My family and I were granted PR in Aug 2009 after only 8 months (new skilled worker system) and had always planned on settling in Nova Scotia as we had visited the province four times previously.

However, when we finally landed in Canada we made the (what now seems crazy) decision to go to Prince Edward Island even though we had never visited there previously. The main reason at the time was we thought we would get more house for our money.

Well we settled OK initially, buying a house within a week of arriving but now 14 months on I am having serious doubts whether I made the correct decision.

I have at times quite literally yearned for NS, I know that sounds pathetic but as beautiful as PEI is it just does not 'hit the spot' like NS does.

My question is.......... do I sell up and move to NS to search for my 'ideal' or am I just being romanced by what is spinning round in my mind from thoughts of holidays of NS?

My four children (all under 9) have settled well, made many friends and are doing well at school. Would moving them again be the most horrid thing to do?

I would love to hear from anyone who has moved provinces regardless of the reasons for the move.

Thanks in anticipation.

We visited PEI last October as part of our 2nd recce to NS. I have to say that we found it just too quiet!
What is it that draws you to NS though? We feel that there is more going on in NS, particularly Truro which is why we wouldn't consider PEI.
But if everybody is settled there there would have to be some major reasons to make the move I would have thought?
Good luck with your quandry xx

Thanks for your reply.

You are correct PEI is simply too quiet! A youngest that I worked with last year said "PEI is for the newlyweds & nearly deads!". I'm not quite sure I would entirely agree with that statement but you get the idea.

For me it is probably also to do with where we chose to live in PEI. We are situated in the east of the island and I have a 30 minute drive to get groceries, attend recreational facilities etc etc.

With regards to the children being settled yes, it would be quite harsh to up root them again, but then again they were settled and happy in England also!

I don't know...............we made the more to Canada to hopefully give the children would we hoped would be a better life, but whilst many may consider me wanting to move on totally selfish - do my feelings not count too?

Seems a popular sentiment.

I guess it depends why you originally planned on NS and where.

Somewhere like Pictou or New Glasgow is near the ferry back to PEI so you maybe could get the best of both worlds there?

Are you prepared to move to a smaller house? Such things seem important to you.

There are discernible differences between PEI and NS?

This is a wind up, surely?

PEI is an island. Clue's in the name.

Well, from that description, yes but if you're going to be totally miserable if you stay in PEI, then obviously that would negatively impact on the kids too...probably more than the upheaval of another move.

What a sad situation

<sighs>

PEI girl
As a kid I went to 6 primary schools and 2 secondary schools as a result of my father being in the armed forces. we moved around a lot.
Kids are pretty resilient and far more flexible than you think. The main problem is probably your reluctance to admit to yourself that life on PEI hasn't shaped up to expectations.

I would say go with your gut instincts and move you and the kids.

lets face it if you aren't truly happy, the kids will pick up on that.

find your peace in that.

I agree with that, through direct similar experience.

Same here, father in the armed forces.. As a kid I lived in UK, Australia, Germany... so attended number of different schools, and yet I can hardly recollect that it caused any life shattering problems for my brother, sister and I

If you feel it's the right thing to move, then move. Life is not all about the kids. You have your life to lead and enjoy too, so don't beat yourself up about allowing the kids to be the overriding factor driving your decision.

Before/after the move the kids may whine for a bit, but they will make new friend soon enough and the next thing you'll know they'll not want to leave the new area
After all, it's not like they will be swapping to a different country's education system, so they should be able to pick up where they left off, especially if you time the move to happen during school holidays.
You may be doing them a favour in the longer term if they eventually grow up in an area that has more teenage and adult options later on in life.