Anybody ever worked/lived up north?

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mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
I'm talking way up north. Alaska, Yukon, etc.

I saw a job posted for this radio station in Yellowknife, North West Territories. Looking for a junior political reporter to cover town and territorial legislature meetings. Looks like a solid opportunity despite its remote location. I'm thinking of applying, even just for a laugh. Can't imagine they'd get too many candidates.

Just wondering if anybody here has actually lived north of 60, and what it was like.
 
BurnItDwn

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,353
1,862
126
I've visited Fairbanks, Denali area & Whitehorse... It's fvckin awesome up there. I actually would probably love to live there, so much open space, lots of snow, great snowmobiling, great cross crountry skiing, lots of nature to explore.

But, I acknowledge that it would be a "hard life" compared to living in the suburbia... And the whole ... 100 days without darkness in the summer and 100 days with no sunlight in the winter would be kinda annoying....
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,255
17,895
126
exactly how much politics happen up there that they need a junior reporter?
 
moshquerade

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
I have a good friend who lived in Ketchikan. Her father was a fisherman, and they had fresh ocean seafood all the time. She misses the seafood, but not living there.

Ketchikan_Alaska_&


She got out as soon as she graduated high school. Entirely too isolated/desolate for her. Basically their only means of entertainment was drinking...
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
moshquerade said:
She got out as soon as she graduated high school. Entirely too isolated/desolate for her. Basically their only means of entertainment was drinking...
Click to expand...

Some people love it and some people don't. I lived in Sacramento for 2.5yrs and moved out as soon as I could as it felt isolated compared to LA area. I can't imagine how living there is.
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
moshquerade said:
I have a good friend who lived in Ketchikan. Her father was a fisherman, and they had fresh ocean seafood all the time. She misses the seafood, but not living there.

She got out as soon as she graduated high school. Entirely too isolated/desolate for her. Basically their only means of entertainment was drinking...
Click to expand...

I'd imagine. The Panhandle doesn't look like it's even connected to BC or Alaska proper.

They say there's big money to be had up there though. Still the closest major city is a day's drive away.
 
sandorski

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,784
6,343
126
sdifox said:
exactly how much politics happen up there that they need a junior reporter?
Click to expand...


Joe drove the Utility Truck into the ditch again. Sue says he went on a bender after winning the Caribou Hunting Contest. Mighty fine buck that was, his family is in steak until the sun comes up and more.

When asked, Officer Bill said, "No harm, no foul. No one drives this road this time of year. I just told Joe to avoid drinking before driving in the future."

Janet suggested that Joe should pay for any damage and Jims' towing fee out of his own pocket adding, "I and I know you and Pete don't want to pay this from our taxes. It would be the honourable thing for Joe to do."

With Elections just months away, you just know Joe will be at the Cafe sweet talking Vera for her Vote.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
You better sort out your living accommodations before making any commitments. The housing/rental market in Yellowknife is apeshit.
 
Whoozyerdaddy

Whoozyerdaddy

Lifer
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
1
61
mmntech said:
I'm talking way up north. Alaska, Yukon, etc.

I saw a job posted for this radio station in Yellowknife, North West Territories. Looking for a junior political reporter to cover town and territorial legislature meetings. Looks like a solid opportunity despite its remote location. I'm thinking of applying, even just for a laugh. Can't imagine they'd get too many candidates.

Just wondering if anybody here has actually lived north of 60, and what it was like.
Click to expand...

I lived in Fairbanks for 30 years... and I've been to Yellowknife. Besides being in Canada, it's a hell-hole. I can't imagine doing politics up there. YT is the closest thing to Siberia North America has. NOBODY lives there. I think it's 60-70k people? Half of them live in Yellowknife. I was there for a week and couldn't wait to get out.

Whitehorse is a fun town. Kind of like Fairbanks only smaller and they have pretty good summers.
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
mmntech said:
I'd imagine. The Panhandle doesn't look like it's even connected to BC or Alaska proper.

They say there's big money to be had up there though. Still the closest major city is a day's drive away.
Click to expand...

I'm sure there's big money to be made cus no one wants to work/live there but I'm sure it has a fairly high cost of living. I'm sure land could be cheap but goods would be expensive.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
zerocool84 said:
I'm sure there's big money to be made cus no one wants to work/live there but I'm sure it has a fairly high cost of living. I'm sure land could be cheap but goods would be expensive.
Click to expand...

Goods aren't too terribly bad as they have an all weather road. Once the bridge is built across the Mackenzie the road will be open year round. Right now it's closed for about 3 weeks in spring/fall for ice freeze/thaw.
 
sandorski

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,784
6,343
126
When I was a kid I spent 4 years in Ft McMurray. The coolest part about it was the Summers' Daylight cycle. For a week or two it barely got dark at night. Sunshine until past 10 PM then approx 4-5 hours of Dusk/Dawn. Another cool thing were the Northern Lights which occurred quite regularly.

Even if you do it for just a few years it would be an interesting thing just for those things alone.
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
Scouzer said:
You better sort out your living accommodations before making any commitments. The housing/rental market in Yellowknife is apeshit.
Click to expand...

I'm just applying to see what they say. Of course that will be part of negotiations if I do decide to accept it. I would also demand more pay and vacation time than I would from a job down here. The average annual income the is double what it is in Toronto. Though I do expect higher prices for food and that.

I don't know if it's a shit hole or not. Can't be any worse than Welland or Brampton. I expect it to be small. Either way it would definitely not be a permanent move.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,255
17,895
126
mmntech said:
I'm just applying to see what they say. Of course that will be part of negotiations if I do decide to accept it. I would also demand more pay and vacation time than I would from a job down here. The average annual income the is double what it is in Toronto. Though I do expect higher prices for food and that.

I don't know if it's a shit hole or not. Can't be any worse than Welland or Brampton. I expect it to be small. Either way it would definitely not be a permanent move.
Click to expand...

Just remember that double turns into a quarter after taxes :biggrin:
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,255
17,895
126
Scouzer said:
Taxes when you leave in the territories are super low.... probably 25-35% less than Ontario.
Click to expand...

Humm, I should look up the tax rate...I can definitely hole up, assuming I get good internet access...

Not happening up there though.


Doesn't look too different. In fact it's higher in NWT... You have to add in the fed portion too, I didn't bother to list since it is the same for Ontario and NWT.

http://www.fin.gov.nt.ca/taxation/pit/pit-structures/index.htm

North West Territory

5.9% up to 37106
8.6% up to 74214
12.2% up to 120656

Ontario

5.05% on the first $37,106 of taxable income, +
9.15% on the next $37,108, +
11.16% on the amount over $74,214
 
Last edited:
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
sdifox said:
Humm, I should look up the tax rate...I can definitely hole up, assuming I get good internet access...

Not happening up there though.
Click to expand...

Oh, 16mbps cable is available in Yellowknife. With a bandwidth cap of 20GB.
 
rudder

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
86
91
BurnItDwn said:
But, I acknowledge that it would be a "hard life" compared to living in the suburbia... And the whole ... 100 days without darkness in the summer and 100 days with no sunlight in the winter would be kinda annoying....
Click to expand...

in the lower 48 we jsut have to be concerned with zombie outbreaks... there you would have to worry about vampires being out 100 days at a time.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,279
14,699
146
Fuck no. In the early 80s, a contractor I worked for had a big job on the North Slope...and tried to persuade me to go. Even though the money was great, (about $150K/year) I hate mancamp jobs, and didn't want to be away from the family for months on end. (you got two weeks off every 6 months) It just wasn't worth it...now if I was a single guy...I'd have taken it, mancamp or not. (always lots of "enterprising young women" looking to make extra money in those camps)
 
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