Sir,
My advice is that you just DO IT - do not hesitate or you'll get cold feet. Springtime is the best time to move as the weather is softening (Ontario/Quebec) and jobs are fluttering about. If you moved to Toronto you would find a plethora of jobs waiting for you - maybe not in you field - but something that will get you on your feet. Toronto is an enconomic boomtown right now - good salaries and opportunities. One hint: most really good jobs in Canada - especially BC/ONT/QC are obtained by word of mouth and networking; don't expect to land the "dream job" surfing
teh internets. Get out there and find it (and get motivated). On the line: show up to companies with your resume (7 years experience and B.A. is quite a seller) and speak to
managers,
department heads and
art directors.
N.B. My wife is a graphic artist/designer (in Montreal, QC) and has worked in the industry for 14-15 years. Montreal has many, many opportunities in this work field - and contrary to popular belief, you do not need to speak French to live in Montreal (in the
province du QC -yes.) Computer software companies are the newest industry in MTL - and the market is mostly small-medium sized media/advertising companies.
How much cash do you need for a liveable move? If you are alone, figure on $3K as a survival pillow for one-two months. Rent in GTO is 1000+/mth for a rat-trap - Montreal 450+/mth for the same. Forget Vancouver asrents are idiotic ($1800+/mth for a used Cornflake-box sized hovel) and keep growing each year.
One final word of warning - Toronto (GMT) has samefully developped into what one would consider a messy, ugly, city-sprawl
. It doesn't seem to stop growing, due to very poor urban management, and compared to Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax (not ot mention Quebec City, the most beautiful, oldest and historic city in all of North-Amaerica) - Hogtown lacks any real Canadian identity - it's more like a newer-suburban style US city in moral and cultural sensibility. Apparently this is also happeneing in Calgary, Alberta. However, many people seem to be moving out there now . . .