Living in Canada

[LivesToTravel]

Has anyone moved to Canada from the U.K? I have never been but have some family over there. We have always considered moving abroad and now we are thinking of a family it’s being talked about a lot more as we would want to do it with small children. We would not go without visiting and intend to go with our eyes wide open but want to hear from people whether they have made a success of it and if so how? Did it improve your quality of life? Did it give you more opportunity or was the reality very different from the dream?

We moved over a couple of years ago. I got a job (my field is quite specialised) and my employer was able to sponsor me through the express entry/permanent residency process. We really like it. We moved with our 3 yo twins and they have settled in well. We live in a rural small community which has been very welcoming. Lots of opportunities for outdoor stuff and housing here cheap (not true for all Canada!). I guess you need to think about why you want to move and look into if you have enough points for a visa.

We went for a year on a foreign assignment, lived in the suburbs of Toronto.

Absolutely loved it. Very welcoming people, stunning country with lots to do. Loved the fact you got 4 proper seasons.

Downsides for me was the cost, it was eye wateringly expensive, groceries, dry cleaning etc.

It's also like going back in time by about 20 years in terms of fashion and choice of products in the supermarket.

We've done it. Been here 2 years. Granted it was much easier for us and always in the plans as I am Canadian. Our DC have nationality through me so it was just DH we had to get through the spousal PR. It remains the best move we've made.

I think cost hugely depends on where you are. We're in SW Ontario in a relatively cheap area, although eating out isn't cheap and car insurance was a shocker.lots of people complain about the electricity costs here but we've found them cheaper than the UK. But we're finally out of debt with good savings, which wouldn't have happened in the UK.

Our DC love it. Schools are good where we are and the locals are friendly. It helped we moved where I had family but we've mostly made friends with our DCs friends parents.

One thing I've found is a car is necessary if you want to go anywhere. And as HollyBolly says, they're a couple of decades behind but my fashion has always been behind so I kinda fit in

The biggest issue is qualifying. In reality, it isn't that different to the UK (less 7 months of winter and -40). Tend to get much less holiday than in the UK - most jobs offer two weeks vacation as standard at the beginning, unless you walk straight into exec appointments (even then, the culture is much less vacation than in the UK). And yes, about twenty years behind culturally.
Lots of variability - depends where you would be going really. Cities obviously VERY different from rural, and huge differences between provinces. The way that First Nations communities have evolved and are treated is going to come as something of a shock.
When we first moved here I was warned that the education system was a year or two behind. It does seems that way in the early years, but I think it evens out. First year of uni is more generic and they don't specialize in high school like A levels, so it's very different. Not worse, not better, just different. And that can vary by province too.
I can go days without speaking to Canadians. There are so many immigrants in our neck of the woods. Some places are called 'Little Britain'

Start here: Immigrating to Canada You need to be realistic about the possibility of getting permission to stay and the job situation which will vary according to your skills and where you want to live.

I moved here with DH seven years ago. He was sponsored through the visa process by his employer (oil industry).

I had a career in law. I was going to requalify to practice here (basically starting from scratch) but then found out I was pregnant.

Due to our location and the oil industry housing here is expensive. We’re in Northern Alberta - summers are hot and winters are cold (regularly -30 or lower between November and March).

We’re lucky enough to have a second home in the Rockies. It’s “just down the highway” in Canadian terms. An 8.5 hour drive. I thought I’d miss the sea but I’m happy in the mountains and the lakes.

DS is at a French Immersion school.

I've been in Canada a decade. It's quite a varied place so knowing where you would be looking at would help. Everything from Toronto, very diverse and vibrant (and expensive!) to Yukon (miles of nothing). Alberta, cowboys and oil money, Vancouver, hipsters and Chinese culture. And the weather could be 30 degrees in the summer, 40 below in the winter or mild all year round depending on where you are.

Where are you thinking?

We lived in Vancouver for 2 years, pre-kids. I loved it! I think it would be a great place to raise children as well. It is horrendously expensive, so factor that in if you are going there. Canadians all complain about the Vancouver weather but it's nothing if you are coming from the UK!
The outdoor recreation possibilities are fantastic. The culture is different from the UK, but I didn't find it difficult. We made lots of local friends.i would have stayed if life circumstances had been different.