Work in Canada

Experience living and working abroad in one of the most popular seasonal work abroad destinations in the world. Canada is known as the playground for adventure thrill seekers and when working here you will be able to soak up the local with culture, tasty food, great wine, history, spectacular sights and discover the heritage of the country. 

Not only will you get paid, you will get to meet new people from all over the world, explore new places, see new things and enjoy the experience of a lifetime. There are positions available all year round, not just for winter although the ski resorts are usually the most appealing thing to international staff. This country is famous for beautiful scenery and easy-going citizens and when working here you will get lots of free time to explore new places - another benefit of applying. 

This is an English speaking nation making the experience easier especially if it is your first time abroad. Canada is a popular places to work with hundreds of Brits and other nationalities applying to work here every year. Jobs can include working at ski resorts, summer camps, hotels, tourist resorts, snowboard instructor work, bar, hotel & hospitality jobs, general ski resort jobs, au-pair and childcare placements and more. View jobs and working holidays in Canada today.

 

Popular Places to Seek Employment

There are so many places you can find employment, from large cities to small remote resorts. You can apply to work throughout 10 provinces and 3 territories: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

Popular places to work include: 

  • Calgary
  • Edmonton
  • Hamilton
  • Kitchener
  • Montreal
  • Ottawa
  • Toronto
  • Quebec City
  • Vancouver
  • Winnipeg

 

Work Holidays in Canada

The main industries in Canada are logging, natural resources, services and manufacturing but there are lots of different areas you can work, for example:

  • Tourism
  • Architecture
  • Engineering
  • IT
  • Sales
  • Hospitality
  • Housekeeping
  • Holiday resorts
  • Front desk staff
  • Maintenance workers
  • Cooks, food and banquet staff
  • Waterfront positions
  • Ski resort staff
  • Childcare/au-pair
  • Sales 
  • Photographers
  • Guides

To gain employment in Canada you will need to apply for a IEC 12 month work permit which you will be issued on application acceptance. These visas are issued in batches and its best to apply in advance as numbers are limited. Canada offers a working holiday visa for the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK.

If you are from one of these countries you can apply to work in Canada but you will need to be aged 18-30 to be eligible. You might need to provide proof of funds in your bank account on arrival, this is for authorities in Canada to check to see if you have enough money to support yourself during your staff.

Once you have had your visa approved you will be able to work for up to one year, if you don't like it you can leave earlier and the visa is flexible so you can work for more than one company. You also have the option of leaving work placement jobs at any time and looking for fresh employment within the country.

 

Short Term & Temporary Work in Canada

If you would like to spend a long period working in Canada you can search year long placements staying for much more than just a few months during summer or winter. You will need to browse jobs and see whats best for you as there it a lot of different positions available like ski jobs, hotel / hospitality jobs, doing a ski season, working at a resort, amusement or theme parks, hotels, bars, restaurants and shops.

If you are an Australian, British, New Zealand or other citizen are keen on heading to Canada to work, we have companies listed which can help. Work Canada programs are open to a lot of nationalities - this includes full support program where you will be assisted with obtaining your working holiday visa, flights and insurance. You will be provided with pre-departure travel materials to prepare you for your trip. Upon arrival we sort out your tax file number and bank account as well as provide information on finding work and accommodation, taxes, travel, mobile phones and more!

You will have access to three inbound centers across the country; Vancouver, Toronto & Montreal. You can literally work your way across the entire country and visit amazing places in Canada!

 

Summer Jobs in Canada

Everyone usually thinks of Canada as a winter job destination, but did you realise there are lots of summer employment opportunities too? In Canada there are lots of outdoors sports jobs available for summer where you can coach different activities. Water sport instructors are in demand, from kayaking instructors, surfing instructors, canoeing instructors, sailing instructors or water ski instructors.

In summer the weather gets warm which is an added bonus. There are lots of resorts in the summer which cater for adventure sports seekers who join treks, walks and trips. Silver Star Resort is very popular in summer which you might want to think about heading to for employment. You might also want to view our guide summer camp jobs in Canada.

 

Winter Jobs in Canada

Working a ski season is a really fun experience, you will get to meet lots of other international staff and get to go skiing and snowboarding in some of the best locations in the world. Ski season contracts can be from a few months to over six months. 

Popular Winter Seasonal Employment
Destinations you might want to think about Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec

Types of Winter Positions Available
Winter jobs in Canada can include instructing ski lessons, assisting on ski slopes, lift operators, slope patrols and general ski resort staff. The best thing about working a ski season in Canada is how many people you will get to meet and how lively your social life will be. If you want to find a job as a ski instructor you will need to get qualified, we list lots of companies who offer ski instructor courses and vacancies. You can also find childcare work in Canada at ski resorts, this job involves looking after children, cooking, cleaning and even going skiing with them. You might like to view our ski instructor courses.

When / How to Apply
Winter working holidays are really popular so you will need to apply well in advance. The winter ski season runs from around December until April so apply around 3 months in advance to give yourself the best chance of landing a position.

Working Days / Benefits
Expect to work around 30-40 hours per week with 1/2 days off. These jobs can be an amazing experience but don't expect an easy ride, some days will be long and tiring where you will work long hours. You should though get free time to go skiing in some world class resorts.

Ski Instructor Courses in Canada
You can take courses to become a qualified ski or snowboard instructor; not only will you develop your own skills but you will also be playing a valuable role in helping others to have a great skiing or snowboarding holiday. Becoming an instructor in Canada is not easy, but it allows you to sample a different culture, interact with people from different countries and backgrounds and live in some of the most breathtaking locations in the world.

 

Ski Resort Jobs in Canada

These are the most popular resorts and locations where you might want to think about applying.

  • Kimberley - This is quite an isolated resort in the South-East of British Columbia but is popular with families. You can get here by driving or catching a bus from Calgary which is about 4 hours away or by flying to the local airport.  There are lots of lodges, resorts, restaurants and shops which hire during winter.
  • Mount Seymour - If you want to work at a ski resort and experience life in the city then this is your destination as it is very close to downtown Vancouver.
  • Panorama - You will find the Panorama Mountain Village in the beautiful Purcell Mountains and it is known for its warm weather. There is a village feel with condos, hotels, restaurants and awesome scenery.
  • Whistler - This resort hosted the Olympic and Paralympics Games in 2010 and is the largest ski resort in British Columbia. This is a popular resort for pro skiers/snowboarders and families and there are two options - Whistler Mountain and Whistler Blackcomb which are located about 2 hours North from Vancouver. This is probably the most famous ski destination in the world and also one of the most popular to work at.
  • Big White - Big White Ski Resort is the second largest resort in British Columbia, you will be blown away by the scenery! Located in the Okanagan Valley, this is a modern destination with lots of bars, cafes, accommodation and shops. You can apply for jobs here for a long period as the season extends from November to April time.
  • Fernie Alpine Resort - Located around 1 hour from Alberta and also the USA border, this location gets a lot of snow fall from November to April, sometimes around 30 feet! This makes it an attractive ski destination which means a number of seasonal employment.
  • Grouse Mountain - This is not the biggest ski resort but due to its placing, only a 20 minute drive from Vancouver it is a local favourite. You could work in Vancouver and visit in your spare time.
  • Banff & Norquay - In the Banff National Park you can find the Big 3 ski resorts - Lake Louise, Mount Norquay and Sunshine Village. This area is very famous destination and a popular choice for backpackers and temporary workers, we have resorts and hotel jobs listed here. Lake Louise is a good recommendation.
  • Silver Star - This is an easily accessible resort by land or air from both Calgary and Vancouver which gets tons of snow during winter.
  • Sun Peaks - The name kinda gives it away, this is a sunny/hot ski destination around 4-5 hours from both Vancouver and Seattle. You could apply to one of the pubs, restaurants, club or ice skating rink.
  • Red Mountain Resort - People have been skiing here for over 100 years making it the oldest ski resort in Canada. 
  • Jasper - The Jasper National Park in the Rockies is an amazing destination and quite small giving it a cosy feel.
  • Tremblant - This is one of the top choices for winter jobs due to the size, this is the second largest ski run in Canada located very close to Montreal. You might want to learn French is working here.
  • Nakiska - Located in the stunning Kananakis Country, it hosted the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988 and has a cosy small atmosphere. Jobs can be applied for at the nearby Kananaskis Village.
  • Blue Mountain Ski Resort - The third busiest ski resort in Canada with over 750,000 people visting annually. There are lots of jobs going in this resort loctaed near Collingwood, Ontario.
  • Mont Sutton - One of the largest resorts in Quebec and which gets around 400-500cm of snow every year.
  • Horseshoe Resort - Within a hour drive from Toronto and is popular with all ski levels and abilities.
  • Mount St. Louis Moonstone - This ski resort is at the centre of the Snow belt region and is popular with people from Ontario. It is also one of the biggest family resorts meaning roles for instructors and general hospitality staff.

 

Salary

How much you get paid really depends on the job, position and location - wages can vary depending on the region you work. You will be paid in the Canadian Dollar and the minimum wage is is different in each of the provinces and territories.

 

How to Apply

Some companies offer a working holiday packages for Canada which include:

  • A guaranteed job for the first several months
  • Complete Orientation
  • Full access to job and accommodation listings
  • Program handbook
  • Working Holiday Visa documentation
  • Advice and assistance throughout duration of your trip
  • Throughout your whole stay you will be given full support

Amongst other things, this will include:

  • Free weekly CV writing workshop
  • Advice about opening a bank account
  • Useful list of accommodation websites
  • Free phone number for general enquiries and emergencies
  • Social activities, Brochures, Maps and much more

You will need pay a fee for this service or you could just apply independently for a working holiday visa and seek out employment in country or on websites. It is recommended to apply as early as possible too to increase your changes of getting hired, please research all companies and jobs before applying.

 

Requirements & How to Apply

In order to be considered for a seasonal working holiday in Canada you must be:

  • 19 - 35 Years Old
  • Have a high command of the English language both oral and written
  • Be positive, friendly, committed and have some practical experience
  • No repeat applicants permitted to apply – you must not have been on a Canadian work visa already

If you need any help getting a job please get in touch.