Canada Mega Thread - Information and Advice
You’re leaving van the day i get there. have you got your sin,bank account and a phone set up?
Yep to all of them doesn’t take long, got a bank account with rbc as they have a branch close to where you get your sin. Also went to boardroom clearance centre for gear and its pretty good they think on par with the whistler sale cause of the competition in the area.
Money in the bank with a statement or a printout or something like that.
Just say you’re only planning to stay for 6 months therefore the insurance only lasts that long. You don’t need to actually leave then. And you’d be an idiot not to extend if you stay longer… So much things you should have cover for!
Yeah just a printout of the front page in netbank is what I’ve shown in the past, as for travel insurance, I’ve never come into the country with more than 8 months paid for (I’ve just extended it whenever its about to run out), they’ve never questioned it, they’ll just check to see that you’ve actually got something, no point getting into detail about how long you plan on staying unless they actually ask you. Most people come for 6 months and stay a whole lot longer.
Just saw Whistler Blackcomb post up on twitter that the Turkey sale is on from the 11th-14th of October.
In other news, it’s actually started snowing up the top of Whistler. I had the day off so threw on my jacket and went up for a look. Was hardly anything settling on the ground when I was up there around midday but since then it’s been dumping up top. Very high winds and Peak Chair didn’t even open for sightseeing today.
For anyone interested check out my instagram account - it’s generally where I’ll post photos of things I find cool around Whistler. http://instagram.com/finney_cent
View of Big Red Express and Shale Slope in the background taken today,
Cheers Finney, always good information when you come back and post 
Getting excited about the recent snowfalls. Hopefully Sun Peaks starts getting covered soon too so it’s ready to go for my start date!
Hey guys flew in to van today and getting my 2 year visa was so easy, they ask you a few questions tell you to sit down then call you back up with the visa 2 minutes later. Flight was rough as guts though lol
Ads - how did you join RBC bank without an address?
Nice one mate. Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures!
If you have a job, they will give you an address to link it to. Otherwise, can you use your Australian address?
Hey guys flew in to van today and getting my 2 year visa was so easy, they ask you a few questions tell you to sit down then call you back up with the visa 2 minutes later. Flight was rough as guts though lol
Ads - how did you join RBC bank without an address?
I used the post office address as they will hold mail (im pretty sure) and told them i dont have a permanent address so they used that.
Also arrived in Whistler at Hihostel peeps so holler out if you’re around will be busy looking for work and place to stay etc.
don’t use RBC for your bank they are a pain to deal with go with TD. They’re open 7 days a week and are just a lot easier to deal with and charge the same.
Sick dude, keep us informed on how you go. If you’re up in Whistler, maybe see if you can meet up with Finney, he might have some leads as to where you could apply?
don’t use RBC for your bank they are a pain to deal with go with TD. They’re open 7 days a week and are just a lot easier to deal with and charge the same.
What about Scotia? Since I won’t be in Whistler and there is no branches for any bank in Sun Peaks, they seem like a pretty good option. Anyone got any experience with them? They got a bit of praise from people in the Sun Peaks facebook group and are part of the International Banking Alliance.
don’t use RBC for your bank they are a pain to deal with go with TD. They’re open 7 days a week and are just a lot easier to deal with and charge the same.
Can’t say I agree with you there, Yeah the hours are different with RBC open 6 days a week but I’ve had no issues with RBC over the past 4-5 years. The 7 days a week thing is a bonus but I always work weekends so that extra day that they’re open for business has never benefitted me. Never waited longer than 5mins to be served and the tellers have been super friendly and found ways for me to save money changing the type of account I had based on the number of transactions.
The other key point is that RBC is located closer to the centre of the village with 4 ATM’s at their branch where as the TD branch and only TD ATM’s that I’m aware of are located down at marketplace which hasn’t been the most convenient location for me.
just my $0.02
Bags packed. Flying over early tomorrow morning. See you in Vancouver Boardworld!
@ finney @at9
I went to RBC today, the woman i had setting up my account was the best i’ve ever had in australia or canada, its such a shame that the man i had book my appointment was a total pompous azzhole, legit was talkin’ shit on me when i didnt have my visa with me when i was booking the appointment, I was like u wot mi8.
anyway, phone, SIN, and bank all set up. Time to explore van and take a look at the snow shops.
@ads, where did you find that clearance shop?
@joy, let me know when you get to the samesun, im here until the 26th.
My number is 6049061377 for anyone that wants it. Text me with your name and BW username so i can workout who you are 
stokin’ at the moment 
Jonny arrived today as well:
Guys if anyone is at the samesun text me, im having a sick time here.
picked up some snow stuff today, check my blog for my first post in an hour or so !!!
I’M here! in Vancouver for two days, I check out on the 26th of September to head up to Whistler For a 20 day mountain bike holiday before heading off for Panorama! So if anyone is heading to Whistler on the 26th. Let me know and we can be bus buddies! Getting through Immigration was easy as. By the time all the customs staff had dealt with all the non english speaking people, they took my passport and conditional acceptance letter and came back 20 mins later with my work permit. Didnt ask anything about insurance, a job, proof if funds or anything! Today I got a phone set up and my SIN number. Tomorrow is bank day!