Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
Mar 21st 2016, 11:46 am
#1
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Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
My wife and I are just starting to research a possible move from the mid west to the Maritimes for various reasons.
What I am after is other peoples experiences who have made much the same move.
How do you find living out east, is it a world of difference to your life in the west?
Did you live in the city or in the middle of nowhere before you moved?
Why did you feel the need to move?
Did you move yourself or use a moving company. Prices please if you used a company?
Do you regret your move. If so why. If not why?
As I mentioned we are just starting to research this possibility so any info would be greatly appreciated.
What I am after is other peoples experiences who have made much the same move.
How do you find living out east, is it a world of difference to your life in the west?
Did you live in the city or in the middle of nowhere before you moved?
Why did you feel the need to move?
Did you move yourself or use a moving company. Prices please if you used a company?
Do you regret your move. If so why. If not why?
As I mentioned we are just starting to research this possibility so any info would be greatly appreciated.
Mar 21st 2016, 1:21 pm
#2
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Joined: Jul 2005
Location: St. John's, Newfoundland
Posts: 10,129
Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
The Maritimes is quite a large area. (As is "The West" for that matter). Being more specific about areas is likely to provide more specifically useful feedback!
Mar 21st 2016, 1:40 pm
#3
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
We are looking into the St John NB area south through to St Stephen. A trip out there this summer should help to narrow our choice down.
Last edited by GC44; Mar 21st 2016 at 1:51 pm.
Mar 21st 2016, 2:12 pm
#4
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Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
We moved from the wild west of Montreal. I don't suppose that counts.
Mar 21st 2016, 2:24 pm
#5
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
Montreal, no we are slightly more west and it's definately a little wilder out here. I am interested though in your views on NB, good or bad.
Mar 21st 2016, 2:43 pm
#6
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
Housing is cheap and that does not mean there are no employment opps here although if you are the type who gets head hunted, then maybe it does mean they are more limited.
I have a feeling there's a BE member in Woodstock which is nearer to Saint Stephen.
Mar 21st 2016, 11:52 pm
#7
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
I'm not from 'the West' but my husband is.
I know Saint John reasonably well, it's a nice place, but always foggy, and a couple of degrees cooler in summer and warmer in winter than many parts. I find it hard to write 'City' as these places hardly have the population of a small town, and that is both good and bad. The Maritime provinces are taking an economic pasting presently, but historically they have always been somewhat at the bottom of the pecking order.
I like the fact that I 'know' lots of people - our mayor, out MLA's, and our movers and shakers, are all very much part of our small community. I don't like the fact that unless you are the cousin of someone, your concerns will probably be overlooked. The Maritimers are a generally pleasant bunch, they are kind and helpful, but they can just be a bit apathetic and stubborn at times which can prove irritating, they have a reluctance to change, and they know it and makes jokes about themselves for it.
Food can be great here, but you have to cook it yourself. An upmarket restaurant here, in Fredericton anyway, serves the food of a downmarket gastro pub in Europe, or some of the bigger cities in 'the West'. The deep fat fryer is a beloved and much used tool here, and we have the highest problem with obesity than any other province in Canada. There are good farmers markets all over the place, when it gets warmer.
The winter has been super this year, so I can't complain, although we did have a 20cm dump of snow yesterday. Generally, I can't hack the climate. Last winter it snowed so much, It nearly drove me nuts....along with all the rest of the East Coast inhabitants! So much winter takes a toll, physically and mentally.
The other seasons are pleasurable though, there are lots of things going on at all ends of the spectrum, we have rib fests, and wine tastings, whiskey whatever's, the Marathon, we run for anything and everything...it's just the same group of people, that do lots of activities.
Very best of luck
I know Saint John reasonably well, it's a nice place, but always foggy, and a couple of degrees cooler in summer and warmer in winter than many parts. I find it hard to write 'City' as these places hardly have the population of a small town, and that is both good and bad. The Maritime provinces are taking an economic pasting presently, but historically they have always been somewhat at the bottom of the pecking order.
I like the fact that I 'know' lots of people - our mayor, out MLA's, and our movers and shakers, are all very much part of our small community. I don't like the fact that unless you are the cousin of someone, your concerns will probably be overlooked. The Maritimers are a generally pleasant bunch, they are kind and helpful, but they can just be a bit apathetic and stubborn at times which can prove irritating, they have a reluctance to change, and they know it and makes jokes about themselves for it.
Food can be great here, but you have to cook it yourself. An upmarket restaurant here, in Fredericton anyway, serves the food of a downmarket gastro pub in Europe, or some of the bigger cities in 'the West'. The deep fat fryer is a beloved and much used tool here, and we have the highest problem with obesity than any other province in Canada. There are good farmers markets all over the place, when it gets warmer.
The winter has been super this year, so I can't complain, although we did have a 20cm dump of snow yesterday. Generally, I can't hack the climate. Last winter it snowed so much, It nearly drove me nuts....along with all the rest of the East Coast inhabitants! So much winter takes a toll, physically and mentally.
The other seasons are pleasurable though, there are lots of things going on at all ends of the spectrum, we have rib fests, and wine tastings, whiskey whatever's, the Marathon, we run for anything and everything...it's just the same group of people, that do lots of activities.
Very best of luck
Mar 22nd 2016, 1:06 am
#8
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
When I first came here I, too, had difficulty thinking City.
I kept thinking 'Thornbury' with the Main St 'downtown' as a (slightly bigger) High St and low rise housing spreading outwards.
But then the population is 10 times Thornbury. And then Bath is unquestionably a city and the population there is smaller. (little people
) so now I can say City without smirking or doing the air quote thing. 
Mar 22nd 2016, 12:53 pm
#9
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
Thanks for this folks, always good to get someone else's opinion.
Quick question, do you find the locals there "worldly wise"?. Strange question I know but it would seem to me that the majority of locals we know and workmates have a very blinkered view of world affairs. For example they know that Canada are receiving lots of refugees from Syria but they are at a loss as to why. They can however tell you everything that happens and indeed has ever happened within a 10 mile radius of their town.
I know we as guests in there country should accept it but personally I find it strangely annoying.
Maybe it's a Canada wide phenomenon!
Quick question, do you find the locals there "worldly wise"?. Strange question I know but it would seem to me that the majority of locals we know and workmates have a very blinkered view of world affairs. For example they know that Canada are receiving lots of refugees from Syria but they are at a loss as to why. They can however tell you everything that happens and indeed has ever happened within a 10 mile radius of their town.
I know we as guests in there country should accept it but personally I find it strangely annoying.
Maybe it's a Canada wide phenomenon!
Mar 22nd 2016, 2:29 pm
#10
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
As a massive generalization, I think you'll find that's a Canada-wide phenomenon.
Mar 23rd 2016, 10:25 pm
#13
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
Mar 24th 2016, 12:59 am
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Mar 26th 2016, 1:09 am
#15
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Re: Moving to the Maritimes from the Wild West.
I'm not from 'the West' but my husband is.
I know Saint John reasonably well, it's a nice place, but always foggy, and a couple of degrees cooler in summer and warmer in winter than many parts. I find it hard to write 'City' as these places hardly have the population of a small town, and that is both good and bad. The Maritime provinces are taking an economic pasting presently, but historically they have always been somewhat at the bottom of the pecking order.
I like the fact that I 'know' lots of people - our mayor, out MLA's, and our movers and shakers, are all very much part of our small community. I don't like the fact that unless you are the cousin of someone, your concerns will probably be overlooked. The Maritimers are a generally pleasant bunch, they are kind and helpful, but they can just be a bit apathetic and stubborn at times which can prove irritating, they have a reluctance to change, and they know it and makes jokes about themselves for it.
Food can be great here, but you have to cook it yourself. An upmarket restaurant here, in Fredericton anyway, serves the food of a downmarket gastro pub in Europe, or some of the bigger cities in 'the West'. The deep fat fryer is a beloved and much used tool here, and we have the highest problem with obesity than any other province in Canada. There are good farmers markets all over the place, when it gets warmer.
The winter has been super this year, so I can't complain, although we did have a 20cm dump of snow yesterday. Generally, I can't hack the climate. Last winter it snowed so much, It nearly drove me nuts....along with all the rest of the East Coast inhabitants! So much winter takes a toll, physically and mentally.
The other seasons are pleasurable though, there are lots of things going on at all ends of the spectrum, we have rib fests, and wine tastings, whiskey whatever's, the Marathon, we run for anything and everything...it's just the same group of people, that do lots of activities.
Very best of luck
I know Saint John reasonably well, it's a nice place, but always foggy, and a couple of degrees cooler in summer and warmer in winter than many parts. I find it hard to write 'City' as these places hardly have the population of a small town, and that is both good and bad. The Maritime provinces are taking an economic pasting presently, but historically they have always been somewhat at the bottom of the pecking order.
I like the fact that I 'know' lots of people - our mayor, out MLA's, and our movers and shakers, are all very much part of our small community. I don't like the fact that unless you are the cousin of someone, your concerns will probably be overlooked. The Maritimers are a generally pleasant bunch, they are kind and helpful, but they can just be a bit apathetic and stubborn at times which can prove irritating, they have a reluctance to change, and they know it and makes jokes about themselves for it.
Food can be great here, but you have to cook it yourself. An upmarket restaurant here, in Fredericton anyway, serves the food of a downmarket gastro pub in Europe, or some of the bigger cities in 'the West'. The deep fat fryer is a beloved and much used tool here, and we have the highest problem with obesity than any other province in Canada. There are good farmers markets all over the place, when it gets warmer.
The winter has been super this year, so I can't complain, although we did have a 20cm dump of snow yesterday. Generally, I can't hack the climate. Last winter it snowed so much, It nearly drove me nuts....along with all the rest of the East Coast inhabitants! So much winter takes a toll, physically and mentally.
The other seasons are pleasurable though, there are lots of things going on at all ends of the spectrum, we have rib fests, and wine tastings, whiskey whatever's, the Marathon, we run for anything and everything...it's just the same group of people, that do lots of activities.
Very best of luck
When (not if) I leave NB I cant think of a single thing that I would miss. The sad thing is what you touched upon with the people and their attitude is that they are their own worst enemy. I am convinced that at least half this province would fail an IQ test.
The provincial logo is "Be in this place". Irony truley is lost on them. I have been working on a new logo for the province.....So far: New Brunswick Muppetry in Motion is leading the way
Would that restaurant in Fredericton be Brewbakers? I thought it was a joke to be honest.
