Well...a year has passed since we landed in 40 below, blowing a gale and snowing.
How has it all turned out?? All to plan, so far, and really wonder why we where worried that it would be anything else..
I started in my job a week after landing, my girls started school within a month and my wife a job in the same time. Girls love the schools,have made friends, sleepovers,school skiing trips, not too much homework, good results even tho our youngest struggles with reading and writing, the school has been excellent with her. ( and us!)
We rented one house and now renting another, maybe we might buy once we get PR, which we have done medicals for and our case is sat in Ottawa. Our neighbour hood is quiet and everybody speaks or waves or interacts in some way or another, in a good way. We have tried most things around us, going to the Lake, skiing, ice hockey supporters,golf,walking,music/food festivals, rodeo's,kayaking,soccer, swimming,sitting in the hot tub watching the Northern Lights....all the things that seem to make Canada go around. This year?? maybe RV-ing,our own Kayak's and whatever else comes along.
Cost of living is probably a bit higher than we figured and for the 1st 6 months we carried our life in a folder everywhere we went, passport,TWP,Sin no.job offer etc etc and usually ended up paying a deposit to get an account for normal things. ie;gas,electric,cell phone,tv,etc etc....things have settled down and a routine has been achieved.
We entered into this heart,body and soul, and I couldn't have done this without my wife and girls, we have done this together and I think this is what is making it work...
It is an interesting journey and it shows what character people close to you have.
Enjoy, we have and will continue to do so.

It's so nice to read on here someone has settled really well and is enjoying their life in canada x

such a nice post, pleased things have worked out so well for you

It's lovely to read such a positive post. It sounds like you have packed a lot into your first year. Congratulations!!!

Glad to hear things are working well...well done, fingers crossed for your PR. On the deposit front for gas/water etc....we had to do the same and unexpectedly they automatically rebated us the deposit after a year. We did not have to chase them for it.

Great positive post guys. Lovely to hear you have settled in well and are all enjoying life here!

Now we need Ottawa to get moving

Great to hear you are all settled in and embracing your new life here in Canada. Roll on PR

Hey thanks to all,

We have been positive and I think that has helped, also not reading too much in to what some people say on here, this site has a wealth of information and excellent people but when you are feeling down and impatient about the wait, it is not always the best place to be...things take time to happen and the only thing you can do is get the information they require as quickly and precisely as possible and just wait....

We love this site because of the info and the humour, real people with real problems with real solutions...

It is all worth waiting for though..

Wow a year already?! Many congrats to you all, and many best wishes for the next 12 months and beyond..

+1

So glad that you're happy in Canada. I personally love Saskatchewan and all it has to offer me at the moment. We've been here almost 5 years and came with no preconceived ideas and a can do attitude. We bought a small cabin a small boat, a sled and a pick up. We ice fish in the winter and fish from our boat in the summer, we've tried water skiing but that was a no no but tubing is great.

Enjoy what the next year has to offer

And the same week we have our 1st anniversary we get this e-mail....

Dear Applicant,

We are pleased to advise you that processing of your application for permanent residence in Canada has almost been completed. Your file is being forwarded to our Consulate General in Buffalo. They or one of the other consulates in the United States will be in touch with you, probably in 4-8 weeks, about finalization of your application. The final step is issuance of your immigration documents.

Regards,

Case Processing Pilot - Ottawa | Centre de Traitement Pilote - Ottawa - 57

Now is that spooky??