. The thought of working here for $10/h sounds just horrible when fast-food monkeys make $15ish over there and no experience labour is $20.

So the labor/construction camps would obviously be ideal, but how do I set that up? I just called one place and the motherfucker laughed at me when I said no experience.

Make sure you have a place to live.

What sort of experience do you have?

Call everywhere you can, but be aware that they're going to want to meet you.

I went there this time last year for work, and there IS a very high demand for workers.

The catch is, you have to be a PROVEN skilled worker.

If you don't have an "in", then you better be a salesman, and start selling yourself.

You have to work HARD, for long hours, in a dirty environment.

The average pay starts at $15.00/hour, but can quickly progress to $20.00 within a month if you last that long.

Last 6 months, and you will receive a $500 cash bonus, and probably be looking at $25.00/hour average.

You will need to find some roommates, because nobody lives on their own there. Most houses average about 4-5 guys in 1 house. Matresses on the floor etc. Most kitchens are pretty much kept empty, because take-out food is king there.

Wal-Mart, Safe-way, McDonalds etc. Everything costs pretty much the same as in BC.

The cost of living is NOT higher, it is just that most people out there get caught up in the fast cash and spend more than they would living in a normal city.

Bottom line, without experience, you will need to work your ass off, possibly for free for a day just to show a foreman/manager/owner that you are deserving of a job. If you put the work in, you can make about $30,000 in 3-4 months, but realistically, you wont be able to bank more than $12,000 if you dont have any experience.

Also, make sure you have about $2000 in cash ready to blow in order to survive before you get hired on somewhere.

If you aren't genuinely capable of hard labour, dont even try, unless you want 40 hours a week at McDonalds (which is the only fast food place that pays big to start, everywhere else starts at $12.)

Any specific towns and cities where there is a greater chance of getting work faster? I heard Edmonton is better than Calgary in terms of shortage.

Edmonton and Calgary will pay minumum wage to start more than likely. They are not the cities you are going to look for work in.

The cities which offer the work are in/around Lloydminster/Fort Macmurray/Spruce Grove.

Its the smaller cities.

The reason they have a worker shortage is because the towns are small, with low populations, and no real attraction to the area besides work.

Buddy of mine is out there right now. Said he is getting just under 2000 ever 2 weeks, setting up camps/ maintenance and shit for them.

I have a friend who I tree planted with and he is going back now to the tar sands and he told me he started working there as an unskilled labourer. BUT you do need to have your WHIMIS and possibly fall protection or some other saftey course. But these will take probably 2 days to get so dont worry about that. He said he started at 24 dollars an hour but you work 12 hours a day so for 4 hours a day you will make time and a half. As well everyday he was given 140 dollars cash as a living allowance. I asked him a lot of questions about it cause I considered going out there. The thing why i didnt want to go is I heard its about 20 men to every girl.

Edmonton and Calgary both still have job shortages.

You can show up and have a job right off the bat, all you have to do is apply.

Edmonton offers a wider variety of blue collar work, such as working on the railway. It's a fun city and there's a great football team. Also, a very large mall.

Calgary offers construction to beginners and old hands alike. You can start at 16 dollars, standard for people who are labouring, an hour labouring for a general contractor and decide what trade interests you most. It has the largest youth population in Canada. It's a fun city.

You learn, you work, you find an apprenticeship and then you go for it.

That's how the trades work out here.

If you're willing to sweat, then you'll do well with it.

Nobody hires at minimum wage, even waiters and waitresses are making better than minimum wage. It's around 8 dollars, right?

I haven't seen a halfway decent job that offered less than 10-12. This is including McDonald's and such.

i wish i could go there for a summer to work and save up money for school, but i don't see getting a visa to work in canada for only 3 months as happening too easily.

Most of you are sound fucking retarded.

i wish i could go there for a summer to work and save up money for school, but i don't see getting a visa to work in canada for only 3 months as happening too easily.

If you are going to come work for just 3 months you should go tree planting in BC instead of on the oil rigs. You'll make damn good money if you work hard and its a more intresting and fun job. Plus there will be more women there than in Fort McMurray. I had one guy from New Zealand and another one from South Korea both working with me this summer. I dont think they had much trouble getting a visa.

Nobody hires at minimum wage, even waiters and waitresses are making better than minimum wage. It's around 8 dollars, right?

I haven't seen a halfway decent job that offered less than 10-12. This is including McDonald's and such.

Most jobs advertise at their "full wage", but when you are first hired, you start at a "training wage" which is usually $8.00/hour or w/e. When I was living in Lloydminster I was hired at several jobs, and before I left they said "so you start at minumum wage, then get a $2.00/hour raise every 3 months to a top wage of $$".

Many many labour jobs you have to supply your own tools, and you NEVER get a guaranteed amount of hours on any given day/week.

I spoke with almost every waitress I could find, and most are making $7.00/hour, but they say they make crazy tips on a good day.

$10-12/hour isnt very good if you have to move from another province just to get the job. It costs money to move. Money to live. You have no friends/family etc to help you out. It really isnt worth moving their unless you are either very skilled or an extremely hard worker.

I applied for more than a dozen jobs that called me and asked for 3 NON PERSONAL references, and because I couldnt supply them, they were unable to hire me because of their company policy. They begged me to give them 3 phone numbers to call, and I would have the job, but I just didnt have any good ones.

Big national/international companys have rules they HAVE to follow when hiring, and a set training wage they have to offer. They have more openings, and you are pretty much a guaranteed hire if you meet their small requirements, but if you dont, you are fucked.

On the flip side, a small business which is owned by a private company or single person can pay much more, but because its their money out of their pocket, you better be a hard worker or you will get canned/laughed at.

Alberta is NOT the promise land. You can get a good paying job if you are a skilled labourer, yes. But, you can get that anywhere.

What are some companies that hire tree planters in BC w/ good pay?

Most jobs advertise at their "full wage", but when you are first hired, you start at a "training wage" which is usually $8.00/hour or w/e.

I've never encountered a 'training wage' within the trades - or in any other industry. I've been around them my whole life. If you asked someone to work at a 'training wage', they'd laugh at you. I'm not sure who pulled this nonsense with you.

Working in the food service industry with crazy tips, plus an hourly wage, has never sounded bad to me.

Tools are a wonderful investment. I'm not sure why anybody would be without a basic toolbox - especially if they want to work in a trade. You equip yourself with what you need, unless you have the option of using company tools.

Any employer that's even mildly worthwhile will ask for references. Non-personal references are always preferred, this is nothing new. Companies will often follow these sorts of rules in a ridged manner when hiring someone with little to no skills. It's the only thing they have to insure that you're an even halfway worthwhile worker. However, with some companies, the interview process is much easier; a company was using an excellent method of checking the competency of their applicants. If you could find the way to their offices, then you got the job. They still asked questions and made it seem that there was further consideration involved, but that's all there was to it. Many companies will ask for references, but never check them.

Moving somewhere new isn't an easy thing for a lot of people. If you don't find the prospect exciting and you don't have the drive to better your situation, then you shouldn't move for a job.

If you're working, you should be working hard. Work at something you enjoy.

I'll use an example - I was recently offered a job designing kitchens cabinets at a salary of 3000 dollars a month, plus the option of a bonus.

However, keep in mind that it isn't all about labour. At the moment, you can find a job at an Alberta museum for $19.50 an hour.

You don't need to be skilled labour, you need to want to become skilled labour and take steps towards it. Investing in tools and the proper equipment is a part of becoming skilled labour.

I know several companies in the construction industry, within Lloydminster, that have been hiring up anybody they can get their hands on for a starting wage of $18 dollars an hour - with the option of an apprenticeship after 30 days.

Alberta is not a promised land, it's simply in a boom. You can get a quality start within construction if you're working on Olympic-based jobs in, and around, Vancouver. If you have a hardhat, a pair of workboots, and a pair of gloves, then you can always find work. It's just a question of wanting to work.

Tree planting is some of the most grueling camp work out there. It's the sort of work that can make grown men cry. I've never recommended it to anybody, without pointing out that I was just making a joke. Why not just recommend working in a northern mine? These aren't bad jobs, but they're not something that you can recommend. It takes motivation to manage a job like tree planting; motivation, drugs, and alcohol. I don't think I've ever heard someone recommend it.

Buddy of mine is out there right now. Said he is getting just under 2000 ever 2 weeks, setting up camps/ maintenance and shit for them.

Are you from the East Coast?

Please stay the fuck out of MY province.

Please stay the fuck out of MY province.

GWY Alberta. You hicks had no problem taking subsidy from out here on the Atlantic when our fisheries and forestry supported your asses, now that the shoe is on the other foot all we hear out of Alberta is complaints. That's what being a country is about you cocksucker, sharing the wealth and work throughout the country when it arrives.

Please stay the fuck out of MY province.

Don't flatter yourself, the only reason anyone ever comes to Alberta is for one of the following reasons:


To see Banff
To see the West Edmonton Mall (exciting for 10 year olds)
To make money.


If any province should complain about people coming into their province, it should be BC. Goddamn red licence plates make it IMPOSSIBLE to drive from June until September.

Don't flatter yourself, the only reason anyone ever comes to Alberta is for one of the following reasons:


To see Banff
To see the West Edmonton Mall (exciting for 10 year olds)
To make money.


If any province should complain about people coming into their province, it should be BC. Goddamn red licence plates make it IMPOSSIBLE to drive from June until September.

Ahaha agreed about the plates. It seems every fucking time I narrowly avoid an accident with a yield-sign-avoiding-douchebag, I see the red typed plate.

The badlands are worth a look as well.

I live in Alberta, unless your a cheap ass vacationer or a skier I wouldn't recommend coming here.

We do have a awesome university though

As for work, just call the regional offices of places you're interested in working at. They will usually tell you if they're hiring

Come to saskatchewan man.. Im goin to get my h2s, wimas, and cpr shit and then goin down to estavan here pretty quick.. Start out a $28 an hour... I guess the oil booms starting here we need massss workers.

Come to saskatchewan man.. Im goin to get my h2s, wimas, and cpr shit and then goin down to estavan here pretty quick.. Start out a $28 an hour... I guess the oil booms starting here we need massss workers.

That's true. Saskatchewan is moving towards a boom.

I'll be curious to see what happens when the uranium mining boom hits.

Dont tell them you have no experience. Even if you bs and get a friends dad to be your "boss", then it should be sweet.

Put an ad on craigslist looking for someone already heading there in an RV or travel trailer. You can offer them a small fee for rent and live with them in the trailer. ;)

Come to saskatchewan man.. Im goin to get my h2s, wimas, and cpr shit and then goin down to estavan here pretty quick.. Start out a $28 an hour... I guess the oil booms starting here we need massss workers.


Yeah, since the Sask Party came into power, companies have been given more incentive to move over from Alberta to Sask.

The Estevan/Weyburn area is insane right now. Even though those places suck major dinky.


Even the SW (where I'm from) is really starting to boom.

Come take my job, I'm peacin out of this plizzace.

Man, if you had seen Ab. in 97 ...., if you had a job you held on to it!! Oil was $26 a barrel and you could get pissed as fuck for about $20, but the minimum wage was only $6.50. If you could get a rig job you lived like a king, unless you had kids, and a mortgage, and a truck, and a bad beer bender every few days.
I moved back to B.C.about four years ago, after spending five years in Red Deer, nice town, treated me pretty good, and in all honesty I cant fault Alberta very much. BUT there are a few things everyone should know before moving to Alberta.
(1) SAUSAGE FESTIVAL; there are a FUCKLOAD more men in Alberta than there are women, even with the liberal arts college in R.D. there was brutal competition, getting laid was pretty easy, but to find a good solid girlfriend,wellll..
(2) ALCHOHOLISM; Alberta thrives on alchohol, and meth, and weed, and rock, and powder, and ketamine, and welll.. you get the picture. Where there is money there will be drugs and if you have a bad habit and are moving to Alberta to get away from it I suggest you reconsider. In Ab. you will find enough money to feed a good solid addiction, and the people are there to feed the habit. Fuck, I found an 8-ball in about an hour, in Grand Prairie. in the middle of a fucking 40 below blizzard.

GWY Alberta. You hicks had no problem taking subsidy from out here on the Atlantic when our fisheries and forestry supported your asses, now that the shoe is on the other foot all we hear out of Alberta is complaints. That's what being a country is about you cocksucker, sharing the wealth and work throughout the country when it arrives.

On what fucking planet did anybody in the fucking shithole "Maritime" provinces ever contribute to the economy. Fish, and shitty fiddle music is all you pricks are good for. Anyone with any brains moves away at the first sign of daylight, go fuck Anne of Green Gables up the ass you worthless cocksucker.

On what fucking planet did anybody in the fucking shithole "Maritime" provinces ever contribute to the economy. Fish, and shitty fiddle music is all you pricks are good for. Anyone with any brains moves away at the first sign of daylight, go fuck Anne of Green Gables up the ass you worthless cocksucker.

Maybe you should read some history? Oh wait, you're a filthy fucking tarsands worker who's never read a book in his life and spends his time looking for the next '8-ball'. I'm going to be laughing my ass off when Alberta dries up and you people get to go back to pumping my gas and filling my grocery cart. Eat a dick.

Maybe you should read some history? Oh wait, you're a filthy fucking tarsands worker who's never read a book in his life and spends his time looking for the next '8-ball'. I'm going to be laughing my ass off when Alberta dries up and you people get to go back to pumping my gas and filling my grocery cart. Eat a dick.

I'm ready for a kitchen party. :confused:

It'll be interesting to see what happens when Alberta stops booming again; a lot of people are going to lose their shirts.

The rigpigs will still be making money, they'll just be doing it elsewhere. It's an industry that doesn't have any problem with following the money and knows how to work hard.

lol @ intra-Canadian feuds.

I'm ready for a kitchen party. :confused:


Roll a joint up? Get fucked?



Welcome to The Taaarrsands.

lol @ intra-Canadian feuds.

And yes.

ahaha good old classified - haven't heard that shit in awhile since at the moment i'm out of the country. Gotta get back to God's country at some point though