After living in Canada since '68 and as a Canadian citizen it seems that some of the criteria for relocating here may be innapropriate so here's my ten cents worth.

1) Attitude is very important at work and when applying for a job probably as much as qualifications and experience. Anal retentiveness and superior attitudes etc. don't go over well.

3) Be flexible with expectations. For instance, if you have decided on a preferred location to live then be flexible in the jobs you get and vice versa. Getting the ideal job in the ideal location is unlikely.

4) Networking can help you get opportunities and help you settle in. For instance join the local theatre group (as a set builder if you don't act), creative writing group etc. and golf, tennis and other sports in the summer. Become a volunteer at some local organization, join the Lion's Club, Rotary etc.. Attend any business meetings/presentations in the area.

5) Get used to relocating. If you finish up working for a large corporation they may move you around North America on a regular basis.

6) Be careful chosing exchange rates to judge your standard of living. It's more accurate to use earning power or Big Mac Index. For instance what percentage of your income will be spent on accommodation, food, transportation etc.

7) The job market is different and varies by region. Right now there's probably more opportunities for tradespeople than professionals (especially Nerds). Truck drivers seem to be always in demand.

8) Forget the trivia. If Marmite etc. and the pub life is critical to you then forget Canada. While you can find Canadian equivalent pubs (frequented by ex-pats in many instances), Canadians like to entertain friends either at home or getting together at a restaurant.

Anyone got any others?

someone mentioned that you need an appointment to see your friends..
well, I would call it making a date.. pencilling me in

if I want to hang with my buddy then I call her up and ask what she is doing Saturday.. plain and simple..

people are busy.. sometimes busy doing nothing.. I know sometimes I get maxxed out and just want to hang at home and rent a movie. so.. book me in advance..then I know.. and it gives me something to look forward to.

spur of the moment is fun too, but doesn't always work.

also, people complain there is nothing to do.. okay, I was one of those people. well, not true.. pick up a what's on, or local magazine and see what is coming up.. there is all kinds of free things to do in the city. Maybe not all your style.. but you could meet new people and learn something.

People say Canadians are sooooo friendly. I think this CAN be true.. but casually on the street, or in a store, or maybe even workmates.. may not always be the case.. if you get a canuck in relax mode.. bingo!! so get out there during play time and you will see us at our best. when we are stressed or doing something unpleasant (like groceries or gassing up) then ya, we can be kinda rude at times.

This is one of my many issues..

Many people come to Canada to discover the great outdoors...
Well if you couldn't find it in the Uk.. you ain't really gonna find it here as in most City locations its even further away... with even less access
If you are already an outdoorsy person you’ll love it.. but good maps are hard to find: orthographics

Many people come to Canada looking for the things they already have on their doorstep, well if they can’t find in it in their own country why the hell do they expect to find it here easier..
If your making excuse as why you can’t do something in the UK, you’ll just end up being one of those people here making excuses why you can’t do it here..

In a lot of respects Canada is a step backward, if your prepared for this and know what you want before you get here and why… in my knowledge of those that succeed here are the same ones that were succeeding in the UK and came for a change..
Those that fail are of the ones that left the UK because its was so bad and they had to leave… those will just find the same type of problems here..

I think success to immigration is about attitude and solid sensible research… not about pursuing a dream..
…maybe it was but I don’t think that a good enough reason anymore..

[QUOTE=MikeUK]This is one of my many issues..

If you are already an outdoorsy person you’ll love it.. but good maps are hard to find: orthographics

QUOTE]


Try the Backroads Maps at

http://www.backroadmapbooks.com/index1.php?series=bm

[QUOTE=flashman]
That looks interesting, But the type of map I prefer is the ordnance survey type.. with all the details, I have found various sources, and you can get them free off the web with the right software, but its finding the maps in the shops in carry’able paper form when you want it, road maps here are good and easy to find... But as a paraglider pilot I need more much detail such as contours etc and these maps are the ones I find difficult to locate as only the very specialized outdoor shops stock them and then only a few copies of popular areas..
Kinda one of those bugs in the overall plan, still I have much better flying weather and better thermals than in the UK so I’m not moaning too much…

But its worth noting that as a so called (by some) outdoorsy nation it doesn’t cater well to the real outdoor pursuits in the same way you get used to in Europe.. .. I end up buying a lot of stuff from either the US or Europe and importing it…

I have a tip for those about to commence of the immigration trip..

Go have a good long hard read of the ‘returning to the UK forum’.. go learn from the mistakes of the ones that failed..

That way you won’t repeat their mistakes..

http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/topographic.html

http://www.maptown.com/etopo.html

Thanks...

They're the web sites I currently use mainly the .gc.ca one..

Is that like the American equivalent of "my two cents".

Put this thread back on track,
My tip is sit down and think long and hard about "What you want your money to buy."

What size house/ not as big as you can afford, WHAT? a 3 bedroom, Apartment, townhouse, farm,

What activites do you do in your spare time?

write down everything that is important to you.

Get right down to the daily gind of food, pasttime, etc. Example if you like window shopping, walking around the expensive stores, you would never buy in, but you like looking with a friend. This would mean you'd miss it if you lived in the tiny town 4 hours away from the nearest Wal-mart. If you love sushi every Friday that 1 horse town in Northern Sasketchwan is probably not for you. Unless you learn how to do it for yourself....

If your kids wanted to play in a team sport driving 3 hours each way, twice a week just to get to practise might wear you down.

So its important to list these things then look at each place that meets you critera, ie a Farmer wouldn't be looking in Downtown Vancouver eh. Work your way across the country make a short list of places that meet at least 80% of your needs. Then look to see if you can supplement the missing things once your happy you can do most of these things in these places look for ways to finance it.

Look in your number 1 spot look at number two etc if your lucky enough to have more than one place that meets you needs and you can probably afford it, look at which when you like the best and goforit.

IF you find nowhere revaluate why you want to move and what it is you want once you move.

Yup but with more value for your money.

I think a lot of people forget that there is a huge difference between a place when you are on vacation, even an extended one, and a place when you live there, and most importantly are working there, everyday (well most days) and you have to get up at 6am everyday and commute whether driving or getting the bus and work for 8+ hours and then commute back and get home and pay your bille and make dinner and be really tired and go to bed and do the same the next day etc. Just like you would in every country. The point being that you will find most of your time in Canada taken up by doing very similar things to what you did in the UK. Most of the time you will be at work or asleep so will the job you are doing be significantly improved by being in Canada (money aside)? What are the real every day things that are different in Canada than the UK?

This is what strikes me when really it is all about finding a country with a lifestyle that suits you. Everything from breakfast to the way people commute to the coffee shop they stop in on the way to the work culture etc. is different in Canada to the UK as it is different to France or Germany of Japan. So you need to start finding out whether the way they do it in Canada is a way that gels with the kind of person you are. Do all the things on the "idosynchracities" thread about coffee and attitudes etc. sound like things you think you will adapt to or will you wander around complaining that everyone should be doing everything the way you are used to (i.e. you may as well be back in the UK where everyone does it like that). The whole point is that different countries, cultures, cities within countries have all developed their own way of doing things and just because you were born in city X or country Y doesn't mean you can't decide you prefer the way they do it the next city along or the next country along or the next continent along.

If you have a picture of just buying a bigger house and bigger car and having things appear cheaper (because of the exchange rate) and then you can sit in your big house and drive around in your big car and spend all your time hiking the backwoods and skiing and skating and shopping and touring the cities and towns and so forth, then you are kind of super imposing a vacationer's view of the country on top of a perceived increase in living standards created by the fact that you can sell your house in the UK and move to Canada with half a million dollars. What is more difficult to apreciate and judge is the everyday things, the grind, the banality that can develop in everyday life. I think many of the people who decide to go back "home" have probably underestimated the degree of change needed, they saw the big things but forgot they would have to live an everyday life here. They forgot about paying bills and doing taxes and kids at school and laundry and dishes and cutting the grass and going grocery shopping and your weekend being over before you know it and back to work on Monday morning etc. The same as it is in every country. The differences are more subtle but they are different and if you want yourlife to be different and want to embrace the differences then maybe you will be the person enjoying your everyday life way more in Canada than you did in the UK because those little differences suite your lifestyle better and you are less stressed and more relaxed.

I know I only get 2 weeks vacation a year plus my weekends and stat holidays but personally I don't even notice.

Drew

A brilliant post WIZARD, you have really hit the nail on the head. Your thoughts should be read by everyone in this forum.

Hmmmmmm ... you really think?

Bingo!

Me and a friend were talking about this and used for example going out for a three course meal for two with a few beers thrown in.

Take a UK meal with 100 quid and subtract what you would have left and the equivalent in Canada (say 230 bucks) and there is a substantial difference.

It's hard not to look at exchange rates but at the end of the day if you're settling in Canada why should you worry about what money you aren't earning and aren't forking out at home.