Can anyone help with some much needed advice! We (husband plus 2 kids aged 3 and 6) are seriously contemplating a move to Victoria or the surrounding areas.

We will both be 41 this year so age not really on our side when it comes to completing the immigration forms! My husband is a carpenter by trade and has his own building company.

How has the recession affected this type of work? Is he likely to be successful in finding employment.

Also could someone give me some for info on the weather and seasons, various websites i have looked at give real mixed reviews. I hear
it can be very wet and grey? Bit like good 'ol blighty then!? i can live with that if the seasons are more defined than UK!

Weather-wise, we didn't have much rain over the winter, some snow, plenty of bright sunshine and the odd grey and miserable day. Past few weeks it's been mostly sunny and warm, up to low 20s. Been pretty impressed with the weather on the whole since we've been here (arrived September), probably on a par with the very south-east of England.
The building trade has taken a hit over here but there still seems to be quite a bit of construction going on, whether they are new projects or just ones that were committed to before the recession I don't know. Most of the residential buildings here (aside from condo blocks) are wood frame so carpenters should always be able to find some work I guess.

Hi Lois, and welcome to the forum.

Do you/your husband already have a visa for Canada? That will probably affect how easily he'd find work as companies are less likely to want to hire him if they've got to go through the LMO process for him, particularly with the recession in Canada and so many Canadians out of work.

Also, I've seen from your other posts that you're also contemplating Oz so thought this Wiki article may be useful.................http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Canada_versus_Australia

Plus the Wiki (on blue bar at top of page) also has lots of other useful info (including about climate in Canada) so it might be worth you grabbing a cuppa and having a read.

Thank you ! Yes we have been contemplating Oz too, though Canada was originally our first choice, then to be honest we wanted an improvement on the UK weather! However, having read many forums it seems that it can be TOO hot in Oz at times!

Have read the Canada V Australia info that you suggested and i do think that we will proceed with our original idea.

have not looked into Visa options at all yet, had just got as far as deciding on State Sponsorship in WA, Oz so will now have to look into our options for Canada if further detail. All seems so overwhelming at first!!

A good place to start is this Wiki article............http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Quick_...an_Immigration

It is probable that you will need a job to get a visa for Canada, so also have a read of this Wiki section paying particular attention to the article entitled 'Labour Shortages' which I always recommend newbies read. http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...Hunting-Canada

And lastly, if your main motivation for leaving the UK is to get away from the grey & rain, then I'd avoid coastal BC as it's a very similar climate and Vancouver actually gets a lot more rain than London! How about looking at other drier areas of Canada? Or even another country if you're not yet fixed on Canada i.e. France or Spain. A lot easier and cheaper to move to as well!!

Best of luck with deciding and the research.