Dear CD,

My son want to confirm his admission @ Lakehead Uni in 3yr Nursing compressed course.
Do you know any Gujarati/Indian family/student who resides at Thunderbay? Is there PG facility? What about rental apartment?

Please advice about thunderbay situation.
You may reply on my ID:

Thanking you in advance.
With Many thanks & Regards,
Nailesh from Toronto

Hi Nailesh,

Congratulations on your son's acceptance at Lakehead! I work am also studying to work in health care and think nursing can be an excellent field (also a very difficult and under appreciated field!).

I am not a Desi, I found these forums when I was searching out some information about Indian Canadians, and come back because I find the posts interesting (I have many close Indian-Canadian friends and used to work for an Indian theatre company). I am originally from Thunder Bay and am happy to answer your questions.

There are not many Indian families in Thunder Bay. The population is mostly white with a fairly large Aboriginal population (they refer to themselves as Indians also as the government has done that for so many years, so Indians from India are often called East-Indians up there, I was suprised when I moved to Toronto to find that the term "East-Indian" is not used). Many of the people in Thunder Bay are descended from Finnish people and Italian people. However, the university is attracting more diverse students now and there are new student groups for different ethnicities. Also, the hospital has attracted some immigrants to the city from India and other countries.

There is a lot of rental housing available in Thunder Bay. There is a very high vacancy rate compared to southern Ontario. The city is very spread out, it used to be two towns about half an hour apart and they merged into one city in the 1970s. For this reason it is very important that your son finds an apartment close to the school. Unfortunately the area near the school is not that close to grocery stores or shopping. There are buses that go to the university and to the city's two downtowns. They are only once every hour or half hour though, so I really think it is best to live near campus. There is student housing available at the university as well. Some of these units are small town houses for 3-4 students.

I hope your son will have a good experience in Thunder Bay. I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have if I can.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
My prayer to you
Is that you do all the things you set out to do
And live your life the way you love

Thurston Moore, Psychic Hearts

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Portia

Hi Nailesh,

Congratulations on your son's acceptance at Lakehead! I work am also studying to work in health care and think nursing can be an excellent field (also a very difficult and under appreciated field!).

I am not a Desi, I found these forums when I was searching out some information about Indian Canadians, and come back because I find the posts interesting (I have many close Indian-Canadian friends and used to work for an Indian theatre company). I am originally from Thunder Bay and am happy to answer your questions.

---

Thank you very much ! I appreciate your taught and helping nature. Your advice will be very helpful to take decision. I will inform my son and definitely will contact if have any more question.

Thanks & Regards,
Nailesh

I know this thread is old but I wanted to add something incase your son did decide on Lakehead. I am visiting Thunder Bay right now and it is much more diverse than I recall from when I lived here. At the airport I noticed signs for an Indian cultural festival that was held earlier this summer http://www.tbayfest.org/ .

-----------------------------------------------------------------
My prayer to you
Is that you do all the things you set out to do
And live your life the way you love

Thurston Moore, Psychic Hearts

My son is moving to the 2nd year undergrad program. He loves the place, small, less crowded, more humane society etc. Imagine being asked at Walmart whether you are new to that place (it happened to us when we went to drop him off last year). More than that, the counter clerk put us on to her manager, who gave her contact details to my son, asking him to call her if he needs something, so that she can keep it aside for him to pick it up! He loves the univ food and the facilities it offers. Due to the weather conditions, i would suggest you son stay in the residence and use the canteen facilities there, since he will get access to the gym, music room etc apart from giving him a chance to diversify his friends' circle. The people there are quite humble. When we stopped at a by lane to feed in an address on our GPS, atleast 3 drivers stopped by, walked to us to see if we needed any help in finding our destination! I have been in GTA since 04 and not even once has it happened!

In fact i have been looking at opportunities there to see if we all can make the move!!!

Good Luck

Balaji

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Good luck to everyone

Hi Nilesh and Balaji,

My Name is Badal, and I am moving to Thunder bay from New York for my Ph.D at Lakehead University. I am in India for vaction now and will be in Thunder bay in september.

I am looking for some indian friends and I am also looking for accommodation. I will appreciate if you can pass this request to your son.

I heard that thunder bay is very small and there are hardly 20-25 indian family, so I am afraid.

Any help is highly appreciated.

Thanks,