Canada 2013

[westcoastnortherner]

A new year, a new thread! What's happening with everyone this year?

Hi westcoastnortherner

New to MN, heard about it while pregnant and after months of lurking, decided to sign up. I was glad to know you didn't have to be British to sign up! This site has provided me with endless entertainment.

I am Canadian-born and bred. Are you an expat?

Hi welcome Ms Akimbo! I'm a British expat and I moved to victoria just under 4 years ago! There are some Canadians on here too, so hopefully one of them will be along to say hi too.

How long have you been in the UK? Do you like it?

Oh I am so sorry! Was without a computer for awhile Sorry to leave you hanging!

Been here almost a year and love it! But I do miss home sometimes. Hard with a baby and no family around.

Hello Ladies!

Hoping to emigrate next spring, fingers crossed!

What do you miss? Are you glad you made the move?

WATA

Hi all just moved to toronto. So far so good, does anyone have experience of nursery/daycare for a 2.4 year old. Proving harder than thought it would

Hoping to emigrate to Alberta later this year or early next with my DH's job. Any thing I need to know? Quite excited about the idea but absolutely terrified also

i'm in Calgary - we were in Vancouver for three years and have been in Calgary for 4 now.

it's lovely - very very very sunny! Winter is very cold though. REALLY cold some days. The Chinook winds are great though...thaw us out a bit.

Lethbridge is quite windy...random bit of info.

phew - just went to check you were the same OP asking about AB healthcare due to moving to Lethbridge.

Badger Thank you for your reply on the other post. been sorting like a loon today to and put loads of stuff on ebay to help generate some cash for coming over. What sort of things will we need to be aware of in coming over?

it was 7 years since we moved!

if you'll be renting remember that generally all tenancies start 1st of the month so if you turn up on 15th of the month you'll be in a hotel for two weeks! $$$.

Bring references with you if you can for the landlord. No credit history can make things a bit tricky (we had to get a letter from the bank confirming we had some cash to pay rent ). We had never rented before so had no references!

get a bank acct setup asap - for above reason, and get a secured credit card (you give them $500 and they give you a $500 credit limit). Buy small things (groceries) and pay it back every month. That way you get on the 'grid'.

Your uk driving licence is only good for 3 months so you'll have to take your test again quite soon after you get here. They take your UKone away in AB and send it back to DVLA.

look into the health care insurance as mentioned before, you don't want to be caught short. Try and get a job with extended healthcare as not everything is covered and dentistry is extortionate.

Try and get your car insurers to give you some no claims letters. include date policy started and ended and that you did not claim. We saved some $ on the car insurance doing that.

Badgers - She's unlikely to have to re-take her driving test. Alberta has a reciprocal agreement with the DVLA that allows you to just exchange your GB licence for an AB one (unless it was issued before January 1st 1976? ) Also, only GB licenses can be exchanged, not NI, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or any British overseas territory.

Ahhh - I see the source of your confusion! You started out in BC (7 years ago, like me!) where up until recently you did have to retake the test.

You didn't in AB, even 7 years ago.

Good list thank you. I don't drive at the moment so I would be learning once we are out there anyway. Will prob have to have my provisional re issued anyway cos of my diabetes. I have to be checked every 3 years to make sure the DVLA are satisfied I am well controlled. Its likely to be the same in AB I'd guess.

hi, everyone. i moved to Regina in the middle of March from the UK and loving it.

I moved to Toronto August 2011 - it's been a long winter this year, but the sun over the last few days has been gorgeous....I really enjoy it here and have made some lovely new friends, but we do miss our family back in England. Going home in 3 weeks for a month though and am so excited I am counting the days and nights!!!

Hi there. Does anyone know is there anything like nct classes or groups to meet other mothers etc. I'm pregnant with dc2 and can't seem to find anything? Maybe after baby is born???

I'm in toronto by the way.

We used to live in Mississauga and we have our first dd1 there. There was a drop in centre called Early Learning Centre which was a great place to meet other mums. Might be worth checking if any in Toronto. Also the local hospitals normally do Prenatal classes but you have to pay for them. However might be worth checking with your region if they do a free one. We managed to attend a free program which was run by the Region of Peel.

Also you might want to join meetup.com It has quite a few mom meetups in the Toronto area. :-)

Thanks for the info mummyk

I am not sure wherein Toronto you are, but I did some great classes and met wonderful Moms through Becoming Maternity in midtown.

www.becomingmaternity.com/

Any ladies in Vancouver. We moved here in February and we're completely in love. Not a fan of the lack of childcare though and ended up having to get a nanny who (though lovely) makes q massive dent in our bank account.

Hi MiauMau there are quite a few mumsnetters in Vancouver, we are on a Western Canada Facebook group, let me know if you want to join!

westcoastnortherner i've sent you a PM

Welcome MiauMau I emigrated from the UK just over 2 years ago. Now living in Fort McMurray, AB.

Hi Moose

Hi wcn