Thread: Help us move to Canada!

Please read before voting.

My wife and I are beginning plans to move to Canada from Virginia. It will probably be about two years before we make it happen, but there's a lot to consider, and I hope that some of you familiar with Canada (hopefully residents) can help us decide between some of our first choices.

Originally, we were targetting only Vancouver, but started widening our search just in case we were missing anything (see poll choices). Please select as many as you think are a good fit for what we're looking for.

Here are our main concerns:

1. We want to be near (but not in) a medium to large city most likely in B.C., Ontario, or Quebec. Consider the poll questions to mean "the suburbs of..."
2. We don't want any completely unbearable Winters. We don't mind some snow and cold as long as it's confined to normal Winter months, and isn't so cold that cars won't start.
3. We are interested in an area with a lot of culture, especially in the form of music and arts. We figure first-rate symphony is a good sign (like Toronto or Montreal). Also a province that has a good history of artistic grants, etc.
4. Near water is good (though not in flood plane).
5. Any place with good tech jobs is a big plus, since I'll need to find work.
6. Progressive, young, liberal, non-religious climate is preferred.
7. Near US border is a plus as well.

We appreciate any and all feedback! Thanks!

Well, I'm not sure if we have exactly everything you're looking for, but we do have quite a few of the things on your list here in Nova Scotia.

1. Halifax is a good sized city, and it only takes about 15 minutes to get to the bridge to get over there from where I live in a place called Eastern Passage, which is a relatively small community, but we're just starting to expand a lot. Homes are always going up here now, and for not bad prices either.
2. We're at one of the most southern parts of Canada, so the weather isn't too bad here. I've never seen it be so cold a car wouldn't start, and winter only generally lasts from like December to March-ish.
3. I'm not sure about this one, we do have a pretty big music scene over in Halifax, but it's probably not what you're after.... I'm not too sure about the other arts.
4. We're right by the ocean here, and are known to have one of the best ports in the world, because of it's accessibility to other areas, it was a major help in WW2.
5. I'm not entirely sure about tech jobs, so I can't really speak on this one, but I'd imagine it can't be half bad since the population here is booming lately and everything is expanding.
6. As far as I can see, we're pretty close to that. Non-religious for sure, there's a lot of atheists around here, no one really preaches around here, there's not really any religious intolerances, we have many many different cultures and religions around here, and apparently one of the biggest followings of Buddhism in the world in Halifax city, though I've never really noticed.
7. It's a little ways to the border from here, but not too far, check it on a map.

This is really a beautiful place to live, it's pretty simple here where I live, it's a nice community, but I do admit we have some trouble with race, as the community where I live is mostly all white, and the community that's just next to us is like all black. Most of us don't mind and get along with one another, but we do have some backwards idiots who still think race is an issue.

So, I'm not sure if this is exactly the place you're looking for, but just another spot for consideration.

Thanks, Bayside

As a matter of pure coincidence, my wife is in Nova Scotia as I type! She's doing a little mini cruise with her mother there, and I'm sure she'll have some opinions upon her return!

Anyone else have any ideas?

Wow, I like how when I joined this forum. There was the whole rivalry between Americans and Canadians. Now I've noticed a few Americans seemingly wanting to go there to live.

Originally Posted by NeAvO

Wow, I like how when I joined this forum. There was the whole rivalry between Americans and Canadians. Now I've noticed a few Americans seemingly wanting to go there to live.

I guess I missed most of the rivalry. I've loved canada for many years!

Come to Vancouver!!! Seriously. I finally moved downtown and am loving it insanely. The non-summer months can suck because of the rain, but this past year it actually wasn't too bad. And our city is beautiful. BEAUTIFUL!!!

Come, come, come!

Ya, I think Vancouver would be the right choice, because;
1. Right next to the ocean
2. Great art and Culture, First Nations,
3. 1 hour from the Washington border
4. Vancouver was voted to have the best quality of life in the world (UN)

Stay away from the prairies, especially Calgary. The weather there is insane. I can be clear skies as far as the eye can see, and then five minutes later, it's pouring rain! And you don't even want to know about the winters.

For water and high tech jobs, I would suggest Ottawa. Especially if you plan on owning a cottage or a boat. Not too far from the US border either, and the weather is neither too hot nor too cold.

For the mildest climate, Vancouver good, but the cost of living is very high. Also a good place to be if you're into the Cheeba!

Culturally, you can't beat Montreal, but to me the whole french artistic scene seems inbred. The whole cirque du soleil thing to me is french to a fault.

Can anyone offer any insight into public transportation around Vancouver (and other locations)? We like clean, easy, and safe of course! And cheap doesn't hurt.

I've taken PT in Montreal for many years, and it's pretty reasonable (some delays when there's a lot of snow, but it only infrequently reaches that point). It's also cheaper than most (a monthly pass is like half the price of the same in toronto).

I dont live in canada but from another OUTSIDER's point of view i believe that Vancouver is one f the greatest places to live because of culture, outdoor lifestlye and its also a plus for me because im BIG into winter sports

And the rainy part??? Well im from Northern Ireland so im pretty sure im used to rain as the sun has not shown its face here in literally 3 weeks... depressing!