Location, Location, Location
Jul 17th 2014 | 2:59 am
#31
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,146
From: St. John's, Newfoundland
Re: Location, Location, Location
1102489, 197 WATERFORD BRIDGE Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1E1E4
1102249, 7 FOREST Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1C2B8
1104688, 20 CIRCULAR Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1C2Z1
1100827, 35 METCALFES Lane , CBS, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1W5P5
Jul 17th 2014 | 3:05 am
#32
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 40,070
From: Ontario
Re: Location, Location, Location
There are IT jobs here, theres a big IT company:
Information technology and business process outsourcing | CGI IT services
Information technology and business process outsourcing | CGI IT services
A bad employer in Toronto, I imagine they're awful in locations where they're the only game in town.
Jul 17th 2014 | 3:52 am
#33
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,966
From: SW Ontario, Canada / Gozo, Malta
Re: Location, Location, Location
I am... I'm Maltese also, I have dual nationality. Malta is 'home' for me.... There are some on here and elsewhere that although they were born and raised in the UK they would never think of living there again... Of course they visit, but they'd never live there again... They consider their 'adopted' country 'home'. When I look at myself I think that's how I will be. I'll probably never want to live in Canada ever again after I leave, but due to family circumstances will always be back regularly for visits (which may be coincidentally planned round BE meetups 
)
I don't know if this was a jab or just a remark, but the difference between him and I is I won't be waiting til i'm 65 to go home. And besides, 6 months isn't really giving it a real go. That's more like an extended vacation. 1-2 years is more like it.
Agree.
Tbh Calgary should be put on the "too cold" list. I have a cousin who lived there up til now; they had snow till about mid-may. Officially winter is supposed to be done at the end of march. 
IN
------------------------
Toronto - Expensive to live? Milder climate.
Vancouver - Wet, expensive to live?
Quick question about mosquito's are they everywhere in Canada (here I'm talking cities here - I'd expect them by a rural lake)?
Jobs, Anywhere especially good for software jobs at the moment?
Yeah there's meskeeters everywhere.... For Toronto/Vancouver, just read what Schnooks said as I agree with that whole post
Software jobs? You can find those anywhere AFAIK
)The poster, a very young poster on this board, has parents and/or grandparents who are from Malta and he has been there twice on summer holidays. He believes that is his 'home' and he is being held captive in an upper middle class pergury in canadian suburbia.
He reminds me of an italian/canadian friend of mine in toronto whose father moved to canada at age 16 with literally one suitcase. He always talked fondly of his 'home' in italy. When he retired at age 65 he moved back 'home' and within 6 months was back in canada as 'home' wasn't what he remembered.
He reminds me of an italian/canadian friend of mine in toronto whose father moved to canada at age 16 with literally one suitcase. He always talked fondly of his 'home' in italy. When he retired at age 65 he moved back 'home' and within 6 months was back in canada as 'home' wasn't what he remembered.
Thank you everyone for their input. Its certainly given me a lot more options to look at! Some like Halifax, Edmonton, St John's which I hadn't even considered. I've also taken on iaink's comments so not just restricted my search to the east coast.
Here is my summary....I'm sure you guys will put me right.
OUT
------------------------
Montreal/Quebec - Ok as a tourist, but would need fluent French to live there.
Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon,Edmonton - Too cold?
Here is my summary....I'm sure you guys will put me right.
OUT
------------------------
Montreal/Quebec - Ok as a tourist, but would need fluent French to live there.
Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon,Edmonton - Too cold?
POSSIBLY
------------------------
Calgary - Cold, yet sunny. This maybe a bit controversial, but it seems (based on my very brief research) modern e.g. a lack of older houses?
Ottawa - No one has mentioned it? Is it a possibility?
------------------------
Calgary - Cold, yet sunny. This maybe a bit controversial, but it seems (based on my very brief research) modern e.g. a lack of older houses?
Ottawa - No one has mentioned it? Is it a possibility?
IN
------------------------
Toronto - Expensive to live? Milder climate.
Vancouver - Wet, expensive to live?
Quick question about mosquito's are they everywhere in Canada (here I'm talking cities here - I'd expect them by a rural lake)?
Jobs, Anywhere especially good for software jobs at the moment?
Software jobs? You can find those anywhere AFAIK
Jul 17th 2014 | 3:57 am
#34
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 35,188
From: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Re: Location, Location, Location
Or choose wisely in North America...
1102489, 197 WATERFORD BRIDGE Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1E1E4
1102249, 7 FOREST Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1C2B8
1104688, 20 CIRCULAR Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1C2Z1
1100827, 35 METCALFES Lane , CBS, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1W5P5
1102489, 197 WATERFORD BRIDGE Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1E1E4
1102249, 7 FOREST Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1C2B8
1104688, 20 CIRCULAR Road , ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1C2Z1
1100827, 35 METCALFES Lane , CBS, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1W5P5
Canada may be many wonderful things, but known for historic architecture it ain't.
Jul 17th 2014 | 3:58 am
#35
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,966
From: SW Ontario, Canada / Gozo, Malta
Re: Location, Location, Location
Oh, and Ottawa? From what I found bilingualism is a bit more important there compared to the rest of Ontario, whilst not as important as Quebec. It is a beautiful city too, I was there on my trip as well. But overall would recommend the GTA over Ottawa.
Jul 17th 2014 | 4:03 am
#36
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 35,188
From: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Re: Location, Location, Location
I am... I'm Maltese also, I have dual nationality. Malta is 'home' for me.... There are some on here and elsewhere that although they were born and raised in the UK they would never think of living there again... Of course they visit, but they'd never live there again... They consider their 'adopted' country 'home'.
My grandmother was French, and I've been to France around 20 times and love it. It would never occur to me to call it home though!
Anyway, thanks for explaining, I was wondering if I'd missed your location somewhere along the line.
Jul 17th 2014 | 4:05 am
#37
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 10
Re: Location, Location, Location
Ottawa - spent 7 months there on a project with work in 2008. I really like the city. I went for a visit with my husband in December 2012 as well. It's really pretty - lots of stone buildings, almost has a bit more of a 'european' feel too it - more interesting and more pretty architecture than a lot of other cities. Modern, but doesn't feel as modern. Population I believe is about 500k, so it's a good size. Has a good bus system, lots of touristy stuff since it's the capital, the canal is gorgeous - very pretty and quaint. I don't think cost of living is too bad there either, particularly if you're in the surrounding suburbs (Kanata, etc). I know quite a few who are from Ottawa or who are currently living in Ottawa, and very much like it. As you might imagine, buckets of public sector jobs, which may or may not be a bad thing. It's about a 2.5h drive to Montreal, and a 5 hour drive to Toronto, so certainly striking distance for both. Has a reasonably-sized airport. Unlikely you'll get many direct flights, particularly for overseas, but if you aren't fussed about a connection, then you're set. Worth a visit and worth considering. Very nice summers, definitely winters a bit on the colder side. Probably not too much different to Toronto in terms of temperature, but certainly more snow. (Which is a plus in my book, I'd personally have the snow AND the temperatures, at least the snow makes it interesting and fun. The cold is just, well, cold.)
Jul 17th 2014 | 4:11 am
#38
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 40,070
From: Ontario
Re: Location, Location, Location
I imagine the same is true of the children of the nationals of any country with a seize mentality and strong sense of superiority; Israel and South Africa spring to mind.
Jul 17th 2014 | 4:27 am
#39
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,966
From: SW Ontario, Canada / Gozo, Malta
Re: Location, Location, Location
Well, yes, but that's after they've moved and settled there, not just after a vacation. I've just never heard of anyone referring to somewhere they've been to a couple of times as 'home', regardless of family ties.
My grandmother was French, and I've been to France around 20 times and love it. It would never occur to me to call it home though!
Anyway, thanks for explaining, I was wondering if I'd missed your location somewhere along the line.
My grandmother was French, and I've been to France around 20 times and love it. It would never occur to me to call it home though!
Anyway, thanks for explaining, I was wondering if I'd missed your location somewhere along the line.
Jul 17th 2014 | 4:29 am
#40
Concierge
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 8,320
From: Oakville, ON, CA
Re: Location, Location, Location
Day-to-day in Ottawa you don't need it. I certainly didn't, nor did anyone else on the team I was working with (70ish people). Another friend was in Ottawa for 2 years, she doesn't speak French either.
So I'd say you are fine if you don't speak French in Ottawa.
Jul 17th 2014 | 4:30 am
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,966
From: SW Ontario, Canada / Gozo, Malta
Re: Location, Location, Location
The Canadian born children of Swiss nationals think of themselves as "Swiss Etranger" and, indeed, receive a government sponsored magazine of that name. Upon reaching age they go home each year to do their national service and, even before that, they gather each year on the first of August to clatter their cow bells and endure guggelmusik. Switzerland is "home" to them even if they've never been.
I imagine the same is true of the children of the nationals of any country with a seize mentality and strong sense of superiority; Israel and South Africa spring to mind.
I imagine the same is true of the children of the nationals of any country with a seize mentality and strong sense of superiority; Israel and South Africa spring to mind.
The kid in question wants to live in Switzerland. Not SA though. Has his Swiss passport but not SA. His dad lost SA citizenship when he moved to Switzerland somehow.
Jul 17th 2014 | 5:07 am
#42
Happy
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,942
From: Nova Scotia
Re: Location, Location, Location
Jul 17th 2014 | 7:41 am
#43
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,380
From: British Columbia
Re: Location, Location, Location
IN
------------------------
Toronto - Expensive to live? Milder climate.
Vancouver - Wet, expensive to live?
Vancouver's rain is seasonal. Many forget this or don't understand this. It is wet in the winter (November-January are the rainiest months) but winter is when the rest of the country has snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures for months on end. However, the first spring blossoms appear in Vancouver in late February and with that wetness brings greenery, greenery that expats living elsewhere moan about missing. Vancouver has a proper spring, with flowers from February until May. June, July, August, September, October = beautiful sunny dry weather. The rain in Vancouver is seasonal. Elsewhere in Canada, the rainiest months are often the summer months!
Last edited by Lychee; Jul 17th 2014 at 7:49 am.
Jul 17th 2014 | 9:16 am
#44
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,966
From: SW Ontario, Canada / Gozo, Malta
Re: Location, Location, Location
To further elaborate on Vancouver's climate...
Vancouver's rain is seasonal. Many forget this or don't understand this. It is wet in the winter (November-January are the rainiest months) but winter is when the rest of the country has snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures for months on end. However, the first spring blossoms appear in Vancouver in late February and with that wetness brings greenery, greenery that expats living elsewhere moan about missing. Vancouver has a proper spring, with flowers from February until May. June, July, August, September, October = beautiful sunny dry weather. The rain in Vancouver is seasonal. Elsewhere in Canada, the rainiest months are often the summer months!
Vancouver's rain is seasonal. Many forget this or don't understand this. It is wet in the winter (November-January are the rainiest months) but winter is when the rest of the country has snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures for months on end. However, the first spring blossoms appear in Vancouver in late February and with that wetness brings greenery, greenery that expats living elsewhere moan about missing. Vancouver has a proper spring, with flowers from February until May. June, July, August, September, October = beautiful sunny dry weather. The rain in Vancouver is seasonal. Elsewhere in Canada, the rainiest months are often the summer months!
Jul 17th 2014 | 10:08 am
#45
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,878
From: SW Ontario
Re: Location, Location, Location
Hamilton/Burlington/Ancaster.
