Hi everyone. I am Canadian, but my husband is British and we have been living in England for the past 2.5 years. At the moment all is fine, but I would really like to go back to Canada and settle there eventually. I am from Alberta, south of Calgary, a place called Lethbridge. But I am not sure where we would be moving back to (maybe BC?)

Basically what I am hoping to gain from this thread is a bit of insight to what you think about Canada, your reasons for moving there, and maybe even a some words to help convince my hubby that it is the right thing to do. (I know 'convince' doesn't sound great, more like encourage).

Also, how do you feel about leaving friends and family back in the UK, and how do you cope.

Sorry I am asking for so much, thanks for your input!

I Miss Canada!

I await responses to your questions - I have tried asking the same thing but got no joy so far. (see good, bad, ugly thread)

What you need to do rather than try to convince him to move you need to find out why he is choosing England over Canada.

Without going into your relationship he might never have even thought of the possibility of Canada and therefore you asking him has shocked him. My wife is Canadian and before we got married we knew that one of us would have to 'live' in one country or the other and believe it or not i wanted to move to Canada where she wanted to move to England. We have finally chosen Canada after roughly 1 full year of discussions and our main point was:

Although it is more expensive for virtually everything in canada our home would be cheaper and therefore if we were to have kids the mortgage would not cripple us throughout their lives.

everyone has different motivations but ultimately you both need to talk about it and you need to respect each others opinion. This is probably one of the toughest challanges for any couple to go through.

hope all works out for the best.

Another Brightonian with a Canadian missus. Welcome to the club.

Just move you and your beaver back to your homelands. That should be enough!

???? Is that what you were asking?...sorry just saw the new thread

Anyway, rather than go through it all again might I politely suggest some judicial use of the search page. Lots of people over time have given their pros and cons in the canada lifestyle and returing to the UK forums here.

Well thanks for your replies (hot wasabi peas - I don't think it would be very nice to just leave! )

We have discussed moving to Canada, but he just seems a bit reluctant, he is almost more interested in going to New Zealand than Canada, and neither of us have ever been there! (May have something to do with Lord of the Rings?) Since in the past 5 years I have spent less than a year in Canada I think looking for the good things, the bits about Canada that attracted you Brits to move and to stay!

(I do have to say it is quite interesting ready the threads on here and seeing your opinions about Canada!)

Thanks again!

Candice

Maybe not... but it would work.

Well, thats your problem right there. Drag him over for a visit. If that doesnt change his mind nothing will. I dont think anyone comes here for a visit and doesnt like the place, its only after people make "the big move" that some discover that immigration just isnt for them for whatever reason. (or that the employer that their work permit restricts them to is an asshole)

Its such a diverse country (unlike NZ!) that there is bound to somewhere that fits what he is looking for. What are you looking for anyway?

I came here for a job, thats how I ended up in Eastern Ontario, but I like it here for many reasons, weather, uncrowded area, low crime, no stress, cheap housing.

Most immigrants though seem to head to the major cities as thats where they think it will be easiest to land a job at first, and life is not so different I guess to the UK cities. As a returning canadian cracking the job market might not be such an issue for you. Alberta is booming, and of course has the Rockies as a nearby playground, so thats attractive to many at the moment. Before that it was BC (more british type weather, ie no cold winter in Vancouver), and Ontario as the economic engine room has always attracted people. If you are looking to get a way from the rat race the maritimes seems a popular choice. There are as many reasons as people emmigrating I suppose, although getting away from the antisocial elements in th UK and dreary UK weather seem to come up quite often.

I love.

The mountains .... but wish we had more time as a family to go there.

I love the weather. I find the people friendly and polite with a can-do attitude. I don't really mind not having weeks and weeks of leave .... I never seemed to be able to use all my allowance up when I was in the UK.
I like that there seems to be a "long weekend" nearly every month, but unfortunately some of us are nearly always having to work the holiday, so we find it hard to get together.

I am not sure about my work here as a physio. We don't seem to have the autonomy we had in the UK, and after 6 months I still haven't been able to sort out what I should be getting paid as stuff never seems to arrive where it's supposed to. I don't feel well supported at work and I think my manager is a dip-stick.

My OH is doing well in his job .... maybe he'll be earning so much soon that I can pack mine in! I'd love to have the time to do voluntary stuff and not have to worry about money.

For our kids it has been SUCH a good move. They love it here and are much more motivated in both their school and home life. They are doing very well.

I am surprised by how expensive it is to live here, and the cost of living seems to be rising rapidly. I find our builder to be a pain in the behind! There is a laid back attitude to things here that can be very frustrating!!!! But you can't change it, so I guess in time you get more laid-back yourself or end up on valium!

For our kids it has been SUCH a good move. They love it here and are much more motivated in both their school and home life. They are doing very well.

I miss my family ... my parents are visiting next month, and I can't wait to see them, but it'll be hard saying goodbye again. I feel sick at the thought.

There.

Hello!! Another I'm another Canadian girl married to a reluctant Englishman!

Well I am have been living here in England for about 9 years. I have been working on DH for years. I think the thought of it was just too overwhelming for him to contemplate. Immigration forms, leaving job, finding new job, selling house. All of that.

Do you know what swung it for him? Going home last summer and seeing all of our friends and family living an awesome relaxed life. He then had a goal. My parents live next to a lake and have the shore in their front garden. He could just jump in the kyack every morning and go for a paddle. People were so relaxed. We were just doing Canadian things that could never happen here in England. We have children now and so do alot of our Canadian friends. We saw what we could be doing. We kept saying to each other why aren't WE living here. We have the choice of two countries and we are in England.

Has your DH spent much time in Canada. You should take him home and do some Canadian things. I don't know, things like quading and getting lost in the bush, sitting around a fire pit, fishing, roasting weiners on deserted beaches, going for Sunday drives without a destination. (DH still can't get his head around this last one! LOL)

We will obviously have to work when we get there but I can promise you our weekends are going to fab!!

Good luck!!

Im a British girl with a Canadian partner we met three years ago while i was travelling and have been in Canada ever since.

It is a beatiful place and I wouldnt go home (even though sometimes i get very homesick) its not an easy move to make and it takes a lot of time, patience and hard work to not only get through the immigration process but also adjusting to living here too.

I do get very homesick, even though i am one of the family with my husbands lot its still not the same as your own family, but you learn again over time to appreciate them when they are here more. I have to say that I have a much better relationship with my family now more than ever, and being 3000 miles away has its advantages when theres a family feud on you can stay well out of it.

its a great move if you are both 100% wanting to do, and i dont think its something he can be pushed into, i would also suggest a trip over here and show him what you love so much. I dont know many people that dont fall in love with it, especially BC which i hear is a beatiful Province.

Have you got UK Indefinite Leave to Remain? If so, it might be worth applying for British citizenship once you've got 3 years residence in the UK. It would make things easier should you want to return.