Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hi,

My husband and I, like many people in the UK are becoming increasingly disillusioned with living in this country. We have started to look at Canada and I have been investigating the different areas.

I was hoping for some advice on where would be good to move. I will try to give you as much info as possible on what we are looking for. :D

We currently live just outside London, our town has around 300,000 population. We like the area we live in, we can walk to pubs, restaurants and shops. We don't currently have children, but are hoping to start a family soon, so good schools etc. We would like to move somewhere with relatively good transport links.

I also have a dog and would like a house with a garden and some dog walking areas nearby, again preferably walking distance, although I don't mind driving too far.

We like going out and socialising, walking the dog and also a relatively quiet neighbourhood. We were looking at cities in Ontario, as for some reason my husband doesn't want to live on the East coast, but if general opnion is for the East, I'm sure I could persuade him! :D

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Katchoo

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hi there!

Like many, my first post was very vague and open, and I recieved replies asking to at least narrow down to areas, and also you need to divulge what type of jobs you guys are looking for, as there seems to be vastly different employment opportunities in each Province.

I would read the articles in the Wiki, there is one there for newbies, on how to get the most out of the forum.

Where do you live now?

Also - just like all countries, Canada is not free from it's own issues and problems...!

The weather may also be a real deciding factor on where you live. It was for me :-)

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hi and good luck - its a very useful site :)

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hi,

Thanks for that, as I said I live near London, so I'm used to being able to pop in to town.

I have had varied jobs and am not looking for anything specific, my husband is in IT.

Hope this narrows it down.

:thumbsup:

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

I guess the best thing to do is start looking online and narrowing down the list of potential places. Then the next step is take advantage of the reasonably cheap flights in the summer and go on a week or fortnight's recce visit, because I guess you wont really know until you come over. I didnt come over, but my OH has a limited job and when he got offered his current job, we had no choice and were really happy to come regardless. We love halifax and Nova Scotia, but you need to find what meets your criteria and there will be many places that offer what you have asked for, but you need to get a feel for the individual places and where you best fit.

Good Luck!

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Thanks, I was thinking about London. I have just been reading some articles on people who have moved to Canada and I have to say the postive comments are far smaller than the negative ones. Is there anyone out there with good stories of settling in, cost of living, getting to know people etc :unsure:

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hi Katchoo,

I do not think that you comprehend the scale of what you are asking. I think that the UK fits into Canada about 41 times! You can drive the uk from top to bottom in about 14-16 hours. I can drive in Ontario for 18 and not even leave the Province. Because you are close to London, you might want to investigate the major centers in Canada and living on the periphery of a large city here.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

We were governed by the job offers, but all I can say is do as much research as you can, and as many trips over as you can afford. At the end of the day when you close your front door, it doesnt really matter where you are so long as you have the people that matter with you.
:)

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Stay where you are then and stop reading the papers.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Thank you, for your advice, but it my move has nothing to do with the newspapers.

I no longer wish to live in a country that started an illegal war, that is happy to do business and sport activities with countries that have no human rights and that bases it's political opinion on the latest media headline (plastic bags, drinking, immigration etc) and not listening to its constituents. A country that offers me no political variation between it's main parties.

A media that perpetuates the fear in the common masses by running stories on child snatchings for at least 6 months and barely suppressed racism, which results in a country with an atmosphere that is not pleasant to live in.

I could go on about my reasons for leaving, but please don't assume it is because of what I read in the newspapers!

Therefore I am exploring the options available to me and was hoping for some advice on where my husband and I could settle, if we decide to move to Canada.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Sounds just like Canada (swap drive by shootings for child abductions), only all our troops were in Afghanistan so we couldnt send any to Iraq. I guess the US is out too, and Im pretty sure Australia was broadly supportive of the "war on terrorism" and does business with China, so that leave NZ of the english speaking nations, and they were only not involved because they have even less of a military than canada, even they probably deal with China..

Working in IT in Canada basically means living in / near Toronto, so you are talking about swaping one expensive suburban commuterville for another, only this one has 4 months of serious winter when you will still have to walk the dog.

You yourself said you like where you live, so stay there and learn to live with the negatives (or do something to change them). It sure beats moving 3500 miles (or more) to somewhere you might like, or might not, and having all the same politico economic problems, but no family or friends or a decent pub to go to to bitch about them.

Im serious, just stay there. and I like Canada believe it or not.


And if you look at your list of greivances, 80% of them seem to be media driven to me??? Im afraid there is no escaping crap politicians or chinese goods no matter where you go.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Thanks, I must admit the articles I've been reading haven't been that positive. So already considering staying put. Not sure I'm going to find an alternative anywhere in the world anyway!! :D

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Iain is giving you good advice, have a read of the Moving Back to the UK forum as well as part of your research.

In the end, you have to narrow it down to where you can get a job (as you won't be getting to Canada this decade without a job) and then visit the areas near to that job.

Or visit the areas 1st and get a job, nowhere in Canada was like what I expected! It's really horses for individual courses....

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Thanks, we are going to go to the London Job Expo and see what's available. Did you stay then or are you still there? What did/do you like/dislike about it?

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hi, not sure what your OH means, Ontario is on the east side of Canada, not on coast but close.

I am currently in skilled worker process and am headed for Nova Scotia (on the east coast) but if you are definitely interested in Ontario I would recommend a small town called Niagara-on-the-lake, just outside the falls themselves, other than that your best bet would be Victoria on Vancouver Island in BC, as this is a really nice town too.

I have done a lot of travelling around Canada on tours etc and there are a lot of lovely places to choose from, if you can i recommend a recce (research trip) as this may help you decide where to be.

Hope this helps

Emmjay

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Lived on the North Shore http://www.foxharbr.com/ of Nova Scotia for nearly 3 years now. We like all of Nova Scotia, it is full of contrasts and something for everyone. http://www.novascotialife.com/ So even in a smaller province like this, choosing a location can be difficult.
A trip to the areas of Canada you may be interested in is highly recommended.
Nova Scotia sells itself. 6.30pm sunshining, cloudless sky and 8 degrees. Most of the snow gone, just big chunks of ice floating on a blue ocean outside my window.

We gained residency on the NSNP Community Identified Stream http://www.novascotiaimmigration.com/en-page1095.aspx.
It took 8 months from nomination. Living our dream!

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hi. I lived in Michigan, just over the border from Ontario. I loved going into Canada for my british goodies, and loved going with my friend to Stratford, ON for the Shakespeare festival, but after 7 long winters I am so glad I don't live there now. The winter's can be brutal...you have no idea until you've been there. Last January, for example , we were in Toronto (renewing our visas :curse:) and it was so cold we couldn't go outside to walk around. The kids had school cancelled due to the cold...and this happens every year from October through March....don't want to be a pessimist, and my kids loved the snow..but I really began to hate the winter.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hey Lisa67..also from Northants..and spent sometime in TX..Corsicanna to be precise. Moving to Red Deer AB in six weeks. The winters are brutal but you know what? I can tolerate the Canadian winters far more than Texan Summers :eek: I guess we all like different things..oh and the nasty bugs in Texas....:blink:

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

I think everyone wants to keep Canada to themselves lol :eek: It's a great place...just check out each province and see what suits you..check out the weather, job availability etc

Good Luck

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Rhodeys...must confess that this will be our first summer in Texas so I might be running back to MI by the end of it...though plan to spend a month in MI visiting friends anyway. MI is glorious in the summer.
Where in Northants ? We lived in Northampton for 12 years.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Hi Lisa

I have heard MI is lovely in Summer, I used to have a friend who lived in the Flint area. I hope you have a coolish summer in TX :ohmy: I have seen some spectacular thunderstorms there! I live in Nottinghamshire now but lived in Northants for around 30 years, I trained at Northampton General Hospital and worked there for 14 years.....Good Grief, where does time go :blink: I lived in Daventry and Welton Hurst.....we moved here last year I can't stand it here, I'm really looking forward to Red Deer. Enjoy your trip back to MI and as for TX keep away from those Fire Ants! They have a real bite on them ;)

Kind Regards Julie

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

I am constantly amazed when I see this sort of quote. This ranks with the other quote "there is no work in NB".

All provinces have IT shortages and you do not have to choose a major city. I didn't and I have happily made a career here in NB in the thriving IT sector. Halifax NS has a large IT sector and I'll bet you could go to any of the provinces and find IT skill shortages.

Choose where you want to be then focus all your efforts on finding out what sort of work is available and what type of skills/certifications/experience is needed and GO FOR IT (no pun intended).:thumbsup:

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

You won't be running back. Summers in TX are hot all right, but the landscape is amazing. You have to get that "Green is good" thing out of your mind, that all Brits seem to be ruled by (I'm presuming you're a Brit), but when you do you'll love it. Same thing with Aus. I'm with you on the winters - no way could I grow old in all that. I'd rather be sat on my verandah waiting for the day to cool down before I can go on my walk.

To the OP:

Don't be too put off by some of the posts. I thikn Iaink was right to point out that you said you liked where you live, but that doesn't mean to say you won't like where you move to as well. Life is for living, after all.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

do you ever get bored of trolling the Canada board trying to disuade others from coming to Canada, because you have had the odd week here? If you love Australia so much, then why the little forays back to this board?

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

I know several people in Fredericton who are in their seventies and still go skating, snow shoeing and cross country skiing in the winters. I even know of a guy who still goes down hill skiing at 72.

There is a weird notion that because you are old, the winters are off limits and a time to be confined indoors. Admittedly this winter with all its snow hase been challenging but try tell that to these old folks. Our neighbours (both in their late seventies) have been raving about the snow shoeing and cross country skiing they have been able to fit in this year! All I can say is I hope that is me when I am their age!:thumbsup:

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

THAT is the attitude! Good on yer :thumbsup:

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

I even know someone who retired to NFLD, but then they did that after working in Ontario for a long time, which has much colder winters. I would agree it doesn't keep everyone down, although I think such weather is easier to deal with if you're raised with it. A Canadian colleague of mine has vowed never to return to Manitoba because he never wants to experience -40 again.

Poppy2

I have an interest in Canada, family there, friends and colleagues there. What's more my posts are objective and as balanced as the facts will allow. Furthermore I will post wherever I please, in whichever folder or forum I please, without people like you policing the boards strutting about telling people where they can post. I appreciate my post to you told it straight and you didn't like that much, but that's no reason to stalk me around the forums and insult me to third parties. Please be so kind to refrain from this in future, and respect me in the same way I respect you.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

I suppose some people look for different things, personally complaining about the weather situation for one or two weeks out of the whole year whether it - or + 40c is something you either deal with or leave.

Everywhere generally has some pains with the local weather. Even if it is boring monotony of the same summer season all year long:D. Personally I love the different seasons, and I take the rough with the smooth as part of the deal of living here.:D

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

You have to read these boards with a pinch of salt. Posters range from those who:

a) can't stand Canada, wished they had never moved here and can't wait to get back to their friends and family and everything that is familiar.

b) are happily settled here and for whom Canada has lived up to all its promises.

Most are somewhere in between. Although Canada and the UK are superficially very similar they can be very different. Many posters want to vent their frustrations and what better place than amongst other Brits who may share, and at least will understand, them.

Judy wrote an excellent wiki article about adjusting to the different way of life. It should be required reading for anyone thinking of emigrating to Canada.

I think many of the posters on this forum who live in Canada are still in the "norming" phase of their process. As they become settled and happy in their new life they stop posting as much.

I am very much in the b) camp.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Can someone please tell me when the london expo is and where?

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

You have an interest in the negative aspects of living here and I have never really seen you post anything other than this. You are living in a fantasy if you think I am stalking you around the boards......I stick to where I am interested in living and actually do so - the Canada board. Dont tell me which thread to reply to or how I may address you in that thread. It was a simple statement of what I see as fact - its a public forum , so deal with it! And why do you justify your opinions by offering up friends, family and colleagues who somehow add credibility to what is YOUR opinion. They arent here, do you need to voice their opinions? And if they still live here, those that do.......cant be all bad right?

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

hmm - no response yet . . .bit quiet this one!!

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Do Brits say can of beer? (Serious question...I don't think such things existed when I left).

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

gottle of geer??
yes still have cans of beer ? dont we ?? I think !

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

gottles for sure. But beer in cans? Maybe I'm just going gaga but I don't remember them from the 70's.

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

YUp - lager and bitter in cans and guiness etc . . .

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Nowadays, of course. But when did they first appear in the UK?

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

Re: Thinking of moving to Canada
 

oh doh!! right - um def when I was at uni - late 1980's