If I was moving from England to Canada, which areas would be the best?

Question

Canada looks lovely from what I have seen, and Canadian friends say the quality of life in Canda is better than in the UK.

But I have never been and I do not know which areas would be good to consider.

Both my and my boyfriends professions are on the "skilled worker" list, so work should be easy to find (or am I wrong here?)

The factors that are important to us include:

climate - not cold all year

cost of living - mut not be too high

land and outdoor space

English speaking (our French is pretty basic)

No poisonous or massive spiders(!)

employment opportunities.

I would like to bring my 4 cats over if we come - would that be a problem?

How expensive is medical care?

Also, are bears and wolves a problem or is this a myth?

Thanks for your help, I know I am asking a lot, but any info, answers or opinions would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Answer 1

It sounds like south-coastal British Columbia is closest to what you're looking for.  The most temperate climate in the country, and probably the closest to what you experience in the UK.  Winters are generally grey and damp with occasional snow that usually washes away with in a day or two.  Summers are comfortably warm and dry.  Vancouver is quite expensive by Canadian standards with housing costs at an average of probably in around 700K.  While metro Vancouver is a fairly large city of about 2.5 million, it's close to lots of wide open mountainous country.  Vancouver Island, about a 90 minute ferry ride from the mainland is another option,  more rural, smaller cities and a temperate climate, particularly in the south around the greater Victoria area, population of the island is about 750K with about half of that living in Victoria.  British Columbia is English speaking with large ethnic communities, Chinese, hindi etc but the working language is always English.   You're far more likely to be stung by a bee or hornet than bitten by a spider although occasionally a wolf spider might nip you.  

I believe, but am not sure, that animals must be quarantined for a period of time before they can be brought into the country.  Check with the Canadian High Commission in London to be sure.  Health care is similar to the UK.  As an immigrant you'd need to be prepared to pay your health care costs for the first year that you're here and then would be covered under the provincial health care plan.  (Unless you find employment where your employer pays your premiums).  

Black Bears do live in the south/coastal region.  It's not unheard of for people to see black bears in their yards routing through garbage cans in the early mornings but for the most part black bears are timid animals that will run away if they see you.  (Note I said for the most part).  I've never heard of a wolf sighting in south/coastal BC.

Answer 2

No part of Canada is cold all year. With the exception of coastal BC, every place will get cold snowy winters, the degree of cold and amount of snow varying from place to place. Most places will have warm to very hot weather from April to October. You can go to the weather network and get statistics for any city or town.

Cost of living is a little harder to judge. Vancouver is expensive for housing; on the other hand, winters are warm so you won't have a huge heating bill as you would in most other parts of the country. Areas with lots of jobs cost more, areas with little work are cheaper. You can check real estate prices at mls.ca.

Land and outdoor space is available in every part of the country once you get out of the large cities. Ontario, Quebec and the maritimes are more populated, the western provinces less so.

Don't worry about French. In Quebec and northern Ontario, parts of New Brunswick, you might find it useful but many people never need to use any at all.

Spiders--well, there may be the odd poisonous one but I've never heard of it being a problem so there can't be many. How big is big? Wolf spiders are common in some areas, they're  the biggest at maybe and inch and a half across. You don't see them all that often, and not everywhere--usually in the basement or garage.

If you are both in skilled occupations you should be able to find work.

Check animal import rules at Canadian Border Services Agency(CBSA).

Medical care costs vary from province to province. Here in BC you pay $54/month, it covers most things.

Bears and wolves being a problem is largely a myth. You'll be lucky to ever see a wolf-- though they might be out there, they tend to shy away from people. Bears are more common, and can be found in cities which are close to wilderness. They're mostly a nuisance when they get into your garbage. They are not any more keen to encounter you than you are to encounter them.

I'd suggest starting to check the immigration process. It can take time. If you get to Canada less than two years after starting that, you'd be doing well from what I hear. Meantime, maybe you should come for a visit and check out different parts of the country.

Answer 3

Well, I moved from Coventry, and now live in SW Ontario. It is currently 31 C outside, but with the humidity it feels like 38 according to the Weather Network. Coming from England, the cost of living anywhere in Canada is going to be better. Most of the cities in SW Ontario are surrounded by rural areas so outdoor space is everywhere.

Answer 4

There aren't many places in Canada that are cold all year, even up north.

If you want a moderate climate, try Vancouver.  If you can handle cold winters and hot summers try Montreal or Toronto.  Any place east of the Rockies usually has a fairly intense winter, but the summer is the opposite.

Other than Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada is English-speaking.  There are a few pockets of French areas outside of those two provinces but they are quite small and few.

Bears and wolves?  You'd have to be in a fairly remote part of Canada for that to be a serious problem.  It's sad, but most Canadians have never seen bears or wolves in the wild.  Instead of vacationing in their own country, they'll go to Disneyland or somewhere else.

Medical care is paid for through taxes to some extent.  You have to pay for your own dental, eye exams, chiropractic, etc.  You have to buy your own drugs, but they're subsidized to some extent.  You can always get extra plans if need be.

You can probably bring your cats, but you'll have to check with customs and the airline.  Maybe you can contact your local Canadian embassy.

There are sometimes big spiders in parts of Canada (Vancouver has them, but they're harmless).

Cost of living is said to be high in Toronto and Vancouver.  Supposedly Montreal and Calgary are a bit more affordable.

Employment is in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton (too small for some).  You never know though.  

It seems that Toronto is the place for most immigrants to come.  It's the biggest city and has a bit of everything for everyone.

Answer 5

Assuming that you can get through immigration ok, I do not think work should not be a major problem but I am retired and no longer in the know about work situations.

Unless you pick a place up north (and why would you?) most of the country experiences 4 seasons. Vancouver, being on the Pacific rarely sees winter (a day of snow occasionally) although most of B.C. does.

Cost of living wipes Vancouver out of the equation anyway - it's not the cheapest place to live!

This is Canada and next to the UK, we are HUGE. Lots of land and outdoor spaces, especially outside of the major cities.

English is the main language outside of Quebec.

Poisonous spiders?? Don't think so! Maybe a daddy long legs here or there. And it's nice to be good to the spiders here - they keep the other bugs down Other bugs being flies, mosquitoes and like that.

Your cats would definitely need to have their shots, especially rabies. I could type all the info out but it is already done at this link:

http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Can...

I have lived in this country all my life - 63 years and have never seen a bear outside of the far north and the National Parks. Well, that is not entirely true. Every now and then one will wander into Calgary and the wildlife people hustle it back to Banff. Not a worry really. I have seen even fewer wolves. I remember when I was about 16 years old, there was a wolf attack about 50 miles north of the small town I lived in in Quebec and I have seen a few in the National Parks. Some cattle that disappeared out west was  blamed on the wolves but it is just as likely that it was rustled. I do not think they constitute a problem. It must be a myth.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Using your factors:

Climate - can't avoid cold all year, but best places to avoid chills are Vancouver and Toronto urban areas.

Cost of Living - Eastern Canada (Maritimes) are lowest, but have more unemployment.

Land and Outdoor space- Maritimes win again here, but also there's Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario as well (outside rural area's)

English Speaking- Anywhere but Quebec and Northern New Brunswick.

No Poisonous or massive spiders- too cold for anything posionous to live..nothing massive unless you're in the deep woods

Employment Opportunities- depending on your "skills"..most area's are fine..The Maritimes and Newfoundland have most unemployment, but if you're into Trade work there is some.

Check with immigration Canada to answer questions regarding pets etc http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp

Medical Care is free (Basic coverage), most employers have dental and other medical plans as well.

Bears and Wolves are not a problem unless you're living in the deep woods or near a Garbage Dump.

Honestly, If I were you, I'd go where you can find work in your feild. All parts of the country are great the cost of living would be less than the UK, and it just would be some adjustment over the winter months...the spring/summer/fall is all the same as would be in the UK.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Climate- most places have all 4 seasons....AB and SK have HOT summers and COLD winters, BC is always a decent temp.

Cost of Living- BC is the most expensive

NFLD is the cheapest but there are no jobs. SK is probably your best bet.

Outdoors- The mountains in AB are beautiful, and so is BC. SK is wide open and the sky is never ending!! All of Canada is pretty beautiful and spacious, except the big cites!

Everywhere pretty much speaks English, except Quebec.

No spider problems in Canada.

I have never seen a bear or a wolf.

Medical care is free. SK has an awesome health plan. (For prescriptions and stuff.)

PS the economy is booming is AB and SK!!

GOOD LUCK!!!!