Hi, I am new to this forum so please be kind to me.

My partner and I are considering migration to Canada. I would be really grateful if you could tell me your experiences of the best and the worst things (and anything in between) about living in Canada and how it compares to GB. All I get from the Canadian migration sites is that Canada is a modern-day utopia where everything is lovely and fluffy all of the time. Whilst I don't debate this I am sure there must be some things that are somewhat less than perfect?

I look forward to your replies.

You'll get some very good answers to your question on the moving back to the uk forum

I cant really put into words why Canada is a better place it has a lot to do with the attitude of the people here. I find that the majority of the population here are hard working and goal orientated. whereas in England I found everyone complained about everything and expected everything to land on their lap.

I find the way of life slightly slower and more relaxed I find I have more money left over after paying bills and hence a better standard of living. THe amenities available to us are awesome and often free and goverment run. I found in the UK you had to pay for everything. Im sorry if im rambling things are just comming to mind. its just very hard to explain.

However its not all fluffy and wonderful all the time. 95% of the time yes, but here are some of the things that personally frustrate me.

Goverment Bearocracy, now i know Britain is probably just as bad but as an Immigrant here I find that i have to fight the system on everything. I often feel babysat by the goverment with their rules and regulation, you need a license to take a cr*p LOL

Ive found trying to find a job is very hard, well not finding work but a proper job, I have found and been told by numerous Canadian freinds here that its not what you know its who you know and blow. IT seems that you need a diploma and certificate over experience here. hence why i am being typical Canadian and pro active by going back to school part time

Thats it really their the two main things that get to me, the rest ive embraced. I think thats the key here, you might not find it all wonderful but if you learn to open up and embrace the new way of life youl soon have that wonderful fluffy feeling too.

Im working on the goverment thingey but ive always been a bit of a rebel LOL

Excuse me but Canada is not fluffy. It's big and butch; a place where men are men and so are lots of the women.

I would read the "misconception" thread on this page for starters, and you will get an idea.

Canada is huge, and very diverse. It seems the utopia is more likely to be found in the smaller towns, but most new immigrants head to the major cities, which of course have all the problems you would expect to find in a major city. Its really the same shit in a shinier bucket.

I like it here, but I dont think the advantages of life in Canada are as great as they were a few years ago when I came. If you want to step out of the rat race and live at a slower pace away from the major centers, then that can be achieved here, and thats one of the things I like. I also enjoy the "4 season" weather, although its been too bloody hot the last week, and I like that my kids will grow up in a virtually crime free, non threatening, kid friendly place (I dont live in the city), but I have been relatively lucky to find a reasonable paying job in a small city, and could buy a house in the nearby countryside for not too much money. Most people are just more friendly an outgoing in a non phony way...such a change to the UK I remember where everyone keeps to themselves. People get on, dont complain so much, and are not expecting to be given everything on a plate, they work for it.

On the down side, winter is a month too long, employment rights non existent, its hard to get a job at first due to the "Canadian experience" catch 22 which is totally unacceptable, but goes on all the time, and cost of living is rising all the time...its not cheap to heat and maintain a house through the winter, and cool it in the summer. Some costs, like insurance are very high. The main downside for us at the moment with small kids here is just missing having my family around, but its a small price to pay. There's loads more, but its all been written about before.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I think that what my partner and I are looking for is the small town thing - knowing the neighbours, very low crime, people looking out for each other etc. All the things which seem to be disappearing so fast from Britain. I had a look on the 'moving back to the uk' part of the forum and was amazed by the negative comments about Canada as everyone I know who has lived/worked out there absolutely adores it but I did want so see the picture from both sides. I also think that some of the people in Canada will be in for a bit of a shock when they get back here sadly. Britain is so small and crime, both petty and serious, is becoming more and more rife. My partner was called a f**king c*** last night simply for asking a young lad not to chuck his bottle of coke on the floor. Maybe not so bad but we live in the Cotswolds - a deeply middle class and very, very pricey area - and our town has a pop. of 2,000.. Sorry, I am wittering now and don't want to get into a 'why I am so depressed by my own country' rant.

I think we are looking at the Oakville area as there seem to be plenty of jobs there but with a young child it will probably have to be job first and then relocate though I don't know how practical that will be.

Anyway, any and all stories, negative, positive, butch or fluffy are most welcome.

Doing what, exactly? I don't remember Oakville being an employment boom town. Unless you're talking about people living in Oakville and commuting to Toronto.

....... for the "negatives" that is! .... Most people posting there are those for whom it didn't work out. Be fair. Not everyone goes "home"!

I think it's fair to say (See misconceptions thread as suggested) that a lot of people are disappointed by certain aspects, and as it can be tough, together with any job problems and a dose of homesickness .... a lot of folk especially in the first year or two might wonder what on earth they've done!

You have to be prepared for these feelings and maybe tough it out for a while. Remember what prompted you to come to Canada and get used to things being different. Canada is Canada, it's not going to change cos you dont like it!

For us as a family it has been and is still a positive experience, even though we have had our moments! It certainly gets you out of your comfort zone!

My wife and I love the Cotswold villages and being back again in the UK I must admit yes the villages very attractive place to live. I must admit our first house in Canada was large. 2300 sq ft and the one we left sold in England 1800 sq ft. We did not living in a house made chipboard and plastic, it felt like an over sized shed. Our second home was a period house 1905 (brick and limestone) which we loved, but heating and electricity costs were sky high.

Rural England as you tend to say is middle class area, once you get into the sticks in Canada it can get "hill billy" country. I think I have been spoilt most of my life as I lived mostly in small towns or villages and never had a problem with crime and abusive kids. The kids in the village here seem pretty polite and say "please and thank you", just like the kids were had in the small town we lived in Canada.

As for crime I assure you Canada is not crime free, just some areas are better than others. As I said we lived in rural Canada and growing cannabis was a good away of making a good income. The Canadian govt even wanted to tax the grower as they could make $Billions in extra taxes. I read that 25% of teenagers in Canada used cannabis. Drugs were even a problem in a small town in rural Canada, its not just a UK issue.

The immigration information you get never talks about the dark side of Canada.

Yes Canada is a general a good and safe country to live it but their are issues just like you find in the UK. If you think you are going to Utopia just buy your drugs in the UK. It will by much cheaper.

The drug thing is a bit of an issue. Even in "respectable" Oakville.

I was speaking with my stepson last night. He's spending summer with his dad and has a legitimate if not very well paid summer job. He was moaning that someone he knows is making bucketloads of cash. Selling dope. Or, at least he is at the moment. Bragging about things like that on MSN isn't particularly bright.

Whats the point in telling the good points only
no not everyone goes back home but not everyone stays either
Rose tinted glasses and the rest

Excuse me Ms Prickly, but the OP wanted the good the bad and the ugly ..... I was just pointing out that that referral you made was to an area where the bad and the ugly predominate. They are not the whole story. I'm sure there are loads of people who never even post on this board who are perfectly happy and busy enjoying their new lives! And quite a few on this board for whom moving to Canada was not an unmitigated disaster! I also directed her to the "misconceptions" thread to be fair.

I have defended you in the past, so don't start on me now.

Whoa girl!!! Get yourself some chocolate.

The OP asked for a balanced view. Just as the Canadian migration sites only talk about the good things, the "Moving back to UK" forum only tells the bad things. So it hardly provides the balanced opinion he/she was asking for.

Why are you so sensitive about this, anyway? Thought you weren't going to post anymore because your life is so great now...