Moose Jaw: Communities in Canada’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Parsai Immigration Services will be providing an overview of 11 Canadian communities. These communities are listed under Canada’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. The eighth community we’ll be looking at is Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
What is the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot?
In short, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven government program. This program will help rural Canadian areas attract foreign workers. These areas need more workers in order to meet economic development and labour market needs. You can find more information on the pilot program by clicking here.
What can you expect from each community?
According to the government of Canada, the communities will:
- promote the pilot and their community to possible candidates
- identify job opportunities in the local economy and work to match applicants to jobs
- assess possible candidates who:
- best fit the economic needs of the community
- have a genuine employment opportunity
- have the intention of staying in the community
- recommend candidates for permanent residence to IRCC for a final decision
- provide a welcoming community for immigrants
- connect immigrants to official members of the community and settlement services
- report on the results of the pilot
Now, let’s explore Moose Jaw.
Location
Moose Jaw is the fourth largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. Located on the Moose Jaw River in the south-central part of the province, it is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway. Moose Jaw has a population of 35,124 (2018). The community is considered a “prairie gem” because residents have the heart and soul of hard-working prairie people.
Work
It’s important to know the requirements (rules) for working your job in Canada. You must be certain to have all of the correct forms if you wish to work or train in Saskatchewan. This is especially important if you are a skilled trades worker. You should also be sure that these documents are translated into English or French (preferably English in Saskatchewan).
Many skilled trades immigrants come to Canada and can start working at once if all the documents are ready before they arrive. Some immigrants will need extra training to qualify for jobs. Sometimes family members also want jobs. Some students here on working visas may want short-term employment to add to their income. All immigrants must have a work permit to work in Saskatchewan.
You should get to know your rights as an employee/employer in Saskatchewan. Employee/employer rights, along with regulations, differ from province to province in Canada. Canada-Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services (Can-Sask) offers employment resources (such as information and support), counselling, advice, and referrals.
Education
Moose Jaw’s educational system is meant to welcome and help newcomers and their children settle in the community.
The school year in Canada usually runs from the beginning of September of one year to the end of June the next year. Classes are usually Mondays to Fridays, from about 8:45 AM to about 3:45 PM. There are no regular classes during the summer holiday (July and August).
Moose Jaw has three different publicly funded school divisions funded through taxes and government grants. Children in Saskatchewan do not have to pay to go to publicly funded schools. Children who are coming to live in Moose Jaw should be signed up (enrolled) in school as soon as possible. The rules for this depend on the child’s immigration status. Speak to the school division for more info.
Moose Jaw Multicultural Council has organized a program to help families get their children settled in schools. This program is called the Settlement Worker in Schools (SWIS) program. Moose Jaw also offers English Language Training for newcomers (including children). Many newcomers may have a native language other than English and will need to improve their English. This type of education is important for future goals but no credit is earned towards graduation.
In terms of basic adult education, it’s important, in Canada, to have completed Grade 12. A Grade 12 certificate is needed for most post-secondary studies. Adults who did not complete school as a child may wish to complete their Grade 10 or Grade 12 by attending Adult Basic Education (ABE). ABE is offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Moose Jaw.
In terms of post-secondary education, classes and courses include college and university courses and trades and technical courses. There are three choices for taking post-secondary education in the Moose Jaw area:
Additionally, many newcomers come from outside of Canada to study in the area. There are many services and information available. To find out more, click here.
Health Care
Moose Jaw is in the Five Hills Health Region. You can get care at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital, at a walk-in medical clinic, or at the office of a personal physician (a doctor who has his own office to see patients in). However, you must show your Health Card to get services for free.
For more information about health care in Moose Jaw, click here.
Immigration
Moose Jaw has more sunny days than most of Canada. The fresh air, bright sun, blue skies and low crime rate make for a safe and family-friendly environment. There are many footpaths, sports facilities and programs as well as an abundance of parks and other forms of recreation.
“We’re looking for people to live, work and raise a family. We want you to come here and live in the city of Moose Jaw,” according to the city’s Economic Development.
Development
Moose Jaw’s abundant resources and industries such as agriculture, mining, potash and more make it easy for newcomers to start and sustain their businesses.
In the past several years, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan has sustained growth in many different sectors. These sectors include population, building permits, housing starts, job information and investment. Moose Jaw doesn’t rely on the oil and gas sector and has avoided many setbacks because of this. Its economy continues to thrive on potash mining, agriculture, value-added agriculture processing, NATO flying training (15 Wing), transportation (trucking and rail), tourism, and healthcare. It’s also the largest distribution centre for livestock in Saskatchewan. Additionally, specialty crops grown in the region include chickpeas, lentils, peas, soybean and mustard.
Moose Jaw’s economy will remain stable because of large corporations like AgroCorp moving its headquarters to the community.
Fun facts!
- Moose Jaw is home of the Snowbirds. A symbol of our nation, our national pride and our ability to build a nation.
- Moose Jaw is benefiting from mineral-rich geothermal water lying deep below the city in its ancient seabeds.
- A group of eight municipalities, including the cities of Moose Jaw and Regina, are using innovative thinking to develop the area between Moose Jaw and Regina along the Trans-Canada Highway.
- The city has the most amazing Main Street in all of Canada.
- The residents of Moose Jaw celebrate Christmas in October complete with lights, decorated Christmas trees, and turkey dinners with all the trimmings.
- Moose Jaw has midnight trolley car “ghost tours.”
- There are building-size murals located above ground at Gangster Al Capone’s Tunnels underground.
- Moose Jaw is home to the Warriors WHL hockey team. It’s a hockey and Saskatchewan Roughrider kind of town. The team recently hired Olivia Howe as the first female coach in WHL history.
Doha Hanno Publicist, Parsai Immigration Services
If you wish to visit or move to Canada, please fill out our free assessment form. We will review the form for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal advice from a licensed practitioner. 
Disclaimer: This article provides information of a general nature only. It may no longer be current. It does not give legal advice. Do not rely on it as legal advice or immigration advice. We cannot be held responsible for the content of these articles. If you have specific legal questions, you must consult a lawyer. If you are looking for immigration advice, book an appointment. All the characters in the articles are fictional, unless otherwise clearly stated. Any resemblance in names, dates, and places (whether individuals, organizations, regions, or countries) is coincidental.
If you are interested in visiting or immigrating to Canada, please complete our free assessment form.
There is no fee for this assessment. We will review your information and contact you if we identify a suitable immigration pathway or other meaningful option for you.
If you would prefer direct advice about your specific situation, you may book a consultation session. This is a paid service and includes formal immigration advice from a licensed Canadian immigration practitioner.
Al Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Instructor, Ashton College, Immigration Consulting Program
Author of 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada and Inadmissibility to Canada for Human Rights Violations
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