moving to st. catharines - need help

one-hit_wonder · 05-10-2007, 09:34 PM

Hi!

I'm a Winnipegger - thinking about moving to St. Catharines to pursue my master's degree. So I have a few questions:

1) I will need a referral to an infertility clinic. Where is the nearest one? Can I get referred through my current RE, or will I have to go through an Ontarian doc? Also, if I have to go to another city for treatments, what's public transportation like? (I don't want to maintain a vehicle out there.)

2) Dh and I will need to find a charismatic church to attend. Any suggestions?

3) Will I like St. Catharines? lol I've never been there before, but I understand that it is a lovely place.

Thanks!

Ajani · 05-11-2007, 11:21 PM

1) I will need a referral to an infertility clinic. Where is the nearest one? Can I get referred through my current RE, or will I have to go through an Ontarian doc? Also, if I have to go to another city for treatments, what's public transportation like? (I don't want to maintain a vehicle out there.)

The only actual infertility clinic is in Hamilton, and you will need a referral. As with all specialists in Ontario, OBs and REs require referrals (OHIP pays them more with a doctor's referral). Public transit won't get you to Hamilton (it's about 40 minutes away). There are a few OBs in town who apparently treat PCOS. I've not been to one. Public transit will get you most places in town during the day. Evening and weekend service isn't as good, depending on where you live.

2) Dh and I will need to find a charismatic church to attend. Any suggestions? Niagara Celebration Church or Central Gospel Temple. The first is more like an American mega-church, though not quite as big. CGT has traditional roots, but is very family/30's oriented, with good music and programmes. We have friends who attend there. If you're familliar with more upbeat Mennonite Brethren churches, there are a few here, too (and a few more traditional ones).

3) Will I like St. Catharines? lol I've never been there before, but I understand that it is a lovely place. It's lovely. Graffiti is getting out of hand, but our new mayor and council are working on it. It's nice to live in an area with such abundance of fresh produce. There are farm stands all over the outlying areas, and a farmer's market downtown 3 days a week. I hate the summer, but the fresh produce (especially things like peaches, cherries and corn) make it bearable. And it's not as cold here as Winterpeg.

one-hit_wonder · 05-13-2007, 01:26 AM

Thanks, Ajani!

After I posted the initial post, I remembered you and that you were somewhere in ON, and I seemed to recall (when we were chatting another time about Mennonite stuff) that you'd said you lived in this area. Congrats on the new arrival, btw!

Zooy · 05-16-2007, 02:12 AM

St Catharines is beautiful. I'm in the next city over WElland and we visit St Catharines because there isn't anything to do in Welland.

Ajani · 05-16-2007, 10:19 AM

LOL, that's true! Well, there's the Exhibition in September, which we actually really enjoy, but will be missing this year. And I've never been to the food festival, but I hear it's pretty good, too.

That's all I can think of.

one-hit_wonder · 05-20-2007, 02:05 AM

Thanks, ladies.

Well, we sold our house two days ago -we hadn't even put it up for sale: we just got an unsolicited offer from people we know - so it looks as though we are moving to St. Catharines. Brock, here I come. I hope I like it.

Eek! - as of July 1st, we are homeless! lol

sara101277 · 05-20-2007, 05:53 PM

I live in Hamilton, but my in-laws live in St. Catharine's and I think its a really pretty city.

There is a lot of development lately, of big box stores and such, there are a lot of nice restaraunts, and it just seems like there is a lot of outdoor activities. We were there this weekend, and we went to Happy Rolph's, which is a free petty farm type place and we loved it.

The west end clinic is a great place, but like Ajani said, you do need a referral. I didn't think the wait was very long. The people there are just great, the doctors are very positive, and optomistic, and just nice. They really did there best to accomidate our schedules and stuff. It was a nice expereince. They are also very above board, very open and honest.

Ajani, I never knew you were so close!

Sara

Zooy · 05-21-2007, 03:29 PM

If when you move here, you're looking for someone to have coffee with, send a PM my way.

one-hit_wonder · 05-22-2007, 11:09 PM

Thanks, ladies! Zooy, I'll take you up on your offer.

More questions:
1) How much snow do you get in winter? Also, what's the lowest temperature that we can expect? (Can you tell that I'm a Winnipegger because of my obsession with the weather? lol)
2) What's it like to work in the trades there? (My dh will be looking for work as a journeyman electrician.) Also, how difficult is it to get a teaching position (in either public or private schools)?
3) We'll be renting a place. Is there any part of the city that we should stay away from? Will it be hard to find an apartment for August 1st? And about how much should we expect to pay for rent for a 2-bedroom?

I just found out that 5 of my aunts/uncles and my grandfather (all in my maternal extended family) have lived in St. Catharines at some point or other, which I didn't know, so that seems like another good sign.

Thanks for all the help!

Ajani · 05-23-2007, 10:23 AM

1) How much snow do you get in winter? Also, what's the lowest temperature that we can expect? (Can you tell that I'm a Winnipegger because of my obsession with the weather? lol) We get some snow, but lately it's boom or bust, it seems. The weather can get chilly, but not like the Peg. And this past winter I don't think we had any real snow until the new year. And even then it may be only a couple of feet. Welland and Niagara Falls tend to get a bit more.

2) What's it like to work in the trades there? (My dh will be looking for work as a journeyman electrician.) Also, how difficult is it to get a teaching position (in either public or private schools)? Electrical work may be hard to come by. Pray, because the jobs in that field tend to be scarce around here, or go by contract, rather than full employment. Not sure about teaching.

3) We'll be renting a place. Is there any part of the city that we should stay away from? Will it be hard to find an apartment for August 1st? And about how much should we expect to pay for rent for a 2-bedroom? No clue about rent amounts, but stay away from "Western Hill" (St. Paul West, Pelham Road area). It's not great, and tends to be rough. Some of the downtown areas are hit or miss, but we live near downtown (for now) and it hasn't been too bad.

BeetleGirl · 06-02-2007, 02:39 AM

So when is moving day?

I have been through St. Catherine's more times than I can count but it seems like it was always for a bathroom break between Niagara Falls & home.
Good Luck with your move & I am sure you will enjoy moving to that area of Ontario.

one-hit_wonder · 06-05-2007, 10:45 PM

Thanks for all the help so far.

We're starting to get anxious about employment for my dh. One of us has to be working - I get a stipend, but it's not enough to cover all of our bills. So I need some advice. Would it be worthwhile to look for employment for dh (and a place to live) outside of St. C? I would commute, then. Or try to. I don't know if that's a good idea because I hear that traffic is bumper-to-bumper. I've been looking into Coach Canada and VIA Rail. I have to be in class only 2 or 3 times per week, so a longer commute isn't something that I'd mind, since I can do my readings while en route.

Yeah, we're not sure what to do. Dh is in the IBEW union in Winnipeg. They offered to issue him a traveller's card for St. C, but he doesn't know if it's worth it if there's no work to be had.

So, long story short, anyone know of a community that is within commuting distance of Brock and that has better employment opportunities in electrical? I'd be so grateful for any advice!

Thanks!

Ajani · 06-06-2007, 10:30 AM

Electrical in the region is often tough to get. Hamilton *might* be better, but I doubt it. Have hubby contact some companies, or the union, and see what's available. And pray.