Hi,

My finance and I travelled around Canada for a year in 2006 and we really loved it. We are thinking about moving there (80% sure that we will) but can't decide where in Canada to move to.

I really like Vancouver for the beaches, parks, and close proximity to Vancouver island and the rockies. We also love the Yukon and I know it isn't very close to Vancouver but it's close enough for a holiday. The only problem is we only visited BC in the summer time and we haven't experienced the winter. One of my reasons for moving from the UK is the weather. I hate how it is so depressing and grey and the summers aren't much better! I know it rains a hell of lot in Vancouver but is it as depressing as the UK? Are the summers pretty much guaranteed to be warm and sunny? I think I can handle rain if I know a good summer is on it's way.

My finance likes the idea of living in Ottawa. He loves the snow and he likes the idea of living near to a French speaking place. We also really loved ice- skating on the river. For me though there isn't enough there to make me feel excited, but I haven't been there in the summer so it might be different then.

We haven't looked at jobs or anything yet, but I'm a teacher and my other half is an IT contractor so as long as there is a bit of business around we can live anywhere. We would like to live somewhere that is outdoorsy.

Thanks for your help.

Hi Emma and welcome to the forum.

I would say that the first thing you need to do is look at jobs - it is likely that you would need to get one first to be able to get a visa for Canada, so you really need to think about that first and then just go wherever you can find work! No point worrying about where to live just yet I'm afraid.

Have a read of this for more info..................http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Quick_...an_Immigration

This is also essential reading and will explain how to aim for an area where your skills are in demand...............http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Labour_Shortages

And this Wiki article on teaching may also be helpful....................http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Teaching_in_Canada

Best of luck.

Van does have a great summer but the winters are long and very very wet... much wetter than London, where i grew up. Its even wetter than here in Ireland! My mates used to say it would feel as cold in Vancouver, cos it was damp, as a sub zero day in Calgary where it would probably be very sunny. Still, when you're sitting on Jericho in summer and its a lovely 26c you wont care about winter.

i have to agree with the last post.
the year i was there it rained alot over winter. (it broke records that year)
i was landscaping at the time and my rule of thumb was if it was raining when i got up in the morning it would be raining by the time i got home from work!!
it rained there a hell of a lot more than here in ireland or i imagine england as well but it was a light drizzle all day rather that scattered showers.

but the summer came round quickly and before you knew it you could hit the beach every day after work and bbq every night. the winter was soon a distant memory!!

remember in winter in vancouver you are only 30 mins to the local mountains or 90 mins from whistler so you can always trade the rain for the snow!!

Same here. 1998... it didnt stop for 80 odd days. Grouse broke the record for snow i seem to remember. Mind you, i used to love going to bed with it hammering off the roof.

Ottawa and Vancouver are very different places. Both have upsides and downsides.

I do not like Vancouver as a city, although I've only been there twice. It does have easy access to the ocean and to scenery (where there are things that will kill you). It doesn't really get cold but it does rain like f**k, particularly in winter. Last year's total of 900mm was well below average. It doesn't snow much, either. The 108cm recorded last year was exceptional and will be talked about for years to come. Houses are very expensive, much more expensive than in Ottawa, although income tax is slightly lower.

Ottawa and its evil twin are nowhere near the ocean or wilderness. You are, however, minutes from Gatineau Park, which is very outdoorsy. There are hiking trails, campgrounds and pretty lakes with beaches. This is a great place to be a cyclist. There at least three ski resorts within 30 mins drive (admittedly rather tame ones) and the ski resorts in the Laurentides are less than two hours away. You can be in Montreal in two hours and Toronto in about five. It rains here more than you might imagine (715mm last year) but that rainfall is concentrated in the summer months and tends to fall in short and very violent thunderstorms. We don't really get the damp, grey, drizzly shit you know and love in the UK.

Winter in Ottawa is damn cold and it snows a lot, for months. The average snowfall is more than double Vancouver's 2008 record and it stays on the ground. Last winter the snow bank in my front yard was higher than my hedge. I have to climb a ladder to trim the top of that hedge. On the other hand, clear blue skies and blinding sunshine are the norm.

Summer in Ottawa is also longer than you might expect. I anticipate being in shorts and barefoot from early May until late September. It gets hot and very humid, particularly in July. The humidex ("feels like") can hit the low 40s. You do need air conditioning here.

A parculiarity of the huge temperature range here is that when it gets above zero and the sun is out, you are guaranteed to see someone in shorts.

I will admit that Ottawa isn't excitement-central but it is very nice in summer. You should perhaps consider coming here for a look at what it's like when it isn't covered in snow.

Both so different.

If the likelyhood of finding a decent job in either one or the other isnt a deciding factor, then you really need to visit them again. Recci mode is a bit different to vacationing.

Thank you all for your replies! I didn't expect that many, it's great this website.

I didn't plan on getting a job before I set off to Canada. I know that sounds strange but having a working holiday visa in Canada has shown us that we can live cheaply (in hostels if necessary) and find a job within 5 weeks. We did it in Toronto, and my boyfriend got a good job too not a backpacker bar work type of job. We are in Australia at the moment and we have both got good jobs here too within about 6 weeks. We were planning on saving heaps of money before we leave the UK and then using it to survive until we get a job. We don't own our own house or anything (we have always rented, so no furniture either)so we don't have any money hassles that way.

To be honest I haven't read enough about it yet so I won't bore you with asking loads of questions, we need to read it for ourselves and find out that we probably need to find a job before they will even except us! I know we have enough points to get in and thats about all we have looked at so far.

We are enjoying the Aussie sun at the moment, moving to Canada is just in the discussion phase. The Vancouver vs Ottawa comes up a lot and I wanted to ask someone else's opinion.

I did look at Ottawa on the web last night and I got excited that it does have beach and other outdoor things so I'm being swayed a bit. We visited the Laurentians when we were there and thought it was beautiful so that is also a plus point. Anyway I'm waffling now.

Thanks again for your replies.

Emma

Emma, you really need to read the Wiki and understand a bit more about it!

Unfortunately, having a Bunac visa makes things very easy but if you want to move out there permanently, it's not that easy.

Having enough points is no longer enough to be considered a Skilled Worker, you now also need either a job offer approved by HRSDC, or to be in a job on the list of 38 occupations in demand.

And you may well find a job easily if you go out there (although in the current recession in Canada, that can prove very tricky too), but you'd then have to wait until your employer got something called a LMO which is basically proof that they have advertised the job across Canada and been unable to find a Canadian to do it. The LMO can take several months to come through, and only once you've got that can you apply for your Temp Work Permit (which you can then try and upgrade to PR once there working on it).

But get reading the Wiki and hopefully you'll understand a bit more what you'll have to go through.

Best of luck.

Hello again

I've just read the wiki and now know it isn't very easy to get in.
Thank you for all the links and info I will do lots of research and see what happens. It's good to know that it could take years to get residency so we will apply as soon as possible, and get the ball rolling. What will be will be.

I wouldn't say that the 'beach' in Ottawa is a major attraction...there are a couple on either side of the Ottawa River, and there are some beaches in the Gatineau Park (Lac Meach comes to mind). In terms of outdoors activities, Gatineau Park has loads of hiking, biking, cross country skiing trails and 'off the grid' camping areas. The Adirondacks and Laurentians are 2-3 hour drive away.

Good luck in your search.

I like that description of the 'dark side'. Maybe signs welcoming you to Gatineau once you cross over from Ottawa could say.

Welcome/Bienvenue to/a Gatineau...Ottawa's dark side and home of the $21 case of beer.

Isn't the cost of living in Vancouver much higher than in Ottawa?

I wouldn't say that getting into Canada as a skilled worker etc, is anymore difficult then other places i.e. Australia. Difference is that the wheels of bureaucracy here turn at a snails pace.

Vancouver is beautiful, but I have found it vastly different living here, than just visiting. Depends on the industry you are in, but the quality & breadth of jobs available isn't great IMO. Salaries are poor too for the cost of living. For anyone moving to Canada, I would say a) research your job market b) get a job lined up !!

Good luck.

You are aware that the whole Skilled Worker system was overhauled last year? Now it's no longer just based on points (as I believe it is in Oz), but you also have to be either in a job on a list of only 38 occupations, or to have a job offer approved by HRSDC, to qualify.

So much, much harder than it was previously, and from what I can gather, much harder to get in to than Oz now. But, on the plus side, it's much quicker - a SW visa only takes 6-12 months.