I didn't live in the south of the UK, but on the other hand when I did it the exchange rate was in the range of $2.50-2.35 to the £, I wouldn't do it now with where the exchange rate is, which is the weakest the £ has ever been against the Canadian dollar.

But I do get the impression most British people wouldn't like living here going by the various things people whinge about on here, which honestly I hadn't thought about in many cases until I saw people complaining on here.

It's like people complain about GST not being included, big whoop (doesn't bother me), but car registration here is only $70 pa, or $65 pa if you buy a two-year sticker, what is it in the UK now for a tax disc? A lot more I suspect. And that doesn't even include congestion charge.

I was chuffed to bits to turn on the TV and radio here and actually have things on I like to watch/listen to and then on here there are endless threads about setting up VPN connections to watch some crappy British soap opera.

A lot of people complain about social services here as well, I will admit healthcare in Calgary is a bit of a shambles, but I expected it to be a shambles because I looked into it before I got here - but - and this is the important BUT, taxes are lower here than in the UK and I think that's generally the case for most people even if they live in Québec or Nova Scotia. Services cost money, you can't say, "whoopee, less tax" and then moan about poor social services!

Like I said, not the land of milk and honey. Different in many ways but if those differences do not expressly appeal to you for some personal reason then you're likely making a mistake. Simply hoping it will be better is daft.

I agree. I maintain that most British people move here for a bigger house. They may dress it up with other shite, but that's the nub of it. Now the exchange rate has put paid to that being easily achievable, the benefit of coming over has. for the vast majority, gone.

I am amazed why, those that settle on the east coast, don't move to Scotland - similar price of houses, similar lack of employment but with the added benefits that University is free, healthcare costs are a fraction of what they would be for those that require medication and their pensions will remain index linked!

Just catching up with this thread now. Your posts and Izzi's were a reminder of some of the reasons my family left the UK. 5 years in Govan were as much as any sane man should have to bear.

I remember the night we were showing our flat to a potential buyer and the teenage gangs outside were chasing each other with golf clubs and hammers. They took a break eventually though to set fire to a tree in the park for some more light hearted entertainment.

West/ central Scotland has to be one of the most difficult parts of the country to live in - widespread poverty, miserable weather and huge social issues. I can appreciate why you would wish to leave. I have had 3 children since moving to Canada and could not imagine living with them in Glasgow.

One of the principal reasons for emigration is to enjoy a better quality of life for oneself and/ or one's family. From my experiences in Canada more people have access to more opportunities here. It is possible for almost any working person here to afford a home (even if it is a trailer) and a car - things that are important to most families. Children are also likely to have access to sports opportunities which are harder to come by in the UK. One can definitely enjoy a great quality of life in the UK living in a cute home counties' village but unfortunately those areas are going to be out of reach for the vast majority of young families.

Some very wise words have been offered here but please don't be put off following your dream. I would think that the chances of having a better life in Canada than in Glasgow are fairly high!

I used to do the morning commute from the Bayers Lake area into downtown Halifax, leaving around 7:45am, and it took well over an hour on a good day - made the M25 look good. It was different in the afternoons as the roads were totally empty by 5pm!

Other than a larger house, can you name some for people looking into emigrating so as to offer guidance?

Other than a ice hockey, can you name some for people looking into emigrating?

Comparing a country to a city? That's unfair

Do you think Yahk, Likely, or 100 mile house would offer a "better" life than Glasgow? If so, why?

Hopefully these answers will help potential immigrants

cheese

Here's a few of mine:

- because it's here
- an interesting job opportunity came up
- cheaper housing (I lost a huge commute by moving) even at the current exchange rate
- itchy feet (I've lived in several different countries and now find staying in one place quite hard)
- general disenchantment with the 'NO YOU CANT' style of government in the UK

Been here over a year now - long enough for reality to assert itself - and still very glad to have done it. I can't really see myself going back to the UK any time soon although I wouldn't rule out a move to yet another country if the circumstances were right.

Ahem..

Easy access to different sports would be a more accurate statement. My little 'un has tried hockey, skating, baseball and skiing since we got here. It's not that he couldn't have done those in the UK, just that it was a lot easier here. Conversely, he's had to give up cricket which, from my point of view at least, is no great loss.

Not everyone is as honest as you.

We live in a smaller house than the one we had in the UK; not by much, maybe 10 sq ft.

We keep asking ourselves whether we want a bigger one - I guess we don't.

Having said that, now the two youngest are on the cusp of owing their own horses, we may have to look at doing what you did. It would also be nice to design and build a dwelling that was exactly what we want. Can't see that we would need one bigger than 3000 sq ft. Time will tell

I didn't come for a bigger house because in the UK I rented.

One of the main opportunities you get in Canada is an opportunity for a better life than you had before you came here and you can't do that sitting on your backside wondering what if? The problem with the UK is that because there are no opportunities, people want you to not achieve anything that opportunities can provide. It's very negative and unsupportive and they just want to put you down every minute of the day until you get down. Moving to Canada shows them that you're not going to sit around and be lazy because if you do that they win. There's an old saying back in history that’s 'carpe diem' which means seize the day, so stop wishing for life to be better and start doing something about it. Not that the UK government wants you to do anything more than be on the dole and drink beer all day long. Its sad really, that's why people come to Canada, for opportunities to do things that people wouldn't let in back before they came to Canada. It all started with New Labour and Tony Blair.

OK - I accept the challenge.

(1) More opportunities for more people.

OK housing has been mentioned but that needs further clarification. Not everyone will be able to afford a larger home but most people will be able to afford some kind of home somewhere. Many people in the UK, particularly of the OP's generation, cannot afford to buy a home anywhere. Home ownership tends to rank fairly highly on most people's wish lists. Car ownership (again important to many people with the freedom it can bring) is more affordable here too.

How many people here do you know with cabins, trailers, ATVs snowmobiles, boats etc? How many do you know who have these things in the UK? Are they important? To a lot of people "yes" would seem to be the answer. It's not just the material possessions but the lifestyle which accompanies these things - something sought by many immigrants - which is accessible to a good proportion of the population.

(2) Sports for kids.

That one is easy. I live in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere and my children have had swimming, skiing , hockey/ figure skating, gymnastics and soccer in the last 6 months or so - all for next to nothing and that is outside school sports. When they are older, there will be even more opportunities for them. As a straight comparison I grew up in a small town in rural Ireland and had a choice of rugby or, let me see .... rugby. Every town, village or suburb in Canada appears to have similar opportunities as sports for children seem to be more highly valued.

(3) Do you think Yahk, Likely, or 100 mile house would offer a "better" life than Glasgow? If so, why?

Absolutely. I have visited a number of towns in rural BC, including 100 mile, (and have friends in several) - none is well off but all can afford, with one working parent, their own homes and vehicles and a great life for their kids.

Oh - and a couple more little examples of opportunities.

Since coming here I have had the opportunity to boat, quad and skidoo. I have cut down trees, built a cabin and hunted. I can ski almost from my door and catch fish the length of my arm almost at will.

Yes, I live rurally but these and similar activities are accessible to far more Canadians (no matter where they live) than they are to people in the UK. For better and worse there is still more of a Wild West mentality in much of Canada, which allows more opportunities to more people.

Even in more city type places you can buy boats and skis plus, because you can get better stuff here you won't get cold because in Canada they make better hats. There's alot more freedom to buy all the stuff you've wanted but couldn't get because you lived in some town in the UK where people would laugh at you if you wanted to buy better things.

I don't think this holds. I fancy that cutting down the trees in High Park to build a cabin would be frowned upon by the Parks and Rec department, they don't even like people playing ball games in the park. You describe a rural lifestyle but most people in Canada live in cities, to them it's not more accessible than it would be in Kilburn (granted most are likely glad about that).