sinope

It is awful, and I just cannot understand why anyone would do such a horrible thing, especially as the victims are going to be little kids. Vile.

jonfrank123

Leaving syringes aside, in my nice neighbourhood park my kid loves to try and kick his shoes off. Sadly I can't let him as there lots of people here in Canada who think it's funny to smash beer bottles onto grass where kids play.

Anti social, no respect, its alive and well in Canada

TrishP

You're right when you say cities are less safe - I'm comparing what jonfrank123 has said about Montreal with where I am in rural NW Ontario. People here are so friendly and respectful and really lookout for each other. One thing that really hit me when I got here is how much people volunteer theri time to good causes and to help run and organise things in the community. It's a wonderful thing to see and be part of. Kids here are so safe that hitching home from Red Lake is a common sight (the municipality is made up of 5 townships that are about 10km apart each direction with no public transport).

In saying that there's also a growing drug and alcohol culture here too. No wishing to sound racist but going on experience, the problem appears to stem from the First Nations reserves near here and the folks who come here to shop. Its not unusual to see intoxicated First Nations folks around town and it tends to be the same faces - I don't want to sound judgemental as I don't know what's happened in these people's lives to make them turn to alcohol. Heck I've helped scrape them off the ground a few times myself. Even so, people here do look out for them, especially during the winter when they'll curl up to sleep in the CIBC carpark in -40 degrees!!

I think what I'm trying to say in a nutshell is that cities and heavily populated areas will tend to have higher crime levels overall and rural/small towns less so, but crime is everywhere if you look for it.
But I find people definitely more respectful here than the UK.

iaink

Its a big country, bound to be some bad areas. Somehow I doubt there are lots of people doing it, and although I see the odd discarded beer bottle, I doubt there is serious intent to harm associated with it. Ive certainly never seen anything like that. Maybe you should consider moving?

There really are lots of people who form voluntary litter crews to clean up the road sides once or twice a year though, something I dont recall having seen elsewhere, and that speaks volumes to me of the level of civic pride in the area I am in.

Somehow this "evil on the playground" thing smells a bit like the "razor blade in the apple" stories that come out every Haloween

Exile

Tell that to the little girl near us who ended up in hospital having HIV tests.

We try not to be paranoid as it's hard to go through life like that, but it does happen, it's happened quite recently near us, and it will make any parent worry.

jonfrank123

I live in Westmount QC which is officially the second wealthiest municipality in Canada. All the problems I am describing are within a few hundred metres of here. I'd really hate to think what it is like in a bad area of Canada

sinope

Unfortunately it isn't an urban legend. This was in my local paper about a month ago and eveyone is talking about it. I will do a link if I can dig out the article.

I love the volunteer litter crews idea - I pick up litter every time I visit the park but I do wish I didn't have to.

simongb

This post is so true! Don't run away, rather run to something. Moving to a new country is a HUGE decision, bigger than you realise now. This will effect everything in your life and the lives of those around you. Just wait! I am being realistic. Leaving the UK because you don't like the health service or because the weather sucks is not reason enough. I have lived in the US since 1992 and we have just as many problems (if not more) than the UK. I have American friends who would LOVE to live in the UK because they see all the good things about the UK. It really is just perspective. Think really hard before you make the decision to move. If you decide to go, don't sell your house, give it a year or two before cutting all ties with the UK.

iaink

wealth = good area???

If only that was true, it would be easy to fix societies problems by throwing money at them.

Buchan6

An earlier post made the comment about "Running Away"
You'll find a lot of the same issues that trouble you in the UK here in Canada.

A statement used a lot on this forum is "Same shit, shinier bucket"

Key questions you have to answer are
1.) If it goes tits up in Canada, can you return to the UK and continue your lives at a level you was at ?"

2.) Look at what you in have back in Blightyl and critically ask.
"Is what we have really that bad"
- Forget being pissed off that half the ****witts in the country that don't work and are fixated with no mark celebrities etc.
Focus on yourself and family only.

Finally I couldnt stress more that you MUST NOT fall for the lower cost of living line.

If you are heading fall any of the major cities, your disposable income will be less than back home in my opinion based on my own experiences.

utookmylove

Hi,
Both of my cousins have move to canada when i ask why the simple response is it's great people are friendly, great area great mountains walks etc myself i am moving to spain however there reasons are a bit different from mine i cant be that far away from my family and yes i love walking etc but i also love the nights out till morning however what they say is great well one cousin is alreay there the other is just waiting for her sale of her house to come through but all in all it's meant to be amazing, not a lot else as i dont know only by what i am told by my cousins but whatever you decide to be honest has got to be better than the britain we are meant to be living here i just wish mr blair would get on this site and realise everyone is moving out of the country because it has nothing much to offer

eurotramp

Get a headache reading your post.....is like listening to Vicky Pollard can you please use some kind of punctuation?

sinope

LMAO at vicky pollard.

aaron8123

I find it strange that you are asking this question on this forum based on your comments above, it seems you have already made up your mind. You asked for the negatives to gain a balanced view, and when someone gives them to you based on their experiences, you seem to be counter-arguing all their points. Sounds like you need to get those rose tints off

iaink

Thats why she is asking here as well as in the Canada forum. Lots of positive comments there were counter argued with negative ones too, so it works both ways.