Sex: Female
Age at time of emigration: 25
Length of stay: 3 years to present
Location (area of country):Toronto, Canada
Currently working in (country + discipline):Toronto Physiotherapist
Professional Life
How long ago did you go to Canada and how long after your graduation did you go?
3 years ago. 2 years after I graduated from UCD
How did you find the process of preparing to work in Canada and did it take you long?
It is a long process. It took 1 year after graduation to get credentialed for Canada so had to wait 1 year post graduating to go to Canada. It then takes about a year to complete the exams. But you can work once you have registered for the written exams in some places on an interim PT licence
Were you able to choose to work in an area that interested you?
Yes.
Did you find it easy to integrate into your work environment?
Yes.
What differences, if any, did you find between working as a physio in Ireland and Canada?
The big difference was there is respiratory therapist here so physios don’t do as much resp PT. Also no rotations within hospital which means less mentoring you just start as a Physiotherapist not as a junior.
What are the 3 best things about working in Canada?
Lots of employment and good salary
Lots of areas for development, CPD
Friendly atmosphere
What are the 3 worst things about working in Canada?
There are not many bad sides to working in Canada, although you are thrown in at the deep end so you receive little guidance
How many holiday days did you have per year, and do you think you had sufficient free-time to travel during the year?
Yes good vacation time within public sector. You start off with four weeks vacation. Private practice is obviously very different and unpaid.
On returning to Ireland, would you feel Canada would help or hinder your search for a job, in a way that gaining experience in another country would not? Was it significant from the point of view of your CV.
The biggest thing would be you may lack the respiratory skills on returning to Ireland. Otherwise I didn't think it would hinder you.
Personal Life
What part of the country did you live in?
Toronto
How would you describe the weather in comparison to Ireland?
Much hotter in the Summer
Would you recommend going over with friends or by yourself?
Either.
What did you make of Canada’s culture when you first arrived?
Very friendly, similar to Ireland
Did you have a good social life while there?
Yes but different than Ireland. Very active lifestyle
What are the most popular past-times in Canada?
Skiing, Snowboarding, Biking, Hiking, Ice Hockey, Soccer
In comparison with Ireland, is it expensive to live in Canada? What did you find was the most expensive aspect of living there?
Toronto is very expensive especially housing.
What are the 3 best things about living in Canada?
Lifestyle, opportunities, outdoors.
Why did you return to Ireland?
I have not returned.
And Finally: How would you rate your experience overall (both professionally and personally) in Canada, using the rating scale provided?
10/10
Age at time of emigration: 25
Length of stay: 3 years to present
Location (area of country):Toronto, Canada
Currently working in (country + discipline):Toronto Physiotherapist
Professional Life
How long ago did you go to Canada and how long after your graduation did you go?
3 years ago. 2 years after I graduated from UCD
How did you find the process of preparing to work in Canada and did it take you long?
It is a long process. It took 1 year after graduation to get credentialed for Canada so had to wait 1 year post graduating to go to Canada. It then takes about a year to complete the exams. But you can work once you have registered for the written exams in some places on an interim PT licence
Were you able to choose to work in an area that interested you?
Yes.
Did you find it easy to integrate into your work environment?
Yes.
What differences, if any, did you find between working as a physio in Ireland and Canada?
The big difference was there is respiratory therapist here so physios don’t do as much resp PT. Also no rotations within hospital which means less mentoring you just start as a Physiotherapist not as a junior.
What are the 3 best things about working in Canada?
Lots of employment and good salary
Lots of areas for development, CPD
Friendly atmosphere
What are the 3 worst things about working in Canada?
There are not many bad sides to working in Canada, although you are thrown in at the deep end so you receive little guidance
How many holiday days did you have per year, and do you think you had sufficient free-time to travel during the year?
Yes good vacation time within public sector. You start off with four weeks vacation. Private practice is obviously very different and unpaid.
On returning to Ireland, would you feel Canada would help or hinder your search for a job, in a way that gaining experience in another country would not? Was it significant from the point of view of your CV.
The biggest thing would be you may lack the respiratory skills on returning to Ireland. Otherwise I didn't think it would hinder you.
Personal Life
What part of the country did you live in?
Toronto
How would you describe the weather in comparison to Ireland?
Much hotter in the Summer
Would you recommend going over with friends or by yourself?
Either.
What did you make of Canada’s culture when you first arrived?
Very friendly, similar to Ireland
Did you have a good social life while there?
Yes but different than Ireland. Very active lifestyle
What are the most popular past-times in Canada?
Skiing, Snowboarding, Biking, Hiking, Ice Hockey, Soccer
In comparison with Ireland, is it expensive to live in Canada? What did you find was the most expensive aspect of living there?
Toronto is very expensive especially housing.
What are the 3 best things about living in Canada?
Lifestyle, opportunities, outdoors.
Why did you return to Ireland?
I have not returned.
And Finally: How would you rate your experience overall (both professionally and personally) in Canada, using the rating scale provided?
10/10