‘I miss... a pint! A properly poured pint of Guinness!'

“The only downside to the summer is the mosquitoes - the ‘mossies’ - and boy do they love the taste of Irish blood!”

In 2012, during the deep economic depression, Paul Geraghty from Raharney found himself unemployed and with little on the horizon, made the move to Canada.

Selected for interview with a Canadian steel fabrication company, Supreme Group, who had come to Ireland to recruit qualified metal fabricators for their Steel Bridge Girder Fabrication Shop, Paul sat through the interview and on May 11, 2012 he was offered a position and a two year contract.

On June 5, 2012, with bags packed and guitar case on his back, Paul boarded an Aer Lingus flight bound for Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The 44-year-old’s memories of growing up in Raharney are fond ones, and he explains how different life is living in the cosmopolitan city he finds himself in now, where there is a thriving arts and culture scene, with something to do every weekend.

“I attended St Mary’s NS in Raharney, and then Columba College, formerly Killucan Vocational School, where I completed his Leaving Certificate in 1992,” Paul begins.

“I’m probably being a little nostalgic here but for the most part, those were mainly good days. Simple, carefree and easy, maybe even innocent, looking back now!

“Those were days when you formed unbreakable lifelong bonds with friends. You’d get home from school, toss the schoolbag under the stairs, have a quick snack - bread and jam in my case - play outside with your friends, often not showing up back home again until it was dark, riding your bike or watching one of the two channels on TV that we had.

“Living in a small village we had a strong sense of community spirit where everyone was willing to help out their neighbour or friends. Almost every local social event revolved around the two local pubs there, so whether there was a birthday party, wedding anniversary, funeral or to catch a premiership football game, or even better, when the local hurling club Raharney won yet another championship. There was always a feeling of community, something that has been hard to replicate while away.”
Supreme Group’s Steel Fabrication Shop had their facility based in Edmonton, a seven hour time difference between there and Ireland.

“It’s about 3,973 miles or 6,394 kilometers away from Ireland, depending on how the crow flies, and this coming June I will be six years here!

“I first arrived during the summer months and my first impression of Edmonton was that it seemed like there was endless sunshine with little or no rain. I found this pretty amusing especially when I was asked what the summers were like in Ireland, to which I would always jokingly reply: ‘You know it’s summer in Ireland when the rain gets warmer’.

“Despite the city having a rough-and-tumble reputation, I was won over by its arts and culture scene. There was a festival or event that could be attended at least every second weekend, a busy nightlife, buzzing sidewalks and the quirky feel of Old Strathcona for weekend farmers markets. The river valley landscape was also a winner.

Edmonton’s river valley and park systems have around 150 kilometres of trails scattered throughout the city, perfect for anyone outdoorsy that likes to walk, jog, cycle or if you just like being close to nature.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss home, and unfortunately I don’t get home often enough. I think anyone that has emigrated from the Emerald Isle will probably say the same, thoughts of loved ones; family and friends are always on your mind. I especially miss my four boys, Andrew, Ciaran, Conor and Christopher."

The main difference between home and Edmonton is the food according to Paul, as well as the weather.

“It’s hard to find food that tastes like home but your taste buds do adjust over time to the food here, but you still get cravings. I miss the Sunday morning fry ups with back bacon – the full Irish breakfast, the jumbo breakfast rolls, Lucozade, Cadburys chocolate, Jacobs Cream Crackers, Jaffa Cakes and at Christmas, the selection boxes. A pint! A properly poured pint of Guinness!

“Also the weather! The ongoing joke here is that there’s two seasons – summer and winter! Or winter and construction!

“Summers are amazing, hot and sunny but way too short. The temperature can range from between +20 to +30 degrees Celsius, sometimes hitting the mid 30’s. You could get up to 17 hours of daylight. The only downside to the summer is the mosquitoes - the ‘mossies’ - and boy do they love the taste of Irish blood! You always need to have a can of insect repellent nearby to protect yourself from those pesky buggers.

"Winters on the other hand are looooonng and cooooooldd! The first snowfall of winter for Edmonton usually arrives in October, but can show up as early as September or even August. The season’s last snowfall typically happens in April or May although in some years a late snow lands in June. Only in July is Edmonton is normally free of snow.

“The average snowfall for winter is around 4ft. The older generation will appreciate that it’s more of a dry cold here unlike the damp cold in Ireland where -5c will cut you to the bone. Here you could venture out in a T-shirt in -10c but not for too long! The temperatures in Edmonton during the winter months can vary greatly day to day. It can go from +5c to -35C, not to mention the wind chill which can make the temperature plummet even more. I’ve seen it go to -50C….. not for the faint of heart. You just need to wrap up!

“Who knows if I’ll ever return home. I have been asked that question a few times, and although my personal circumstances affect my answers, for financial comfort, healthcare, lifestyle and work opportunities, Edmonton wins out. For the people, culture, craic and family, Ireland beats Edmonton. So you never say never to that question. We never know what the future holds, but for now I’m very happy calling Edmonton home.

“For anyone considering coming to Canada, whether that’s to Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, I would encourage them to do the research. Do your homework about where you’re going to settle. I discovered a few bumps along the way, like driving license conversion - I had to surrender my Irish licence. If you’re considering continuing education,make sure you get your Irish education results converted to Canadian grades/standards, as this can be a hidden cost if you haven’t planned for it. Plan for success.

“These links are a great tool to find out more information on immigration, jobs and travel: https://moving2canada.com or https://www.canada.ca.”