Thread: what is canada like????

Hi all. I am looking for some advice if anyone could help?? My oh has just applied for a job in British Columbia vancouver. Fingers crossed we really hope he gets an offer for a job. Oh is in the building trade, is Canada in need of construction workers??? If he does get the job, do really not know what to expect,never been there.What is it like??? Have 2 children one 13 and one 10 what would it be like for them,would it be better than Britain for them????Would it be a better life for all of us in general???I am a teaching assistant do they have those in canada??? Sorry about all the questions, but we do not know much about Canada just really hope he gets an offer for a job, I just feel anywhere would be better than Britain at the moment!!!! Any advice would be much appreciated THANKS!!!!!!

Originally Posted by the rankins

Hi all. I am looking for some advice if anyone could help?? My oh has just applied for a job in British Columbia vancouver. Fingers crossed we really hope he gets an offer for a job. Oh is in the building trade, is Canada in need of construction workers??? If he does get the job, do really not know what to expect,never been there.What is it like??? Have 2 children one 13 and one 10 what would it be like for them,would it be better than Britain for them????Would it be a better life for all of us in general???I am a teaching assistant do they have those in canada??? Sorry about all the questions, but we do not know much about Canada just really hope he gets an offer for a job, I just feel anywhere would be better than Britain at the moment!!!! Any advice would be much appreciated THANKS!!!!!!

Hi {Hey as they say out here}
British Columbia is screaming out for construction workers and I am told its beautiful out there. We have friends who moved out to Powel River which is north of Vancouver a couple of years ago and they aint going back home. We are in the Toronto area on the shores of Lake Ontario {2 years in} and the kids have so much more freedom here, they took to Canada and new school like ducks to water. We have made some great friends and life is good. If you are doing the fast track I advise you lodge your Perm Res straight away once you get here on work permit. Its a bumpy ride through the paperwork and a little red tape but stick at it. Let me know how it all goes.

Andy + Team

Canada is a huge country and conditions vary a lot from one part to another. The construction trades are slowing down right now although western Canada is better than most other areas. Vancouver, like all other major cities in this country, has problems with drugs, homelessness, and crime. Housing is also still expensive there. The climate there is milder the prairie provinces and most of eastern Canada but the winters are very rainy and gloomy. Still, it's nice to live near the ocean. By the way, I wouldn't live in Powell River or any of the coastal towns that have or have had pulp mills. The smell and persistant dioxans are real health hazards. Construction, especially on commercial properties, is still going ahead in Alberta so you might have better luck there. Overall, however, I'd steer clear of the main cities. Smaller towns within easy reach of major centres tend to be safer, friendlier, and a better place to bring up kids. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the advice. could you tell me if we go to canada, do we have to pay for the children to go to school and is perm res hard to get????

Originally Posted by the rankins

Thanks for all the advice. could you tell me if we go to canada, do we have to pay for the children to go to school and is perm res hard to get????

Hi

There is no school fees providing you have a work permit or perm res, Take a look at www.cic.ga.ca also the Canadian High Commission London site.

Andy

Some more useful information. Yes, they do have teaching assistants in Canada. You might want to check into the taxation system here as it varies from one province to another. Everybody is assessed Federal income tax on the same scale but provincial income taxes are highest in Quebec, Newfoundland, and Manitoba and lowest in BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Also, sales taxes vary. GST (pretty much like VAT) is the same across Canada but additional sales taxes are levied by all provinces except Alberta. In BC, they're 7%, in Ontario they're 8%. Gasoline taxes are lowest in Alberta, highest in the maritimes but BC has recently added a carbon tax to its gas prices. Some sites you might want to look at to get some idea of property prices are mls.ca and comfree.com For climate information, go to Environment Canada's site. There's quite a wide choice in public schools here, from those focussing on academic subjects, others with an arts based curriculum, some more technically oriented, and even a few for girls only. I found the smaller schools with a lot of parent involvement better. There are private schools which are quite expensive but if you shop around, you can generally find something that best suits your child in the public school system. You don't have to sent your children to the school nearest where you live. Frankly, the bigger the school, the more likely you are to have gang and drug problems. There are usually lots of sports and extracurricular things for children to get involved in and plenty of outdoor things to do as a family all year round. One last suggestion - enjoy what there is here and don't put any energy into looking for things you had in the UK. There's lots of space in Canada and many opportunities if you come with the right attitude. Best of luck.

Originally Posted by kirriegirl

Some more useful information. Yes, they do have teaching assistants in Canada. You might want to check into the taxation system here as it varies from one province to another. Everybody is assessed Federal income tax on the same scale but provincial income taxes are highest in Quebec, Newfoundland, and Manitoba and lowest in BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Also, sales taxes vary. GST (pretty much like VAT) is the same across Canada but additional sales taxes are levied by all provinces except Alberta. In BC, they're 7%, in Ontario they're 8%. Gasoline taxes are lowest in Alberta, highest in the maritimes but BC has recently added a carbon tax to its gas prices. Some sites you might want to look at to get some idea of property prices are mls.ca and comfree.com For climate information, go to Environment Canada's site. There's quite a wide choice in public schools here, from those focussing on academic subjects, others with an arts based curriculum, some more technically oriented, and even a few for girls only. I found the smaller schools with a lot of parent involvement better. There are private schools which are quite expensive but if you shop around, you can generally find something that best suits your child in the public school system. You don't have to sent your children to the school nearest where you live. Frankly, the bigger the school, the more likely you are to have gang and drug problems. There are usually lots of sports and extracurricular things for children to get involved in and plenty of outdoor things to do as a family all year round. One last suggestion - enjoy what there is here and don't put any energy into looking for things you had in the UK. There's lots of space in Canada and many opportunities if you come with the right attitude. Best of luck.

Just to second that last statement from kirriegirl, we came with an open mind and wanted to get into the Canadian way of life and not harp on about how we do this and that in England, just remember the reasons you wanted to move in the first place. We have just had our Permanent Residence confirmed today so its a bit noisy at our place tonight.

Andy + gang

Hi Andy and family CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PR!!!!!! Well done How long did that take you to get your pr!!! Thanks for all the information Andy and Kirriegirl

Originally Posted by the rankins

Hi Andy and family CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PR!!!!!! Well done How long did that take you to get your pr!!! Thanks for all the information Andy and Kirriegirl

Hi guys

It took just short of 2 years on the fast track with a work permit - lots of hiccups on the way but worth it. Its a different system now as from Feb 08.
I'm still hung over from last nights session but the big party is Saturday night. Lights , loud music, bbq and lots of booze is planned. We wont disturb the neighbors as we live up a mountain {escarpment} and their all invited ha ha lol.

Have you been out to Canada as that might help in your planning we came here a good few times which helped as I think its a big change moving straight to a new place / country.

Regards Andy + team

No we have not been to canada before but oh has a friend already living in canada in maple ridge, oh might come out and have a look first. It can not be any worse than Britain at the moment, as I think we are heading for a recession. I know ohs work has really slowed down and alot of big building firms have gone bust. Oh friend said building work is booming over there so thats a good start.