Originally Posted by wolstie

We moved from Manchester to Ottawa nearly 3 years ago.

I have to agree with the OP, at least where we live, there is lots more for the kids to do than back home.

Municipal recreational activities in Ottawa (ballet, gymnastics, skating lessons) are second to none, and dirt cheap. In Manchester, there's no such thing.

In the summer, we take the kids to the beaches, splash pools and parks. In the winter we skate on the canal, the rink in the park or go tobogganing. In Manchester, in summer, it rained, so more often than not we took the kids to a jungle gym (at a cost). In winter, it rained, so more often than not we took the kids to a jungle gym (at a cost).

We've just bought an acre of land in the countryside and we are building a house. We'll have a pool, which will keep the kids entertained for 4 - 5 months of the year. We'd never have been able to do that in Manchester.

I know if we move back to the UK (and tbh, we've considered it a lot) the kids would be bored rotten.

I guess it depends where you are moving from.

Originally Posted by wolstie

We moved from Manchester to Ottawa nearly 3 years ago.

I have to agree with the OP, at least where we live, there is lots more for the kids to do than back home.

Municipal recreational activities in Ottawa (ballet, gymnastics, skating lessons) are second to none, and dirt cheap. In Manchester, there's no such thing.

In the summer, we take the kids to the beaches, splash pools and parks. In the winter we skate on the canal, the rink in the park or go tobogganing. In Manchester, in summer, it rained, so more often than not we took the kids to a jungle gym (at a cost). In winter, it rained, so more often than not we took the kids to a jungle gym (at a cost).

We've just bought an acre of land in the countryside and we are building a house. We'll have a pool, which will keep the kids entertained for 4 - 5 months of the year. We'd never have been able to do that in Manchester.

I know if we move back to the UK (and tbh, we've considered it a lot) the kids would be bored rotten.

I guess it depends where you are moving from.

Originally Posted by Bucks_Family

Just for the sake of balance, and because we're in Manchester too - our daughter will be going to ballet class after school today, she has ice skating lessons at Altrincham every Saturday morning, and has her name down for gymnastics, but it's currently oversubscribed. That's nearly as bad as there not being any gymnastics at all, but I just wanted to correct your statement, those things are definitely available in Manchester, you just have to travel further to access them than you might in Canada.

It's not stopping us from moving to Calgary though ;-) Hence the ice skating and skiiing lessons our daughter is having now (as Manchester has skiing too, of a sort).
I agree there are many things you are experiencing in Canada that would not be available to you in Manchester, but don't over poo-poo the place.

Originally Posted by mcrphil

Did it cost a lot setting up over there?

Originally Posted by cheeky_monkey

You cant tell me there were no activities for kids in Manchester?? there is nothing in Calgary apart from winter sports that my kids couldn't do back in the UK..in fact in winter unless you are into winter sports there isn't much to do. If your kids play outdoor sports like football, rugby etc then this is reserved for late spring and summer..of course you can get into baseball in the summer to in lieu of cricket..or take a pop at ice hockey in the winter..but this is expensive with all the kit etc..if you are into skiing skating and snow boarding then Calgary is great.

If you have older kids say 11 and over then things get a bit more difficult as Canadians parents tend to wrap up their children in cotton wool and will chaperone them where ever they go until they are about 13 or 14..in the UK i think we give our kids a bit more freedom between the ages of 11-14 than here and i know my older children found this part quite difficult.

Originally Posted by mcrphil

Ha no way am from moston me! So least you can see what I'm saying when you include the toybox on the avenue as an attraction!
Did it cost a lot setting up over there?

Phil

Originally Posted by wolstie

They are not widely available and they are not municipally run - so they aren't cheap.

Originally Posted by christmasoompa

Is there really nothing available run by schools or councils in Manchester? If so, that's astonishing.

Most of my kids activities are after school stuff arranged by the school and/or the council, and cost very little (example, my son's football club is £19 for 12 1 hour sessions, taught by a Reading FC coach <insert Reading footie joke here>).

And that's in rural Berkshire! I'd have thought there would be more stuff like that in Manchester, not less.

Originally Posted by mcrphil

Went all over wolstie! Me mate am working with at the min went st matthews jade johnson?! And not much to do round these parts its a pretty deprived area hence why I want far away as possible
Thanks
Phil

Originally Posted by wolstie

Schools - perhaps. My kids weren't at school age when we lived there so I can't comment. I do know though that 15 years ago when I left school, there were no after school activities. I hope that's changed.

Originally Posted by mcrphil

I'm fed up with england all together to be honest! The works drying up in my line of work in construction where they are screaming out for them in canada!
Its a tough 1 but I don't want to live a life of regret!