Some prop firms have analysts to work squack box during the day. We have 2. They watch the headlines and present some opinions. They get paid a salary and sometimes put small positions on. You could certainly stay in tune with the markets while gradually getting back into things. I don't know what firms are in Canada, but just a suggestion. Good Luck.
You are in the tough bind. Where / when did you get your MBA from? Toronto is a tough place to break into finance, since that the Bay Street is dominated by a few large firms and very few smaller and med-sized firms. The hedge fund / fund management industry is also significantly smaller than it is in NY / Boston / Chicago. Infinium will be a payout setup type of environment. Since you passed your CFA Lvl 3, there might be some junior analyst role available to you. If you are intereted in the US, I can get you a few places to call. Toronto, I know that Ontario Hydro Generation was hiring energy traders actively a while back, I know a couple of people that got hired there. Other than that I know very little going on. There is a prop team that was a part of Manulife that is looking for a home, not sure where they ended up. Let me know, Rufus
Bartend or wait tables, for now. Just don't get stuck and up a 33 yr old looser like I am. I was walking with 950-1400 a week take home for 4 nites work ,28 hours total a week.+ benifits and profit sharing. It was awsome, too bad the new owners trashed the place and now I only make 500 tops and no benifits. ASS*&%$ for the same hours but at least I have the day free to trade and make just enough to get by. The thing that worries me now is when I was making the good money I was always saving money so a bad week in the market was no big deal. Now it's scared money. I have a friend walking with 2,000 a week as a bartender, man I want his job, and I could have had it too. I was offered that position back a wile ago but I was making the aformentioned figure and did'nt want to mess with anything on a new job. BAD TRADE.
I work a graveyard shift (in my formal profession as an engineer) and trade during the day. The key is to learn how to catnap or maybe try that polyphasic sleeping. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphasic_Sleep