Why is it better in Canada?
 

My husband has the opportunity of a job in Canada. Everyone at home has said that we should leave the UK, as we will have a "better" life in Canada. (Two young children 6 +8) I have very little knowledge of the culture/lifestyle of North Toronto.

Why is the life better in Canada?

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

It's only better in Canada if it gives you something that you want and that you can't get in the UK. For us it gave the oppertunity to buy a house outright and make a new fresh start but there are all the same kind of problems here that you'll find back home. Don't be talked into it by people at home who just imagine it to be a wonderful lifestyle, instead thoroughly research it yourselves. At least by asking this question on the forum you've started that process! :)

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

Canada is very diverse so there's no easy answer. I assume that North Toronto is in the 'Burbs with relatively easy access to big city life. You might consider the impact of moving from Bury to some other part of the U.K. and then take it from there. Any move results in distruption, finding new friends etc. so research and a fact finding trip would be a big help. People can have vasltly different criteria for their preferred "Lifestyle".

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

When we told all our friends (and anyone else that would listen to us!) that we were moving to Canada, most people were very envious and as the perception most people had was that Canada was a better country to live in than the UK. Most people thought that the UK was going downhill and that Canada was some kind of a pristine paradise. I think in the 60s and 70s this may have had some truth in it. Quite alot of people I have spoken to who have lived here for the last 30 years think Canada is fantastic, but they left a depressed UK and at that time there were more opportunities in Canada.

However, today I think the tables have turned a bit. It can be very difficult to find work here and when you do find a job, you hold on to it as there aren't many others about. Holiday time isn't as good as the UK either. It took my husband 7 months to find a reasonable job in his field (chartered accountant). This was the first time he had ever been unemployed so that was a shock to the system. In the UK he had no problem finding decent work.

The health system is ok although it is very difficult to find a family doctor over here. Education is somewhat behind the UK academically, in my opinion (elementary level), although it is still fairly decent and kids here often go on to university etc. and go into their chosen field. As far as shopping/food is concerned, I think there is much more variety in the UK although you do adjust.

On a more positive note, housing is generally more affordable (depending on where you live), you get decent summers, winter is sunnier (although colder!) and traffic is lighter in most places and it is less crowded (again depending on where you live). Moving here is an experience in itself and although it can be difficult, it is a good 'growing' experience to live in a different country/culture whether it is permanent or temporary.

Whether you will like it over here more than the UK is completely subjective. For us, our kids (6 and 4) love it here as they have been able to play out more than they did in the UK - playing in the swimming pool, rollerblading, swimming in the lake etc. in the summer. Tobogganing, skating, the novelty of playing in the snow etc. in the winter. My youngest has 3 skating lessons with the school this winter - schools wouldn't take time out to do things like that so much in the UK as the teachers wouldn't have the time to do that kind of thing.

I hate traffic and crowds so Canada has worked out well in that respect for me. I would rather travel an hour to the lake on quiet roads, than try to get to the coast on a summer's day in the UK! We live close to a decent mall so shopping is a lot less hassle as it is less crowded and traffic much better. Doesn't have the same buzz though as shopping in a UK high street. In general, there is less of a buzz here. People are friendly but it can be a bit superficial - hard to put into words and a whole different topic!

Winter has been not too bad. Very cold but you dress for it and I prefer the snow to rain! We are looking forward to a decent summer which is much more guaranteed than in the UK. We hope to get an inground pool at some point in the future which would never be possible for us in the UK.

My brother lives in London UK and loves the buzz, football, pubs and cheap foreign holidays so Canada is not for him. I prefer it quieter and less crowded, less traffic, not into football, prefer going out for coffee than beer, and prefer to stay more local for holidays as long as you get guaranteed sunshine and a lake nearby for swimming so I am probably more suited to life in Canada.

This is just my brief take on it all. There are many perspectives on this topic as it is so subjective. If you can, it is best to come over and do a research trip so that you can get a feel for it yourselves. Hope this helps and gives you some food for thought :)

Chris

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far - If we move out to Canada it will be because my husband has taken up a job opportunity, so I am not too worried about the work side of things.

We are visiting for a few days mid March but I am sure that this will not be long enough to get a real "feel" for the place.

Having lived in the "Burbs" in the UK all my life, I imagine we would move to something similar - So really the question I keep coming back to is: What will my family's quality of life be ?

Its a hard question to answer!!

Still very interested in any responses

Thanks

Bombards

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

hi, bombards! we were in exactly the same position as your're in now last year. anyway, we came over here and to our consternation, found that canada is not the paradise we thought it was. we just couldnt fit in; hard to put a finger on it but we found something terribly missing here; as someone here has said very correctly, it lacks the "buzz" of the uk, which we miss so badly! anyway, to cut a long story short, i am copying one of my recent posts below for you to read and ponder over. but above all, make sure you do your homework before moving--we came over here more than 5 times but still couldnt suss out if it would be good or not--that only came when we actually did the deed and lived the life....!good luck!

quote:

"funny how as the time comes nearer to leaving, suddenly all these people turn up as if from hiding, to give me advice why i shouldnt go back to the uk! how i should've waited till the summer, bought a house, moved to another community....but, would that change how lifeless the place seems to be? how everyone seems to be a in ahurry but get nowhere, how suddenly everyone rushes around at weekends trying to fit everything in, then go back to the grind of work work work, how most of the drivers (men and women) in toronto at least, are absolute maniacs (to put it in a family-friendly way!), how pointless existence seems to be here? no, it wont change all that, so thats why i am glad we made the decision to bale out. canada may be friendly, but all we saw here were big cars, bigger houses, bigger mortgages, longer hours at work to pay for them and nothing more. as someone said on one of these forums, they may be friendly, but there is SOMETHING missing somewhere..... "

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

I think Tom Masters has a good point. We came here in the 1960s, when things were definitely far behind in England and we saw no hope of buying a house - just adding our names to the list and waiting for a council house. When we knew people who had been on a waiting list for a year to get a telephone!

Things seem to have turned around since then and in lots of ways, England is far ahead of Canada.

I think it depends on the person. If you are self-sufficient and happy to do things as a family then give it a try. After all, if it doesn't work out you can always move back home again.

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

I arrived in Canada in '68 so I fit this profile. I read expat newspapers frequently and my last visit was in 99. My impressions are as follows.

Inflation in the UK is incredible the terraced house that I sold for 600 pounds in 68 is now worth more than 60K. But it's still a hole in the wall compared with typical Canadian housing. I suggest that you get more for your money in Canada than the UK. Also on my last trip I felt claustrophobic with small hotel rooms, houses, crowded roads, crowded streets etc.

But materialism is only one aspect although I suggest it's more prevalent in the U.K. along with the accompanying superficiality since the goodtimes are not universal. I recently read about the divided nation with affluent London and home counties and the deprived rest of the country.

I appreciate the greater Canadian diversity in people, lifestyle, geography etc.
I understand that racism is more of an issue in the U.K. along with the visible Yob culture. When I last visited my small home town I was approached for cigarettes which I expect in any large city. But a small town?

Socialising is fine in with me too because I don't feel obliged to attend the local in order to meet friends under the influence of alcohol. We meet friends at restaurants for dinner or we visit each other at home.

I suggest you have to look at the whole picture when making comparisons. There's more to it than sheer materialism. Also there's the individual personality since if you have difficulty getting along with people it won't change when you get to Canada

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

Hi. I have seen this come up many times but yet to have it explained. What is meant by the UK being in front of Canada? We have only been to Canada once but the US many times and most places in Europe. I donot see why this is brought up. They are all either leading or G7 countries in the western world - depending on where you are and very little between them if you look at the big picture to coin a phrase.

Now.. if you compare a third world country... say in Asia or Africa there might well be a noticable gulf between the two countries, both in society, culture and economics. If it comes down to not getting decent underware in M&S I would find this very odd. Can anyone enlighten without using the words 'lacking buzz', or 'lacking culture', or 'lacking Heinz baked beans'...after all one mans culture is another mans poison. Many hate football, many love it, but it does not effect the overall level of the country in terms of so called civilisation. Does Canada fall behind in health care? Does it fall behind in social care? Does it fall behind financially (no is the answer 'per capita'). What does it fall behind in?

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

My impression is that the tecnology is about 5 years behind the UK. Not that it is not available but rather it takes longer to spread.
Take digital television through an arial for example. This would be impossible in Canada. Also high speed internet is available in all libraries and places of learning but to get it to all rural locations is asking too much. Also the take up is slower with such things as mobile phones. The UK has managed to have more phones than people so the demand excellerates the features and offers provided by manufacturers.
Gismos are fun and I love them but I have found their appeal is shortlived and don't add much to quality of life. As far as a society goes then I would say that the UK has been going backwards but that is just my opinion.
Plenty of space is a huge plus as there is less pressure on land making space affordable.
The NHS is knocked a lot but is actually an amazing service and I get the impression Canadians would be pleased with it's standards.
I get the impression that education is variable as it is in the UK but in general kids are better behaved and more respectful of their educators.

Well Bombards I think the question needs to be not "why is one place better?" but "what is different?" and I that what you need to know is "will it suite me?"
Opinions will be interesting but it needs you to try it out and research as much as you can. Good luck!

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

Looks like I have got alot of sleepless nights ahead!!!!!

Many Thanks to all

Bombards

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

I'm not sure it does fall behind the UK but it sometimes feels like it does. I find it's the niggly little things that makes me compare the differences. The "pay-as-you-go" cell phone deals are like they used to have back in the UK. Here the voucher expires after thirty days and any money left unspent is lost. Bank charges are still very common. The car insurance industry at least here in Ontario seems so uncompetetive compared to back home. On the other hand there are things here that seem to put Canada ahead. As always there are pros and cons but maybe in the end it all evens out.

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

I think some people do come here expecting paradise and when they don't find that they become bitterly disappointed, i know that is how we felt when we first moved to NS.

Its pretty naive though to think that everything over here is going to be perfect. They are many of the same problems over here as in the UK but at least here we can afford a house and the people aren't all moany and miserable and it doesn't rain every single day and we don't get abuse off kids in the street and there doesn't seem to be masses of litter all over the place and I can afford to stay at home and look after my children (one at the mo but more later hopefully). These for me will definitely keep me here I think.

Miss Next loads though and M & S and Sainsburys but I sure can live without those. And of course I miss family but I think we are giving our children a far better life out here and it is a sacrifice we have to make to get anywhere. Its fine if you are rich in the Uk or if you have already bought a house a few years ago at least.

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

I agree in terms of technology Canada is a bit behind...but I think that the main reason for this is simply the vastness of the country combined with a relatively small population makes it unbelievably expensive to put a lot of new technologies in place on a broad scope.

Re: Why is it better in Canada?
 

We find we get a better service for dentistry and medicine in Calgary than we did in the UK.

We are comparing the NHS medical and private dentistry to what we are using in Calgary. Here all dentists are (I believe) private and we use the Alberta Heathcare system(NHS equivalent).

Last summer I visited a local drop in clinic as I had a skin problem. Forty minutes or so later I was seeing the dermatologist as the GP had referred me instantly by telephone. The last time I needed a dermatologist in the UK the wait was a substantial number of months (6-9: I dont fully remember now).

Our youngest saw a speech pathologist by referral although we did have to wait three months for it. In the UK we were told to wait and see if he grows out of it....!

The children see a paediatric dentist - much more child friendly than the private UK service.

Granted we still dont have a family doctor - the children have a family paediatrician- but the local drop in clinic always has the same doctors and all our notes are there anyway. So far we have not had any problems.

As for materialism - we find that Canada is more materialistic than the UK but that could be because our UK friends were all of the same view as we were. Here in Canada its all about the RV, the boat, the cottage for summer, the new car or the biggest tv. The brand of your kid's skates at hockey is 'noted' by the other parents.

Mrs G