To have a dream of moving to Canada

[daydreaming3]

Ok so I'll start this thread by saying that we haven't actually managed to ever go to Canada yet! So I know this may seem a bit stupid.

Me and my DH have been stuck in a rut. We're happy enough and have two beautiful Dc but we just feel like we don't want to spend our whole life doing exactly the same thing and never have any type of adventure.

When we first met we both said we would love to live in America, DH had already been travelling there and I had visited a lot before we met. However since having DC it's just not something we would feel safe doing.

We recently realised that we are both in jobs that would be on Canadas immigration list, something we never imagined we would be as they are not v skilled careers or anything. The pay for both jobs is much higher, although I understand living costs would also be higher.

All we've ever seen are tv programmes, pictures etc of Canada so we have absolutely no idea what it would actually be like. It's not something we are saying we would just jump in to and do. Obviously if we still liked the idea after visiting a lot of thought etc would have to be put in to it but can anyone give me any actual advice about what Canada is like before this becomes something I really want to do!

I'm Canadian, AMA.

Are you jobs city or small town based? We need many skilled trades, teachers, health care workers, etc. Although some skills will need equivalency tests.

@mdinbc thank you. My DH is a truck driver and I am a teaching assistant so we could mostly work anywhere. We wouldn't want to live in a big city though, probably a small town. Somewhere safe for the kids too. I don't even really know how the whole thing works to be honest I just saw that our jobs were included on the list. Is there any areas in general you could recommend?

I’m Canadian and now live in the UK. Canada is really a vast country with some differences between provinces and cities, weather, etc. I think it depends on what you’re looking for. What do you both like to do for hobbies? What kind of weather do you like? There’s a distinct difference between the temperate winter you’d have in Vancouver (similar to England) vs the winter in Ottawa or Montreal which can be very cold (sometimes -30 with the windchill).

Also, Canada is very expensive. I was back there this summer and was surprised by how much even food costs had gone up. What would you be doing for work? Do you know what salary you can expect?

@SpacePatch yes weather would play a big part, we would definitely want to be somewhere that winters weren't too tough. Mainly just because of the kids and safety.

What are housing and rental costs like? From what I've read about online housing can be cheaper than the UK but like you say other costs can be much more. My Dh is currently on about 35k a year but from looking at jobs online we think he could expect about 50k in Canada. I'm currently only paid about £15k and have seen similar jobs advertised for £35k in Canada.

We love getting outdoors so anywhere where we could take the kids for adventure walks etc would be amazing. We also like being close to amenities so nothing that would be too cut off from anything else.

Pay is definitely higher over here but house prices have doubled over the last 8 years. It's particularly a problem in BC where I am. Groceries are also considerably more expensive.

I moved here nearly 10 years ago, It had always been my dream to live here. I'm much less keen now and keep looking over the border, but it's so much harder to get into the states.

Make sure before you make the move that you have visited in winter. Same applies to anywhere in my opinion.

What are housing and rental costs like?

Anywhere from some of the the most unaffordable in the world (Vancouver) to alright (Manitoba). Anywhere mild in winter (BC) will be expensive because it's the warm part of a cold country.

Why not go on holiday and see if you like it?

I moved to Vancouver over 20 years ago from London. Definite pros and cons. The life our kids have is fabulous - so much opportunity to be outside, safe neighborhoods, clean air etc etc. But housing is v expensive - a 1 bed apartment in Vancouver is currently an average if $3,000 month. Also we are seeing climate change with wildfires in summer and flooding in winter.
If you want mild weather, beautiful scenery and small towns maybe look at Vancouver Island. Winters in the rest of Canada will be v hard to get used to after the UK.
Ask any questions you have. Oh - and we moved here without ever having visited - but we didn't have kids then, and kept our house in the UK for a few years in case it didn't work out....

Definitely visit first. And talk to as many people as you can. Canadians are generally very nice and friendly, but the conversational style is so different to the UK. (Am Canadian myself and much prefer it in the UK.)

Also bear in mind that the land is mostly privately owned or off limits. People think of it as "the great outdoors" but you can't wander all over the countryside like you can here. There are no footpaths. If you want the outdoors experience, you have to go to a park, and there are some big beautiful ones, but they won't be on your doorstep.

I suggest visiting the main Canada reddit board for a wake up call.

I love Canada. We used to go annually for a couple weeks every summer (I grew up in New England). It's a beautiful country.
But you will still have to work. The 'rut' you complain of - the daily routine won't change. And you will of course be thousands of miles away from family and friends.
Consider all those programs of people moving to Australia. People move back - much of the time because they miss their family and the familiarity of home.
Definitely visit. Check out the property/schools/jobs/area. Imagine not being able to see your mother but on a year etc. give your lives here a hard look. Decide if you really need to move that far - or maybe you need to change some other aspect of your lives first?

Friends of mine moved to Vancouver for 15yrs, they came back to the U.K. 4yrs ago. They really enjoyed their time living there and got out and about a lot, they felt the time was right to come home though and are very happy back in the South East now

@Squiblet Intrigued as to what you mean by the conversational style being different?

Also bear in mind that the land is mostly privately owned or off limits. People think of it as "the great outdoors" but you can't wander all over the countryside like you can here. There are no footpaths. If you want the outdoors experience, you have to go to a park, and there are some big beautiful ones, but they won't be on your doorstep.

That's a really interesting point, I had no idea! No Public Right of Way then?
Strange that such a huge country is so much more restricted for wandering around in than a tiny country like UK!

My family who emigrated to Canada 25 years ago are now moving back. There are some dark clouds over there politically and socially.

Housing and rental costs have skyrocketed in much of the country. I’m from a small town in Ontario and a friend of mine there is paying as much for a three bedroom house as I was in London for a three bedroom flat. Yes, the houses are bigger but I’d expect those costs to be quite high.

when you say salary in Canada is 35k and 50k is that pounds or dollars? Because if it’s dollars I don’t think you’ll find your quality of living will be any better if I’m honest.

if you want “warmer” winters then I’d definitely look in BC - maybe Vancouver Island like someone else suggested. Or somewhere just outside Vancouver. But again BC is very expensive.

Also be prepared that you will likely have less annual leave. Maybe not so much for you as you work in schools but for your partner.

Canada is vast with huge variations. The only part that doesn't have (as harsh) winters is Vancouver which is crazy expensive with (observed by me at least) serious drug problems (if didn't when I lived in the pnw but more recently I've seen a change). Housing is very expensive out west though I don't know about more rural areas. I do have a dream of living on Vancouver island though, unfortunately not an option

I mean if you added up the acreage of the parks in Canada it would be bigger than the whole of the UK, so not really.

True, but the public land is more clustered in big clumps. Algonquin park in Ontario is about one-third the size of Wales, and it's amazing. But it takes three hours to drive there from Toronto. And once you're in it, you're really in it - there's no stopping off at a pub for lunch midway through your walk, because there are no pubs.

Hard to put into words, and it's a huge generalisation, but I've found that many British people make their remarks with a mind to entertain, engage or connect with the other person, whereas Canadians are more concerned with getting their message across. They like to inform. The style of humour is often bluff and hearty as opposed to the UK wit and irony. They tend to be easygoing and immediately approachable, more so than in the UK.

Like I said, huge generalisation, and not meaning to offend anyone!

So we are in the process of this right now OP. My OH is classed as a highly skilled worker and has secured a 3 year closed work permit via a LMIA approved job offer. Border staff have confirmed that based on his NOC code, I qualify for an open work permit which is helpful. We visited BC as a family in the spring and he had a couple of interviews in between our travelling around a little.

He started his job in August and I’ve stayed in the UK for now with the kids as one of our DC is in their final school year. Come next summer though, we will all move over provided OH is happy in the job and has survived the winter ok!!

Im heading over with the DC next week to see him as it will be school hols here in Scotland, then he will come home at Christmas for a visit.

The cost of living is definitely high. Some things are cheaper than the Uk but then others are higher so you have to weigh things up…..BC is known as “Bring Cash” for a reason! He is paid a fair bit more in his role over there than he was here though so it’s working so far.

My advice is to visit first, decide on where you want to be, then look into jobs and try to get job offers prior to moving as it’s much easier to get a permit that way unless you already have the required points to apply for PR. Also get on the British Expats site for more info. Good luck.

I'm on the other side, Brit in Québec - ask away 🤠

Been here 15 years now

Re: Winters.

As long as you dress appropriately, the winters are a pleasure. If you don't like winter sports/ wearing the appropriate clothing, you won't like Canada.

Saying I can't go out because it's too cold is like saying I can't go outside because of the rain in the UK .... you'd never go outside. You have to adapt and embrace it!