JoeJK

I just typed up a huge post for this, then somehow accidentally deleted it.

Not happy!

Basically, it was a longer winded version of this:

Next year, or perhaps the year after, I'm planning on heading over to Canada on an IEC visa.

I've posted some threads asking about some of this before, but after some helpful replies (thank you!) and some research on my part, I have more direction now and have started to select some places that I may want to settle at. I spent some hours last night reading the wiki, and googling, so I have found some places that I like the sound of, but I would like some of you helpful folks to put me straight if I'm way off the mark etc. or offer me some alternatives that I may (or definitely WILL) have missed.

I'm ideally looking for somewhere that has warm summers with plenty of sun, and cold winters with plenty of snow (like they used to be in the UK...) and culture wise, I'm into a lot of creative hobbies (art, photography, literature etc), so I would like somewhere with plenty of that kind of vibe.

Right now, I'm working in a ground level clerical role for a bank that I've been stuck in for six years due to recruitment/promotion freezes etc. and am about to be made redundant, so I feel like it's time for a huge change. I don't want to do the whole office thing again, so I'm aiming at perhaps retail/bar work or maybe something in the tourism side of things (kind of liking the idea of something outside...). The plus side is that my redundancy payment will give me enough money to be able to move around a bit first, checking these places out, and also it should leave me with some money in the bank that can supplement any income I get and ease the strain when it comes to bills etc.

So, I'll just list some places here along with why the appeal to me, based on what I have read:

Calgary - this one was the first I looked into and it immediately called out "Come on down!" because it looks like a nice, lively city with decent job prospects and plenty of activities. The scenery also looks amazing etc. with good access to places to hike/bike/camp etc. so that is a big plus. I have read, however that it is one of the more "conservative" cities in Canada, which might go against the sort of bohemian/arty vibe I'm looking for.

Vancouver - looked into this one after Calgary and it seems to be a laid back type of place still with plenty of activities and scenery etc. although it will be harder to find work and will be more expensive. It seems to have a very open/progressive attitude towards things (I have specifically read about gay marriage and marijuana use), which I think says good things about the lifestyle, even if the issues don't apply directly to me.

Regina - seems to be more like a quieter, small town type of place, but it apparently has lots of lakes etc and has a good, relatively chilled/happy attitude. The climate is also a plus here, because I love snow!

Montreal - I'm mainly just curious about this place. Not really sure what else to say I do really want to train at the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu gym there, though, so I suppose I'm looking for an excuse to live there other than just that!

As a final disclaimer, I'm still really just bouncing ideas around here (these are really just the cities I've came across, semi randomly so far), so please don't take this as me simply naively wanting to jump right in and head to these places because of wild, baseless ideas and misconceptions. I both expect and welcome any alternative suggestions and advice.

Thanks in advance!

Joe

JonboyE

I have not lived in Calgary but the implression I get is that the City is a lot more cosmopolitan and liberal minded than the surrounding countryside.

Vancouver gets a reputation of being expensive but in reality that is only if you are looking to buy property here. Wages will be a little lower than Calgary but judging from other threads at the moment it seems that the cost of living is no higher. Do you like the sea? There is no sea in Calgary. However, Calgary has significantly lower precipition. I like it here.

ninaDGBCA

Vancouver won't have the hot hot summers and neither the cold winters. The weather is more like in the UK. Our mate just moved there and he said for the past 2 months the weather was worse than it used to be back in Manchester and you know what that means...RAIN!!!

Montreal is a nice city. Lots of bars and nightlife, close to Mont Tremblant for skiing. Summers are warm and it's cold with snow in winter. My stepmum's uncle lives in Calgary and spends all summer in his cottage on a lake near Montreal due to the nicer weather in summer. You don't really need French to live there but it might be tricky to find a job with no French language abilities.

Have you though about Toronto? It's a great city. Lot's going on, hot summer, cold winter, directly located at lake Ontario, which is not the seaside but when you are at the beach there you wouldn't know it's not the sea, that's how big it is. Plus cheap flights back to the UK, and the US not far.

bats

Kingston Ontario

Novocastrian

You actually managed a more long winded version of that? I'm impressed.

Let me précis. "I fancy moving to Canada but I've no idea where to go".

I'm sure someone has asked that before.

Shard

Culture, lots of snow, hot summers, liberal, have a look at Montreal.

JoeJK

I named four specific cities in the post, so I do have an "idea" where to go, I just wanted some opinions from people who have been to/lived in those places to give me an idea if they're actually anything like how I imagine them to be after reading about them.

I have looked a little at Toronto but not as much as the others.

What do you think it'll be like finding work in Toronto and Montreal? (bearing in mind I don't speak French yet, but I'll definitely learn as much as I can before/during my time there if I decide to go).

Shard

Toronto would be easier to find work than Montreal (language and economy); both are great starting points for Canada. Calgary is not as conservative as it was, and by the same token Vancouver is not as laid back as it was. Vancouver is not a good choice if you like snow, unless you want to work at Whistler where you will get lots of it. Regina is a small friendly city, but you really are miles (as in thousands, not hundreds) from anywhere!

Much wil depend on the type of work you want to do.

JonboyE

Or any of the three ski resorts located within the city limits. In Vancouver it snows in the mountains, not in the city by and large. I always look on this as a plus.

ninaDGBCA

Vancouver is I think the city with the most rain in Canada and very UK like temps summer and winter.

Calgary is defo in a beautiful location and it does get warm in summer and cold in winter although the weather seems to be more inconsistent and the lakes never warm up as much as they do over here, if you like swimming.

I would say with the criteria given: hot summer, cold winter incl snow, lively city, outdoor stuff to do, and some culture Toronto and Montreal would suit you best.
Most people in Montreal are able to speak English if they actually do it is a hit and miss

So Toronto would be an easier option for finding work.
I love Toronto,it's lively, lot's of nice neighbourhoods, bars, chinatown, lake Ontario on your door step, defo in the high 20's to mid 30's in summer and guaranteed snow in winter.
Quinte Region is not far with Sandbanks and the surrounding area being really pretty.
Niagara Falls is not far although once you've done you don't need to go back lol.

http://www.toronto.com/

P.s. I don't get paid to advertise Toronto

Novocastrian

And now you've named five. How many cities are there? Seven?

bats

Six if you include Kingston, which I thought was a good suggestion.

ExKiwilass

According to my aussie coworker, who just came back from Montreal, the women there loooooved his accent. So I'd pick Montreal based on the pulling-birds factor. Vancouver women look great and all but are kinda snobby.

Shard

Kingston? Does it have anything going for it? You can start including Halifax, St Johns, Saskatoon, and Edmonton if you go to smaller cities.

bats

Kingston. He wanted bohemian, arty farty stuff. There's plenty there and in the area. He wanted sun and snow, it gets that. Has the lake, for sailing/boating diving stuff. It has martial arts stuff and near enough to Montreal so he can visit. It has good curry houses.