canada....yay or nay ?

[wotsits4]

basically I just wanted pros and cons on Canada, we haven't started any visa processes or even looked at areas we might like etc...

we (my Dh and I ) have literally just discussed it on and off now and again over the years and I just wanted to know the reality of a move what do people love/hate about it?
what are the schools like ?
houses/people/culture
do you spend more/better quality of time together now or before?
are living costs higher ?

basically tell me everything and anything you think we should know and also what you wish you had known ?

[Bakersbum]

I haven't lived there personally, but have family that do and my sister lived there for 10 years.

My nieces went to a school over there up until the age of 8, they fitted in really well back here, so can assume the education was of a similar standard.

Houses all generally seem to be a lot bigger and detached and with basements.

People always seem really friendly and genuine, my sister was really welcomed to the town and made lifelong friends.

I guess it depends on where you go regarding the culture, we have spent lots of time in Calgary, Rockies and Saskatchewan, all 3 very different but a big emphasis on outdoor activities (hunting is quite popular). Saskatchewan was like stepping back in time.

The weather is the biggest difference, seems to only really be two seasons, I remember going there for a few weeks in September, the first week we were in shorts and late twenties/early thirties, the second week it snowed. The winters are long and hard (not sure about Vancover/Montreal though), but they are better equipped to deal with it. For many months you can literally only do a dash from the car to inside and spend no longer than that outside.

[whatsagoodusername]

It depends on where you go, really. I know Toronto and Vancouver best (Canadian, but grew up in US, university in Canada), so answering with those.

BC is quite laid back and often outdoorsy (skiing, hiking). London has always reminded me strongly of Toronto (to the point I was massively disappointed on my first trip to the UK). I think the Maritimes are quite laid back as well, but I've not been.

Houses in the west will be bigger than you'd get in Toronto.

Vancouver is quite temperate - not much snow, but lots of rain (SE England weather). Toronto has hot summers, cold winters, very nice spring/autumn for a few weeks. Further away from the Lakes, you get a LOT of snow. Ottawa, for example, can have 6 feet of snow and the river freezes over. But Canadians have adapted pretty well to this.

Universities are very good generally, so I assume earlier schools are good as well.

[echt]

What do you and DH do for a living? I understand competition for employment is pretty fierce.

[MrsMarcJacobs]

I live in Toronto and will answer any questions you have. The schools in the nicer housing areas are fine. Kids get the summer off. where are you locating from?

[MrsMarcJacobs]

I live in Toronto, so can answer any questions you have. I have lived here for 2 years, coming from London (13 years there). To apply for the visa you need to be police checked by every country you hold a passport for. This held my application up a lot as I am a citizen of two countries. The uk check was quick but other countries are not as quick.

It was a bit change but I didn't think about it too much - I moved within 6 weeks. Toronto is urban but there is a lot of cool things about it. (All my London friends who have visited have liked it a lot so it would be good if you are used to big urban cities)
bakersbum I wish that was the case with houses but that doesn't apply for Toronto. The prices here have skyrocketed in the good areas - there are just not a lot available at the moment so competition is fierce. and a lot of people live in condos (flats). housing is obviously relative to how much money you have to spend. Vancouver seems to be more expensive for housing, the weather is more temperate and it rains a lot, whereas in Toronto, we get the warm summers and cold winters. You do get used to the cold, the only time I wouldn't want to be outside is when the temperatures hit below - 10. When it's that scenario, I only go outside to go to work and when I need to. other than that, you just put you coat on and get on with it. Montreal is colder than Toronto during the Winter. It's a nice French speaking city.
You need to be able to drive to be here. it is definitely more family friendly here, people expect you to have a family life which helps with work- life balance enormously. It has taken about 2 years to get a bunch of friends that I feel comfortable with. saying that I met a very good friend within a month of moving here and we spent a lot of time together.
The holidays are more spread throughout the year, labour day is this weekend and thanksgiving in October which I enjoy a lot but it is usually when it starts to get colder. I enjoy the holidays and seasonal celebrations. Of course, Halloween is great for the kids and is a candy overload. It's my favourite celebration of the year and usually involves lots of people at mine and food.
I catch the subway to work, and the streetcar. The subway has only made me late for work once so doesn't break down all the time.it is also air conditioned in the summer.

[MrsMarcJacobs]

I have no idea why I repeated myself :) obviously need more tea.

[Bue]

OP, you should have a look on the Canada boards on britishexpats.com

Lots of knowledgeable posters there and tons of information.

[momnipotent]

I am in Canada, north of Toronto on the shores of Lake Huron!

It's OK here. It used to be cheaper than the UK but other than housing and petrol I find that the UK and Canada are more or less the same now for cost of living, often things are cheaper in the UK.

This past winter was the worst I have ever known! It was below -30C many days in a row. We have ski passes but couldn't use them because of the cold. Generally the summers are quite hot but the last two have been not that great either. They are forecasting another polar vortex for this winter. Yuck.

Will you be looking for a job to come over with or hoping to get one when you get here? The job market is not brilliant TBH but obviously depends on what you do. Vacation allowance will likely be two or three weeks total - it makes trips home difficult.

Schools are OK. I personally think they spend way too much time arsing around doing non-academic things! The school year starts in September (the Tuesday after Labour Day) and runs until the end of June. For breaks you will get the standard stat holidays (Thanksgiving, Family Day in February, Good Friday and Easter Monday, Victoria Day in May) plus two weeks off at Christmas and a week off in March. That's it! No other weeks off like in the UK. There will be other days called PA Days that I think are the equivalent to what you call inset days.

Other places I have lived:
Vancouver - it rained. A LOT. Housing is super expensive. I personally did not like Vancouver at all but I think I am an anomaly there.

Montreal - beautiful city. I really like Montreal but it is a difficult city to live in as an anglophone.

Edmonton - this is a nice city and family-friendly, but seriously cold. In the winter the sun did not come up until after 9 and set around 3pm. It was the first time I had experienced -40C weather!

Ottawa is a beautiful city and very family friendly, I would happily live there!

Where I live is beautiful but not a city. I am on the shore of a lake, the Niagara Escarpment is nearby with skiing, hiking, there is the longest freshwater beach nearby. There are worse places to live!

[madwomanbackintheattic]

We live in the Rockies. Four ski resorts in easy reach, I work in a national park. Three kids in local school. Dh works in Calgary and commutes daily.

Am lolling at hunting being popular - depends really. Round here wildlife are protected to within an inch of their lives, and we regularly have trail closures to let bears/ cougars etc get on with their business without being disturbed by humans.

Canada is such an enormous place you really have to have a firmer idea of what you are looking for, to be honest.

I can help with Olympian-stuffed mountain town, if that's your bag.

[MooseBeTimeForSpring]

I live in Northern Alberta, about 5 hours drive north of Edmonton. Winter is November to April. Temperatures around -30/-40 for weeks on end, but it's a dry cold. You're ok if you're wrapped up well.

You'll be waiting a couple of years if you apply on the standard route. Canada is clamping down on foreign workers. Employers have to prove that there aren't any Canadians available to do the job.

What fields of work are you in?

[ShakeYourTailFeathers]

I can guess where madwoman lives . Jealous!

We're in Calgary, and lived in Vancouver too. have been in Canada 8 yrs now.

Van is lovely when it's not raining - stupidly expensive for housing, and very grey in winter, like the UK. Nice place to live though. Very multicultural - massive Chinese population.

Calgary is very sunny, cold in winter, but we get Chinook winds that thaw us out for a few days every now and again so it's not grinding -25 for weeks like it can be a bit further north or east. Dry cold makes a massive diff over damp cold, as Moose says.

Calgary housing prices are going up, but a nice good sized 3 bed house is in most normal working people's reach - DH and I both work - he's an electrician and i'm just an office bod and we have a really nice house compared to what we'd have in the UK.

Food is more expensive here though. And I think utility bills are higher but that might be due to a much bigger house .

Lots of lovely outdoorsy things to do - summer and winter. We ski, camp, kayak, hike.

People very welcoming - have made a few good friends. we're really happy here.

Temporary foreign worker visas have just been clamped down on so check the Canadian immigration website for info.

[ShakeYourTailFeathers]

oh - and something that's odd here is loads of people work early hours. DH and I both work 7am-3pm and did in Van too, as do a lot of our friends.

I have no idea why this is, but actually it's great - we get home and have a good long evening....even if you go to bed a bit earlier.

[TrueScot7]

We moved to PEI just over 5 years ago from Scotland. The east coast is beautiful, we were initially going to go to Calgary but after visiting there we decided we wanted a much slower pace of life and started to look at the East coast.
PEI is a beautiful island. There are lots of expats here. It did take us a while to get used to the slower pace of life but we love it now!
Our daughter is in grade 3, French immersion. We don't speak French but it is an asset if you do. Bilingual people tend to get better jobs and there is more opportunity for them.
House prices here are fantastic! When we first moved here we bought a brand new 4 bed 2 bathroom, 2 living room & double garage it was 2200 sq ft and it cost $214 000! We since moved to a century home in the country.
Work here can be hard to find but if you are a nurse or Dr then you will definitely get work. My husband was a long haul truck driver to begin with and now he is working as Operation supervisor, mon - fri.
I am not working just now but hope to go back to school in January.
We love living here, summer is hot, fall is beautiful but the winters can be harsh. But you get used to it! Our daughter ski's in the winter and we go over to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick when we can for mini vacations.
Maine is only 5/6 hour drive from here too.
PEI is a tourist destination so the summer is pretty busy but nothing compared to Glasgow! Lol
Lots of olaces do close for the winter, and it's really not that busy during the winter.
The beaches are gorgeous and so close to you regardless of where you are on the island. We love the north shore beaches.
Food is expensive here and utilities can be too. We heat our home with a wood stove and that saves us a lot of money each year! :)

[ShakeYourTailFeathers]

It's snowing in Calgary today .

It was 26 and sunny yesterday. We have bonkers weather here sometimes

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Ha. Yup, -1 and about six inches of snow here bonkers is right. I actually still have pansies and marigolds in flower underneath it all. And more expected tomorrow...

[MooseBeTimeForSpring]

And we haven't had any! (yet)

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Another six inches overnight, power cut, still snowing, school bus drivers can't get in from out of town, and I am going back to bed. There are days when the drizzle of London seems an awfully long way away!!

[Elfina]

Ooh, interesting. Anyone know whether Clinical Psychologists and Statisticians are in demand?