Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I have to say that my heart sank a bit when I read your post if only because I've been feeling quite jittery about this decision but have been pushing these doubts to the back of my mind as we're so sick of trying to work out where to go . We will be looking at areas with transport links to Glasgow too ,the nicer parts of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, Troon is at the top of the list but so few houses come up within our budget that it will be more difficult to find the right one.
Thanks for the good wishes and if you have any bad news about those other areas we're looking at please keep it to yourself ;) I'm not strong enough to have to rethink everything right now.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

There's probably knowhere in the UK that doesn't have crappy areas as the place is small and full to the brim with people and that's what makes it such a fantastic place to live. It's constantly exciting and lots of stuff to do. You can sit and people watch for hours and not get bored. You know to choose carefully and knowhere has to be forever.....better work opportunities can afford us all the area of our dreams later. My hubby and I realised we didn't want to be put out to pasture just yet and actually having a really 'easy' life is a bit dull right now.

I sopke to my girlfriends today and laughed so much at the stories they had to tell. And the police often see the world through dark 'crim' eyes.......they've seen too much.....I lived near Manchester for YEARS and never had any problems.....my door was unlocked more than here!

Anyway, fret not and look forward to it all.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Had conversation tonight with hubby about - Whats the worst thing that could happen? We came to the conclusion that probably the wost thing that could happen is that we'll be living the same sort of life that we had before we came and really that wasn't too bad.!
Yep have to try and really focus on all the things we're looking forward to as one thing we are really sure about is that we don't want to be here for the rest of our lives :eek:

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

:wub:

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Just to say :) OH and myself took a trip up the west coast of Scotland, last March for his 50th :eek:
It was my first visit to scotland... we went as far up as Glasgow and then cut across, to the east coast and i was absolutely blown away by the coastline and countryside between Ayr and Glasgow..... we both commented on how simular the West Coast was to the coastline off Vancouver Island...
We only had 3 days to fit in as much as pos....but we will definitely be paying that west coast another visit.:D

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Sorry if I added to your concerns.....In reality I was only trying to advise in an effort that you would avoid the pit falls others have made. Their are some nice area's of course in all the areas you mention. In your situation I would rent first, (ideally in the area you are looking at to settle) use that as a basis for looking around. As you mentioned in your original post, it is a move you only want to do once.

Their is a vast difference vacationing somewhere for a few weeks, and actually living there full time.

Best of luck.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Probably should have mentioned that I'm from Glasgow originally although haven't lived there since I was a child ,but still have family there and hubby was at Strathclyde Uni when we met so we do feel we know it a bit but as you mentioned living somewhere full time is different as we know only too well now.
I did realise you were trying to point out the pit falls and its the ned culture and football nonsense that I'm most worried about. In many ways the decision to go back has been so much harder. Its quite ironic though my parents moved away from Glasgow to give their kids a better life and here I am (possibly) heading back there .

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Ok so here's the thing - we need some honest and balanced comment and quickly!

We are looking at moving to Calgary from Hampshire in UK. I will be working in Calgary Police. Jo my wife no job yet as wants to settle kids (12 and 8). I have 23 years pensionable police service in UK and a career break from my currrent force for 3 years.

The whole idea of Canada, the rockies, the life style appeals - so if it is so good why are people comming back.

I would really appreciate some feed back - please be direct!

Due to pay yet more money on medical next Monday (26th OCtober) so I really want to make my mind up.

Those who are or have come back - particularly from Alberta - why?

Thanks all

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

We moved from Surrey to Calgary two and a half years ago - CPS.

We waiver on and off all the time! Some of it is great, and some not so great. But we could give an Alberta perspective if you so wish - I'd probably be happier to do this by PM or even a phone call if that would help.

As has been said many times before, it very much depends on what you are coming from, and what you hope to gain. How much do you enjoy (or not) your current job (and even what rank you are)? Does you wife currently work and feel worthwhile - sometimes replicating that is very hard.

Ourselves and rae (EPS) are the only ones who appear to have the odd issue with our new lives - or the only ones still on the forum anyway, or the only ones willing to say so :p

So if I appear negative occasionally, my comments may seem disproportionate to all the other people who have apparently settled very happily here - because they don't post .... if you see what I mean.

I have no issues in saying it how it is - but I see no need to slag off my new country or our employer either. But there are 'adjustments' that need to be made. Most appear quite happy to be honest and we may be the ones out of step. But not out of step enough that we are oddballs - the rest of this thread highlights what many feel.

Personally, if I was you, I'd wait the 25 years and come over here with the full pension. We have friends in the Met planning this for 4 years time. I'm guessing you are probably early to mid 40's?

Depends also if you want to be a copper till you are 55/60? or are you happy to do something else, or have a yearning to do anything else? The reality is that you will be the "new boy" with 23 years experience - which will largely be ignored - and it will then take several more years to get off the beat - you could be 48/50 years old before you move department.

Please shout if we can help any more - I'm not a negative person generally - and I can also put you in touch with 'happy' transferees too :p

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Mmmmm, it would be a great adventure. It's a good time to do it now and try it for a couple of years and if it doesn't work out you can return.....but I notice the age of your kids....yikes. If they are adventurous, adaptable spirits I'd say go fo it but remember you won't get home status when you return for university unless you have lived in the UK for three years. It's a huge problem for lots of people returning so bare that in mind.

Also, Canada is amazing.....but it's difficult to make relationships like you have back home. Don't under estimate the Brit humour and culture. I promise you'll miss it.....but it all depends on what you want.....you have to just do it to discover if it works or not.

Hope it all works out.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Some are, most are not.

When working I flew quite a few expats back to the UK and got chatting with them. From what I heard it was more about the adaptability and expectations of the individual than the country. Some wanted the British 'stuff' with mountains, its not like that.

We've been here 15 years and would not dream of leaving. When someone is dissatisfied with something, there is a lot of negativity. You may also want to pose the question to those that stay to get a balanced view.

Many blame the country, but a country cannot screw up your life. It is a culture, some like it some don't. Life is different to the UK. I started in Calgary due to work and ended up in BC. Personally I prefer BC, but did not dislike AB either. One should also ask oneself the reason for emigrating, if it is to run away, likley the problems will follow. If it is for a change and a challenge, its worth a go. You never know unless you try.

It worked for some and not for others. But at least whether you stay or go back, we all tried. We can spend our lives waiting, who knows we may not be here tomorrow. Just heard a friend I flew with in the service, a year younger than me just cashed in his headset due to ill health.

Some mention the British sense of humour, but this is not Britain. If its British sense of humour you want, there is only one place to get it. I have worked with many nationalities and we just get along, never really thought about who comes from where. The Americanisation of the Canadian culture is what gets me, they even teach American spelling in schools now.

Calgary does get greener in the spring (when its not snowing). Hey, if you don't like the weather in Calgary, wait 10 minutes. The other saying, was if you don't ike the weather out back, look out the front. The weather in Calgary is extremely variable.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I think it's different for everybody, for me it turned out that the UK could offer us more in terms of money, business and enjoyment. So we came back. Some people get seriously homesick, others just want to go home. It seems that most Brits do pretty well out there, so it's something you should try

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Back from Canada for 2 months after 30+ years there, in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and Victoria.

As Aviator says, it is a different country. The similarities in language and government structure tend to mask that. How would you feel about moving to Switzerland, assuming no language problem and the possibility of meeting a fair number of other English people living there? It's basically the same thing.

I don't know anything about your career track, but it does seem likely that you'll lose status, no matter what the paperwork says. Is there a reason not to wait until full pension?

Consider the kids and their future. Plus the fact that if you stay, they could easily end up going to university in BC, not too far away, or Ontario, and then settling there. Canada is a huge country. I've been particularly struck since coming back by how all our friends are in constant contact with their grown-up children, even though some of the children have moved long distances. Lancashire to Cornwall, Wiltshire to Yorkshire, still are just long drives. Calgary to Kingston is a very long drive. Getting together at Christmas could be prohibitively expensive.

Most of our Canadian friends have children living a thousand miles or more away. Ours were 3000 miles away. Are a bit more now from the UK, but not much.

In general, I'd say schools in Canada offer a less rich cultural education than in Britain. There just isn't that much nearby in most cases.

We didn't dislike Canada. We may go back. We did find it a bit boring, which is a strange thing to say, but for example. Anytime I switch on Radio 4 here there seems to be something interesting on. In Canada, there were a few good programmes, but CBC seemed to mainly be a forum for everyone with a whine.

There are different and interesting things nearby here, whereas the size of Canada stretches everything out, so different is often a lot farther away.

There's spectacular country, but you have to get to it, and the countryside isn't open as it is in Britain. No footpaths and such, only hiking trails in provincial and national parks. Great skiing in some places if that's your thing. Boating, too, on the coasts and lakes.

Just some comments. In really does depend on what you're expecting from it, like everything.

Bev

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Amazing. How are things going for you? One of the main reasons I'm going back is what you have written regarding education and distances. If we were staying we'd place our kids in French Immersion as it seems better funded and resourced and a great opportunity to learn a language however I am less than impressed by the education here in BC. It is chronically under funded and the system seems to expect very little of them. The style of teaching is so, so dry and old fashioned. The standards vary from school to school and the place is FULL of teachers waiting to retire. I can't wait to get back and teach in the UK as I can feel my skills dying a death......

Anyway, I'm fascinated by your journey.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Hi, ann is an oddball, she is happy all the time.

this will not be the answer you are looking for, sorry.

its completely impossible to comment, because it is such an individual thing. now that may seem like an obvious statement, but it does seem to escape some, who when given a blanket reason for returning, ie too cold in winter, turn their nose up and reply back, "well that would not bother me."

to try and be a little helpful i will say briefly how it is PERSONALLY for me. thats in bold because some on here have a habit of jumping all over you, as you'll see as time goes on.

+
nice, hot and feels like long summers, even though they are not really.
lower cost of living.
more disposable income.
more free time.
safer environment for children.
nicer 'feel' to the place, people and life in general, less stressed, slower, quieter.
sense of community and charity.

-
long cold winters when you can be housebound for days.
lots of things more expensive than UK, have to have the income to balance this.
language barrier, terms and generally chatting.
homesickness for friends and family.
homesickness for lots of simple things, tv, radio, food.
a feeling of isolation, made worse by poor international flight connections and expensive travel.

thats the tip of the iceberg for both + and -. i would strongly advise several trips to research. i would even more strongly advise completing your service in the UK as ann said.

all the best, rae.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Looks like I'll be moving back to the UK in February, that's when my work visa runs out, to be honest this would have bothered me greatly when I first came here but now I actually can't wait to get back to the UK.

I think it's nice here but I'm not in love with the place and I've found it just to be one obstacle after another for us. And I feel there's more for me back home, in that I didn't realise how much I would miss the familiarity and support network back home, it's ok being able to catch up and keep in touch via Skype but it just isn't the same. I'm glad to have experienced what I did, not many people can say they moved to Canada when they were 21 and lived there for a year! And I can say that it has made me appreciate more what I had back home and appreciate my family and friends more.

Positives:

The scenery, it's a beautiful country and some of the scenery is breathtaking.

More opportunities for work/study.

People tend to be friendlier.

Less crime

Negatives:

The weather, we found it was either too hot or too cold, the snow is pretty to look at alright too but an absolute nightmare when having to drive in it and clear your driveway for months.

Bills, rent is more expensive, car insurance is about the same if not more in some instances than the UK, mobile phone rates are expensive, it's either an expensive contract or Pay & Go which is like stepping back to 10 years ago in the UK, TV/Cable/Phone isn't that cheap, electricity and other utilities are average.

Car maintenance, in the past couple of weeks we've handed about $1600 to the auto service department to replace an exhaust manifold and alternator, so it's not cheap.

Groceries are pretty average, some of it's cheap, some not so cheap. $7+ for a tub of ice cream still gets us.

Wages, again varies, but for us we aint earning much more than we did in the UK....and we both seem to complain about our workplaces an awful lot lol

Maybe someday I'll change my mind, but I think for now it will be good for me to get back to the UK.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I feel like so many.....the place is just beautiful and is very safe. We rarely lock our house and car doors and can leave stuff on a car seat or CDs in the car. Parking is mostly free where we are and there is little to no traffic so it is never a thought or a concern. We have Mount Washington 30mins away and beaches and lakes in abundance to go to.....so why do I feel so fed up. Home sickness crept up on me severely and once there it never left. Life is passing by and friendships and family are in another place and I feel so removed from it all. I have beautiful places to visit but it seems irrelevant if I'm not sharing the experience with people I love.

People who treasure family and friendships should probably see it as a long trip and see what happens. For me, well it just doesn't fit.....

And work has been great at times but not enough to live on and a teaching job is near impossible here. Who's going to hire a Brit when there aren't enough jobs for the locals....maybe in a city it would be easier.

Anyway, good luck to all returning home and I envy those of you that have found happiness in their new life!

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

It's your opinion and I may be generalising (and things may be different in AB, depending on your industry), but I simply refuse to believe that overall Canada offers more opportunities for work/study than the UK.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

For me it offers more opportunities for work and study simply because I'm from Northern Ireland.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Don't know NI that well, so I'm not going to argue that point. But do you mean that AB offers more than NI, Canada offers more than NI or Canada offers more than the UK?

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

The area I live has more opportunities than NI, sorry I should be clearer, I haven't really looked at opportunities in the rest of Canada, just Alberta. Was just basically comparing the area I live now with the one I lived in when I was in the UK.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

No need to apologise. Just wanted to clarify if that's what you meant. I've whined on here before about what I see as the lack of opportunity (work and otherwise) in Canada and was just surprised to see you say that. But I also understand it can be vary depending on location and field.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I know you're talking about where you are, but for people considering Canada I have to point out that isn't a Canada wide thing. Leave stuff on a car seat in Victoria and the chances are good that a druggie will take them. The downtown is full of street people, some of them with addictions. (That's a problem is all Canadian cities, I think, but the climate means Victoria and Vancouver are attractive to them. Street life at -30 isn't good.)

Had a lovely drive over the moors to York today. Not too much traffic, wide open spaces, autumn colours. A bit over an hour.

It took us about that to get to the ferry to get off the island. It took 3.5 hours to get from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver, and that's just getting to the nearest city. Being on an island makes a difference, yes, but I can almost get from Whitby to London in 3.5 hours on the train, I think.

Bev

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Plus for Canada

Probably a safer place to bring up kids than in UK
Outdoor living in the summer, ie BBQ's etc, we sit out in our garden all summer long.
Nicer, longer, hotter summers.
Camping ,boating outdoor activities for the kids.
Skiing in the winter, snow boarding, outdoor ice rinks, winterfest, Xmas lights etc.
Like I say, great for kids


Minus for Canada
Loooooong cold winters.
Poor public transport system, need a car to do everything.
No local high street shops
Terrible television, we only watch programs on BBC Canada channel.
No Football (soccer) its dead in Canada.
Unfriendly race of people, Canadians don't talk unless you talk first.
Fewer holidays (some people I know still only get 3 weeks vacation after nearly 20 years at the same company)
No breaks for pensioners, ie rebate on heating bills, free bus passes.
Poor education system
Passive race of people, never complain, stand up for their rights, make a stand, they give in too easily.
Canada is a nation that basically follows and does not lead.( some people might not find that a minus).

Soon I'll put up my plus and minus for living in the UK.
Remember these are only my thoughts...feel free to pick them to bits

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I have to agree with all of the above ^^^^^^^^^

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I have lived in Canada for 11 years still have no friends. I really really tried. But I just don't feel I have anything in common and I'm not that interested once Ive got over the niceties. Brits have more of spark and zest for life. I prefer my own company now. Canadians are really lovely bunch of people. But it's hard to get past the first level.

I've decided to have the best of both worlds. I have house in Toronto and I'm going home for the winters and traveling back for the summers. I'm flying over in the next few weeks to buy a flat. So I can travel backwards and forwards. :)

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Where do you live in England... maybe we could rent your flat for six months to see if we could go back and live there.....just thinking out loud.
Been here 36 years still can't get past first base with most people. we have a handful of friends but don't see them unless we invite them over. no such think as dropping in for a cuppa and god forbid we go into a bar looking for a good laugh....yes time to go home I think.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

It always amazes me when I read people saying that they don't get invited to friends houses and that they cannot make Canadian friends?

I guess Canada is so big it really depends on where you live, I find them much more sociable than any of my English friends. I've just come back from a party tonight.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I would agree. In Canadageoff's post he/she stated

''Unfriendly race of people, Canadians don't talk unless you talk first''

That's a little disingenuous. More reserved than us Brits? Yes, Canadians in general terms are, but that is a million miles away from being 'unfriendly':thumbdown:

As to the rest of his/her observations I would broadly agree with however Canada is what it is.....I personally enjoy living here warts and all, as the mythical Utopia I have yet to discover . I suppose it depends on ones individual circumstances. The same 'fit' does not accommodate everyone however I am sure Canadageoff's observations will be of great assistance to those considering moving over here....cause as I say, it is what it is.:cool:

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Can you provide specific examples? I don't know how you can refer to Canadians as a 'race' of people. :confused:

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I think I see what the poster was driving at. I have found 'Canadians' (..like 'cradle Canadians' for want of a better expression) are pretty passive and put up with a lot from local government etc that the average Brit in the UK would create bloody hell about....like a 10% increase in local taxes. Seems to be accepted with barely a murmur where I am...usual response is 'well, what do you do'...Where I came from (UK) the Mayor would have been dragged from the town hall and lynched from the nearest lamp standard:lol:

It just seems to be the Canadian way, a little too passive and Liberal attitude for me, but I live with it....one of the warts of Canadian life I have reconciled myself to.:)

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Not arguing with the fact that you love it, but there are two sides to the Ontario summer. Mosquitoes? They made sitting out in the evening impossible in Ontario and Quebec for us, and I'd pretty well get bitten any time of day if I was gardening. Evening's one of my favorite times of day to sit outside. Plus it was often just too hot for us. Some people love 30 degrees. Others can't stand it.

To be fair to Canada, these things are much better on the west coast, as is the winter. And it's very beautiful there.

Bev

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

I have been feeling guilty that i wrote i agreed with what the OP put in their post about Canada. I don't agree Canadians are unfriendly, since being here they have been more than welcoming and i have made good friends with a few. I feel they are different to us with regards to humour etc and maybe i do not relate fully to Canadians but in general they are nice people.

Few, I feel better now!:o

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

One of the biggest shocks for me about Canada is the environment thing. From the outside world the perception- for me anyway- was that Canada was a very environmentally friendly country, caring for the environment.

Having lived in Alberta for 3 years and BC for 3 years it's clear it's the exact opposite. People leaving cars/trucks etc. idling unnecessarily, outside house lights permanently on, seeming inability to do anything without turning a key- cutting the grass, trimming the edge, washing the car, clearing up leaves.

At the larger level the disregard for the landscape and wildlife is quite shocking- hill sides clear cut, streams, rivers and ground water polluted, bears indiscriminately shot because the local law enforcement can't be bothered with the process of moving them out of the area when they cause problems.

The biggest shock of all was reading a book on the oil sands in northern Alberta; I think it's called "Tar sands- dirty oil and the future of a continent". All I can say is that I'm glad I don't live anywhere near there anymore.....yes we need oil but come on use a bit of common sense.

I'm not a greenie or tree hugger by any means but Canada is one of the last great wilderness areas left in the world and the country seems to be doing it's best to wipe it out of existence rather than looking to places (Europe for example) that have made that mistake in the past and trying to learn from it. Yes Canada has numerous "protected" National Parks such as Banff but "protected" is often used loosely.

The UK's far from perfect but with regard to the environment it's light years ahead. We have a thing here in BC called Air Care that's a bit like the British MOT except it's only for vehicle emissions. The provincial government are thinking of getting rid of it because new cars are a lot cleaner on emmissions- yeah, but the aim of Air Care is to ensure cars continue to be that way. Smacks of cost cutting methinks.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Then one also has to look at the record south of the border, China, South America, in fact most of the world. When economics come into the equation, environmentalism goes out the window. The number of cars on the roads in Europe puts the number of vehicles in Canada in the shade. Unfortunately the world demands resources, yet complains when they are extracted. Mostly the population is to blame, as market forces drive the economy.

If we did not have consumerism there would be less demand on resources. Cars have got way smaller in Canada in the last 15 years, recycling has gone up. BC is promoting the 100 mile diet in an attempt to get consumers to buy local goods.

The car is a way of life in North America, largely because the distances are so much further and public transport is impractical in many instances outside of the major centres. The whole country of Great Britain is pretty much a major centre. In Canada I could fly for 10 minutes, be in wilderness never to be found again if the aircraft went down, that is nigh on impossible in Britain.

Europe has already stripped its forests, built on the land and exhausted most resources, then looks to the rest of the world for theirs, to satisfy their consumerist society. China is an emegring power because of the global consumerist demand for cheaper goods. Their environmental record is not the best, yet we all keep feeding the demand for more cheap goods.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

The latest 'Vancouver - Green Capital of the World/Universe whatever' campaign highlights all this perfectly. They seem to be under the impression that they're all so green and environmentally sensitive, but all N. Americans consume way more than any European. When they were talking about water meters and usage per person, the average in Vancouver, was about twice what it is in the UK.

Really, they might be green by N. Amercian standards, but that isn't saying much in relation to somewhere like Denmark.

It does seem odd that they are getting rid of Air Care, so now there's nothing stopping you from driving a dangerously unsafe car on the road and polluting the environment at the same time. At least you won't be able to text at the same time soon :blink:

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

There is nothing stopping you driving an unsafe vehicle now, so long as it passes emissions standards. Not sure I agree with getting rid of air care either, but there are a lot of vehicles that don't need to go through it anyway. No farm vehicles need take air care, nor do some other categories and they can be some heavy polluters.

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

That's what I meant. With no MOT or equivalent, you can drive a dangerously unsafe car but at least it couldn't spew out tonnes of noxious fumes, whereas now it can - yippeee !!

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

Give me a chance. LOL. Not got there just yet. I should be there around mid November. Got a place sorted. I won't be back until the snow leaves Canada. end of march. Ready for the summer. :)

Re: Anyone leaving Canada?
 

So very true...the evidence of our own eyes as to the wrecks we see on the road on a regular basis. Many of my Canadian friends recoil in horror at the Transport laws in such as the UK, re the annual 'bumper to bumper' MOT test once the vehicle attains 3 years from first registration:eek:.

Having said that, the introduction of such legislation here in Canada may just be enough to stir the passive masses to revolution....:D...

Now what a shot in the arm for the North American auto industry that would be....and all that scrap metal too....:cool: