We caught up with JENZA Canada expert, Josh, on his experience living and working in Canada on his working holiday.

Where did you travel in Canada and what jobs did you do over there?

I started working in a Canada summer camp about an hour north of Montreal before doing a road trip east around the Maritimes.

I worked as a dispatcher for my first winter at Lake Louise, which allowed me to meet lots of members of patrol. I managed to use these connections to gain a position with Alberta Wildfire as a type 1 unit crew firefighter for the summer.

I then headed back to Lake Louise, this time as a Snowboard Patroller, after a big road trip of the US west coast.

My permit finished in the following June, so I took my van around another even bigger tour of the US before returning to the valley, selling everything, and leaving Canada.

What was your favourite bit about working a ski season?

I had two very different experiences. I was in the main staff block in my first season, whereas I had somewhere a bit more quiet in the second.

Patrolling was the best job in the world. I was snowboarding every day, making sure the resort was safe and responding to emergency calls.

However, in my first season, I made friends for life, my favourite part of that season was connection. My role as dispatch meant got to talk to every department at the hill. Everyone knew who I was and I knew who they were – which meant I could talk to anyone on a Sunday night staff accom party!

What was the hardest part about moving abroad?

In no particular order if my family are reading...

• Leaving my dog

• Leaving my family

• Lugging my snowboard across the continent

• Getting used to 5am wake ups for Arsenal matches!

What were the favourite places in Canada you visited?

• Fernie, BC. Great year-round community, great town and phenomenal ski resort. The only downside is it’s a shorter winter and it rains in the spring!

• Jasper was really cool too, less touristy than Banff with a great mountain feel.

• As part of fighting wildfire, it meant going to remote corners of Alberta so it was really great to see the true Canada.

• And then when I crossed over to the US, I loved Highway 89 – Arizona to Montana, particularly Sedona.

What's one thing you wish you'd have known before moving to Canada?

How hard leaving would be.

I loved it just as much, if not more, than I thought I would. I was comfortable with leaving but haven’t shut up about the place since! So book in a call with me if you want to find out more about working in Canada – it will be like mutual travel therapy for both of us!

Ok, bonus question – summer or winter in Canada?

Winter, all day. Snowboarding is the best thing in the world.

But then, summer is also Canada’s best kept secret. So... next question?

Have you done any other work abroad experiences?

I worked at a summer camp in both the USA and Canada, instructed windsurfing in Greece, worked a ski season in the French Alps, and also worked at a watersports centre in Cyprus.

Then, after my two years in Canada, I spent six months working on a cruise ship. It’s been a busy few years, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Living abroad in early adulthood has taught me more than I could have possibly hoped to learn in the UK and has shaped the person I am and will be going forward.

Check out JENZA Work Canada for all the intel and info on doing a working holiday and what summer and winter ski season Canada jobs we can sort for you.