hello all...i would like to know what yelloknife is like to live in? spring, summer, fall and winter, things to do, people, places, rent, goods, women etc... i was thinking of taking a trip up there and checking it out to see what its all about. and also what's the deal with northern living allowances or subsidies?
thanks,
Living in Yellowknife?
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
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diddydumdiddydoo
- Rank 1
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- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:43 pm
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flynfiddle
- Rank 3
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:29 am
- Location: YZF
Spring? Fall? Haven't seen 'em. Oh wait a sec, you mean those 2-3 days between warm and cold. Just kidding.
Personally, I love it up here, lots of great people, lots to do, a small town feel and plenty of opportunities to make money on the side to keep you busy if you're waiting to fly.
BUT .. if you're the kind of person who hibernates during the winter months you will likely be miserable. The long, cold, dark winter can be depressing but on the positive side, summer is awesome!
As for your other questions:
Rent? Not cheap. The starting ramp wages around town are not great so most single people have 2-3 roommates, that can run you anywhere from $400 and up per person. A few years back there was a 0% vacancy rate and it was a bitch to find a place but things are better now.
Goods? The basics are covered. 3 grocery stores, 2 Liquor stores (prices are noticibly higher than down south), WalMart, Canadian Tire, a bunch of fast food places, Movie Theatre, Pubs/Bars, a big new multi-plex rink, a Tim Hortons .. do you really need anything else if you've got a Timmy's? No big name clothing stores except maybe Marks. Prices on most goods are on par or a little higher than down south .. of course it can be outrageous for the odd thing. No PST is good.
Women? Yes we have them and I believe one or two of them are single. Definitely a few diamonds in the rough.
Northern Living Allowance? Some companies pay employees extra each month as compensation, I think government employees get it that way. Most do not get the extra during the year but get a higher basic excemption at income tax time. It all works out in the end.
Yellowknife is worth seeing even if you don't plan to stay here long term.
Personally, I love it up here, lots of great people, lots to do, a small town feel and plenty of opportunities to make money on the side to keep you busy if you're waiting to fly.
BUT .. if you're the kind of person who hibernates during the winter months you will likely be miserable. The long, cold, dark winter can be depressing but on the positive side, summer is awesome!
As for your other questions:
Rent? Not cheap. The starting ramp wages around town are not great so most single people have 2-3 roommates, that can run you anywhere from $400 and up per person. A few years back there was a 0% vacancy rate and it was a bitch to find a place but things are better now.
Goods? The basics are covered. 3 grocery stores, 2 Liquor stores (prices are noticibly higher than down south), WalMart, Canadian Tire, a bunch of fast food places, Movie Theatre, Pubs/Bars, a big new multi-plex rink, a Tim Hortons .. do you really need anything else if you've got a Timmy's? No big name clothing stores except maybe Marks. Prices on most goods are on par or a little higher than down south .. of course it can be outrageous for the odd thing. No PST is good.
Women? Yes we have them and I believe one or two of them are single. Definitely a few diamonds in the rough.
Northern Living Allowance? Some companies pay employees extra each month as compensation, I think government employees get it that way. Most do not get the extra during the year but get a higher basic excemption at income tax time. It all works out in the end.
Yellowknife is worth seeing even if you don't plan to stay here long term.
There's 2 kinds of pilots who are in YZF.
Those who say that they are in the blade very short term to get what they need (experience) and want to get out.
Those who lie.
Problem with YZF is that you are at the end of the road. A person can get all caught up with place. Blinders on and thinking that YZF is aviation in Canada. Forgetting the fact that at any given time there is likely 30 fellas for every ramp job and 5 ramp jobs for every flying job. I'm no math wiz but that sh@t just doesn't compute.
That's why you see 1-2-3 years on the ramp.
Do yourself a favor. Do not go there. Visit, if you have to. Watch the Lonely planet Episode that passed through there if you must. But unless you want some serious forklift time and a facial tick everytime you watch a plane take off I'd say go anywhere else.
Yes I lived there. Yes I flew there. Yes I enjoyed my time there. Yes I got out of there as soon as I could.
Before the Pro-Yellowknife Activists try to chase me down with their mountain sleds and make me lick the tablecloth at the Range, this is only my opinion.
Cheers
Those who say that they are in the blade very short term to get what they need (experience) and want to get out.
Those who lie.
Problem with YZF is that you are at the end of the road. A person can get all caught up with place. Blinders on and thinking that YZF is aviation in Canada. Forgetting the fact that at any given time there is likely 30 fellas for every ramp job and 5 ramp jobs for every flying job. I'm no math wiz but that sh@t just doesn't compute.
That's why you see 1-2-3 years on the ramp.
Do yourself a favor. Do not go there. Visit, if you have to. Watch the Lonely planet Episode that passed through there if you must. But unless you want some serious forklift time and a facial tick everytime you watch a plane take off I'd say go anywhere else.
Yes I lived there. Yes I flew there. Yes I enjoyed my time there. Yes I got out of there as soon as I could.
Before the Pro-Yellowknife Activists try to chase me down with their mountain sleds and make me lick the tablecloth at the Range, this is only my opinion.
Cheers
Insert funny or cool quote here.
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flynfiddle
- Rank 3
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:29 am
- Location: YZF
Diddy never asked about the aviation scene in Yellowknife just Yellowknife in general, if he/she had then I would have given close to the same answer as you.
Once upon a time "going North" was a 2-3 year plan then leave with a mittful of good hours, not anymore, these days you're damn lucky if you get a right seat in 2 years. Things are booming down south (or so we're hearing), lurkers here are a thing of the past and companies are hard pressed to find a wannabe without going to the fax machine. A big difference from even a year ago when CP's had to hide from the daily door pounding job hunters. If you want to get flying fast by all means stay south.
Gonefishing, I respect your opinion, we just have a different view of this place BUT I would not make even my worse enemy lick a table cloth at the Range.
Once upon a time "going North" was a 2-3 year plan then leave with a mittful of good hours, not anymore, these days you're damn lucky if you get a right seat in 2 years. Things are booming down south (or so we're hearing), lurkers here are a thing of the past and companies are hard pressed to find a wannabe without going to the fax machine. A big difference from even a year ago when CP's had to hide from the daily door pounding job hunters. If you want to get flying fast by all means stay south.
Gonefishing, I respect your opinion, we just have a different view of this place BUT I would not make even my worse enemy lick a table cloth at the Range.
Those who hate it, detest it. Those who love it, stay for 10 years +. Those who are impartial tend to stay because of the great people they meet and the experiences they'll never forget. I'm not sure which of these people I am yet, however, I wouldn't trade my time in Yellowknife for anything. You'll find out within a month, a year, or a decade which of these people you are. Good luck.
YZF Guy
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diddydumdiddydoo
- Rank 1
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:43 pm
thanks for all there responses to my post.
i am interested in trying to get in with buffalo airways, i know this isn't the right forum category to ask this, but, how are they doing in terms of movement from ramp to f/o and as a company in general. im intrigued by them cuz of the types of aircraft they fly.
i am interested in trying to get in with buffalo airways, i know this isn't the right forum category to ask this, but, how are they doing in terms of movement from ramp to f/o and as a company in general. im intrigued by them cuz of the types of aircraft they fly.
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flynfiddle
- Rank 3
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:29 am
- Location: YZF
Last I heard they were hiring. I spoke with one of their guys a few nights ago, he said he was busy on the DC3 but that probably does not go for everyone at Buffalo .. lots of planes for sure but alot of them haven't turned a prop in a while. Summer is fire season and they get busy then.
I worked at Buffalo a few years ago, it's not as bad a place as you might have heard but it's definitely not for everyone (me for example), you need ultra thick skin and a love for round engines. The ramp wait is still around 2 years, par for the course up here. If you're going to put in two years ramping you're better off at Tindi or Sunwest, once you're checked out you'll fly alot more than you would at Buffalo.
I worked at Buffalo a few years ago, it's not as bad a place as you might have heard but it's definitely not for everyone (me for example), you need ultra thick skin and a love for round engines. The ramp wait is still around 2 years, par for the course up here. If you're going to put in two years ramping you're better off at Tindi or Sunwest, once you're checked out you'll fly alot more than you would at Buffalo.
Diddy dum:
If you chose to live in yellowknife, my condolences are offered in advance. It is no diff than the rest of the North of 60 and environs, altho people are somewhat friendlier than say Whitehorse. Aside from that, the North is generally a third world hell hole (except for territorial govt employees who think they are all that and more cause of their looming indexed pensions and do nothing well paid jobs), a disproportionate amount of people in the north have zip for any sort of moral compass. Getting stoned and screwing whatever walks is the favorite passtime for them. If thats your cup of tea, go for it..
If you chose to live in yellowknife, my condolences are offered in advance. It is no diff than the rest of the North of 60 and environs, altho people are somewhat friendlier than say Whitehorse. Aside from that, the North is generally a third world hell hole (except for territorial govt employees who think they are all that and more cause of their looming indexed pensions and do nothing well paid jobs), a disproportionate amount of people in the north have zip for any sort of moral compass. Getting stoned and screwing whatever walks is the favorite passtime for them. If thats your cup of tea, go for it..
Holy shit dude.....what's wrong with you? Annnnwayyyssss.......time to go get stoned.fogghorn wrote:Diddy dum:
If you chose to live in yellowknife, my condolences are offered in advance. It is no diff than the rest of the North of 60 and environs, altho people are somewhat friendlier than say Whitehorse. Aside from that, the North is generally a third world hell hole (except for territorial govt employees who think they are all that and more cause of their looming indexed pensions and do nothing well paid jobs), a disproportionate amount of people in the north have zip for any sort of moral compass. Getting stoned and screwing whatever walks is the favorite passtime for them. If thats your cup of tea, go for it..
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Cod Father
- Rank 4
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:29 pm
I enjoyed my short stays in Yellowknife. Cool town, nice people, but I was also coming in from a remote place so any civilization would have been a nice treat. I would say it’s like a big Kenora, ON as far as geography goes and lay out of the town. I have always thought of going back up there, I guess I was one of the few that fell in love with the North. 
As for Buffalo there is lots of good and bad on these forums about them, I never worked for them, but have worked with people who have. You either love it or hate it, there seems to be no gray area in the middle, they all said the road to flight line is hard and bumpy so be prepared if that is the route you choose.
As for Buffalo there is lots of good and bad on these forums about them, I never worked for them, but have worked with people who have. You either love it or hate it, there seems to be no gray area in the middle, they all said the road to flight line is hard and bumpy so be prepared if that is the route you choose.
I was there in the summer. Nice people. Be prepared to stay for a while, not much around the town except wilderness. LOTS of BUGS in summer.. esp early summer. Good companies to work for. But beware, they work you extremely hard, and if you get on a plane, its worth it. Me on the other hand didn't like it. Terrible and unfair management. Worked you with an iron fist. Now I'm enjoying my time in the big city at an international airport. But you will meet lots of fun people who like to have a good time.
Enjoy the White Fox while you're there...
Chaffey
Enjoy the White Fox while you're there...
Chaffey
what is the town itself like? is it a bit of a hole or is there a little polish here and there? i bet there's some nice houses along the lake but it would suck if you had to either live in some kind of shack or look at a bunch of shanties all over the place.
so....is it like kenora or churchill?
so....is it like kenora or churchill?
Very rare to get direct to a right seat. But if your "seasonal Ontario fishing lodge flying" was all PIC on floats, say about 1000-1500 hrs, then you'd be considered for direct c-185. Sounds like a sideways move at first, until you realize that the companies up there move the 185 driver to the caravan or the t-beaver and onwards to the twin otter or king airs.
