Hi mhcoll,

First of all, welcome to Canada!  Hope that you enjoy your time here, notwithstanding the sometimes brutal winters we have (other than on the West Coast of course).

In general, I haven't seen a relcutance by recruiters to avoid personnel with no Canadian experience on their resumes.  I've had several resumes from recruiters for people who have not previously worked in Canada, although most did work in the US.  Some however had only worked in Asia prior.

If you're having trouble making connections, I'd suggest a couple of things:

• Find the local IIBA chapter and go to the next meeting to meet people in the file.d  You'll gain an appreciation for the local market's prospects, which can vary greatly across the country in the current economic climate.
• Call up some recruiters directly.  This can can be uncomfortable for some people, but is sometimes necessary to get your step in the door.  I don't know where in Canada you're living, but here are a couple of recruiters who have offices throughout the country: 
  • http://www.sisystems.com
  • http://www.sapphireca.com/
  • www.eagleonline.com/
• I'd also search the online classifieds and see what's available locally.  Not all jobs will go through recruiters, so keep an eye out for direct opportunities

If you feel like you want to avoid having a large gap on your resume volunteering can be a great way to keep your skills current.  I'd suggest looking towards the non-profit sector for opportunities - as their resources have diminished due to reduced donations they are always looking for innovative ways to receive top-tier services at low or no cost.  Find an area that interests you but also look for opportunities that could lead to paid work and/or direct referrals to jobs.

Good luck!