Vanessa took on healthcare in Halifax

Psychiatrist Vanessa Dickson moved with her partner and son to Halifax in 2008 via the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. “I hadn’t even thought about emigrating when I read online that Canada had quite the shortage of many different healthcare workers. It got me thinking.

“I had been having trouble with the idea of Jesse growing up in London, and the thought of him running around in the fresh air of a Canadian sea town was an alluring one. Actually, I once I had the idea in my head I couldn’t get it out. Dean didn’t really stand a chance of refusing,” she laughs.

As she was born and bred in London, Nova Scotia presented a huge change for Vanessa. “Both Dean and I have lived in various parts of London our whole lives, and we both wanted to get out of the city and start a life somewhere clean and quiet. Halifax certainly fits that bill on both counts!

“We all were able to gain entry into Canada on my visa as I was lucky enough to get a job offer and then a visa through the Nominee Program, but Dean had no problems finding employment when we arrived. He’s a builder and actually ended up starting work before I did.

“Jesse was five and had a few months of kindergarten before he started school. He was a bit of a hit when he started with his English accent. Unfortunately that’s completely gone now.

“The visa process was quite complicated and time consuming. I sent my CV to every possible employer in the province and landed got a phone interview with a hospital. I then had to pass the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Exam, which isn’t as scary as it sounds.

“I know the world has changed since 2008 and finding a job abroad isn’t as easy as it once was, but I advise people who are dying to make the move to Canada to stick at it and not get put off by the crazy paperwork and setbacks. It’s never been a smooth process but if you see it all as an adventure and a challenge, it won’t become overwhelming.”