To not want my 19 year old moving to Canada alone?

I went to Canada on a working student visa. I also went to America three times, France once and Nepal once. All great experiences. As long as she's picked a reliable agency she should be fine. I always used an agency as they would help out with any issues.

It’s fine, she’s 19 not 16. If Australia’s borders were properly open my 18 year old would be in Europe or the UK by now, on a long working holiday knowing no one at all. My 21 spent a month in Europe alone when she’d just turned 18, it’s normal and should be encouraged. I actually think it’s really sad that you’ve never left your hometown or travelled, I don’t understand that kind of closed mindset where you can’t grow and learn because everything is same same and you don’t see new ideas or experiences as everything is same same. She wants to spread her wings and I hope you support her as it sounds like she’ll go anyway.

The week I turned 18 I got my working holiday visa sorted - was going to the UK not from the UK though. It's an excellent experience and lots of people do it. She is right to be careful about insurance though - check that.

I would also encourage her to check that the agency is the best pathway . Sometimes employers will hire you directly and you will save thousands in fees, sometimes employers only use particular agencies. Depends on the sector and employer.

Perfect opportunity! My friend did this to the US while the rest of us went to Uni. She worked in bars and hotels eventually making it to Beverage manager by the time we'd graduated.

She's now outrageously successful in hospitality and owns three bars and restaurants in her state, is a US citizen along with her US husband and two kids and her mum joined her there several years ago.

Let her go!

Yes, it’s a thing. Lots of our young do it, they go to the USA to work as school holiday camp councillors, resorts in Canada and indeed assistants in boarding schools in the UK. It’s a great thing for a young person, I can’t see a downside.

YABU

I did the same thing. I'm sure my parents were scared witless too, but I had a whale of a time and it was the making of me. I wouldn't go back and change it for anything.

It sounds great OP, she’ll love it.
I had an offer to go abroad for uni at 15, moved there a couple of weeks after turning 16. Like your DD, I did all the research and paperwork mostly because my parents didn’t speak a word of that country’s language. It was for uni, but still very daunting for them and they understandably had doubts when I ‘presented’ the offer to them, almost like a given fact

All you can do is have a look online yourself to make sure the resort is legit and it all sounds safe, and make sure you’re there for her throughout the process and once she moves out.

She’ll have lots of fun, meet lots of new people and hopefully gather some cool experiences to talk about all her life. You’ve raised her really well OP, from the sounds of it!

you would be massively unreasonable to try to stop her. I travelled the world at her age, I’m sure it was terrifying for my parents but they never tried to put me off. Travel really does ‘broaden the mind’, it also gave me a lot more self-confidence from having to fend for myself a world away from my parents.

And of all of the places in the world that she could have chosen, Canada is probably one of the safest and friendliest. I spent a few months travelling across Canada at her age, it’s a fantastic country, she will have a brilliant time.

As a Canadian, yes this is legit. While I can't speak for the specific resort, there are many, many young adults who arrive from around the world to work the ski resorts (and party) over the winter. Canada is a pretty safe country and she will be with a lot of other young adults also far from home. It is seasonal work and many love it and stay at it for a few years.

You were pregnant at 19, living 5 minutes from your parents, have never left your home town nor travelled.

These are all the reasons why she wants to!

Others have pointed out gapnywar students are often younger than her and in far less safe countries. I hope your DH does not try to talk her out of it. You will risk losing her or making her resent you both.

Let her live her best life!

Yes this is a real thing. Thousands do it every year, to Canada, Australia, the UK, NZ. I did it to the UK (from Australia) at 20. My sister went to Whistler to be a ski instructor at 19 knowing no one. She kept going back for four winters before starting uni.

Your daughter will most likely have an amazing time. There will be many other working holiday makers working at Whistler. If it doesn’t work out, she’s just a day away.

I live in Vancouver, which is near Whistler. We meet many young people from the Commonwealth working here.

There are temptations and danger everywhere. They learn. DS1 went on a gap year to Asia and Australia. He had one bad experience that cost him. But he learned.

I think Canada is a good as anywhere for them to spread their wings. It could be much worse.

Yabu btw. My dd did the same thing at her age and she had the time of her life.

She's the perfect age for spreading her wings. It'd be tragic if you or your DH tried to stop her. By all means for your own reassurance check the credibility of the agency but otherwise you need to let her go. There's a whole world out there!

I did this at 19, but it was New Zealand for me. I wanted to backpack, but my mum talked me into signing up with an agency and doing a gap year in employment instead.

One of the things I’ve always loved about my parents is that they’ve supported all of my working abroad and never tried to stop me. I always knew I wanted to see the wider world and they supported that. There’s so much out there to see, do and experience. I’d be really pleased she wanted to spread her wings if I were you, there’s so much beauty out there.

Also "I've never left my hometown or travelled"

I find that quite sad & a small life. Well done for your daughter wanting more for herself & not just following the path you've expected of her.

She sounds like a smart, hardworking & independent person.

You do realise the 2 year working holiday is why UK is overrun by Aussie backpackers

Have to admit, was a bit befuddled that someone presumably from the UK hasn't heard of the working holiday deal set up for Commonwealth countries

Heaps of Aussies do the Canada 2 year visa & many work at hotels/ski resorts

I think you should let your daughter live her life & stop trying to stifle her due to your fears. All you will do is clip her wings & not let her mature into the person she was meant to be.

You can't stop an adult going to an overseas country & why would you?

I can see how if I was from the UK Europe wouldn't seem as exotic.

Just like having a gap year, isn't it, except it's two years, with guaranteed work and accommodation? And in a country that is statistically a lot safer than many gap year destinations.

You raised a confident adventurer! Well done you!

Sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Perfect thing to do at her age. Something she won't be able to to when tied down with career job, marriage or kids.

If she seems to have no qualms about going away so far to work , I would say great to do something different, it does young people the world of good to travel,work, and experience all different things., My Son did this when he was the same kind of age, except he went to the USA, and travelled to different States all over, and did various jobs in different places..

maybe sun peaks!!
things to think about, ski resorts tend to be out of town and transport into the nearest populated area can be difficult (bumming rides all the time).
cost, even though she'll be getting a wage, room and board will most likely be taken off and will only leave her with a small portion of her pay, food and general purchases in ski resorts tend to be silly expensive (unless she preps nicely and doesn't need to pay insane prices for hygiene products and basics).
sex/drugs/and alcohol lots of time to abuse the limited parental guidance.
that being said our local hill tends to have a lovely group of aussies year after year.

I know 3 people who have done this, including DS, and all have had great experiences. Despite it sounding daunting, the time will go really quickly for you and her.

Canada is a great place to go to - like the UK in many ways, and the people are lovely, friendly, and very polite ! She'll be fine. I moved to the other side of the world at her age and loved it - she will too. Please don't pour cold water on her plans just because you've never done anything like this - she'll have a marvellous time and learn so much.

I did the same, she'll have a great time