? for our Canadian Amigos:

[FreezerBurns]

Greetings brethren of the Great White North.

Here's the question:
If one were to say, "Hey, I'd love to move to Canada," be it Banff for the scenery, the Canadian shield for the wilderness, or Toronto for the social scene... what/where would your recommendations include?

 

[persco]

Greetings brethren of the Great White North.

Here's the question:
If one were to say, "Hey, I'd love to move to Canada," be it Banff for the scenery, the Canadian shield for the wilderness, or Toronto for the social scene... what/where would your recommendations include?

I've lived in Vancouver (grew up there) and Toronto (currently live here). Both are wonderful for different reasons. Vancouver is naturally beautiful with ocean and mountains, but Toronto is a much better place to live IMO. Social scene is supposedly fantastic here (not that I know) but it is also a city with great people, great services, culture, history, etc. My mother is an American citizen; she lives in Washington State. She and her husband are currently in the process of immigrating to Canada and moving to Nelson, BC. A very laid back place, surrounded by mountains and natural beauty.

There's many places in Canada that are great. But the greatest asset we have is our public health care. I just recently used the health care system here for a battery of complicated medical tests, including MRI, CT, echo bubble testing, liver doppler, blood work, etc etc. Doesn't cost a single dime, I get the best treatment at a major research centre here in Toronto. I feel very privileged to live in this country.

s.

 

[Greybeard]

Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world. It has significant numbers of more nationalities than anywhere else with the attendant restaurants, social groups, events and enclaves. It has all the good points of a large city with less of the downside (except for traffic and taxes). It's clean and safe. Good schools, lots of new housing, first class entertainment (except for our pro sports teams ). Weather is usually pretty good with winters less severe than almost all the northern states.

Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You have the Rockies bordering the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Climate is typical northern left coast except not overly hot in the summer. Rain can get a little much in the winter and traffic is problematic during rush hour. Lots to see and do (although mostly outdoors).

Calgary is Canada's oil capitol. Lots of new money, new business, new housing. A growing city. It's at the foot of the Rockies with the best hiking and skiing in Canada. Also the lowest taxes. If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes (the infamous chinooks). Banff is a short drive from Calgary.

Montreal is one of the oldest cities in North America. It's a european city. Sidewalk cafes, fashion forward, great restaurants and nightlife. Many summer festivals (jazz, comedy, regattas, movie). Excellent public transportation. You can even get anywhere downtown without ever going outdoors. Lots of snow but very efficient public snow removal even on side streets. Close to good skiing. And last, but not least, THE most beautiful women.
Unfortunately the drawbacks are major. You have to be fluent in French to work there. The politics are crazy. The taxes are the highest in North America. Finding parking spots in the city is either impossible or horrendously expensive.

I've lived in all four cities and I'm bilingual. I chose Toronto.

- Peter

 

[Marbelizer]

As as east coaster, I have to throw our hat in the ring. As a newfoundlander who has been in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, NB, Quebec and Ontario for a period of time, nothing beats the east coast. Our winters are not overly harsh but plenty of snow for outdoor activities. Our summers are relatively mild, due to the ocean maintaining temperatures.

Newfoundland is a growing province, alot like alberta with millions of dollars being pumped into the economy by the booming oil rigs, along with the lower churchill falls contract. There is no shortage of work. Also St. Johns has one of the best bar scenes in North America, I think george street has the most bars per Sq KM of any street.

Nova Scotia, my current province. Is very mild, summers are not to hot and still in november we have yet to have more then 3 days below 0. Lots of golf courses to choose from, I have about 7 within 30 min drive of my house, and the people are some of the friendliest in canada. But then again most canadians are.

I would definitly give the east coast a shot. Or at least visit when you make your choice

 

[bluepunk18]

I moved to the Greater Toronto Area from a town of approximately 320 people. I'm in Vaughan, the self-proclaimed and geologically accurate "City above Toronto". I've lived here about a year now, and the city has so much to offer. Great public transit, the ROM, and if you're a fan of Asian cuisine and culture, you can't find more of it than here in Toronto unless you go to say, China.

It's not crime free, no city is really. But it IS safer than most major US cities. It is also not horrible to drive in, unlike Boston. As much as I am a fan of that city and its culture, it still sucks to drive in Boston. I'd say come and visit, see the sights both touristy and non, and make an educated decision.

And be sure to try Tim Horton's coffee, which is in my opinion a religion in Canada.

From living in rural New England to the bustling GTA is a big change of pace, but there is so much to see and do, it is always interesting. Plus, you'll have fellow shavers close by.

Cheers!

 

[thunderball]

I would say it depends on your age, your financial situation, your marital status, your intended field of employment, your hobbies, etc, etc. If you give us a bit more information about yourself and your hopes/intentions we could help you out a whole lot more.

 

[FreezerBurns]

I would say it depends on your age, your financial situation, your marital status, your intended field of employment, your hobbies, etc, etc. If you give us a bit more information about yourself and your hopes/intentions we could help you out a whole lot more.

Late 20s (early 30’s before I’ll be ready to move anywhere), stable, married, working on finishing school in Hydrology. I currently work full time (as does my wife) in a field which has nothing to do with science but of course, after school I hope to work in Hydrology (which is a pretty broad field). I’m interested in culture, music, and I appreciate the outdoors, love the mountains, ocean, forests, lakes, and streams. I even appreciate the desert; it's just too hot here for me.

Thank you all for your responses so far, very informative! I enjoy hearing the reasons different parts of Canada are great from the personal perspectives of the folks who live/have lived there.

Oh, I have visited Canada one time, Leamington, Ontario. We took the family boat (32ft Carver) across Lake Erie from Sandusky Ohio for a weekend when I was in High School. So that is my personal experience in Canada – one weekend in Leamington.

 

[Confuzius]

Montreal is great, but without very solid French you'll have a hard time finding work, unless it's in academia.

Toronto is cool, I've been there a few times, supposedly there's a bit of a rivalry between Montreal and Toronto, but they're practically the same city. Toronto is bigger and not as old, Englisher and their bars close earlier... Other than that, meh, it's just about the same, there are parts of Toronto that if it weren't for the English signs I could have sworn that I was still in Montreal.

Although from your descriptions it sounds like you might enjoy British Columbia...

 

[Greybeard]

Oh, I have visited Canada one time, Leamington, Ontario. We took the family boat (32ft Carver) across Lake Erie from Sandusky Ohio for a weekend when I was in High School. So that is my personal experience in Canada – one weekend in Leamington.

Ahhh! The Tomato Capital of Canada. I spent what seemed like 2 weeks in Leamington one weekend.


- Peter

 

[WhosYerBob]

Alberta for the big open skies.

 

[Pugflop]

I've lived here in Saskatchewan my whole life. We're one of the richest provinces and in perhaps the best financial situation of any province right now. If you're in the right field there's a ton of money to be made here.

On the down side, we have some of the worst weather in the world. -60C windchill in winter isn't uncommon. January is terrible. Crime is also very bad.

I've been all over Canada, almost all the major cities too. If I was forced to leave Sask, there's only one other city I'd move to: Ottawa. By far the best city in this country, it's head and shoulders above everything. I absolutely hated Vancouver and Toronto. Calgary is alright but getting around can be a nightmare.

 

[gollum83]

Canadian Amigos? Mixing borders are we?

 

[Doc4]

Late 20s (early 30’s before I’ll be ready to move anywhere), stable, married, working on finishing school in Hydrology. I currently work full time (as does my wife) in a field which has nothing to do with science but of course, after school I hope to work in Hydrology (which is a pretty broad field). I’m interested in culture, music, and I appreciate the outdoors, love the mountains, ocean, forests, lakes, and streams. I even appreciate the desert; it's just too hot here for me.

If you want culture/music, then your best options are Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and maybe Toronto. Actually, my advice for Toronto is "stay the fudge away", but there ya go. Montreal is probably tops in Canada for culture/music, mais si vous ne parlez pas le francais ... merde.

For the outdoors, with emphasis on mountains, oceans, forests, lakes and streams, you are pretty much looking at British Columbia. (Sorry, you eastern 9 provinces, but your great-great-grandparents stopped the wagon train a bit too early.) Vancouver is great, but it's darn expensive to buy a house. Victoria may be a better option, and the rest of Vancouver Island as well. (You will find a definite trade-off: affordable housing and access to nature on one side, culture/music on the other. If you want a small-town feel, there's plenty of places where you can buy a fantastic house for $150,000 and have oodles of nature lapping at your door, but if you want cultured music ... buy a CD. And the nearest sushi place is about 4 horus away. )

 

[Poulin]

Hydrology?

Ottawa. Get a job working for the federal govt and learn French... who knows where you'll end up after that!

http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En

 

[thunderball]

Gonna have to say Beautiful British Columbia (though maybe not Vancouver). Check out the Kootenays or the Okanagan...beautiful, laid-back, awesome.

 

[FreezerBurns]

Hydrology?

Ottawa. Get a job working for the federal govt and learn French... who knows where you'll end up after that!

http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En

Conservation is deffinitely an area of interest for me. I'm ignorant to Canadian government; foreigners are able to get government jobs in Canada or was this a joke?

 

[FreezerBurns]

Gonna have to say Beautiful British Columbia (though maybe not Vancouver). Check out the Kootenays or the Okanagan...beautiful, laid-back, awesome.

British Columbia seems as if it could be a good fit for me. I've never heard of the Kootenays or the Okanagan, so I'll commence some research. Thanks for your suggestion!

 

[FreezerBurns]

(Sorry, you eastern 9 provinces, but your great-great-grandparents stopped the wagon train a bit too early.)

I just wanted to point out how interesting this comment is to me... My great-great grandparents (maternal side) were Canadian.. They came to Washtington then Oregon via B.C. ..edit (originally from Ireland).

 

[syzygy]

I would move to Victoria, BC. It's a small city with nice incredible buildings and beautiful neighbourhoods, good music scene, great for cycling, incredible restaurants, surrounded by ocean, named the "City of Flowers", museums, art galleries, etc. AND, as a hydrologist you will be fascinated by the geomorphology and climatology of Vancouver Island. AND, it is one of the warmest cities in Canada!! AND AND AND it is equidistant to Vancouver BC and Seattle - two of the nicest cities on the planet.

No I don't live there but it just may be in the plans. I spend quite a bit of time there and love it.

 

[garyg]

I am shocked none have mentioned Windsor, for the Ballet