Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Nov 6th 2019, 1:03 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 8
Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Hi all, my family and I are less than 2 weeks away from moving to Edmonton, AB 😬
Is there anything you wish you’d known then (ie, anything you’d have brought with you, things you’d have done differently after arriving etc)?
New to BE so will have a read of the posts and advice etc.
Thanks in advance!
Is there anything you wish you’d known then (ie, anything you’d have brought with you, things you’d have done differently after arriving etc)?
New to BE so will have a read of the posts and advice etc.
Thanks in advance!
Nov 6th 2019, 1:58 am
#2
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 10,612
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
I wish I'd packed my kitchen utensils and loads of oxo cubes.
Nov 6th 2019, 3:22 am
#3
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Location: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Posts: 3,232
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Don't bring your mother in law
Nov 6th 2019, 3:39 am
#4
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Hi, welcome to BE!
There's lots of good info in our wiki so please make a drink and settle down for some reading
https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...gistics-Canada and https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ..._Topics-Canada
Have you got Permanent Residence or coming on a Temporary Work Permit? Have you prepared your "Goods to Follow" and "Goods Accompanying" lists? You will need them if you want to import any of your personal possessions without paying duty/taxes.
Mattress's are a different size in Canada (see the wiki) so be prepared to have to buy new sheets etc., - if you are bringing some with you they may not fit. There are numerous $ stores to buy basics to get you through the early weeks / months - cheap cups / cutlery / crockery / tea towels / kitchen utensils etc. Walmart and Canadian Tire are good for household small appliances like kettles, toasters, coffee maker - and Walmart is ok for bedding too.. Ikea have similar size bedding to the UK if you need it.
Don't buy anywhere to live until you have lived in the area for at least 6 months - what seems like a good idea when you first arrive could be an area you hate a few months later!
If you use 'mixed herbs' bring a few packets of refills with you - the nearest thing to them you will find here is an 'Italian blend' which just isn't the same.
There's lots of good info in our wiki so please make a drink and settle down for some reading
https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...gistics-Canada and https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ..._Topics-CanadaHave you got Permanent Residence or coming on a Temporary Work Permit? Have you prepared your "Goods to Follow" and "Goods Accompanying" lists? You will need them if you want to import any of your personal possessions without paying duty/taxes.
Mattress's are a different size in Canada (see the wiki) so be prepared to have to buy new sheets etc., - if you are bringing some with you they may not fit. There are numerous $ stores to buy basics to get you through the early weeks / months - cheap cups / cutlery / crockery / tea towels / kitchen utensils etc. Walmart and Canadian Tire are good for household small appliances like kettles, toasters, coffee maker - and Walmart is ok for bedding too.. Ikea have similar size bedding to the UK if you need it.
Don't buy anywhere to live until you have lived in the area for at least 6 months - what seems like a good idea when you first arrive could be an area you hate a few months later!
If you use 'mixed herbs' bring a few packets of refills with you - the nearest thing to them you will find here is an 'Italian blend' which just isn't the same.
Last edited by Siouxie; Nov 6th 2019 at 3:43 am.
Nov 6th 2019, 4:06 am
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
I use Fine Herbs here .......... how do they match with mixed herbs???
Nov 6th 2019, 4:09 am
#6
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Location: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Posts: 3,232
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Hi, welcome to BE!
There's lots of good info in our wiki so please make a drink and settle down for some reading https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...gistics-Canada and https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ..._Topics-Canada
Have you got Permanent Residence or coming on a Temporary Work Permit? Have you prepared your "Goods to Follow" and "Goods Accompanying" lists? You will need them if you want to import any of your personal possessions without paying duty/taxes.
Mattress's are a different size in Canada (see the wiki) so be prepared to have to buy new sheets etc., - if you are bringing some with you they may not fit. There are numerous $ stores to buy basics to get you through the early weeks / months - cheap cups / cutlery / crockery / tea towels / kitchen utensils etc. Walmart and Canadian Tire are good for household small appliances like kettles, toasters, coffee maker - and Walmart is ok for bedding too.. Ikea have similar size bedding to the UK if you need it.
Don't buy anywhere to live until you have lived in the area for at least 6 months - what seems like a good idea when you first arrive could be an area you hate a few months later!
If you use 'mixed herbs' bring a few packets of refills with you - the nearest thing to them you will find here is an 'Italian blend' which just isn't the same.
There's lots of good info in our wiki so please make a drink and settle down for some reading
https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...gistics-Canada and https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ..._Topics-CanadaHave you got Permanent Residence or coming on a Temporary Work Permit? Have you prepared your "Goods to Follow" and "Goods Accompanying" lists? You will need them if you want to import any of your personal possessions without paying duty/taxes.
Mattress's are a different size in Canada (see the wiki) so be prepared to have to buy new sheets etc., - if you are bringing some with you they may not fit. There are numerous $ stores to buy basics to get you through the early weeks / months - cheap cups / cutlery / crockery / tea towels / kitchen utensils etc. Walmart and Canadian Tire are good for household small appliances like kettles, toasters, coffee maker - and Walmart is ok for bedding too.. Ikea have similar size bedding to the UK if you need it.
Don't buy anywhere to live until you have lived in the area for at least 6 months - what seems like a good idea when you first arrive could be an area you hate a few months later!
If you use 'mixed herbs' bring a few packets of refills with you - the nearest thing to them you will find here is an 'Italian blend' which just isn't the same.
Nov 6th 2019, 12:01 pm
#7
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Don't close your UK bank account. Keep a UK credit card.
Nov 6th 2019, 1:55 pm
#8
Every day's a school day
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Was Calgary back in Edmonton again !!
Posts: 2,667
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
life is no better or worse than it was in the UK..just colder 
Nov 6th 2019, 2:01 pm
#9
Tea Drinker
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Posts: 5,387
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
I wish I knew that Kamloops got so hot in the summer. No one told me if stays in the 30's for all of July & August.
Nov 6th 2019, 3:21 pm
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Near the Northern Lights
Posts: 1,466
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
I wish I had known how expensive everything is in Canada.
Nov 6th 2019, 3:59 pm
#12
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,769
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Colman's Casserole mixes
Chip shop curry mix
Chip shop curry mix
Nov 6th 2019, 7:09 pm
#13
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Me too. I had come to visit a few times before I moved here, but I guess as a visitor I didn't need to do the typical day to day stuff so didn't fully realize how costly things can be. There are some exceptions though, healthcare is far cheaper as is electricity compared to my home country/state.
I knew coastal BC was known for rain, but I wish I had known just how much rain this place can get, my first winter here was harsh, December that year was basically all rain and nothing but rain, I did not do well those first couple of winters.
I knew coastal BC was known for rain, but I wish I had known just how much rain this place can get, my first winter here was harsh, December that year was basically all rain and nothing but rain, I did not do well those first couple of winters.
Nov 6th 2019, 10:23 pm
#15
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Location: Langley, BC
Posts: 1,954
Re: Is there anything you wish you’d known before moving to Canada?
Similar thread from a few months ago - Things you wish you could’ve done differently