Where to go?
 

Hi all
This might sound a bit silly but its like this. Although we have
applied to immigrate to Canada we haven`t been there. We thought we`d
get our application in (knowing how long it takes) while we research,
research, research and then did some more research. My Canadian
favourites folder is as long as your arm. Our dilema is likened to
having a plateful of cream cakes and not knowing which one to choose.
We don`t have any family or friends over there, so we are not drawn
to any one place in particular. We are drawn to them all. Our jobs
mean we can go anywhere, i`m a hairdresser and Gary`s a BT engineer.
Vancouver, sounds beautiful, but expensive. Calgary, I`m not sure we
can do the cowboy thing, and Edmonton, I really loved the sound of it
just not sure about the weather (heard reports of snow flurries first
week of sept)its quite harsh, although sunny. Have lately been drawn
to Ontario, near Toronto or Ottawa. At the end of the day we just
want a nice, safe, clean, friendly neighbourhood with good schools
and good healthcare facilities. I was wondering if anyone would like
to share their reasons on why they are going to where ever they`re
going. We are hoping to go for a fortnight around half term, we can
only afford to go once on holiday, as saving for relocation (fingers
crossed) We want to make the right choice, so if anyone has any hints
on where to go/avoid we would be vet grateful. :confused:

Thanks Jo & Gary

Re: Where to go?
 

Sorry to disappoint, but you'll find that in most places in Canada!

If you really can't decide on a city, break it down to geography and weather.

Do you like mountains, prairies, lakes or the sea the most? Would you like a combination.

As for Edmonton weather, it's colder than Calgary, the chinook doesn't blow quite far enough for my comfort when I'm up there. Then again, Calgary gets pretty cold too ....

How do you feel about cold winters? How do you feel about hot summers?

Do you like big cities or smaller towns?

Re: Where to go?
 

Do you really want me to tell you where to go ( get the joke ) :D Seriously poster, no one can really tell you where to settle, this kind of thread, is vast in the archives, under the different headings, just do a search and you will see them all.

When you say Gar is a BT engineer, do you mean he is a technician, or does he have a degree in electronics/telecommunications? Over here, he will have to be regulated by the province, and there are exams to be taken.

When he becomes full certified here, he can be looking at over 45k a year ( we know people working for ( BELL CANADA, AND rogers ). In your case though, you are better off getting into the resort/spa area, where there is a lot of money to be made, and tips, from the PATRONS.

There is a resort/spa is woodstock that we stay at sometimes, for the golf and spa treatment, and I know mrs square has to pay quite a bit for her hair when we are there, and she tips them a lot too ( she needs to stop that ), she reads the forum too.

Good luck, and make sure you come down here and see things for yourself !

Re: Where to go?
 

HI

Please come and live here in the Okanagan, I have not been able to find a decent hairdresser in the 2.5 years I have been here!!!!

JJ

Re: Where to go?
 

This question is asked so frequently that is should be put in the forum FAQ section. But it never fails to attract pages of responses.

I have no helpful contribution, except to say that friends don't let friends move to Edmonton.

Re: Where to go?
 

We are going to Vancouver Island. Close enough to Vancouver if you hanker for city life. Cheaper housing, but going up all the time in price. We are 5 minutes from a Spa resort. 10 minutes from town, plenty of choice with shops but a good community atmosphere. There are 9 golf courses within 20 mins.
Sking in Winter but the general climate is much mider. No harsh winters or over hot summers. Similar to UK they say.
There is so much for the kids to do, sun, sea, lakes forest, wildlife, parks.

There is an airport 20 mins from us that goes to Calgary and Vancouver .
Also if you feel like a holiday to USA, then it is easy to get to Seatlle from Vancouver. Driving is so easy that it is a pleasure to drive anywhere, compared to here.

Re: Where to go?
 

THERE IS NO ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION

It's so subjective. Whats right for one is totaly wrong for another. I love where I live, but I know it would drive some people crazy. You just have to do as much homework as you can, and remember IF IT TURNS OUT NOT TO BE THE RIGHT PLACE, CANADA HAS LOTS OF OTHER PLACES TO CHOOSE FROM BEFORE RETURNING TO THE UK. You dont have to get it right first time!

Iain

Re: Where to go?
 

Hi Gooding :D

Could I ask whereabouts on the Island you are heading for?

We are looking at the Island or the Okanagan and can't make up our minds :rolleyes:

Re: Where to go?
 

Hi Banana!

We are having a house built just outside of Courtney, right by the sea, beautiful area so much to do.

I know it may sound silly but we did not look anywhere else. It wa love at first sight.
We first went to the island because we saw a house we liked way up North in Port Alice. We had no idea wher it was, and no intention of emigrating them.

We were looking for a holiday home somewhere int he world!
I am rather impulsive ( or mad) and flew over just to look at this house. It was fantastic and in a stunning location. Only problem was Port Alice is practically a ghost town now as the only soure of income has closed down, and it is miles form anywhere! I left gutted as I loved this house.

We stopped and looked around at other places, and came home.
For days after we just knew this is where we wanted to go, We both have travelled all around the world so we have eliminated many places. We both jsut knew this was the place.

I have read al lot about Okanagen and it would have been our second choice to look. ( if I hadn't been hooked) There is some lovely houses for sale.
However we live in a holiday resort in UK and i felt that the Okanagen was the holiday choice of Americans due to its good climate,and have been told it can be busy in summer especially in Kelowna. Although there is more work there for many professions I believe. I like the seasons, forests and less traffic/ I just love the island!
If we get residency, then we may look at other places, as I will be self employed and able to move around and we may have to move elswhere for work and rent or sell the house out we are having built.
The thought of building another house completely to our liking appeals, but not until we lived there permanantly,a nd know where we will finally settle.
For now I am happy to stay on the Isalnd and travel around from there.

linda

Re: Where to go?
 

That sounds like the first thing you need to resolve…. :rolleyes:

Re: Where to go?
 

I would not want to live in Calgary myself, just because we already live in Regina and Calgary weather is much like Regina's. However, when you say "you would not want to do the cowboy thing" I think you are selling Calgary short. OK on the prairies there are people who are cowboys - but its not everybody or even the majority - Calgary is a big city and most of the people there have nothing to do with farms, cow, cowboys etc. Its an oil city much more than it is cowboys. Just because they have the Stampede there once a year it doesn't mean that cattle roam the streets and people ride around on horses! Its really pretty, you can see the mountains, you can go out in the country if you "want to" and mess around with horses, but you could stay in the city all the time if you wanted to as well.

There is lots to do - you can drive to Banff and the Rockies. The Kootenays and around there is really pretty too. Don't make snap judgments about a place. You have to do lots of research before you decide.

Re: Where to go?
 

Hi Jo and Gary,

When Jon and I moved here we went through the same dilema.

Orginaly we planned to move to Calgary (mainly because the houses were cheaper and the tax breaks were better). Then my husband was offered a job in Halifax so we visited there. I didn't like it (though my husband did) but fortunately we could change the location of the job (we were given a list of locations were there was vacancies) so opted for Chilliwack as we had been to vancouver before and knew the area. About three months after we arrived we visited Kelowna and fell in love with it. Jon had to complete his two year contract in Chilliwack so we moved to Port Moody and I worked in downtown Vancouver. Two years later Jon has got a transfer and we have moved to kelowna where we are very happy.

The shortened version is that until you visit these places (and indeed live in these places) you will never know what you like. What can look good on paper can be entirely different when you get there. Plus what suits one does not always suit another. This is not just about taste but also about your personal circumstances (money, jobs, kids etc). I can appreciate that vancouver is a beautiful city but it wasn't for Jon and me.

The best you can do is write up a list of all things you want from your new home and try and match them up with a location. You can do loads of research online and at forums like this and then go and visit. Even if when you get there you change your mind, it doesn't matter. Just don't buy a property until you are 100% sure of where you want to be.

Hope that helps,

Georgina

Re: Where to go?
 

What is with all the screaming halfway thru' the thread? Anyway.....to the OP, once again, you just have to do your own research and find out where there are jobs in your field, and just try and stay closer to that area !

Good luck !

gooding....like the little cottage in the avatar, where is that?

Re: Where to go?
 

Hi all thanks for all your replies,

square pants
"When you say Gar is a BT engineer, do you mean he is a technician, or does he have a degree in electronics/telecommunications? Over here, he will have to be regulated by the province, and there are exams to be taken."

Bt call them engineers but in canadian terms hes a technician.

We really have gone round in circles here, but we have eventually booked flights to toronto for mid oct. I think Iaink's "#1 town in the #1prov in the # country" quip has got us thinking about this region, that and the cheap flights i just got with canadian affair. But i can tell you, all of the places you have suggested have been on the top of our lists at some time or other. I think what we`re most worried about is Gary finding a job, hes too old to be a pizza delivery boy! and has never relly fancied taxi driving, but he is fairly willing to do most things until we find our feet. Its almost impossible to find any jobs that match his description on the web, and we`ve been told we need to be there PRs in hand before he would be offered any employment in his field.
We thought Toronto was as good a place as any to start with, we've got a car for 2 weeks and were going to go to Ottawa, maybe Montreal, just to see it, and check out some surrounding areas,oh and not forgetting niagra falls.
Also have a friend of a friend in Rice lake area so could meet with them. We`ve got 2 young children so want to make it fun for them aswell, any suggestions? If anyone has any useful info, must see places/places to avoid for sightseeing and for migrating to we would be most grateful.
I know the question "where to go?" is a toughy because everyone is different and has different needs, but i think sometimes people just need a bit of direction, and theres nothing like hearing it from the horses mouth.
Thanks again for all your replies.
Jo & Gary

Re: Where to go?
 

Cheers Liz, you've just ruined my perception of Calgary ;) Do people actually think that though?

Joelsa....If you are in Toronto for two weeks, make sure you visit niagara falls, niagara on the lake, kingston on your way to ottawa, Montreal if you can, but its a bit of a drive with 2 kids.

There is also Barrie which is just on the hwy 400 south of Toronto, and you can come towards my way, if you intend to go visit london, waterloo, ayr, owen sound and all that.

Have a wicked trip, its going to be fun