Travel Nursing in Northern and Remote Canada: What to Expect

Some of the greatest need for nurses in Canada is far from the big cities: in northern British Columbia, the territories, and small communities across the Prairies. For nurses who want variety, independence and higher pay, remote and northern assignments are some of the most rewarding work in travel nursing.

Where remote and northern nurses are needed

• Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, in community health centres and regional hospitals


• Northern and coastal British Columbia, including hospitals in communities such as Prince George, Kitimat, Terrace, Fort St. John, Dease Lake and Bella Bella


• Rural Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, where small hospitals and care homes rely on agency nurses to keep services open

What the work is like
Remote facilities are small, and the nearest specialist may be hours away by air. You will often work with a smaller team, see a wider range of patients, and need to be confident making decisions on your own. In return, many nurses find the work more varied and the communities more welcoming than in a large city hospital.

Remote practice suits nurses with solid acute care experience, particularly in emergency, critical care or general medicine. Many facilities ask for at least one to two years of recent experience.

Pay
Remote and northern contracts usually pay more than urban ones. As of October 2026, our registered nurse contracts in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories pay $68 per hour plus an $8 per diem, and our northern BC hospital contracts pay around $65 per hour. See travel nurse pay in Canada by province for a full comparison.

Licensing
Nurses working in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories register with the College of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CNNN). In British Columbia, nurses register with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). Our guide to getting licensed in another province walks through the process.

How to prepare

• Confirm travel and housing arrangements in writing before you accept a contract.


• Pack for the climate, and expect limited shopping. Bring any medications and personal items you need for the whole assignment.


• Check internet and phone coverage, which can be limited in some communities.


• Learn about the community you are going to, including its culture and history. Respect and cultural awareness go a long way.


• Make sure your certifications, such as BLS, will not expire during your contract.

Find a remote assignment
See current openings, pay and licensing requirements on our Nunavut and Northwest Territories and British Columbia pages, or read our complete guide to travel nursing in Canada.