Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

You learned English, didn't you? The problem with learning languages is that the traditional methods don't work very well - especially if you're not using the language every day. You'd do fine with language immersion which is how you learned English after all.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Mine outran me in French, German and Maths by the age of twelve. There was no point in trying to compete so we hired tutors.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

I was just about to say that, my 9 year old gets homework that is beyond me sometimes, whether it is in English or French would make absolutely no difference! :lol:

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Could it be that they just don't want to live in Europe?
Each to their own and all that....

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Sure...but to say that you can't do it because the kids won't understand the language right away seems a weak excuse. Kids pick up languages fast when immersed in them. That's how they are built.

Now, if you don't want to do it because you can't be arsed learning the language yourself or you just don't want to do it at all, then fair enough.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Three seasons.
Winter, summer, fall.

Unless you count 'construction' season. :rofl:

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

My kids are in "French Immersion" schooling here. My French is pants and my better halfs non existent.

My kid won the French prize in class this year, despite the presence of native french speakers!

I guess Im saying that it not that big a deal.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

My reasons for moving to Canada:------I had retired in the UK and wanted a new base from which to explore North America and it turned out that obtaining a visa to live in Canada was the easiest way of doing this... ;)

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

My wife and I are the exact same....our children are 17 and 13. The 17 year old (daughter) just finished high school and graduated with very high marks (although I do find marks in general are inflated here), the french immersion certification and an international certificate. They started in french immersion in kindergarten and by about grade 1 or 2 they were ahead of my wife and I.

To deny your children the opportunity to learn another language because you couldn't or didn't have the opportunity is quite short sighted.

I know this has been discussed before, but here in Ottawa, the better children academically tend to gravitate towards french immersion.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Wow, thanks for that. Never been called short sighted before.

I don't want to move to Europe. I want to move to either Canada or America. Hubby doesn't want to go to America so we both agree on Canada. That's why I'm on the Canadian section. If they can learn french in school or part of an immersion programme then fair enough. But I'm not living in a country where I can't speak the language and having no friends there. (I find it hard enough to make friends as it is, I don't want to add a language barrier into the mix)

Thanks to everyone who commented about why they moved to Canada :) A lot of your reasons are the same as I've been thinking (Entitled to behaviour and Chav attitudes. etc)

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Within 300 yards of this desk there are now certainly twenty, probably fifty, tattooed people with no obvious means of support, many of whom have the sunken cheeks and rotted teeth associated with meth use. Some prostitute themselves, many beg, all spit a lot. Hooded garments are prevalent even in this weather. They may, of course, be the only chavs in Canada.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

On the education thing, bright children can pick up languages easily if they are immersed in them. Not all. Some have a limited capacity to retain and use vocabulary. Learning a second language will halve their vocabulary in each.

To the OP. Canada is a foreign country. If is different. Some of the differences you will enjoy. Some you won't. Are you the kind of person who can focus on the differences you enjoy and minimize those you don't? Or are you the type of person who finds change difficult and will spend their time fretting about the differences you don't enjoy?

If the former then come on over, have some new experiences, have some fun. It does not have to be forever. If the latter be aware that you may be miserable for a while.

[Edited to add] I think this personality trait is much more important and more indicative of whether or not moving to Canada will suit you. More so that the number of chavs.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

I shudder to think how many words she would know if she hadnt done immersion then!I think this is a very good point. Its easy to overlook the fact that you will have a lot to learn, and in part maybe thats because there is a shared language and maybe you assume its not going to be all that different.

Then the little things start to annoy you and its downhill all the way to the airport after that.

Attitude and expectations play a big part in that, as does understanding why it is you want to put yourself through this move in the first place.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Unless there's a serious physical or learning disability, every kid I know was able to pick up a language via immersion regardless of how bright they were.

Where did you get that from? Multiple studies have shown that learning a second language actually improves your English.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

+1

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

It's all well and good cooking up these dreams with your husband but immigration is no stroll in the park.

Can you actually get into Canada or the US? I suggest you look into that first and then do some proper research and come back with decent questions.

The last thing you want to do is subject your children to an ill thought out fantasy.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

You could only really say that about the GTA.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

I moved here purely for sex. I could just as easily have gone to Cambodia, had the same bird been involved.

Having access to a GP might be nice but I can't remember the last time I needed one.

I am a bit beyond needing to worry about the education system.

My backstabbing neighbour has the key to my house. She'll be using it lots over the next couple of weeks when we're not here (looking after my cat). Another neighbour, a teenager, flatly refused to take any money off me for mowing my grass while I'm not here.

Backstabbing bastards, the lot of them!

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Not sure if I'd move for sex or not but the night is young!

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Me too in spades!

Our son was born in France and spent all his Primary school years there, we are a bi-lingual family generally, I would like to think, but even so moving to Canada, albeit to a French school, with an 11 year old, wasn't simple.

If 'you' want it to succeed it will do, but if you drag your feet and hesitate and hate it, then kids pick up on it PDQ. You don't 'vaguely' think of this sort of move once you have children, you do it flat out as a family, or not at all.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

And Kitchener-Waterloo.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

For me it was because I wanted to. I had just finished university in 2009 (I guess I'm revealing my age there) and had seen the working holiday permits for Canada, Australia and New Zealand, I figured I'd give them all a shot. Canada was going to be my first but I ended up staying, eventually getting PR this year.

I still haven't worked out how general healthcare, dentistry, opticians, credit cards, education(I'd like to do a masters soon), etc work. I should probably get onto that. I have BC MSP and benefits through work, do I just take them whenever I see a dentist and they just take care of it? Or do I contact the benefits folk and tell them I'm visiting a dentist?

Anyway, I've found it pretty easy to move here but then I only need a couple of beers and good company.....

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

If all else fails there is Hooters.

In certain places anyway......

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Sure some things are more expensive but a lot, for us, is cheaper. In no particular order but what we benefit from being here

1. Big house
2. Cheaper car
3. Cheap gas
4. Shorter working hours
5. Calmer environment
6. More countryside
7. Less chavs
8. Traffic is non existent
9. Hockey at a reasonable hour
10. Spending more time outside
11. More sunshine
12. Air conditioning
13. Eating out more
14. Less crime
15. My wife's family are here
16. Cheaper fruit in summer

Life is 'nicer' here. It may sound boring but it works for us.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Hmmmmm - interesting choice of words.
It sounds to me like the OP is right at the start of this journey and will probably be able to direct their focus more on specific and "decent" questions soon and ensure that they do not subject their children to their "Ill thought out fantasies"
In the meantime I am sure that some support at the start of their life changing decisions wouldn't go amiss here.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

I'll chime in with reasons for moving as well. I'm Canadian, husband is British. Both of us are close to families, so it was never going to be a case of which of us "cracked" and moved. We weighed up what was important for us and went from there. I was open to staying in the UK, and he was open to moving to Canada.

A few points that helped the decision:

--value for real estate is better - bigger house, more space, newer, fewer problems (leaks, foundation, flooding, etc). Lot sizes generally are smaller, but with some looking and patience you can find larger lots.

--Cars and gas are cheaper, though insurance is ridiculous.

--Education is broadly similar, particularly for younger kids. More influence comes from how involved parents are, and we plan to be quite involved.

--Shorter working hours and a more relaxed work environment.

--Easier commute - even though we are living in the GTA! In London we were in Zone 2; if we stayed in London we would have ended up moving somewhere south or southwest of London. My husband's commute would have been a train into Waterloo or London Bridge, then the bloody Jubilee Line out to Canary Wharf. In Canada we moved to Oakville; my husband's commute is 30 minutes on the Lakeshore West GO Train, then a 7-minute walk to his office downtown. My job is a 15 minute drive from home; in London it was 45 minutes door to desk, but 2 tube changes to do it.

--Ability of parents to travel. My parents both still work full-time. Husband's parents are both retired. Husband's mom is American and still has family all over the East coast. Much easier for his parents to travel, particularly as they often do one trip this direction anyway to visit her family. Also them being retired means it's cheaper for them as they can fly in off-season and on weekdays; not only do my parents still work full-time, but my mom is a teacher so they are stuck flying during peak time.

--Seasons! I like that there are actually 4 distinct seasons that last roughly 3 months each... as opposed to the UK where it was more like 5.5 months of spring, 1 week of summer, 5.5 months of autumn, 1 week of winter. We are both outdoorsy people and while this past winter did get really tedious after awhile, it was nice to have some snow and to do some winter activities like snowshoeing.

--There is actual sunshine! I have a tan! My pasty British husband even has a tan! Oh my goodness!

So when we weighed up everything, we decided to give Canada a shot. Our agreement was that we would make the move with the intention of it being permanent - really try to get settled, plant roots, etc. However, if either of us are not happy here, the door is open to going back to the UK. That was agreed in advance. Some things we miss, some things we enjoy more, some things we are indifferent about. Cost of living we find broadly comes out in the wash - some things are more, some things are less, but at least for us and the way we live we have found that works out to be about the same.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Admittedly I have no experience of work here - having taken early retirement - but I'm quite surprised at that.

Certainly my step daughter has shorter working time but that's because the employer keeps staff hours down to avoid being eligible for health benefits.

I know many of the people on this forum appear to have great packages, including leave above the norm, but presumably they are in Canada because they're in demand (not everyone of course) and can attract the sort of employee advantages they would in other places.

But from what my step kids have said about their bosses and employers, job adverts I see (12 hour shifts, pay for your own training, transport demands etc) and other things I hear, my impression is not one of a more relaxed work environment.

Oh...apart from people in public facing jobs drinking coffee in front of clients and customers. :lol:

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

agreed. In the UK hubby went through police training where he was paid for the training period, admittedly at something like 70% of his eventual start salary (which we bitched and moaned about at the time), here he would have had to pay around $22k himself for that training in the provincial police and have no guaranteed job at the end.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Then again you can probably say similar stuff about the UK... it's a mix.

My husband works for a bank in capital markets. He gets to his desk around 8:30 and leaves just after 6. So it's a longer day, but he said the amount of stress/pressure he has during the day is less than he experienced at the bank he was with in the UK. He also has a bit more flexibility around the occasional late arrival or early departure for appointments or commitments. He should also be able to start his day a bit earlier and leave a bit earlier down the road if there are kids to consider.

I'm working at a health care company doing IT-related stuff. I get to my desk around 8 and leave between 4:30 and 5. Tons of flexibility around hours - as long as the work is done and your hours are generally in it's fine. Ability to work from home which can be convenient.

Both of us have 4 weeks holiday. Husband had it offered with his job offer. My company originally offered me 3, but I held out for 4 - explained that I was coming from 6 in the UK, I'd have 4 if I'd transferred with the company I was with in the UK, and my husband has 4. They eventually agreed. 4 is not uncommon at least in the GTA for our level of seniority either - my dad has had 4 for the past 20ish years. The company I worked for in Toronto before I moved started with 3, but you earned a 4th once you reached Manager level which was usually about 5-6 years in. My brother, who has only been working for 3 years, has 3 weeks standard plus one day a month, so actually he's got 5. He also earns overtime, which he can take as pay or time in lieu. He took 4 weeks in January to do an Australia/Thailand trip (jealous).

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Canada in general awards far less vacation time, 2-4 weeks, in line with American norms.

Work hours seem to vary, and I personally think a lot of that depends entirely on what the individual employee is prepared to put up with.

Employers here seem happy to let overtime exempt salaried workers work long hours, and if an employee doesn't have the sense or the guts to draw a line in the sand and say "No, actually I have a life outside of work, I'm off home now." then more fool them.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Yep. In my previous life I worked at a Big4 consulting firm... and it was exactly like that. Some people worked around the clock. Others left at 5pm on the dot to pick up kids or whatever.

I honestly don't mind SOME overtime - every job has it, it's hard to get away from it, but as long as it's a once-in-a-while thing and not the norm, that's what's more important to me.

In my husband's previous role in the UK, they had a lot of month-end reporting that had to be out by the 5th working day of the month. I knew as a result that the first 4 business days of the month would be busy days for him - he'd get home around 8 or 9pm instead of his usual 630-7pm. We didn't mind that either - it was a known quantity. We could predict it and we could plan around it. My job was way more unpredictable, and I'd often have to put up a bit of a fight to not work ridiculously late at a moment's notice.

So a lot of it just depends on the type of person you are, the culture of the company where you work, and the type of people you work for and with.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Very likely. I'm sure things are worse since I left. But I think there are minimum standards in the UK - enforceable ones - that many in Canada can't even dream of like minimum/maximum working temperatures, break entitlements (people here even object to the use of the word 'entitlement') Sick Pay, even SSP so your income's not interrupted while off sick, and all sorts of other stuff.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Not sure I agree with that. I think GTA winters are typical longer (5 months) while spring and fall are typically shorter (2 months each).

Now that I agree with. Much more hours of annual sunshine in the GTA. Even Vancouver has more hours of annual sunshine than almost anywhere in the UK.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Depends how you want to define things I guess.

"Snow on the ground" winter is like 3 months, Late Dec to March, but its mostly sunny. It starts to grind for me sometime in March, this past year was a drag!
"UK wet gloomy winter" is in two parts, part of what Canadians consider late fall and early spring here... basically November and March/ April

Spring I find very short because most of it is really my made up "UK winter" season. Buds in the garden and grass greening up, and bugs appearing is spring for me, basically May and early June, blink and you miss it. AKA mud season.

Summer is Late June to August into Early Sept, hot lazy days (not so much this year:(), and the rain coming between 4pm and 6pm in the form of impressive thunderstorms.

That leaves fall, sensible temps, pretty trees. Later Sept and October. November counts as Fall I suppose in the real world, but in my mind its "1st UK winter" and has to be endured before the snow flies and ski season starts; I'm glad when its gone and the cold weather is upon us. I didnt realize how miserable grey skies and drizzle made me until I moved here and I didnt really have to deal with it very often anymore.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Some may find this bizarre, but I really like the UK weather. Obviously, the long, hot sunny days of summer are wonderful, but I also really enjoy the cool, grey days and even the rain.

The best, and worst, thing about British weather is that it's so changeable.

I like the fact that you don't need AC in the summer, and you can switch your heating off before you go to bed in winter, safe in the knowledge that you won't freeze to death in your bed. You can sit outside in the evening without being easten alive by mosquitoes, and you don't need to shovel snow.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

I quite enjoy the 4-5 months of snow and ice.

And my wife is Canadian :D

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Yeah, I absolutely loved walking to and from Canons Park tube station in July in the drizzle.

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

Ah, bliss.....
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/happy/im...y-emoticon.gif

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

[QUOTE=Jingsamichty;11340514]The best, and worst, thing about British weather is that it's so changeable.

QUOTE]
Yup, enjoyable days out at Legoland with the kids bringing clothing for every conceivable change - warm coat, rain coat, cardy, wellies, trainers, sandals, sunscreen, leggings, shorts etc etc

We went through them all in one day sometimes it was so changeable, and often unpredictable.. .and how many Legoland and other trips were actually cancelled on the day due to rain, again.
But its ok - you can while away the time in those hideous indoor play areas with overpriced horrible food, sticky floors and chavy kids....

Re: Why did you choose to move to Canada?
 

I vividly remember my last trip home to Northern Ireland with my kids. I think we saw all 4 seasons on the same trip. One day, it was absolutely chucking it down as we drove through Belfast on the way to visit the Giant's Causeway. My kids were all for abandoning the trip but my brother-in-law told them we'd be OK as the weather can be completely different when we get there. The kids didn't seem convinced. Sure enough, the rain and clouds cleared and it was gloriously sunny for our visit.