Originally Posted by el_richo

Yeah but your location = Edmonton

Originally Posted by dbd33

Then I'll broaden that a little. I suggest that the population density and congestion in Southern Ontario is similar to that in the South East of England. Further, the access to the countryside in the South East of England is superior to that in Southern Ontario.

Originally Posted by rubberduckofdeath

Wow, that's a rant and a half!

Originally Posted by dbd33

Then I'll broaden that a little. I suggest that the population density and congestion in Southern Ontario is similar to that in the South East of England. Further, the access to the countryside in the South East of England is superior to that in Southern Ontario.

Originally Posted by tioram

Although there are many people who genuinely prefer the UK to Canada once they've had the opportunity to experience both, I find that many of those who end up dissappointed simply had over inflated expectations of what Canada will be like. They also often consider UK v Canada in very general terms, forgetting that while they may not be happy in a particular part of Canada/UK, that does not mean that other areas of Canada/UK wouldn't suit them better.

I've been here four months, and I honestly can't imagine a circumstance where I might look back and wonder if I've made the right choice. For me though, I happened to moving to Canada at a time when I would have been looking to move house / area in the UK in any case. So as well moving country, I've also improved my lot in life.

I'm sure there are areas of the UK where I could have been perfectly happy, but for me, Canada is a better fit. In general terms, this is what I've found:

Pros of "my" Canada:
1. It is far more family friendly.
2. It is less pressured / fast paced / stressful generally
3. It is far more "outdoorsy"
4. The climate (note, I've not experienced my first winter but I'm looking forward to it)
5. Less anti-social behaviour

Pros of "my" UK:
1. It is far more high-tech (online shopping is poor in "my" Canada, technology is way ahead in the UK).
2. Supermarket shopping is generally cheaper and there is greater choice.
3. You don't have to add tax onto the price of everything.
4. Cheap travel to other countries.

For me, I give more weight to a family oriented environment, a more comfortable pace of life, and better access to the outdoors. The relatively poorer use of technology, lesser range of shopping and lack of cheap flights is something I can easily live with.

My two cents / pence

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

I can`t understand the "better access to the outdoors" argument. I have climbed, walked, hiked all over the world and do not believe that Canada offers anything "better" in that respect. No good living in Manitoba but wanting to climb in the Rockies, no good living in London and wanting to scale Ben Nevis anytime soon.

Maclean Creek just outside of Calgary amply demonstrates the hell that breaks lose when "ourdoorsy types" are allowed to reign free over the land. Is that "better"? I suggest not.

I appreciate that skiing and skating are more readily available in Canada than the UK but I don`t get what other outdoorsy pastimes are more readily available in Canada than in the UK. If such pastimes simply consist of walking over areas, I believe the UK has just as good an environment as Canada.

Originally Posted by rubberduckofdeath

BTW, I just had a little look on the 'net (where everything's true), and found that Southern Ontario has approximately 220 people per square mile. Surrey has approximately 1700 per square mile so yeah, they're quite comparable

Originally Posted by mandymoochops

Hw many want to be immigrants keep in touch with people that have recently moved here???? Not many i'd say.

When the ex decided he wanted to move out here, it was all based upon hear say. Old people that visited our sleepy seaside town from the great white North - they all seemed relatively well off and had healthy shiny glows to their faces.

You look at pics of Canada on websites and it seems soooooo beautiful (which many parts are), but you don't look for the shitty bits - why would you spoil your dream.

You are also under the misapprehension that its waaaaaay cheaper here because it's what you think you know.

You dream about building big log cabins in way out remote areas because all your friends back in the UK will be soooo jealous.

You even come on a reccie because you think you want to visit your proposed destination, and make excuses for the bits that aren't hitting the heart strings.

And dare I say it, some people are under the misguided apprehension that they are gods gift to the human race and believe that Canada will welcome this new immigrant from the UK and bow down to everything he says because Canada is sooooooo backward and lucky to have him and all the new shiny things and ideas he brings with him

When reality sets in and you realise that Canadians don't hold you on a pedastal - your bubble bursts and you have to start being humble and accept the way they do things over here.

CANADIANS DON'T CARE THAT YOU ARE FROM THE UK, THEY LIKE YOUR ACCENT AND THATS ABOUT IT

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

I can`t understand the "better access to the outdoors" argument. I have climbed, walked, hiked all over the world and do not believe that Canada offers anything "better" in that respect. No good living in Manitoba but wanting to climb in the Rockies, no good living in London and wanting to scale Ben Nevis anytime soon.

Originally Posted by Paul_Shepherd

This is very true....if a person knows this before and is still up for the change in lifestyle, then I think they will settle in well!

Canada being "backward" as some people call it its what attracted me here, ok its behind in some technology - but who cares!! the rest of it that is "behind" is just what I like about it - slower paced, a sense of community (except for city life) politeness, morals and manners etc.... well thats what Ive found anyway...and its funny as thats what the UK used to be like, nowadays in the UK everyone is out for themselves.....with a snarl!

Originally Posted by dbd33

....

A low population density suggests houses spread apart, lots of parks, outdoors on your doorstep, that sort of thing. The reality in southern Ontario is vast areas of farmland, to which there is no public access, and other areas with houses and blocks of flats crammed in as tightly as in the UK.

Originally Posted by Rodge9

Is it even that Canada is behind technologically, or is that a broadly similar level of technology is available but people just aren't as bothered about it (apart, perhaps, from the obligatory obsession with Apple products witnessed at the launch of the iPad)? Genuine question...some online services don't seem to be as advanced and then there's things like crappy phone tariffs, but the phones themselves, laptops, HD TVs, Tom Toms etc are all available at a similar level aren't they, just that people aren't as bothered about buying them? Or not?

Originally Posted by tioram

You're right, the technology itself isn't significantly different, but there's definately a slower uptake in Canada and poorer use of technology compared to the UK. I don't think it's that consumers are less interested, I think it's the suppliers that are less interested in Canada as a market.

Chip and Pin is still not ubiquitous here, direct debit / standing order isn't always the default method of paying regular bills (people actually still go in to the bank every month to pay their bills, or give post-dated cheques), online shopping is poor, don't get me started on cellphones.