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Teaching and Living in Van

Discussion in 'Employment and Students' started by Chantal Mason, Aug 19, 2014.

  1. Chantal Mason

    Chantal Mason New Member

    Hi there,

    I'm a recent graduate with my teaching certification for Ontario, and I've been thinking about moving out to Vancouver (or somewhere in the general area). For the 2014-2015 school year I've managed to land a job at a private school here in Ottawa, but I will be looking for Vancouver opportunities as the year goes on.

    1) What's the job market look like for elementary teachers in the Vancouver area right now? I'm willing to work at public, private, independent schools....pretty much anything! I've heard some people talk about how being a TOC isn't such a bad thing either if you're getting steady hours, so that's a viable option too.

    2) Do teachers make enough money to even live in Vancouver? I'm curious as to what the living conditions of the average single teacher are in that city (or say, in Victoria). Do you rent a room in a house with 5 other people? Do you rent a small apartment somewhere? Do you live outside the city and commute in? Should I sell my car? That sort of thing. I want to know if it's even worth it to try...I'd prefer not to be working myself to death and stressed out about money just to "get by". Vancouver looks like a great place to be if you're making an income that lets you afford to live there.

    Any tips, advice, opinions, and comments are welcome :)
     
  2. milquetoast

    milquetoast Senior Member

    Hi @Chantal, I am not a teacher but know many people who are.

    Job market is grim. There is a huge surplus of education graduates with more coming every year. A significant portion of these grads are unable to enter the system and end up working in unrelated fields. If you are able to enter the system as a TOC, it's typical to be in that role for years before securing a permanent contract.

    Private sector is a little easier particularly with religious institutions but working conditions are typically poor and the pay is not on par with public. More prestigious well paying schools are tougher to get into without knowing the right people. A caveat is that once you're in private, it's hard to leave because going public means giving up stable predictable income.

    Even in the public system, it's way easier if you have connections or can network well.

    In regards to income, many have to take second jobs to supplement their TOC income if they are unable to get steady hours. It varies. You won't be starving but money can be tight.
     

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