My family and I are taking the first tentative steps into looking at a new life in Ontario and wonder if there there are any expats already there that we can quiz about certain everyday life kinda things?

Hello and welcome, where in Ontario are you planning on moving to.

I think everything has probably been asked before, but there are still a few folks here willing to go over the same old stuff time and again.

only been over few times but love itpluss have family there so we hope that some day before Im 100we will move to stay for good

Won't that be in 2 years Kate?

:curse:ya cheeky monkey 4 at a push

Only been to Niagra so no advice to give but good luck whatever you do

Depends on what you want and the area that your looking at?
What we have decided is get the job move over in rented, if we like the area that where we will settle, if not then move to another area

Kate - you'd better move quick that big birthday is coming soon

tell me about it

Cheers mate, you seem like you're the only moderately normal one that has replied!
I realise that we're still a couple of years away from joining you over there but theres a few figures we need to bash about to make sure that the hole thing is worth while doing. We had a look at a few houses and theres no denying that you get more for your money, but after paying the mortgage whats the other costs like if you don't mind me asking? We'll be a family of 4 by then and there'll only be myself working so i would imagine it would be pretty tight. We would be running 2 regular sized cars. I understand its a bit personal what i'm asking but it would certainly help in figuring the whole thing out. The last thing i want to happen is to uproot the family and find we are living on a shoe string!

P.S. Can you get the premiership over there, since Keano and Quinn has dragged us back to the top flight?

Hello and thanks for replying, I appreciate it!
We aren't actually sure whereabouts i suppose it hinges a little on where i get a job. We Had a look at Welland, saw a perfect house but wasnt sure we saw enough of the area to warrant moving there. We've heard st Catherines is nice, but what we are really after is somewhere for my very young family to grow up and for my wife and I to got to a choice of restaurants and bars on night. If you're an expat you'll understand the kind nights us brits like out, ok my wife and I won't be curled around a kebab in the gutter of a taxi rank but you know the kind of choice that we like.

Thanks in advance.

You do get more house for your money, but often they are not as solidly constructed as a UK house, and they are viewed more as a place to live than an investment in most cases. There also seems to be more maintainence, new roofs every 10 or 20 years, that kind of thing.

There are many "cost of living" threads if you search the archive. We have 2 small kids and two (paid for) cars, so I guess we are in a similar situation. Our income from my job is in the mid $60ks, and frankly after the mortgage and all the bills are paid there is not a whole lot left. My wife stays at home with the kids, which we think is good for them, but its just as well as with no family to help out, childcare expenses would suck up most of anything she earned if she worked too anyway. Its essential to start saving early on for college and retirement funds, so I suppose without that sort of sensible thinking we would have more money for frivolous stuff. Car insurance is a major shock for newcomers, it can easily be thousands a year, regardles of how good your UK record is.

Vacation time is an issue for many. Standard holiday entitlement starts at two weeks, or three if you are lucky.

But having said all that I really like it here, consider it home and have no plans to ever return to the UK if it can be avoided. Its a very kid friendly place to, but there is not much in the way of what you would recognise as pubs.

Premiership is no problem, three games (live and time shifted) on the main sports chanel "Sportsnet" every Saturday morning, and more elsewhere if you are addicted. Keanos done really well, it will be intersting to see how they do in the Prem.

Premiership is no problem, three games (live and time shifted) on the main sports chanel "Sportsnet" every Saturday morning, and more elsewhere if you are addicted. Keanos done really well, it will be intersting to see how they do in the Prem.[/


Didn,t realise that. My OH has been harping on about sport for ages. Doesn't want to miss the footie (but he will grow out of it I'm sure). Is there alot of UK sport on Canadian TV?

Not really, but the premiership is well covered, and there is a daily 30 min summary highlite show on "The Score" that covers cricket, rugby and F1 to some extent, as well as covering the top european soccer leagues, and even the scottish league.

Hockey is king here, and when its not hockey season baseball takes up huge numbers of telly hours. But its a great big country and life is too short to spend all but saturday morning stuck in front of the idiot latern.

Hi Ant,

You'll probably have noticed that Ontario is a big place now if some one you never met emails and asked you
"family and I are taking the first tentative steps into looking at a new life in the UK and wonder if there there are any expats already there that we can quiz about certain everyday life kinda things?"

What part of the UK would you tell them about?

Best thing to do is formulate your information in a scenario then ask the question.

We can be most help when you are more specific about your requirements. Enjoy finding out about Canada and yourselves over the next 4 years.