Than everywhere. Each district has four independently administered publicly funded school boards, each of which maintains staff and facilities. Eligibility is complicated and subject to fiddling but the essence of it is that a Catholic francophone has the choice of any school. A Catholic anglophone has the choice of two, Anglo-Catholic or Anglo-Other. An irreligious francophone also has the choice of two, franco-Other or Anglo-Other. Some English language schools offer FI but I don't think any French language schools offer English immersion.

We've been in Alberta for over five years and decided last year that we want to go home to the UK. Four of the older kids (we have ten) have fledged and some have partners, so they've decided to stay. We've had a hard time from them but we're getting older and simply can't stay here. Not to mention the eight month winters. Last week it was minus 49 C. Our hearts aren't in it anymore. We've had that call from home twice and gone back to see our parents before they passed away. We still have family back home and have no wish to go through that again.

Our farm is on the market and would have sold this year except for buyers not being able to sell their properties. However, things are picking up in the property market and we're hoping to sell soon. I'm a freelance writer and journalist and I simply transferred my business to Canada. The reverse will be true going home. Most of my clients are in the UK anyway. Yes, we won't have much cash when we arrive but due to the fact that I kept all my UK bank accounts and credit cards we should be able to get some kind of mortgage and start again. We'll certainly have enough to hit Sainsbury's hard when we arrive.

Bottom line is that for us. We will never complain about UK weather, the food, the NHS, the education system (our local primary school was contaminated with asbestos and no one said anything for three months), the beer, supermarket prices, the traffic or wildlife and much, much more. We've had our fill of wildlife encounters, none of them pleasant (cougars, wolves, coyotes and bears). In our opinion, if you're coming to Canada think very, very hard and research past the glowing PR. In terms of the prairies ask about dry skin, severe headaches, nose bleeds, hearing problems and mosquitoes. My wife and I have both had West Nile virus. What a rush. Finally, jobs. Canadians like to employ Canadians. No matter what your qualifications are. Expect to earn less than your qualifications and experience should dictate.

We've learned a lot and have lots of tales to tell. But was it worth it? Frankly, no.

Ten kids. Wow. I know what you mean about it being in many ways a harsh land.

It's -20 in the Ottawa area. Brings back awful memories.

I hope your move goes smoothly,

Bev

Not much else to do in the Alberta back country when its -40


Canada is a great big country, it never ceases to amaze me that people come here, get fed up of one bit and then go back without trying another bit first... Losing parents is hard, but its going to be hard where ever you are, there is no easy way to go through that.

We've been to BC and it didn't inspire us. Nice mountains but not ours, if you know what I mean (Highlands and islands of Scotland). We researched other places too. It's not been an easy decision but we can only jump once. Time to go home.

Thanks. Fingers crossed for a buyer soon :0).

An old saying but its a true one - "Home is where the heart is", and it depends what your heart is set on, sometimes no matter what beauty and quality of life a country offers, and what ever part of that country you choose to live in, sometimes its simply just not enough, if its close friends and family that you miss and important to you. However I think you have to live thro that scenario, so you can truly realise what these people actually mean to you.

Good luck with your move.

This may be your perception, but it is by no means universal. I have never experienced this. I was hired by a Canadian company, by Canadians, my UK quals were what got me the job. Pay was comparable with the UK, better toward the end. Had some bumps along the way, but that could have happened anywhere.

Now do the hiring and we hire any nationality with suitable qauls from any country, so long as they have the right experience, from any country and pay accordingly.

I think you lucked out-my experience has been the same as the previous poster, my husband has'nt been able to get in to IT, which is our main reason for coming to Canada- he was the one with the degree and he is the one who has'nt found a friggin job.

Maybe fortunate, but luck never played a part in it, cannot say about IT, seems to a be lot of people doing it though. Only time I was without a job was by choice. Some have said their accent was a hindrance, yet I found it to be an asset. Don't have a degree, never found I needed it to be a 'bus driver. Our main reason to come was for a change of scenery, the job was incidental. I would imagine it is frustrating looking without success.

I haven't found this by my own experience as I'm self-employed. However, in the course of my job (journalist) I have found many expats from all over the world tell the same story. I think once you're in with a Canadian company then your ability will show and you'll progress. It's getting in that's the problem for many.

So I guess some have some have not.

I would wonder though how many blame discrimination and it is just the best candidate for the job, which was not them in the eyes of the interviewer. One would wonder why some people had no problem getting work, whilst others struggle, sometimes in the same industry.

Canadians who have problems getting a job blame the immigrants. When there is only one job and 50 to choose from 49 are going to be disappointed. It is just doubly hard when you are new to a country and don't have a job at all. In their old country many of these people would likley only be looking for work by choice and looking while working. I have heard of people in the UK who have been laid off and finding it hard to get a job, blaming the immigrants for taking the jobs.

Been living in BC for 9 1/2 years - no friends (and I mean NONE) people just don't seem to as friendly as I was told before I left the UK. BC is a beautiful place, it's just not the place for me. I hope you are able to get back, I'm going next year, actually when I made the decision I felt relieved and a bit happier. Just on the countdown now. When you don't have a good experience in one place, I don't think you have the heart to try elsewhere, I'm done, now I just want to go home. God Bless

With you on that. We can't hack Alberta either. Seems to be obsessed by greed and getting worse and the government seems to be to the right of Genghis Khan in attitude. Good luck.

How is this different from any other capitalist country? People trying to get ahead and do better for themselves. Each of us is motivated in a different way, many of the 'greedy' also make substantial charitable donations, which without their wealth would not happen.