Why did you choose to move to Canada?
Jul 26th 2014, 3:07 am
#136
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
My daughter works in the DTES, dresses oddly and is, well, one might kindly say "competitive" rather than "aggressive". I do hope she doesn't seem homeless and frightening on her lunch breaks there; we've been that way before and it didn't go well.
Jul 26th 2014, 3:08 am
#137
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2013
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,960
Jul 26th 2014, 3:14 am
#138
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Posts: 10,222
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
He came home quite upset that the old lady at the bus stop moved away when he sat down . . .i did have to point out that he doesnt look very cuddly At the moment!
Dec 30th 2014, 7:25 am
#139
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 206
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
But for what it's worth, here are my reasons :
better climate (proper seasons. An actual summer! )
Less of a 'yob' / binge drinking / aggressive culture (west of Scotland anyway)
Friendly, more positive people (General assumption I know)
Less widespread deprivation i.e. tired looking / run down towns / poverty
Life adventure
New start, new career(s)
'better for the kids' (well, not really, I know we can give our kids a great upbringing here but this is more my wife's reason)
Boston cream doughnuts from Tim Hortons
Dec 30th 2014, 12:43 pm
#140
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Rouleau, Saskatchewan
Posts: 120
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
I`m from England - no further reasons are required :-)
Dec 30th 2014, 1:27 pm
#141
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
Not there yet. I have recently been having 'debates' with my wife (bit of soul searching on my part I suppose)
But for what it's worth, here are my reasons :
better climate (proper seasons. An actual summer! )
Less of a 'yob' / binge drinking / aggressive culture (west of Scotland anyway)
Friendly, more positive people (General assumption I know)
Less widespread deprivation i.e. tired looking / run down towns / poverty
Life adventure
New start, new career(s)
'better for the kids' (well, not really, I know we can give our kids a great upbringing here but this is more my wife's reason)
Boston cream doughnuts from Tim Hortons
But for what it's worth, here are my reasons :
better climate (proper seasons. An actual summer! )
Less of a 'yob' / binge drinking / aggressive culture (west of Scotland anyway)
Friendly, more positive people (General assumption I know)
Less widespread deprivation i.e. tired looking / run down towns / poverty
Life adventure
New start, new career(s)
'better for the kids' (well, not really, I know we can give our kids a great upbringing here but this is more my wife's reason)
Boston cream doughnuts from Tim Hortons
Dec 30th 2014, 2:02 pm
#142
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Edmonton AB
Posts: 685
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
Distilling an entire country down to those four bullet points is quite the accomplishment. If that's your sole impression of Canada then don't move here. Seriously.
To massively generalise - life in Canada is pretty much the same as life in UK. Somethings are better, somethings are worse.
You need to have a reason to move here. For the adventure, the kids, the climate, the mountains, doesn't matter why but a reason. You then need to temper that with real research about how you will do here. What job opportunities are there for you, what will you do if it takes you a while to get jobs, do you need to Canadianise qualifications etc etc. Being an informed consumer and moving with your eyes wide open and prepared for what you might find will make the process less stressful, costly and with a greater chance of success.
Looking back across the Atlantic, Devon sounds idyllic. It might be quiet but it is far more accessible to a greater diversity of cities, countries and experiences than Canada is. If you have a good life there, think very carefully IMHO before giving it up to move.
That being said, I moved because my then girlfriend now wife was from Canada and wanted to move home. Or in other words, I moved for sex.
To massively generalise - life in Canada is pretty much the same as life in UK. Somethings are better, somethings are worse.
You need to have a reason to move here. For the adventure, the kids, the climate, the mountains, doesn't matter why but a reason. You then need to temper that with real research about how you will do here. What job opportunities are there for you, what will you do if it takes you a while to get jobs, do you need to Canadianise qualifications etc etc. Being an informed consumer and moving with your eyes wide open and prepared for what you might find will make the process less stressful, costly and with a greater chance of success.
Looking back across the Atlantic, Devon sounds idyllic. It might be quiet but it is far more accessible to a greater diversity of cities, countries and experiences than Canada is. If you have a good life there, think very carefully IMHO before giving it up to move.
That being said, I moved because my then girlfriend now wife was from Canada and wanted to move home. Or in other words, I moved for sex.
Dec 30th 2014, 2:20 pm
#143
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,733
Dec 30th 2014, 2:24 pm
#144
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 206
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
Pro's for living in the west of Scotland:
Comfortable enough standard of living.
Family close by (help with the stressful kids)
Easy accessibility to outdoors (fishing in Lochs, hillwalking in the munro's)
Cons:
The 'ned'/ hard drinking/ aggressive culture that seems ingrained in the west of Scotland psyche.
The overall feeling of deprivation when visiting 'most' towns (nationwide)
The damp weather the majority of the year, and lack of sunshine!
Sectarian bigotry
Dec 30th 2014, 4:08 pm
#145
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,363
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
My experience in meeting ex-pats from Scotland here in Ottawa is that they take great pride in that aggressive culture based usually on drinking copious quantities of crap scottish lager and reminiscing on the good old days in Scotland...the antagonism towards those south of the border continues with all of its negative connotations.
Dec 30th 2014, 4:19 pm
#146
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 206
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
My experience in meeting ex-pats from Scotland here in Ottawa is that they take great pride in that aggressive culture based usually on drinking copious quantities of crap scottish lager and reminiscing on the good old days in Scotland...the antagonism towards those south of the border continues with all of its negative connotations.
Dec 30th 2014, 4:33 pm
#147
Nuther day in paradise.ca
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Ajax, Ontario
Posts: 7,263
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
Could be the absence of 2ltr White Lightning or Buckfast that calms the Scotts in Canada
Dec 30th 2014, 4:36 pm
#148
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
God I wrote a huge response and it's frozen on my iPad. This has happened several times only on expat...anyone else have this problem? It might just IOS 8... Grr.
I might rewrite it but not till after lunch!!
I might rewrite it but not till after lunch!!
Dec 30th 2014, 4:51 pm
#149
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,733
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
Dec 30th 2014, 4:56 pm
#150
Nuther day in paradise.ca
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Ajax, Ontario
Posts: 7,263
Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
(Use the document app for long posts, then copy and paste into ex P)
Last edited by magnumpi; Dec 30th 2014 at 5:04 pm.
