Running away To aberta..?

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junebug

Example fares:
Greyhound: ( 2 1/2 days travel) Student Fare closest departure Barrie, Ont to Banff, AB

Purchase Fare Type Qty Passenger Each 1 Total
Standard
Student Discount applied. 1 $679.77
Those travellers 17 years of age and younger:
Proof of age. Academic Students:
International Student Identity Card (ISIC), Student Price Card (SPC), valid photo student ID from a Canadian or American secondary or post-secondary institution.

By air - Westjet from Toronto (closest service)
Departing: Tue, Apr 1, 2008
--------------------------------------...
Toronto (YYZ) to Calgary (YYC)
07:00DepartToronto (YYZ)09:09ArriveCalgary (YYC)
Returning: Wed, Apr 30, 2008
--------------------------------------...
Calgary (YYC) to Toronto (YYZ)
18:15DepartCalgary (YYC)23:56ArriveToronto (YYZ)Price Summary Departing: Tue, Apr 1, 2008
--------------------------------------...
Airfare / GuestSeat Sale Fare$159.00 CADTaxes, Fees & Surcharges /
Guest (details) $58.00 CADTaxes, Fees & Surcharges /
Guest (details) $58.00 CADNav-Ins$23.00 CADGST-HST$10.33 CADAIF$20.00 CADATSC$4.67 CADSubtotal / Guest$217.00 CADMultiplied by 1 Guest$217.00 CAD
Returning: Wed, Apr 30, 2008
--------------------------------------...
Airfare / GuestSeat Sale Fare$139.00 CADTaxes, Fees & Surcharges /
Guest (details) $57.00 CADTaxes, Fees & Surcharges /
Guest (details) $57.00 CADNav-Ins$23.00 CADGST-HST$9.33 CADAIF$20.00 CADATSC$4.67 CADSubtotal / Guest$196.00 CADMultiplied by 1 Guest$196.00 CAD
--------------------------------------...
Total Cost$413.00 CAD

Ok, so now we've got the transportation part of it done with. Let's go on to where: Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore,Jasper all hire students in the summer - many include subsidized accommodations and meals. Try some of these websites:

http://www.banffjobs.com/jobs/index.php
http://www.banff.com/jobs/index.htm
http://www.jobtarget.com/c/search_results.cfm?site_id=665

I think you should read Alberta's Employment Standards who regulate the ages and types of employment you can take.
http://employment.alberta.ca/cps/rde/xchg/hre/hs.xsl/1476.html
Adolescent Employment Approved Occupations
Young Persons - 15, 16 and 17 Years Old
Employment Standards does not impose any restrictions on the type of employment a young person between the ages of 15-17 may be engaged in. However, certain occupations and times of the day are subject to restrictions. If a young person works after 9:00 p.m. in:

a place that sells food or drink, in a retail store,
at a retail business selling gas or other petroleum or natural gas products, or in a hotel or motel the young person must be in the continuous presence of at least one other individual 18 years old or older. Between midnight and 6 a.m. young persons are not permitted to work in such businesses.

Young persons may work in other occupations after midnight only if the following conditions are met: The young person's parent or guardian provides the employer with written consent to the employment, and the young person must always be in the presence of at least one other individual 18 years old or older.

You should realize that many employers run back ground checks and references when you apply for jobs. This might be a problem for you. I would suggest that you finish your probation period first to avoid not only being extradited back to Ontario if caught but to avoid embarrassment of an employer finding out. Getting caught is a serious infraction - one which you land you with more charges being brought against you.

I would suggest staying away from the big cities where you'll find it difficult to find a place to live in case something happens to yours plans where you're planning on living. At least in the towns I mentioned many provide you with accommodations and meals at a discount. Another reason is the huge young population of workers in those towns - you won't feel so out of place or alone.

It would be a good idea to apply to many of those jobs before hand as many will do telephone interviews. You might also have a list of hostels to stay at in case you just up and decide to go there without a confirmed job. They are usually inexpensive and safe places to stay while job hunting.

http://www.hihostels.ca/en/index.aspx?sortcode=2.3.8.17

By joining a hosteling club you'll get discounts at them, Grey hound, and many more places. Free for under 16 Individual 18 years of age or older $35 + taxes
Friend 18 years of age or older (friend membership is good for life) $175 + taxes
Junior Under 18 years of age FREE

I am not going to pass judgment on your decision but would just like you to be safe. Please try to keep those you may want to take advantage of you as far away as possible. Be on the alert for those you want to exploite you.

You will need to save for the transportation, at least 2 weeks in a hostel plus meals and entertainment. If you don't spend all if it - even better but you do need a cushion in case things don't go as well as you'd like and need to move to another town. Do not take you money in cash - use a debit card or travel cheques.

I wish I could talk you out of this idea of going but as you've made up your mind - go safely. Please consider and plan this trip carefully and read up on everything you can before hand to avoid as many pitfalls as possible. Keep in mind that you may well be listed as a "runaway" and you may find your picture in the files of "missing persons".. This alone may well bring about consequences you may not have thought of. This alone should be enough of a reason to give up on this idea. Authorities take a dim view of minors who run away but an even dimmer view of those who are already in the legal system. The consequences which follow will likely not be pleasant.

While I may have provided you with this information I personally do not condom what you planning as you run the risk of getting into serious legal issues. You say you've made up your mind but I'm asking you to please reconsider your choices because there are always choices. I understand from doing some checking that Huntsville doesn't have a youth shelter or even a lot of programs available for youth which is unfortunate. Would you maybe consider speaking to a counsellor about your issues. Is there one at school you could talk with. Does your area have a teen phone in line where you can talk to peers about your issues? I don''t know if it would help talking this over with your social worker but they may have some really good alternatives you might be interested in - change of foster home, therapy, peer group therapy, etc

Good Luck and Be Safe

kenoplayer

The only advice I can give you is that if someone approaches you and offers you money, shelter and clothes... run like hell in the other direction. They probably want you to prostitute or sell drugs. To find shelter, go to Salvation Army or Red Cross.

MelC

I know you said not to try to change your mind but let me break this down for you.

You are 15 years old and in a foster home. You are too young to even contemplate coming out here to Edmonton. For many reasons:
1) Highest murder rate in Canada
2) Highest homeless rate in Canada
3) One of the highest rents in Canada and the lowest occupancy rate in Canada. One bedroom apartments are close to $1000.00 that is if you can find one.

You are 15. Tell your social worker you are depressed, if you do not like your foster home for REAL reasons other than your 15 and think you are a woman...tell her.

Sweetie EVERYONE has to follow rules. Yes even us big folks.

I was in the foster system from the age of 12 to 17. Also being incarerated for 1 year. I know what you are going through but for God sakes do not run away. I know intimately about Drugs and Prostitution and I can tell you that having your *** out in -40 degree weather selling your butt is not glamorous.

Jennifer

I would ask the Youth Emergency Shelter for help. You can email them at yess@shawcable.com and explain your situation. Their website is yess.org. They sound very good. I don't know from experience, but they're always doing fundraisers in the city (Edmonton), and I passed by their building, which is very nice.

I am very sorry you are having a rough time. A friend of mine used to live on the streets when she was your age. After a few years, she got sick of it and moved out to Edmonton. She got a good paying job and lots of therapy and is one of the most couragous people I've ever met.

There is a lot of opportunity out here. A couple of months ago, I was in a Tim Hortons and I saw a sign that they were hiring. The pay was between $10-12, depending on what shift you'd work. That's just one example.

I am worried that you will get caught and have an even harder time. That's why I think Y.E.S.S. can help you. I'd say that waiting at least until after probation is a no-brainer. One last thing: please be careful if you make it out here. There's lots of creeps coming in to take advantage of the boom.

nyninchdick

Good luck and stay safe. Avoid the downtown areas of Calgary & Edmonton (I know, that's where all the kids hang out, but stay away if you can). The parasites always go where the young and vulnerable people are. Don't trust anyone who approaches you - if you need help, there are people you can go to, but they don't come looking for you. The pimps and dealers and pervs are the ones out looking.

Barry

im, sorry i cant really help, i dont know anything about law, but you dont seem to be happy where you are so all i can say is that if you know what would make you happy then good luck.. i wish i could be as brave as you, im 16 and i dont think i couldnt run so far away : ) try to stay out of trouble tho

jay

If you get caught you will most likely be sent back to Ontario and face even worse consequences. You may be placed in a detention home, or taken out of your foster home and placed elsewhere. I don't think it matters if you are under probation or not, you WILL face consequences if you take off since you are under age. Trust me, you will most likely get caught.

Rita

Well your going to do it eh! Well good luck, please don't hitch hike. Save some money and take a bus. You will see so much doing it that way. Please travel safe.

As for your probation that may just land you in another home or worse juvie. Maybe talk to your support worker about this.

I think the weather is nice there.

GOOD LUCK!!

Lola W

I don't know to much about law, but you would probably be in a lot of trouble if they caught you running away.
You should probably bring about $1000 dollars or more. As much as you can get. You don't need to spend it all, but it would be good to have in case something went wrong.
Greyhound bus would probably be the cheapest, most convenient way to travel, and they have stations in almost every city. The trip on bus would take about 6 days, and cost a couple hundred dollars for the 2 of you.
Please please please make sure that everything is secure with the place that you are staying. I live in Edmonton and there is a problem with homelessness here. Many people come from elsewhere in the country thinking they can just show up and get a job, but there housing deal falls through or they can't get a job and they end up on the streets.
Oh, and if your in Alberta, go to Jasper, Banff, Calgary and Edmonton. The average temperature here in March is about 0, but it gets to about +15 to +20 in April and May, and in June it gets to about +25 and stays that way until September.
PLEASE be safe in your travels. I hope I could help and that everything works out for you.

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