Hi everyone! I’m in Ontario and trying to get into a Field Service/BMET apprenticeship. I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biomedical Engineering outside of Canada, but no hands-on experience yet.
Is it hard to get into these apprenticeship roles in Ontario? And what would you recommend I learn or do to have a better chance of getting hired quickly?
Thanks!
My daughter is 15, and I’m becoming increasingly worried about the influence her friends have on her and about her lack of interest in anything related to her future.
I want to make it clear that I have absolutely nothing against makeup, fashion, nails, social media, or taking care of your appearance. I enjoy many of those things myself. My concern is about balance.
Most of the friends my daughter chooses seem mainly interested in being on their phones, social media, makeup, nails, fashion, and talking to each other for hours. My daughter has gradually become the same way. She can happily spend most of the day on her phone talking to her friends or doing makeup, but she has very little interest in studying, reading, exercising, learning a skill, or thinking about what she might want for her future.
I’ve tried encouraging her rather than simply taking things away. I signed her up for music and sports activities, hoping she might discover something she genuinely enjoys, but she usually goes reluctantly and doesn’t seem to enjoy them.
We have also tried counselling, but so far it hasn’t made much difference.
What worries me most is that at this age, her friends seem to have much more influence on her than I do. I don’t want to control her friendships or choose her friends for her, because I know that could easily backfire. At the same time, I wish she had some friends around her who were also interested in school, goals, hobbies, sports, learning new things, or building a good future for themselves.
I’m not expecting her to study all day or give up her phone, friends, makeup, or fashion. I just want her life to have some balance and for her to gradually develop her own interests, goals, and motivation.
For parents who have been through something similar: what actually helped?
Should I stop pushing activities she doesn’t enjoy and let her find her own interests? Should I set stronger limits around phone/social media use? Is there a healthy way to help her meet a different variety of people without making her feel like I’m trying to control who she is friends with?
Hi
I’ve been using Temu for a long time. Recently, after making refund requests over time, I received a message saying my account showed unusual refund activity. My latest refund request was denied, and now any approved refunds are being sent back to my original payment method instead of Temu credit.
I’m feeling a bit anxious because I don’t know what this usually means. If you’ve had this happen to your account, I’d really appreciate hearing what happened afterward. Did your account continue to work normally, or did Temu place more restrictions on it? Did they ever contact you for more information or verification, or was it just an account limitation? I’m also curious whether the issue eventually resolved or if your account stayed restricted.
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice because I’m not sure how this usually works in Ontario.
My family and I found an apartment on our own through the building’s website. We contacted the leasing office directly, scheduled a viewing, and were told about a promotion (free parking for a year and some other incentives).
Later, we decided to use a real estate agent to help us with the paperwork. The agent submitted our rental application, but we have NOT signed the lease yet.
Now the leasing office has told us that because an agent is involved, they may not be able to offer us the original promotion anymore.
The thing is, the agent did not find this apartment for us. We had already found it ourselves, contacted the leasing office directly, and knew about the promotion before involving the agent.
Is it possible to ask the leasing office to remove the agent from the application or withdraw the current application and submit a new one directly?
Has anyone been in a similar situation? If so, what happened?
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for recommendations for affordable perfumes in Canada.
I can’t really afford expensive designer fragrances, but I’ve always wanted to own a perfume that smells beautiful, lasts a long time, and has good projection. Most of the cheaper perfumes I’ve tried disappear after an hour or two.
Where do you usually buy discounted perfumes in Canada? Are there any trusted websites or stores? Also, are there any perfumes under $50–80 CAD that smell much more expensive than they are?
I’d really appreciate your recommendations. Thank you!
Hi everyone,
My family and I are moving to Waterloo, and I’m looking for recommendations for clean, quiet apartment or condo buildings.
Our budget is around $2,000/month for a 2-bedroom.
One of the schools I really liked for my daughter was Laurel Heights Secondary School, and I was hoping to find an apartment in that area. Unfortunately, everything I’ve found there has been over $2,300/month, which is more than we can afford.
I’ve been looking at many other buildings, but a lot of them seem quite old, and the reviews often mention bad smells, cockroaches, poor maintenance, or other issues. It’s making it really difficult to know where to rent.
Can anyone recommend specific apartment buildings or property management companies that are clean, quiet, and well maintained? It doesn’t have to be luxury—I’m just looking for a safe place for my family.
Also, is it still realistic to find a decent 2-bedroom for around $2,000/month in Waterloo, or should I expect to increase my budget?
I’d really appreciate any recommendations. Thank you so much!
Hi everyone,
I’m a bit lost and would really appreciate some honest advice.
I studied Biomedical Engineering in my home country, but I don’t have much hands-on experience with electronics, troubleshooting, repairs, PMs, calibration, or hospital equipment. Since real BMET jobs were not very common there, I mostly worked in medical equipment sales.
Now I’m in Canada. I also completed an MBA, but I’ve realized that I’m more interested in BMET, hospital service, and Field Service roles than sales. The problem is that I’ve been applying for entry-level BMET and Field Service jobs, but I’m not getting results, probably because I don’t have strong practical experience or Canadian training.
I recently got accepted into the fast-track Biomedical Engineering Technology program at Centennial College. It’s hybrid and has a placement/co-op, which sounds helpful, but I was told it may require around 3–4 days on campus, and labs are usually in person. I also need to work full-time to cover my living expenses, so I’m worried I won’t be able to manage it.
I really like this field, but I don’t know what is more realistic: going back to college for BMET, or continuing to apply for Field Service/BMET roles while improving my hands-on skills on my own.
For people working in BMET or Field Service in Canada, do you think the college route is worth it in my situation? Or is it still possible to get hired directly without strong hands-on experience?
Thank you so much.
Everyone,
I feel like weight-loss injections work for almost everyone except me, and I honestly don’t know what to do anymore.
About 10 years ago, I tried a weight-loss injection that was victoza. At that time, I didn’t really know how to inject it properly, and I accidentally injected two doses instead of one. I’m not sure if the dose was too high, if I made a mistake, or if something was wrong with the medication itself, but I had a horrible reaction. I had severe nausea, vomiting, chills, and I felt like I was dying. I went to the ER, and even after IV fluids and medications, I still wasn’t getting better. Eventually, my mom gave me milk to drink, and after that I vomited a lot of yellow fluid and suddenly started feeling better.
Since getting married and having my child, I have gained around 20 kg. Unfortunately, because of stress, depression, and emotional eating, food has become the only thing that makes me feel better. I’m also taking medication for anxiety and depression. At the same time, I hate the way my body looks, and it really affects my mental health.
I have tried so many things: dietitians, exercise, going to the gym, private trainers — but unless my appetite is controlled, I can’t stick to anything.
Around four months ago, I tried Ozempic again. Right after the injection, my heart rate went up to around 175, my blood pressure increased, and I felt very strange and scared. I do have panic attacks sometimes, and during the year my heart rate and blood pressure can also go up because of anxiety, so I don’t know if it was a true reaction to Ozempic or a panic attack. But it frightened me enough that I stopped taking it.
The problem is that I still really want something that can help control my appetite. I’m considering Wegovy or Mounjaro, but I’m honestly terrified. I keep worrying that if I try one of these medications, my heart rate will shoot up again, I’ll have a dangerous reaction, suffer a heart attack, go into cardiac arrest, or even die. I know those fears may sound extreme, but that’s genuinely what goes through my mind because of my previous experiences.
At the same time, I desperately need to lose weight. I’m exhausted from years of dieting, exercising, and constantly starting over. I feel trapped between being afraid of these medications and feeling like I’m running out of options.
Has anyone experienced panic-like symptoms, a racing heart, high blood pressure, or intense fear after Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or similar medications? Were you able to restart safely under medical supervision? Did switching to another medication help?
What questions should I ask my doctor before trying again? I’m not looking for medical advice to replace a doctor — I’d just like to hear other people’s experiences because I feel really hopeless and scared right now.
Thank you.
Hi everyone,
I’m very interested in the Biomedical Engineering Technology Fast-Track program at Centennial College.
The program is listed as Hybrid on the Centennial website, but I’m trying to understand what that means in practice.
I currently have a full-time administrative job, but I really want to study this program if it is manageable.
For current students or graduates:
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience.
Thank you!
Hi everyone,
I feel like weight-loss injections work for almost everyone except me, and I honestly don’t know what to do anymore.
About 10 years ago, I tried a weight-loss injection that was similar to Ozempic. At that time, I didn’t really know how to inject it properly, and I accidentally injected two doses instead of one. I’m not sure if the dose was too high, if I made a mistake, or if something was wrong with the medication itself, but I had a horrible reaction. I had severe nausea, vomiting, chills, and I felt like I was dying. I went to the ER, and even after IV fluids and medications, I still wasn’t getting better. Eventually, my mom gave me milk to drink, and after that I vomited a lot of yellow fluid and suddenly started feeling better.
Since getting married and having my child, I have gained around 20 kg. Unfortunately, because of stress, depression, and emotional eating, food has become the only thing that makes me feel better. I’m also taking medication for anxiety/depression. At the same time, I hate the way my body looks, and it really affects my mental health.
I have tried so many things: dietitians, exercise, going to the gym, private trainers — but unless my appetite is controlled, I can’t stick to anything. Around four months ago, I tried Ozempic again. Right after the injection, my heart rate went up to around 175, my blood pressure went up, and I felt very strange and scared. I do have panic attacks sometimes, and during the year my heart rate and blood pressure can also go up because of anxiety, so I don’t know if it was a real reaction to Ozempic or a panic attack. But I got scared and stopped taking it.
The problem is that I still really want something that can help control my appetite. I feel stuck between being scared of these injections and desperately needing help with my weight and emotional eating.
Has anyone experienced panic-like symptoms, high heart rate, or high blood pressure after Ozempic or similar medications? Did you ever manage to restart safely under medical supervision, or did you switch to another option? What should I discuss with my doctor before trying anything again?
I’m not asking for medical advice to replace a doctor — I just want to hear other people’s experiences and know what questions I should ask my doctor, because I feel really hopeless.
Hi everyone,
I’m seriously considering the Biomedical Engineering Technology Fast-Track program at Centennial because becoming a BMET is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
I already have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from my home country, but my education was mostly theoretical and I never had the opportunity to gain much hands-on experience. That’s one of the main reasons I’m thinking about going back to college. I feel like I need the practical skills, labs, and co-op experience to finally break into the field.
The difficult part is that I currently have a full-time administrative job, and financially I can’t really afford to stop working right now. I noticed the program is listed as hybrid, but I’m not sure what that looks like in reality.
I noticed that the program is listed as hybrid, which gives me some hope that it might be possible to balance it with work.
Has anyone here gone through the program while working full-time? Did you find it manageable, or was it overwhelming? If you were in my position, would you still go for it? I’m also wondering how people handled the co-op term. Would it make sense to take a leave of absence from my job at that point and focus on the co-op?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through the program or is currently enrolled. Thanks!
Hi everyone,
I’m very interested in the Biomedical Engineering Technology Fast-Track program at Centennial College.
The program is listed as Hybrid on the Centennial website, but I’m trying to understand what that means in practice.
I currently have a full-time administrative job, but I really want to study this program if it is manageable.
For current students or graduates:
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience.
Thank you!
Hi everyone,
My daughter is starting Grade 10 in Ontario this September. We recently moved here, and while her English is good, she’s still trying to figure out how students study in Ontario and what resources they use outside of school.
She’s a bright kid, but she gets distracted easily and sometimes doesn’t know exactly what she should be studying. She does the work that teachers assign, but I feel she needs more practice and a better study routine.
Right now her grades are mostly in the B range, and I’d really like to help her improve to A-level grades over the next few years so she has good options for university.
I’m looking for recommendations for:
If your child went from B grades to A grades, what made the biggest difference?
Thanks so much for any advice!
Hi everyone,
I have a background in Biomedical Engineering, but most of my education was more theoretical and not very hands-on. I studied some electronics in university, but I don’t feel confident with practical circuits, troubleshooting, wiring, or working with boards.
I recently bought an Arduino kit because I want to build practical skills at home. My goal is to apply for BMET, medical equipment technician, or field service technician roles, where employers often ask for basic electronics, troubleshooting, and hands-on experience.
The problem is that I feel overwhelmed when I see the board, wires, circuits, and programming. I started watching Paul McWhorter’s Arduino tutorials, but even in the first lesson I felt nervous because there is programming involved. I have no real programming experience, and I don’t know where to start.
Could anyone suggest a beginner-friendly learning path for someone like me?
I would especially appreciate advice on:
My goal is not to become a software developer. I just want to become more confident with electronics, sensors, basic circuits, measurements, and troubleshooting so I can speak about practical projects in interviews and eventually add a few projects to my resume.
Thank you so much for any guidance.
I need help because I feel like I have developed a serious problem with compulsive clothes shopping.
This started about three years ago, after I immigrated and moved to a new place. At first, it was not very severe, but over time it became worse. During the past two months, it has become much more intense. I feel an almost constant urge to buy clothes, even though my financial situation is not good. I am not working right now; my husband is the one who is working, and I was a student.
Almost every day, I feel that I have to go and buy something, even if it is just a cheap blouse or T-shirt, so that I can feel better for a short time. I know this behavior is not healthy, and every day I decide that I will stop, but the next day the urge comes back again and I feel like I cannot calm down until I buy something.
My mind is constantly occupied with clothes and shopping. I keep thinking about going to stores, looking at clothes, and buying something. When I like a piece of clothing, I cannot stop thinking about it until I buy it. It feels like the thought stays in my mind and does not let me relax.
I already have many new clothes. I have suitcases full of clothes, and there is no more space in my closets. I have even put clothes in storage, but I still feel the urge to buy more. I understand that this is causing problems, but I feel like I cannot control it on my own.
This situation is affecting my mood, my concentration, and my daily life. I feel guilty, stressed, and upset after shopping, but before shopping I feel anxious and restless until I buy something. I am worried that this may be related to anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties after immigration, or another mental health issue.
I would really like to understand what is happening to me and what kind of help or treatment I need. I want to learn how to control these urges and stop this cycle.
Hi everyone,
I’m feeling really lost and honestly a bit overwhelmed right now, so I’d really appreciate any honest advice.
I studied Biomedical Engineering in my home country. The program I studied was not very programming-focused. When I compare my course syllabus with Canadian programs, it honestly looks closer to BMET than a typical BME degree here. But after graduation, I didn’t get much hands-on practical experience in electronics, troubleshooting, repair, or hospital equipment maintenance. In my country, there were not many real BMET/medical equipment repair jobs in hospitals, so I ended up working in medical equipment sales because that was the available path.
Later, I moved to Canada and completed an MBA. I tried to apply for sales/business roles here too, but sales in Canada feels very competitive, and my English is not fully fluent enough yet for strong sales positions. Deep down, I’ve always been more interested in BMET, hospital service, and Field Service Engineer roles.
The problem is that I don’t feel confident with practical electronics or hands-on repair skills. I’ve been applying for BMET and Field Service roles for a while, but I’m not getting results. I’m 35 now, and I feel like I still haven’t found my path. It’s honestly very stressful and discouraging.
Some people told me that if I really want to get into BMET in Canada, I may need to go back to college because Canadian employers often prefer candidates with local BMET/biomedical engineering technology training and co-op experience.
I recently applied to the Biomedical Engineering Technology program at Centennial College. The program has a work placement/co-op in the middle of the studies, but I’m still not sure if it will really help me get a job or not. After the placement, I would still need to return to school and finish the program. At my age, I’m wondering if going back to college is the right decision or if it’s too risky.
I feel very confused. I don’t know whether I should:
Has anyone here entered BMET or Field Service in Canada later in life, especially with an international biomedical engineering background?
Do you think going back to college with co-op is worth it for someone in my situation?
I’d really appreciate any realistic advice, especially from BMETs, Field Service Engineers, biomedical engineering technologists, or anyone who has hired for these roles in Canada.
Thank you so much. I’m just trying to make the right decision and not waste more time.
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some honest advice because I feel a bit lost about the best path forward.
I’m 35 years old and I studied Biomedical Engineering in my home country, but our program was very theory-heavy and we didn’t really get the kind of practical hospital training that BMET programs in Canada seem to have. Because of that, and because I don’t have hospital technical experience, I’m struggling to get into the field here.
Back home I worked more in medical consumables sales, not equipment repair or hospital maintenance. But honestly, BMET and Field Service work is what I really want to do in Canada. I’m very interested in troubleshooting, PMs, medical devices, and the technical side of healthcare equipment.
I’ve been thinking seriously about doing a BMET/Biomedical Engineering Technology fast-track program here because it includes hands-on labs and co-op experience.
My biggest concern is that at my age I feel like I can’t afford to make the wrong decision financially or career-wise.
So realistically speaking:
Do you think doing a Canadian BMET fast-track program would give someone like me a good chance of getting hired as a BMET or junior Field Service Engineer afterward?
Does the co-op usually help people enter the industry?
And do employers care more about Canadian hands-on experience than previous foreign experience?
I’d really appreciate honest advice from people already working in the field. Thanks a lot.
Hi everyone,
I studied Biomedical Engineering, but honestly most of our electronics courses were very theoretical and I never really got proper hands-on practice.
Now I’m trying to get into BMET / Field Service jobs in Canada, and I really want to learn practical electronics and troubleshooting, but I feel overwhelmed and kind of lost.
I bought an Arduino kit and started watching videos, but when I look at circuits or boards I honestly get intimidated and nervous 😅
Sometimes I look at a board and feel like I understand absolutely nothing.
The hardest part is I don’t even know WHAT I should learn or HOW deep I need to go for entry-level BMET/FSE jobs.
Like:
There are so many videos online that I end up getting more confused instead of learning. I watched some Khan Academy and random YouTube videos, but I still feel stuck.
I mainly want to learn practical things like:
My goal is to become somewhat “interview ready” for entry-level BMET/FSE positions in around 2 months if possible. I can study seriously every day.
For people already working in BMET or field service:
Honestly, when I see boards and schematics sometimes I feel scared because everything looks complicated lol, but I genuinely want to learn and improve.
Would really appreciate any advice from people who started from zero or from a mostly theoretical background. Thanks!
Hi everyone,
I have a background in biomedical engineering, but I don’t really have hands-on experience yet. I’m trying to get into a BMET or Field Service Engineer role and I want to focus on the right skills and courses from the beginning.
I’d really appreciate your advice on a few things:
I’m willing to study seriously, I just want to make sure I’m not wasting time on things that aren’t useful in real jobs.
Thanks a lot 🙏