Unless you're in Utah. Where an alcoholic beverage "might contain some alcohol"

I totally agree with you on this one! I always think if you are going to live abroad and worry about these trival things then you'd be as well staying in the UK. Isn't the whole idea of emgrating to embrace a new way of life in a new country and to me that means accepting their way of life?

Maybe I just view the whole experience differently to everyone else!!!!

It is? I just came because I someone offered me a job out here. I hadn't noticed Canada being sufficiently different to the UK for there to be a "new way of life".

Certainly, a lot of communities carry on in much the same way they would have in their home countries in terms of language, food, religion, etc.

I personally still feel every country is has it's own different ways - I have lived abroad now a couple of times and each country is different although I agree some places are similar to the UK but each has it's own differences which for some people seem like huge differences. It is these differences that I view as a new way of life - the little things are different to what you were used of say for example in the UK. It's the part of learning these new ways no matter how small and learning to accept the country that you move to and their little different ways and accepting them that I enjoy and embrace. Can't say when I lived in Cyprus (came back last year) I missed that much although I will say life there is different to the UK - a lovely slow pace of life, half day shopping twice a week, no Sunday shopping and lots of things you can't get in the UK - but hey thats part of what I love.

I guess some people just miss what they are used of and it takes a while to get used of not having those little things.

Guess I'm just the sort of person who loves change

I really dont think its silly to find out if a few things you like are available in a country that you want to live in, it makes life a bit easier to have a a few home comforts. He's not that worried it's not as if he wouldnt go if they werent available he was just asking me so I posted the thread hoping for a few friendly replies.

Thanks to everyone for the info he's not happy about the rugby being a kiwi (I am haha) He said he going to get into ice hockey.

Hope you like salmonberries and salmon/saskatoon berries and buffalo meat/etc then

Glad it made you laugh.
It must be a man thing Im planning our recci, booking flights hotels, insurance, car hire and he's trying to find out if the beers up to scratch and if he can watch corrie. I know about he eye rolling thing my eyes are nearly dropping out their sockets.

He could seek out local clubs. There are certainly a few in this part of BC and Canada did play in the last couple of world cups I think.

This can depend upon your set-up. In our flat, I've arranged a PC/RSS/BitTorrent combination that means Monday evening's Corrie is available for viewing by early afternoon, Vancouver time. So, in a way, we're actually ahead of the UK.

I've been in Canada for nearly two years and not had a single good pint yet...it's all pretty terrible run of the mill lager/beer. Even the brew pub type places are a letdown. One thing I really miss is a nice pint. I sometimes have to buy a four pack of boddingtons to remind me that beer actually has a head. CD's are cheaper and Setanta sports will give you rugby for 14 bucks a month (or something like that). You'll definitely miss anything resembling intelligent, well-produced TV in Canada that's for sure.

I'm not one for turning up my nose at different foods & always give anything a go. - ostrich is very nice if you want to give that a go???

Can I just ask... why is it when someone puts their own opinion on a forum so many people are there to put you down. Yes everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone views life differently including what it is like to live abroad but why do so many people have so much negativity towards other peoples views on things? I've noticed this on a different forum (read a lot of their messages but never posted as it was so negative) and wow it would be enough to put people off ever emigrating.

Must say it's nice to come on here and get so many different views and people seem to be very forthcoming with the information

Ostrich burgers were a staple of at least two farmer's market I used to frequent in the UK. I agree, very tasty, but I haven't seem them here in BC.

Given your comments in post #17, perhaps you should be answering your own question. Small things are not necessarily trivial. O-rings on the space shuttle Challenger for example.

By all means relish new experiences but in the case of Canada, many Canadian experiences are evolved composites of the cultural baggage that immigrants before you brought with them. Even the pure "Canadian experience" comprises the many and varied elements of the indigenous inhabitants of what is now called Canada. Like I said, salmonberries, salmon, blubber etc depending which location you select.

I agree with Greenbwoy,Canadian beer is awful.

There's some reasonable stuff in BC. Apparently. I don't really care so long as it's got alcohol in it. Breweries out here like Storm, Phillips, Russell. And Unibroue in Quebec is always good for a giggle.

#1...many chart CD's can be had for about $15 CDN + PST and GST (= to 13% in Ontario) and off chart ones are often cheaper than that. The demand for CD's seems to be on the decline as people are downloading more.

#2...excellent flavourful beer can be found in Canada if you search; however, the vast majority of people drink flavourless swill like Blue, Canadian, Ice beers, Corona, Bud etc. As another poster mentioned in Canada and the US the way to express alcohol is different, but in general, most Canadian and US beers are similar in alcoholic content and in many beers are actually stronger than UK beers. UK beers sold in bottled, canned or draught form are often quite expensive and are not very fresh.

#3 rugby is on Setanta Sports Canada which is $14.95/month. I don't follow rugby but they showed the World Cup and Six Nations (not always live but the game in full), and they show some sort of Champions League type rugby. They carry 8 out of 10 premier league games per week, plus french, scottish, dutch and french football.