Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Hi all.
I have been becoming increasingly motivated to move to Canada.
I have read various websites about the visas and job lists, however I am looking for some advice from those of you who have taken the plunge (so to speak).
What are the nicest areas to live and bring up children (I have 4)
What are the first steps I should take to move forward with my dream?
What are the best methods for lookng for work?
Can anyone suggest reputable employers for a Project Engineer/Manager?

I know some of the answers will be subjective to those replying but I am looking to garner as much info as possible from as many sources as possible so all your advice is greatly recieved.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Well Canada is such a huge place and you really need to narrow down to where you want to live. Have you even been to Canada? What sort of life do you want from living in Canada?

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

I was thinking of the eastern side, close to the US border, maybe the Toronto/Quebec/Ottawa areas.
I would ideally like a good education for my kids, close to a variety of attractions/activities.
Hope this helps

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Spend a LOT of time reading the Wiki above. It's a good read and very informative. Then use the search tool for key words and see how many other posts are already there which will have relevant and useful info for you.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Hey Kev, welcome to the forum.

You are at the start of a very long road :D

We have been going through this for two years, and will be getting on a plane to Toronto in three weeks to start our new lifes.

Everyone's circumstances are different, but the one thing that is always a major factor, is EMPLOYMENT. They say money is the route of all evil, but I say to hell with that, it's the route of all happiness, lol.

So I'm saying, that should be your first line of research. Which field, average earnings, training required etc.

If you're determined, then you'll find a way. There's plenty of folk on here who have made the move through all sorts of routes, and they will be happy to help once you've narrowed down your options.

Happy Friday!

Dave.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Good post, the part I highlighted is especially true.....

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Hi,
I hope you are reading the wiki (with tea and cake of course)
What line of work are you in?
You will find some tongue in cheek replies, some sarcasm but also some help here

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

ROOT of all evil, not route.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Novocation is still around you know, you could have waited.

Good luck OP, like its has been said, read the wiki, and then read again.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

A few home truths
Education isn’t better here, to some it’s broader more encompassing, to others its lacks academic focus
The place lack’s sophistication, style and many things you take for granted in Europe, it’s like a step back in time, some people like this
Even though it’s a massive country the vast majority live in cities with higher density than there UK counterparts
On average when it’s all added up I’d suggest cost of living may be slighter higher here, but the odds are you will get a bigger house.
Currently Canada is in a better place economically than Europe.. But if the US screws up we will go down too..
Personal y I don’t think that in the current climate there is enough to justify moving country because you don’t like the one you’re in, that is unless you are moving to a guaranteed Job that pays more (£ to $) and you need to factor in job security, working standards and employment benefits are normally lower here than Europe
PS the winters are long and seriously cold, so unless you’re a mad skiing fan and really already love the outdoors, think long and think hard

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

+1

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Money is not the root of all evil, it's the LOVE of money that's the root of all evil.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Just an observation but why would you remove them from their culture, family and friends and disrupt them from their education to satisfy a dream?

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Why not, stuff the kids and get moving. ;)

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Did you receive your education in Europe and, if so, did it give you academic focus and "sophistication"?

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

I was talking to a grade six teacher the other day who insisted, quite vociferously, that Fiji was in the Caribbean. :blink:

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

The reverse could be said, do not move because the children have friends that when they get to uni, they will not likely see again! Dreams, oh, they are for the children, not us!

Move for you and partner, the kids will adapt and in doing so, may move back home. One life, live it! You can always regret it later, whatever you do!

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Did she pronounce it Ka-ri-be-an or Ka-rib-eon?

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

I can't remember as I was a little more taken aback with the amount of Christian-Muslilns the Principal was telling they have in their school. Its apparently its quite a common subset in Christian and Islamic cultures. When I asked which prophet they favoured if either, she said they mainly came from Iraq.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

You're right, sod them all. :amen:

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Surrey.

UK, not BC

If you have the income to afford it...


Ive only lived in one bit of CAnada. Thats true for the majority of posters here I suspect.

I like it where I am, Ive no concerns raising my kids here, but they miss contact with their grandpa and uncles and cousings, thats the downside to expat life.


The best thing kids can have I think is happy stable parents. Secondary to that is a decent income to provide for them, everything else is down the list.

Dont mistake moving to a different continent as a magic cure to the problems of modern life.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

+1

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

jeebus.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Novocastrian is actually quite committed to his vocation, thus your garbled typing is even less amusing.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

The comment on education comes via my association with teachers (one of which is my Canadian wife)that have taught internationally and included teaching in Europe, Uk, Canadian both east and west and parts of Asia, and adding in a dash of some of the various comments made on this forum

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

:p

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

It seems to me that the order should be reversed. As long as you have lots of money to spend on them it doesn't really matter if you're feckless, adled and miserable.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Sure, the Kardhasians and Hiltons are model families....:unsure:

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

SK or MB.

A nice quiet life in the middle of nowhere, where property prices are still reasonable and work is relativly easy to find.

Everywhere else should fall into the ocean*** ;)

***Sarcasm

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

I don't really know anything about the hotel family but the daughter was funny when she was on television, she has a sucessful export business and lots of nice cars so I suppose she's happy, healthy and rich from her own endeavors, something of a role model, I'd say.

Is Kardhasian that woman who was or is married to the Syrian despot? I don't know that she has children.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Forget focus and sophistication - I`d settle for paragraphs:eek:

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

If you already have a nice lifestyle and a job I personally wouldn't do the move with 4 kids. But if your family loves skiing and you can afford $300 plus a time to go then Canada is the place for you.

Yes you will get a bigger house but will you be able to afford to visit the UK. With a family of six that would be around ($6,500) minimum with Air Transat.

We have lived here for 12 years, my kids are true Canadians but you do need a lot of money for all the sports especially if they get into hockey. My expenditure for two so far this year is around $2,500 but they are goalies and play rep (high league). Soccer is way cheaper!:)

My friends with daughters tell me how expensive ballet is, even more than hockey. But if you get a good job $90,000 plus you will be able to afford this.

Why do you have this dream? What made you think about Canada? Does your wife have the same dream? My husband had the dream and I followed and now he wants to leave!! Be careful for what you wish for.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Since we're being picky...

Root of all KINDS OF evil, not Root of all evil.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

And while we're at it, isn't it "the love of money" that's the evil bit, rather than money per se?...

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

I don't care what it is the 'root of' but if there's a route involved then money would be a route to, or from, but not of.

PS No need to capitalise your second use of root.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Thanks everyone for their replies.

I don't really have a nice lifestyle, I work around 50 hours a week in a relatively well paid job (for the area) but still live hand-to-mouth and cannot afford to do the things we would like. My current profession would make me around the $80-90k mark in Canada.
I have wanted to live and work abroad for many years and considered Australia (too far) or Canada.

Reading everyones responses, it looks like trying to find employment first is the best way to make a start on the trail to emigrating.
Should I start by researching relevant companies in the areas I would like and begin just sending them my Resume?

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

As said above, don't view moving to Canada as a miracle cure. By the time you've spent £25-30k on moving your family over, often taken a step back career wise, and with cost of living roughly the same in Canada, you may find you're no better off financially.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Now you're catching on.

No. Do a trip to those areas and meet people in person. Alternatively, read the wiki.

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

$80,000 to $90,000 would be a good wage in some location but it would be not if you were living around Vancouver area. In Nova Scotia that wage would be probably be very good as the houses are much cheaper.

But if you are looking for a change and an adventure then money should not be the root of all decisions!

Re: Seriously Thinking of Canada
 

Perhaps, but we Canadians are taught grammar in our inferior education system. We know that lacks is not a contraction, so should therefore not contain an apostrophe. We are also taught where a full stop is required. ;)
Not where I'm from they're not.
My daughter's 7th grade teacher (British import here in Australia) kept calling my daughter "the American girl" and insisted that Canada was part of the US when she corrected her. She argued with my daughter that she must be American and hold an American passport. My husband and I had to go to the school to straighten her out.

Ignorant teachers, like ignoramuses in general are found everywhere.