Job Discussion Forums

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

Has any public school teachers brought their family (wife & kids) to NWT when getting a job there? What kind of school did their kids end up in (or was home-schooling the best option)? How was is it for the wife?

BDB

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

I'm not in NWT but I have a few friends there, all originally from BC and got contracts after they received their BEds. Are you talking about Yellowknife - or one of the more remote communities (non-Yellowknife)?

To be honest, life is quite difficult for families outside Yellowknife. If you are going to one of the smaller communities (particularly the air-accessible ones), you will always stand out as the teacher's wife - the cop's wife - the community token government worker's wife (and child). I don't recommend it long-term for family sanity, and everyone I know has done a 1-3 year stint and been back.

I would not raise my children outside Yellowknife - we actually were offered a placement as my husband is also an RCMP officer so the careers work well together. I'm in rural Quebec and it's a bit easier to deal with, but similar issues apply.

I would go, but with a plan B in mind for when ready to return.

For teaching, it can be quite hard. A girlfriend of mine had a class of 20 (all the students in the village) and over half of them had FAS. K-12 with 50% FAS. It's a challenge. Rewarding, but a challenge.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I can only salute you who are willing to do stints in such places. I've been to Yellowknife. Briefly.

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

I think the Northern Lights is the big highlight.
If you want to teach in Canada, not sure what else is available, besides elementary school.
Maybe in Alberta.

I heard of an Australian who got a job up there since he was an architect.

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

If a family lives in a northern Canada community (in NWT but not Yellowknife), where would my child go and study? In the school where I am teaching? I want to teach in the elementary school in Canada.

BDB

smurfetta · Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 38

What about Northern Alberta? you could try to find a teaching job in places like Fort McMurray or Grande Prairie. Your child could go to school there.