Hi! My husband and I originally were interested in moving to Canada a few years ago, we put everything on hold at time, and are now wanting to look to it again. I know there is so much to look at (did most of it before) but am prepared for the hard work yet again! Lol

I am not even sure it will be possible to be honest.. There are 8 of us! Eeeek! 6 children (13,11,8,6,4,2) is it possible with so many children? Lol
Husband has many skills... Truck driver, mechanic (cars and trucks) and welding, so there's a few job avenues he could look at. I do not work (obviously as having many children over years) we have savings and are prepared to add to this regularly. So much to think about and take in! Has anyone done this move with lots of children? Best place to start? Oooooo helllllp! Lol

Thanks for reading, not expecting help really... The help part was a joke! Hopefully will be able to give more news eventually, just thought I'd say hi! :-)

"Hi", and welcome to BE.

Lots of kids doesnt really factor into immigrations decison making, other than needing more money when you land, and for fees and airfairs etc.

(and after you land too for all the kid activites, college funds etcetcetc)

Best place to start as ever is the wiki...
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:Canada

Good luck

Hello and welcome to the forum. While I usually stress caution I think in your case, Canada with its big houses and open spaces might be perfect for you and your family. If your husband is any good at those skills, especially mechanics and welding, he'll should be able to find all work he wants. I can't really advise you on the paperwork though as I'm in a rather unique situation.

WOW, respect for even considering a move like this with such a big family! lol.

Have you been over with the family for a visit yet? How do the kids all feel about it, or are you just going to announce it one day at dinner.... "family, we are moving to Canada" lol.

We have a 13 year old and an 11 year old. The teen is grumpy, the younger is excited at the idea. You could have a small war on your hands

Very interested to see how you get on with this.

Dave.

Thanks everyone! I think we will be looking into a holiday there first... We did think about it a few years ago so the older couple of kids remember and are really excited about the possibility... My oldest two are both girls and they came with us to some Opportunites Canada expo things we went to at time, and my youngest 4 (boys) all seem excited at the mention of it... So the talks so far have been very positive with them! I am being realistic and thinking if it does happen it will be a couple of years yet, I am aware it takes lots of planning etc! Lol there's lots to consider isn't there? Hard not to get overwhelmed! I need a list of everything in one place to go down and research everything haha! Thanks for the wiki link Iain! and where on earth do you start at choosing where to move to in Canada? Lol best place for jobs? Cheapest places for housing? Arrrrghhh! Lol
I will be happy as long as I can enter competitions in Canada... Its my one and only hobby... I could imagine not doing it anymore! (obviously I am sure it will take more than that to have a happy life, I am only jesting!)
Here's to the long haul ahead!

"A happily employed immigrant is a happy immigrant"


I would say where you can find a job for starters, and then looks at housing costs.

Places with cheap housing are often like that for a reason. Thats not to say that places with expensive housing are always worth it either.

Climate might be a factor in location too, not everyone has what it takes to hack a real winter

I'm sorry... I asked really stupid questions there didn't I? Lol I don't want to live in a zone of cardboard boxes or anything, ha! Just affordable and know we won't be in the realms of luxury or anything, and weather, well I am not a fan of the heat, I like cold :-) I just didn't know if there were certain places that were really high house prices compared to other (nice) places! Lol I bet it will be hard to find a 4+ bed house to rent... It is here in uk anyway! big houses seem to be knocked down nowadays to make a million little ones!

As I've said before there's no virtue in being cold. It just means you can't afford to live somewhere nice.

Are cold places not nice places then?? Lol

Its a matter of heated debate. Those that pay the premium to live in Vancouver would argue its money well spent, the rest of us talk up the virtues of skating in our back yards

There are still large families over here, I know one family with 8 at last count (probably more now), and another with 6. Maybe its more of a rural thing though... Certainly cheaper to buy a large house away from the major metro areas I suspect. For a trucker thats not the worst thing I expect.

Thanks! I will keep that in mind! Lol I must say I don't fancy a massive busy city really anyway, and I reckon I could get to enjoy skating in my back yard....... if I get shocked by house prices, I suppose I could get a smaller 1/2 bed house and erect in the yard,a shed to shove the kids in!!!

I've a 5 bed property you can rent if you don't mind living at a ski resort. A holding deposit will secure it.

The skating is fun. The endless snow shoveling and flooding in temperatures that make plastic hose fitting snap like twigs is less fun... been there, done that, now we head to the arena!

Mind? Why would anybody mind...

Umm, it can get bloody hot in lots of bits of Canada. Much hotter than most of the UK.
Heat didn't actually cross my mind either before I moved to Canada. Just when we arrived in New Brunswick in June and it was 38c plus humidex on the deck!