Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

Drugs are all around if you want to find them. Am i worried about it no. I will talk about it with my kids. There are parts of Halifax, Dartmouth that people don't go when it's dark. It's not as bad as Vancouver East side.....

We live on the Eastern Shore and find it really pretty. We have visited a lot of Nova Scotia. For us with a young family who want to do things we want to be nearer to Halifax and Dartmouth. At the moment we live about an hour from Dartmouth.(renting) We have 2 beaches close to us which is nice in the summer but the kids want to get back into Gym and dancing. I don't fancy the drive 3 - 4 times a week for that.

We came here because we wanted a bigger house and better opportunities for the kids. it is what it is. Things are not the same as UK, if that is what you want stay in the UK.

I better look for a job now!

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

Well looks like ive started a bit of a debate!! :lol:

el-richo.. No mate, im not so naive to think that moving to Canada will eliminate EVERY anti-social problem..

My wife and I are not going half way across the world (giving up my career / security) thinking it is going to be rosy gardens and rainbows where no-one smokes, drinks, takes drugs and everythings perfect.....

But growing up in the west of scotland, and at the grand old age of 29! ive realised that I want more for my kid (due in matter of weeks :eek: )

I want them to grow up in a culture/society that doesnt have, or has less of the nonsense I was exposed to... im sure you'l understand what i mean by that as you seem a man of the world...

And it seems to be getting worse to be honest.

The reasons for moving is primarily for a better future for our kid(s) but yes, the opportunity for my wife and I to have a new start in a beautiful, friendly, outdoor minded country like canada isnt a bad thing is it?

Only one way to find out if the grass is really greener though, and by the comments from the people who have actually been / live there, it sounds like we'll be trying it out! :)

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

Totally understand. As long as you set realistic expectations, have a blast and enjoy the ride.

Good luck with it all :thumbup:

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

It certainly isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it's been good to me for over 41 years.
I still believe that attitude, together with the ability and willingness to assimilate, are two of the keys to a happy new life.
You can whine about everything from baked beans to bacon or you can get on with life.
You can "correct" your children's pronunciation but why subject them to that ? They will adopt the new way anyway as they grow up. Either that or get singled out by other kids. That assumes that parents are intending to try to make a success of things and stay here.
Embrace your new life and don't sweat the small stuff !
Good luck and enjoy the ride. :)

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

This would be better on the appropriate thread but the short answer is that it's part of doing one's best for them.

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

Worked in an office in Halifax - every second word from my colleagues was a swear word :ohmy: It was much worse than anywhere I worked in the UK. The only place where no one swore at all was the US.

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

some of our UK offices have appalling language. Thankfully it doesnt really bother me to be honest. I have come to the conclusion that all offices have different cultures

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

I am from East Kilbride born and bred and lived in Edinburgh (the drug capital for 10 years)

I love it here best decision I ever made, that's all.. :thumbsup:

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

Just want to add my 10 cents worth.
We (me, OH, 2 kids) moved to NS 3 years ago. Kids were 13 and 5 at the time.
We had planned the move for years and we both had chose Canada as a Country we wanted to live in, even before we met.
I really did have rose tinted glasses as I dreamt of our new lives.
Sure, some of it is a reality - less traffic, less people, open spaces, general politeness and friendliness of people including kids, bigger and cheaper houses, more land, etc etc....

Our first year was great and I still wore those damn glasses. Couldn't see anything bad, was living the dream and still firmly in honeymoon mode. The first year was so busy with the move, house hunting, job hunting, getting kids in school, furniture buying, etc that I didn't have time to see anything else.

People have moved here with young kids aged 5 and 7 and totally love it. Well, of course they do, their kids are not teens yet and haven't got into that whole new world. Young children and so inocent and know nothing yet.

Well, my daughter is now nearly 16 and on Monday night I nearly lost her. She and a couple of friends had got hold of some alcohol (didn't know this initially) at their house. By the time they called me and I got round there she was just lying there un-responsive with her eyes fully dilated. We had to call an ambulance they rushed her to hospital. Thankfully she is fine!

I have heard this story a few times from other mothers who have gone through the same with their kids.

My daughter tells me a few of her friends take drugs and most of them smoke cigarettes. I just have to believe her when she tells me she doesn't.

I educated her, I spoke to her many times about drink, drugs, sex, etc. This is all you can do and trust they will be OK.

There is drug related crime here, shootings, stabbings etc.
Kids get beaten up and there is fighting and bullying in the schools.

Would this have happened if we stayed in England?
Who knows, maybe. The fact is you can't run from it, where there are teenagers, there is trouble. Please don't move thinking life is perfect here, because it really isn't.

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

I'm sorry this happened to you, but I firmly do believe that it happens everywhere and I'd still rather be in NS than in Glasgow, where I couldn't afford to live somewhere nice, where I couldn't stay away from the trouble areas.

Halifax is by no means safe as any other city, but I feel it depends where you start off and end up.

I hope she's fine and I hope things work out for you.

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

Thanks. I know it happens anywhere which is what I was trying to explain. I think NS and Canada are great, but bad stuff does happen and kids do get in trouble.

We use to live in Berkshire, we moved around alot but ended up in a small town called Sandhurst. It was kind of a small, safe bubble amongst big troubled towns. We were happy there and actually had our best year in England at the end. I actually had last minute jitters about moving to canada cos I didn't want to leave at that point.
We now live in what I think is the best sub division of Sackville.

Bedford, which is known as a very desireable area with wealthy people has major drug problems. I know of quite a few kids there who take drugs and drink.

I could happen to anyone, anywhere.

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

Cant agree more!.. My wife and I feel the area where we live is getting worse, and although we could probably move to a nice house somewhere, its sadly a struggle to think of anywhere in glasgow that isnt affected/close to a 'troubled' area...

Our way of thinking is that even if Canada is only slightly better, then surely its worth it?..

Why would thousands of expats try and move away from the uk every year?..
I feel its because once they realise there is places in the world where kids can have a better chance to flourish/more opportunities then they give it a go.. :)

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

You could also ask yourself why such a huge percentage return to the UK after emigrating? ;)

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

maybe il stay at home then.... :zzz:

So following on from that,

Is there any1 who has 1st hand accounts / reasons why they return to the UK?

Re: Advice on Nova Scotia
 

Best section of the forum for that would be the Moving Back to the UK one - loads of threads there about people returning to the UK from Canada.

:)