British Expats

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-   -   Day to day tips and notes (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/day-day-tips-notes-690101/)

NikkiB Oct 18th 2010 3:17 pm
Day to day tips and notes
 
I see these sort of questions asked a lot, and this is mildly tongue in cheek as well as some serious notes, but after living in BC for 2 years now I thought I would try and answer some myths and rumours that we all hear about:


Maximum rental deposit allowed in BC is half a months rent plus an additional half a months rent as a pet deposit if necesarry. DO NOT pay more this

Yes they do have gaps round the public toilet doors

Canadians can be quite sensitive/polite, so keep that British brutal sense of humour and sarcasm in check until they know you better

Yes they do all wear trousers that are too short

Things seem to be quite expensive here but mainly it's because they do not have the really cheap options like LIDL/Peacocks/Tesco etc. Beer is the equivalent of off licence prices, food up there with Sainsburys, clothes M&S prices.

Clothes not being cheap is not necessarily a problem, as the fashion is VERY different over here. You might spend the first few years 'importing' clothes.

Beer is ONLY sold in liquor stores or pubs/restaurants and CANNOT be consumed in public anywhere

Car insurance is RIDICULOUS, seriously. There is one insurance company so they can basically charge what they like. And getting them to accept your UK no claims is a miracle in itself. Be warned before buying a car you don't really need.

Canadians really do say EH?

Some things that are expensive in UK are considered normal here, you can pick up a second hand boat for well under $5,000 for instance.

The scenery really is awesome, the only thing you have to worry about is where do you go on holiday when you live here.

Some professions are extremely hard to get into, the IT market in Victoria for instance, is basically who you know not what you know. Be warned, you may end up working on a building site or dockyard for a while.

Speeding fines get bigger the faster you were going.

Country music is really popular, even among the younger crowds, be warned

People still call police officers 'sir', yes really, I've actually heard them.

There are no elderly or old people here, but there are lots of seniors.

Cheese is rubbish, Baldersons 3 year aged cheddar is the closest thing to real cheddar, and it's the cheapest at only $4 per 100g.

There are several shops selling 'British Produce', howveer shop around and some TOTALLY rip you off. Like $8 for Branston pickle rip off. Fairway Supermarket in Sidney has by far the cheapest and best British section I have found on the Island so far. And the butcher in Oak Bay sells real bacon, pork pies and black pudding.


Hope some of this helps, before anyone gets annoyed or anything it's not supposed to be a dig or a gripe, just mere observations on day to day life.

Howefamily Oct 18th 2010 5:19 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
thank Nikki, its always useful to us lot still in here in the UK and if nothing else, adds to my all consuming desire to input information on Canada.... I appreciate the time spent.

CanadaJimmy Oct 18th 2010 5:20 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8927456)
I see these sort of questions asked a lot, and this is mildly tongue in cheek as well as some serious notes, but after living in BC for 2 years now I thought I would try and answer some myths and rumours that we all hear about:


Maximum rental deposit allowed in BC is half a months rent plus an additional half a months rent as a pet deposit if necesarry. DO NOT pay more this
This is clearly documented on the government website.

Yes they do have gaps round the public toilet doors
:confused: I've seen that in numerous countries including the UK.

Canadians can be quite sensitive/polite, so keep that British brutal sense of humour and sarcasm in check until they know you better
This is true, particularly non-politically correct jokes, they go down like a lead balloon with some people.

Yes they do all wear trousers that are too short
Not noticed this.

Things seem to be quite expensive here but mainly it's because they do not have the really cheap options like LIDL/Peacocks/Tesco etc. Beer is the equivalent of off licence prices, food up there with Sainsburys, clothes M&S prices.
Half true. There is no Lidl (though supposedly they're opening in Canada in 2011), but Superstore is very reasonable for a lot of things, including Clothes. Army & Navy is pretty much on par with Peacocks.

Clothes not being cheap is not necessarily a problem, as the fashion is VERY different over here. You might spend the first few years 'importing' clothes.
Odd comment. The fashion is different so you stubbornly cling on to your drab British clothing style? One of the first things I did was get a whole bunch of American Eagle clothing (though their current range sucks, they were better last year)

Beer is ONLY sold in liquor stores or pubs/restaurants and CANNOT be consumed in public anywhere
The latter is a good thing, the former takes some getting used to but it's no biggie.

Car insurance is RIDICULOUS, seriously. There is one insurance company so they can basically charge what they like. And getting them to accept your UK no claims is a miracle in itself. Be warned before buying a car you don't really need.
They're government run though. The idea stems from a time when all the independent insurers worked in a cartel and kept prices very high, believe it or not ICBC provided a solution for providing "cheap" insurance.

Canadians really do say EH?
Some do some don't. I personally quite like it.

Some things that are expensive in UK are considered normal here, you can pick up a second hand boat for well under $5,000 for instance.
Don't know.

The scenery really is awesome, the only thing you have to worry about is where do you go on holiday when you live here.
Heh, somewhere warm ;)

Some professions are extremely hard to get into, the IT market in Victoria for instance, is basically who you know not what you know. Be warned, you may end up working on a building site or dockyard for a while.
Not a lot of experience with this myself but the impression I get is this is sloooowly changing.

Speeding fines get bigger the faster you were going.
Same elsewhere surely?

Country music is really popular, even among the younger crowds, be warned
Warned of what? I personally find JRfm quite interesting to listen to, with a country song you can usually rely on there being fairly solid musical content.

People still call police officers 'sir', yes really, I've actually heard them.
People call other men "Sir" in general. Police will call you Sir back. It's a sign of respect.

There are no elderly or old people here, but there are lots of seniors.
Wait what? You should see uptown New Westminster. Lots of elderly folks there.

Cheese is rubbish, Baldersons 3 year aged cheddar is the closest thing to real cheddar, and it's the cheapest at only $4 per 100g.
Western Family's Chedder is pretty good. Granted, it's more like Red Leicester than Chedder but that suits me fine.

There are several shops selling 'British Produce', howveer shop around and some TOTALLY rip you off. Like $8 for Branston pickle rip off. Fairway Supermarket in Sidney has by far the cheapest and best British section I have found on the Island so far. And the butcher in Oak Bay sells real bacon, pork pies and black pudding.
Not to mention a lot of the stuff you can just get in the supermarkets anyway. Bicks "English Style Onions" are Pickled Onions, Branston Pickle is in most places for $4-$5, Safeway sells Clotted (Devonshire) Cream.

Howefamily Oct 18th 2010 5:27 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
I love the Sir thing and that its a sign of respect. Its such a change to the "pigs" and other unmentionable names police officers get referred to here, a whole lot of the time

Oink Oct 18th 2010 5:31 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8927456)
I see these sort of questions asked a lot, and this is mildly tongue in cheek as well as some serious notes, but after living in BC for 2 years now I thought I would try and answer some myths and rumours that we all hear about:


Maximum rental deposit allowed in BC is half a months rent plus an additional half a months rent as a pet deposit if necesarry. DO NOT pay more this

Yes they do have gaps round the public toilet doors

Canadians can be quite sensitive/polite, so keep that British brutal sense of humour and sarcasm in check until they know you better

Yes they do all wear trousers that are too short

Things seem to be quite expensive here but mainly it's because they do not have the really cheap options like LIDL/Peacocks/Tesco etc. Beer is the equivalent of off licence prices, food up there with Sainsburys, clothes M&S prices.

Clothes not being cheap is not necessarily a problem, as the fashion is VERY different over here. You might spend the first few years 'importing' clothes.

Beer is ONLY sold in liquor stores or pubs/restaurants and CANNOT be consumed in public anywhere

Car insurance is RIDICULOUS, seriously. There is one insurance company so they can basically charge what they like. And getting them to accept your UK no claims is a miracle in itself. Be warned before buying a car you don't really need.

Canadians really do say EH?

Some things that are expensive in UK are considered normal here, you can pick up a second hand boat for well under $5,000 for instance.

The scenery really is awesome, the only thing you have to worry about is where do you go on holiday when you live here.

Some professions are extremely hard to get into, the IT market in Victoria for instance, is basically who you know not what you know. Be warned, you may end up working on a building site or dockyard for a while.

Speeding fines get bigger the faster you were going.

Country music is really popular, even among the younger crowds, be warned

People still call police officers 'sir', yes really, I've actually heard them.

There are no elderly or old people here, but there are lots of seniors.

Cheese is rubbish, Baldersons 3 year aged cheddar is the closest thing to real cheddar, and it's the cheapest at only $4 per 100g.

There are several shops selling 'British Produce', howveer shop around and some TOTALLY rip you off. Like $8 for Branston pickle rip off. Fairway Supermarket in Sidney has by far the cheapest and best British section I have found on the Island so far. And the butcher in Oak Bay sells real bacon, pork pies and black pudding.


Hope some of this helps, before anyone gets annoyed or anything it's not supposed to be a dig or a gripe, just mere observations on day to day life.
Thank you NikkiB, very valuable information, I think you've hit the nail-on-the-head. This seems very well thought out. Thank g** someone had the foresight to share their experiences.

The4BellsLondon Oct 18th 2010 5:33 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
I must say there is a definite amount of short trouser, sorry pant , wearing - I have come to the conclusion it is due to the rain!

Alan2005 Oct 18th 2010 5:38 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 8927578)
Odd comment. The fashion is different so you stubbornly cling on to your drab British clothing style? One of the first things I did was get a whole bunch of American Eagle clothing (though their current range sucks, they were better last year)
Hahahaha... seriously... hahahaha. There is no fashion here, it is a sartorial mono culture.

(This isn't something that bothers me because the narrow range of acceptable clothing available here matches what I wear on a day to day basis and also the fact I just don't care.)

mandymoochops Oct 18th 2010 5:39 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
I've been called ma'am a few times and I thought "aw now isn't that just lovely" until someone pointed out that its said as a sign of respect to older ladies :frown:

Maria_747 Oct 18th 2010 10:55 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Thanks NikkiB :)
Its great to get an idea of what to expect

dbd33 Oct 18th 2010 11:56 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8927456)
Yes they do all wear trousers that are too short
I take it that this is in reference to women, if so it's something I've noticed as well. I think it's to accentuate the circumference of their waists. Someone blessed with the "Canadian hip" (a local term closely approximated in other jurisdictions by "junk in the trunk" or "fat arse") who's trousers end in mid-calf comes to look wider than she is tall. It may be a practical manner of dress in the winter, helpful with all that stomping through snow and salt to feed the cows before work, but why they do it in the summer isn't obvious. Perhaps it's to draw attention away from their hair.

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 1:17 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8928115)
I take it that this is in reference to women, if so it's something I've noticed as well. I think it's to accentuate the circumference of their waists. Someone blessed with the "Canadian hip" (a local term closely approximated in other jurisdictions by "junk in the trunk" or "fat arse") who's trousers end in mid-calf comes to look wider than she is tall. It may be a practical manner of dress in the winter, helpful with all that stomping through snow and salt to feed the cows before work, but why they do it in the summer isn't obvious. Perhaps it's to draw attention away from their hair.
Isn't the summer for wearing demin shorts with your arse cheeks dangling out the edges?

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 1:21 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 8928266)
Isn't the summer for wearing demin shorts with your arse cheeks dangling out the edges?
Oh yes, I'm so glad you noticed. Today, it being cooler, I'm in pyjama bottoms over Kodiaks.

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 1:23 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Pfff, pansy. It's only mid-October, I'll continue rockin' the shorts and Uggs combo until there is snow on the ground. Go Canada.

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 1:27 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 8928275)
Pfff, pansy. It's only mid-October, I'll continue rockin' the shorts and Uggs combo until there is snow on the ground. Go Canada.
Urbanist! Out here we've had snow since mid-July. Before that I was in Off! and knee length shorts with a surfer dude motif and a pocket to keep my goatee grooming gear.

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 1:33 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8928280)
Urbanist! Out here we've had snow since mid-July. Before that I was in Off! and knee length shorts with a surfer dude motif and a pocket to keep my goatee grooming gear.
Probably wise, you can't be expected to keep your facial strip tidy whilst juggling a bottle of Bud lime and tending to the BBQ.

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 1:44 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 8928292)
Probably wise, you can't be expected to keep your facial strip tidy whilst juggling a bottle of Bud lime and tending to the BBQ.
Bud Lite Lime, dear, Bud lime has as much alcohol as them killer American beers. Can't be drinking that while bunning a fathead.

My cap today is plaid and says "The Guess Who - 73rd Reunion Tour", what you sporting for a titfer?

Jingsamichty Oct 19th 2010 1:53 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Here in the joyous newly-declared Great People's Calgarian Jamahiriyah we are now sporting natty keffiyehs - just like in my avatar. God is Great!

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 1:59 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by Jingsamichty (Post 8928326)
Here in the jotous newly-declared Great People's Calgarian Jamahiriyah we are now sporting natty keffiyehs - just like in my avatar. God is Great!
You'll be issued plaid ones with ear muffs, inshallah.

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 2:13 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8928310)
Bud Lite Lime, dear, Bud lime has as much alcohol as them killer American beers. Can't be drinking that while bunning a fathead.

My cap today is plaid and says "The Guess Who - 73rd Reunion Tour", what you sporting for a titfer?
It's all about the trilby. At a jaunty angle. Oh so hipster, me.

Atlantic Xpat Oct 19th 2010 2:17 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8927456)
ISome things that are expensive in UK are considered normal here, you can pick up a second hand boat for well under $5,000 for instance.
Please provide an example of the type of boat you can pick up for <$5k? Rowing boat, Canoe, Gin palace?

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 2:22 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 8928370)
It's all about the trilby. At a jaunty angle. Oh so hipster, me.
A trilby wearer walks by my desk from time to time (indoors! hat indoors! probably drives in it too). I assumed he belonged to a near cult, Mennonitry or similar, but my friend says it's because he's gay. He's a bit grubby and drools slightly, I don't fancy his chances at Rainbow Ridge, so it seems an implausible explanation. Then again, she's a cradle, and headgear for the Canadian friend of Dorothy isn't what I know best, would you attach this significance to such a hat on a local?

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 2:30 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8928396)
A trilby wearer walks by my desk from time to time (indoors! hat indoors! probably drives in it too). I assumed he belonged to a near cult, Mennonitry or similar, but my friend says it's because he's gay. He's a bit grubby and drools slightly, I don't fancy his chances at Rainbow Ridge, so it seems an implausible explanation. Then again, she's a cradle, and headgear for the Canadian friend of Dorothy isn't what I know best, would you attach this significance to such a hat on a local?
No. Maybe in the country a hat has all this attached significance. But here in civilisation it just means that you are cool, you may stalk around obsessively texting all your many friends while glugging down buckets of frothy coffee and talking in a loud and obnoxious manner. You are likely to live in a loft somewhere so trendy it hurts and work in new media or the arts.

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 2:44 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 8928417)
No. Maybe in the country a hat has all this attached significance. But here in civilisation it just means that you are cool, you may stalk around obsessively texting all your many friends while glugging down buckets of frothy coffee and talking in a loud and obnoxious manner. You are likely to live in a loft somewhere so trendy it hurts and work in new media or the arts.
Oh. And lederhosen?

Jingsamichty Oct 19th 2010 2:45 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8928454)
Oh. And lederhosen?
I think you've possibly stumbled onto the set of Glee.

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 2:50 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8928454)
Oh. And lederhosen?
Unacceptable.

NikkiB Oct 19th 2010 3:15 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Ireland to Canada:

We bought a 24 foot C&C sailboat for $3800, and we had plenty to choose from. Older boat obviously but still great if you're not planning on crossing the pacific. Didn't really look at powerboats but I believe you can also pick up smaller ones for about the same price.

Prices tends to jump up when you hit about 30 foot.

For the critical people, as I stated this was supposed to be mildly tongue in cheek, and I also never said anything was wrong with some of the things I stated, they are just my observations/opinions.

One thing I discovered moving to Canada, was in many ways I guess I subconciously expected things to be the same, being an English speaking and Western civilised country. It is easy to forget there are many litlle nuances and differences in the culture because you are here and doing the same things you do back in the UK - Going to work, going for a drink, going shopping during the day etc. If I had moved to Thailand (eg) I would automatically expect things to be different, here i have to remind myself.

Atlantic Xpat Oct 19th 2010 3:19 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8928545)
Ireland to Canada:

We bought a 24 foot C&C sailboat for $3800, and we had plenty to choose from. Older boat obviously but still great if you're not planning on crossing the pacific. Didn't really look at powerboats but I believe you can also pick up smaller ones for about the same price.

Prices tends to jump up when you hit about 30 foot.
Actually it was me asking about the boats, not I2C...

Interesting. My mother in law is currently selling my late father in laws C&C 38 for considerably more. Boat prices in this isolated area of Canada, even for small boats, seem expensive compared to the US and even the UK.

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 3:22 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8928545)
Ireland to Canada:

We bought a 24 foot C&C sailboat for $3800, and we had plenty to choose from. Older boat obviously but still great if you're not planning on crossing the pacific. Didn't really look at powerboats but I believe you can also pick up smaller ones for about the same price.
Wonderful! If I had my own boat I would no longer be at the mercy of airline prices.

NikkiB Oct 19th 2010 3:30 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
The price does jump massively here at around 30 foot. You still have to shop around here, and a lot depends on age and condition. I was just trying demonstrate you CAN get out of the water if you want to.

A few examples of current stuff for sale...

Cheap:

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/boa/1962800332.html

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/boa/1967591425.html

Not so cheap:

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/boa/2011685199.html

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/boa/2011510731.html

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 3:31 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 8928564)
Wonderful! If I had my own boat I would no longer be at the mercy of airline prices.
Ah, I know of a 24' boat that's been to Europe twice and is going for a most reasonable price. It's stored, of course, for the winter but I already have a membership at the club so the storage fee wouldn't be much more than the mortgage. Care to have half a yacht?

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 3:35 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8928575)
Ah, I know of a 24' boat that's been to Europe twice and is going for a most reasonable price. It's stored, of course, for the winter but I already have a membership at the club so the storage fee wouldn't be much more than the mortgage. Care to have half a yacht?
Sounds like a steal.

el_richo Oct 19th 2010 3:35 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8928572)
The price does jump massively here at around 30 foot. You still have to shop around here, and a lot depends on age and condition. I was just trying demonstrate you CAN get out of the water if you want to.

A few examples of current stuff for sale...

Cheap:

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/boa/1962800332.html

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/boa/1967591425.html

Not so cheap:

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/boa/2011685199.html

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/boa/2011510731.html
Same as in the UK. A brokerage near our place in London has a few for ~£3k

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 3:46 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 8928584)
Sounds like a steal.
And that's the story of sailing, the cost of the vessel is neither here nor there.

YYZlover Oct 19th 2010 5:38 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8927456)
Maximum rental deposit allowed in BC is half a months rent plus an additional half a months rent as a pet deposit if necesarry. DO NOT pay more this
Is it the same in Ontario? I see a lot of "first and last" requirements there.

ireland2canada Oct 19th 2010 6:01 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by YYZlover (Post 8928843)
Is it the same in Ontario? I see a lot of "first and last" requirements there.
Yup, first and last.

2008orbust Oct 19th 2010 11:09 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
NikkiB

great work - well done

shame someone had to take it apart line by line
and sing the praise of Country Music

seems from this forum the older members are a bit like that . . .

:blink:

dbd33 Oct 19th 2010 11:37 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by 2008orbust (Post 8929485)
shame someone had to take it apart line by line
and sing the praise of Country Music

seems from this forum the older members are a bit like that . . .

:blink:
Speaks to the concerns of every man, dunnit? Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?

el_richo Oct 19th 2010 8:21 pm
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by 2008orbust (Post 8929485)
great work - well done
In what way?

Oink Oct 20th 2010 5:08 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8928115)
I take it that this is in reference to women, if so it's something I've noticed as well. I think it's to accentuate the circumference of their waists. Someone blessed with the "Canadian hip" (a local term closely approximated in other jurisdictions by "junk in the trunk" or "fat arse") who's trousers end in mid-calf comes to look wider than she is tall. It may be a practical manner of dress in the winter, helpful with all that stomping through snow and salt to feed the cows before work, but why they do it in the summer isn't obvious. Perhaps it's to draw attention away from their hair.
Out here in the metropolis its correctly referred to as, ghetto booty.

Auld Yin Oct 20th 2010 11:24 am
Re: Day to day tips and notes
 
Originally Posted by NikkiB (Post 8928545)
Ireland to Canada:

We bought a 24 foot C&C sailboat for $3800, and we had plenty to choose from. Older boat obviously but still great if you're not planning on crossing the pacific. Didn't really look at powerboats but I believe you can also pick up smaller ones for about the same price.

Prices tends to jump up when you hit about 30 foot.

For the critical people, as I stated this was supposed to be mildly tongue in cheek, and I also never said anything was wrong with some of the things I stated, they are just my observations/opinions.

One thing I discovered moving to Canada, was in many ways I guess I subconciously expected things to be the same, being an English speaking and Western civilised country. It is easy to forget there are many litlle nuances and differences in the culture because you are here and doing the same things you do back in the UK - Going to work, going for a drink, going shopping during the day etc. If I had moved to Thailand (eg) I would automatically expect things to be different, here i have to remind myself.
LMAO


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