I don't move in swinging circles & so can't advise, perhaps the sexual moires in New Brunswick aren't as free wheeling as those found in the open minded & liberated streets of Nova Scotia...

You could be right - a lot depends on where you choose to live - I've been very lucky throughout most of my life that there have been likeminded people in my chosen areas.

Well all except one - Kewstoke Western super Mare. Dear god that was grim, lasted 6 months before I wanted to put a rocket up everyones arse.

I'll 2nd that one!!

Well i often read stuff on here about boring Canadians and impossible to make good friends and no sense of humour blah blah

It is most definitely NOT true for everyone.

We made some very good friends who are Brits and we spend time together camping, skiing, eating out, partying at one anothers and our kids have all become good friends. I would in fact go so far as to say we have a much closer friendship with them than any of our old UK mates and we get out and do so much more.
But we also have a great group of Canadian friends with the odd German and Croatian thrown in. We met this Canadian guy on the beach one day and he started asking us where we were from etc... by the end of the day he had introduced us to a handful of local peeps that frequented the beach on and off throughout the day. By the time the following summer came we found ourselves part of a group of about 15 people that were not only friendly but had a great sense of humour too, in fact we commented that one of the guys should have been a Brit.
We have been invited to several parties, been tubing, water skiing, skating and even asked to go on a Mexican holiday with some of them. So it is possible to make friends and feel that they are more than just a face that says hi.

Congratulations..

There's truth in that.

I've been struggling to make friends here and recent events make me wonder about the nature of friendship anyway so I resigned myself to superficial relationships with the very pleasant, smiley, polite locals.

We then met a couple of couples who had moved out here from Toronto and we seem to have much more in common with them, we've even been invited round for dinners. It's a funny old life. They mutter grimly about how hard it is to make friends too.

I've read these responses with real interest... I am slightly nervous about upping sticks yet again and trying to make new friends. What I find profoundly depressing is the idea that anyone could even contemplate moving to a new country and NOT want to make friends with the locals! Yes, Canadians are different, in the same way as Northerners are different to Southerners in England, Canada, and France, and every other bloody where. There are oiks, and bigots and just plain dummies in every nation, but there's really some good, bright and pleasant people, fighting against the odds and making good bonds and friendships everywhere. The positive posts on here convince me that moving to Canada will be fantastic us, and the negative ones just bring to mind the phrase 'get a life'.

That's the very definition of looking at something through rose tinted glasses.

It would appear that you have utterly missed the point of this thread...

I look forward to your future posts describing all of the wonderful bonds you have forged with your new Canadian BFFs...

I am not in Canada just yet although I have been on recces and met Canadians before, even dated a Canadian girl when I was younger and met her family before they moved back to Canada.
Sooooo just my opinion for now which may change when Ive lived there awhile

It always amazes me why some Brits move to Canada and then moan they can't get British food or they want to watch British TV programmes, you've moved 5000 miles to another country, adapt to their food, tv, sports, lifestyle, I see that as the only way to fit in, if you try to create a mini Britain attitude/outlook you're destined for failure, likewise with making Canadian friends.
Ive watched American TV all my life, all of the shows I watch in the UK are on the American networks which are shown live also in Canada.
My favourite sport is again American Football which again is shown live in Canada, we also watch Ice Hockey from time to time. When I want to watch football I'll just use the streams on the internet or not, it's all crap now anyway mostly!!

I know Canadian TV is for the most part crap, full of adverts, yep so is most of UK TV these days although the adverts aren't quite as many.
My thought is adapt to Canadian interests, sports, etc if you have something in common with the locals your chances of making friends with them surely increase.

Again all my opinion based on past experiences, like I say after a year or 2 I may have a slightly different outlook if I'm wrong

Canadians are people like anyone else, the ones I've met and bonded with were much nicer people than alot of Brits I know!!!

"It always amazes me why some Brits move to Canada and then moan they can't get British food or they want to watch British TV programmes, you've moved 5000 miles to another country, adapt to their food, tv, sports, lifestyle, I see that as the only way to fit in, if you try to create a mini Britain attitude/outlook you're destined for failure, likewise with making Canadian friends."

I think three years ago, before I moved here, I would have had EXACTLY the same thoughts as you - so expect your opinions to change, tho I hope you do have a better experience than me!

In defense of those expats 'moaning' as you call it, to be honest I dont think that anyone who emmigrates to another country moves with the thought it would be the same as the UK, we all moved for greener grass and change after all?? However, once insitu for a period of time the feelings creep up on you that many things were taken for granted, be it British culture, food, tv, friends, family etc! For me personally, I had no intentions of becoming part of the 'Little Britain' culture here, I moved here to becom part of 'Canada' and enjoy a 'Canadian Experience', I am not involved with the expats groups, infact didnt realize they existed until recently and I only became a member on here by finding the site randomly on a boredom fuelled internet search. However, until you find yourself in a position where you have no commonality with people you meet and they are not infact interested in pursuing any kind of friendship more than 'hi, how are you' and passing the time of day, the need to cling to what or who you know becomes very real.

There have been previous comments on this thread that peoples issues with making friends is down to the individual not making the effort or it is the individual's personality or hang ups that is preventing them from making friends however I truly dont believe that this is always the case. I have thought on this deeply - could I do more? have I approached people in the right way? is it my attitude? etc. and after much thought, I really have tried - without undergoing some kind of severe personality alteration I am out of answers! I never had any problem making friends in England, I lived in several different areas etc, but I had never been an immigrant or 'foreigner' before, and it truly can be a hindrence - not that I ever thought it would be a cake walk!

With regard to your point - Canadians are people like anyone else, the ones I've met and bonded with were much nicer people than alot of Brits I know!!! I completely agree, I dont think anyone was suggesting that Canadian's arnt nice!! In fact they are super nice people, certainly those that I have met, they rarely voice an opinion, do not engage in debate and will always smile and laugh at your jokes even if they dont understand them - this however, in my experience makes for very uninteresting relationships with little depth, hence the difficulty in making friends as opposed to aquaintences!

I do wish you all the best Mags1972 and tracys, maybe you will have a totally different experience than I have, but reserve your judgement - you have yet to truly experience the Canadian way!!

Great post Mags1972 ( ducks and waits for the onslaught!)

Thanks Tracys.

Forgive me sammy peeps, I was not intending to judge as I have not had the full Canadian experience other than dating one for a 6 months in the UK.
Thats why I did state it was purely my opinion and it was.
I am not in any way deluded enough to believe there is nothing I will miss from the UK, my mother, my friends at some point although I rarely see them these days unless wallowing in the bottom of a pint glass

I'm sorry your experience has been a bad one, hopefully mine will be better as I like many others no doubt have no intention of returning

Karla Homolka. Not very nice.

Reality has a way of tempering the most idealistic anticipation...

I hope your eventual Canadian life is as positive & full of close Canadian friends as you believe it will be..

Nobody, who has gone through all of the hoops & hassles to immigrate, wants to even consider that it may not be all they've cracked it up to be, it is probably still sensible to listen to a range of views from people who have actually experienced the process..