So this term gets passed around a lot, to go "Up North" when looking to move onto something else, whether it be a first multi job or a first job altogether.
Just wondering what everyone is considering "Up North".
Anywhere other than Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, etc?
On a native reserve?
Where no roads lead?
Wherever you'll be surrounded by trees?
North of 60 - The Territories?
Something else??
Where is this "Up North" where all the jobs you could dream of are; and all it takes is dropping off a resume?
Edited in advance just to not get off topic, that last line is a joke
Up north is where the uniform consists of Carharts, jeans, or coveralls. If you're wearing a white shirt, shiny bars, and a tie....you're not "up north".
Not Thunder Bay or Fort Simson or Prince George. Its where the Sun shines 24 hrs a day in the summer and not at all in the winter. My life long friends were made in the North so if you get a chance to live there do it.
It is North if your logbook page has 3 or more place names ending in Ik, Ak, Ik, At, Harbour, Lake, or Fort. If the signs at the terminal are in one 'Official' language, plus Syllabics, it's North. If you can't remember what something costs in a store, but you know what it weighs, it's North. If your passengers understand: Sked, split charter, and Medevac, it's North. If you know you have the Premier on board, and nobody is whispering "hey, look who's on the plane"... Yeah you guessed it!
Public holidays in places up North will include Freeze-up, and Break-up.
If you get in a fight with your Boss because they want you to hold call tonight, and you have a ticket for the Fireman's Ball... It's up North.
If you are aware of the existence of KFC Express (And you know it isn't a regional airline) or Klik Lite, then yeah, you're up North.
Oh, and if you have to hold 1/2 an hour for the Prime Minister to finish riding a quad up and down the only gravel runway, and you explain that to your passengers, and the only question they have is: "What kind of quad?", then rest assured you are up north.
JC
'North' is a sliding scale not only based on latitude, but longitude and it gradually increases in scale rather than having a solid demarcation line.
Generally, the further 'north' you go, the less hospitable the environment becomes and the greater the chances are of a low-time pilot finding a job.
It seems weird that longitude has anything to do with it, but it is absolutely true. In BC, 60N is going to be much more connected to the world and hospitable than 60N in Manitoba. Hwy 16 is a pretty good reference point of where things start to become north across the various parts of Canada. Then it is when the roads end, the sun doesn't rise or set, or the trees stop that make each place 'norther'.
Hmm, I have been quite off when I have been looking up north for something. I was considering something like Sioux Lookout north.
Timmins, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Thompson, etc were all going up north to me (I mean that in more than the literal sense).
So basically, the shittier the place, the better the place to start a career. Sounds reassuring
(And I mean shittier in terms of city life, as I'm sure some people love it and consider Toronto to be worse off)
I think it would be a great experience, it's the life style I necessarily want, but to put a few years in wouldn't hurt, and I'm sure I would walk out a better pilot.
At the beginning of any career, lifestyle as you define it at the time, and as you define it 35 years later are two different things.
Essentially, most new pilots view life as a carefully blend of alcohol and loud music that your parents hate, punctuated by random sexual encounters, and occasionally flying. Enjoying all the comforts of a new home with a commanding view of the city is not part of that lifestyle, unless the first words returning at the end of a hard day are "Hi mom!"
Make a list of all the things in your life that are important to your life just now. Then decide whether a move away from your present situation will help or hinder you.
As it turns out for me, I can get over-priced coffee, books, and snarly service just as well up north, and when I get to a big city, sushi, seafood, and all the glittery attractions are things I can afford and appreciate.
Oh, and if you have to hold 1/2 an hour for the Prime Minister to finish riding a quad up and down the only gravel runway, and you explain that to your passengers, and the only question they have is: "What kind of quad?", then rest assured you are up north.
kilpicki wrote:The Yukon, NWT or Nunavut are considered North,
Not Thunder Bay or Fort Simson or Prince George. Its where the Sun shines 24 hrs a day in the summer and not at all in the winter. My life long friends were made in the North so if you get a chance to live there do it.
Last I checked, Fort Simpson was in the NWT. And the sun will give you 24 hours there.
just curious wrote:It is North if your logbook page has 3 or more place names ending in Ik, Ak, Ik, At, Harbour, Lake, or Fort. If the signs at the terminal are in one 'Official' language, plus Syllabics, it's North. If you can't remember what something costs in a store, but you know what it weighs, it's North. If your passengers understand: Sked, split charter, and Medevac, it's North. If you know you have the Premier on board, and nobody is whispering "hey, look who's on the plane"... Yeah you guessed it!
Public holidays in places up North will include Freeze-up, and Break-up.
If you get in a fight with your Boss because they want you to hold call tonight, and you have a ticket for the Fireman's Ball... It's up North.
If you are aware of the existence of KFC Express (And you know it isn't a regional airline) or Klik Lite, then yeah, you're up North.
Oh, and if you have to hold 1/2 an hour for the Prime Minister to finish riding a quad up and down the only gravel runway, and you explain that to your passengers, and the only question they have is: "What kind of quad?", then rest assured you are up north.
JC