Re: Advice Needed!!
 

but having said that stubby, I missed only one day of work due to weather in 30 years. Yes there is snow, its a dry flaky snow out west, now here in NS when it snows its like shovelling wet cement. The city takes very good care of its roads, and if you do what I did when new I took winter driving lessons, touch wood never had an accident yet,.I remember the day I arrived in Alberta Dec 4th 1977 it was minus 32 at the airport, wearing heels and an unlined cord jacket, when I stepped outside I thought I had flies up my nose when in fact it was the nose hairs freezing.. I met people right away and it took my mind off friends and family back home. Yes there is going to be a culture shock wherever you go but you'll get over it, after all...thats how the west was won!! Healthcare I left Alberta 6 years ago, I never had a long wait for any appointment dental, doctor specialist or whatever, and it was top-of-the-line care- but not the same for Nova Scotia, we have a shortage of all of those here..and Im rural now so it isnt the nearly as available as it was. The cost is mostly covered by the provinces health care systems or company plans..

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

Thanks Adele, Im not sure about my partners qualifications, I know he is qualified to use European building codes but we would need to check for Canada. Im pretty sure my PhD is transferable, although if it isnt Im looking into opportunities for health analysts or public health policy advisors which I should be qualified for, if not I will have to retrain in the UK before coming over Im guessing play the housewife card a little earlier than expected!

As for the rural/ urban question we would prefer to live in the suburbs or in a rural area, as long as health care and transport networks are accesbile and we are not completely cut off. The weather doesnt really bother us, again as along as it doesnt mean spending half of the year cut off from the rest of the country.

In terms of the rural/ urban divide, is there a preference for either and are there any social charactoristics attatched to them? I mean for example are rural areas very very rural and only have a man and a dog living there or are rural areas quite well off with commuters?

Also, do we have a consensus on the weather yet? :)

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

Have a look at the Wiki - there are definitely articles about Canadian climate and healthcare and may even be one about rural living. :)

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

Virtually impossible to have a consensus regarding Canadian weather, the country is so large it has many various climates and micro-climates within its borders.

When you decide that Canada is one of your major choices come over at differing times to different areas and see if it meets you expectations.

Until then "you" need to research, research, research.

What we say should have very little sway in your choice as it's your life not ours.

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

No consensus - it depends on which part of Canada you're asking about ;)

Good luck with the research, and remember that in Canada things vary massivly from province to province, so what may be done one way in one province may be entirely different in another - and that includes qualifications, health care, weather...just about everything in fact, apart from the currency!

Best wishes

Adele x

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

Lived in sasketchewan for 8 months, plus what my friends from various provinces have told me.

Out of interest what parts were wrong? because I was in - 50 c all last week in Regina.

P.S the snow is the praries isnt that much of a problem because its powder but out east where the its damper the snow is heavier.

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

Stubby when you're in a hole quit digging.

Your friends are either pulling your leg or they badly misinformed.

As for last week in Regina the coldest it got as an overnight low was -32.4C on the 15th.

See for yourself here: Daily highs, Lows for Regina December 2008

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LOL...too funny
:D

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Steve, I checked the weather every day, the highest was - 43 c (with the wind chill) and the lowest was - 48 c, dont tell me I wasnt experiencing weather that cold.

P.S heres the weather network for this week:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/CASK0261

I can promise you its been pretty similar temperatures through out the previous weeks.

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

Perhaps you need to read what I've linked to below. ;)

Wind chill is an indicator of how the temp feels on unprotected skin, not an actual temperature, meaning it might feel like -40C but the temperature can never get lower then what the thermometer says.

A reasonably good explanation of wind chill: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/fo...windchill.html

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

Thanks for all your advice, I know I need to go and research Canada myself but from the positive feedback here I know I can put Canada near the top of the list, if you do think of anything in particular that should be looked into , other than the obvious things like insurance etc, let me know
Thanks again :)

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You see the little comment "feels like" not "actually is" or "will be".

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Look mate I'm not being funny but your being down right picky I know the difference between wind chill and actual temperature and the point of my post was to explain to them just how cold it gets. Is it really that important that I say with the wind chill? because your still going to feel - 50 c if your outside, I'd rather prepare for - 50 c than - 30 c.

Re: Advice Needed!!
 

This could be a good place to start your research. You are much more likely to settle and be happy in a country where you can get work in your chosen field. As others have said, it might be the only way you can get into Canada. There is more very useful information in the wiki here.

Professional certification is all done by the provinces and there are some differences between each province, but researching any one province will likely give you an idea of whether or not you qualifications will be recognized and/or what you will need to convert them to Canadian equivalents.

Now, as for the weather, an earlier poster said BC was like the UK. Well, only a little bit of it is. From the temperate rain forest on the south coast you can drive to an all singing, all dancing, desert in 5 hours, and to glaciers and ice fields in a few hours more.