Chris - One-Way Ticket From Calgary to Saint John
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So an Alberta-born engineer moves from Calgary to Saint John. Yep, you read that right. One-way tickets east are a growing trend given the huge energy projects on the books for the Saint John area. Sure, Chris Albinati didn`t expect to end up in Saint John working on Canada`s largest oil refinery. His take on the place now: "we love it".
Growing up in Alberta, mechanical engineer Chris Albinati never imagined that his future would lead him to Saint John. But now that he`s here, he can`t picture his life any other way.
"We love it," he says. "We love New Brunswick. It`s a beautiful province and a nice lifestyle."
Chris and his family traded in the hour-long commute and soaring housing prices of Calgary for a better way of life in Saint John. They`re part of a growing trend. "It`s not as hectic here. You have the advantage of having a good-sized city with all the amenities you need and you still have plenty of wide open spaces."
As a new Dad, Chris wanted to put down roots in a place that was family friendly. "We didn`t want to bring up our daughter in a big city. We wanted a sense of community." Chris, a consulting engineer, has in-demand skills and could have found work in any part of Canada. He`s happy with the decision to come to Saint John. "We chose the best location," he says. "I can`t see us moving."
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He accepted a job with engineering firm Fluor Canada and now works with Irving Oil`s refinery, Canada`s largest. "I didn`t have to make a sacrifice in my career to come to Saint John," says Chris. "In fact, it was a step up. It was a good move."
Saint John is on the move with billions of dollars in new energy investment looming. That means more people like Chris will be taking a one-way flight from Calgary to Saint John and enjoying life on their terms.
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