thinking of moving to canada

littlesurfer

myself and my partner are interested in moving to canada for a year or a two. The only thing is that we can't decide on which part we want to go to. We're looking for someplace lively with a bit of sun every now and then. somewhere exciting...any ideas

mrsmagoo

I've never been but I am moving to Canada myself come December.

After reading up on the country and mostly asking people who've been there I decided upon Vancouver.
It seems like a pretty cosmopolitan place with a great mix of social life and wilderness nearby. I plan to go up and down the coast (into the US) also and visit the Rockies for skiing too. Might even make it up as far as Alaska if I'm lucky.

So that's my tuppence worth!
Not sure where everyone else would recommend?

MrJoeSoap

I've been to Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto. The first two are really great places, on the fringe of the rockies and Banff (nicest place on earth bar none) and Jasper National Parks. Plenty to do in both cities, and Edmonton is home to the worlds largest shopping centre (or at least it was the largest when I was there in 98).

Toronto is also a nice city but is slightly American for me. The other two have more of a distinctly Canadian "feel" to them. The western cities get reasonably harsh winters but have good summers.

I've never been to Vancouver but it looks fabulous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Edmonton_Mall

http://www.tourismcalgary.com/

Tom Dunne

mrsmagoo wrote:

I've never been but I am moving to Canada myself come December.

If you don't mind me asking, why are you moving to a country you have never been to? I just couldn't do that.

Anyway, I completely and utterly agree with you about Vancouver. It is regularly voted one of the best places in the world to live and the people are so nice. The city is clean and relatively safe and when I was there, I just couldn't get enough of it.

Benedict XVI

You might want to consider is Halifax, Nova Scotia. It's a relatively small city but has a very vibrant social scene (a bit like Galway without the medieval buildings).
It is also on the East coast which means that it is much closer to home than any place further west. It's also only 1hr flight from Boston which has lots of flights home.
The scenery in NS is fabulous also, some great driving routes around the island.

Another place might be Montreal; even though French is the predominant language there everyone speaks English also, not sure how that would be for getting work though. It’s like a French city in North America, great restaurants and social scene.

Even though the above two get cold in the winter you are guaranteed warm sunshine from May to October

Someone mentioned Edmonton above; even though I have never been I know no one who has been there that has liked it. Apparently is has been voted most boring city in the world a few times.

cerebus

Vancouver.

Moved here from Ireland 6 years ago and have not regretted it.

littlesurfer

thats brilliant thanks...its just seems to be such a huge vast country its hard to decide where to head.

The reason i'm heading to a country i've never been to before tom is that i just want to go somewhere new. We heard the building industry is booming in canada so my partner who's in construction will get good work and i'l get a job there pretty easy as a nurse too....

its a risk but if we don't like it we'll just head somewhere else. We can always come home!

anyway thanks for the advice. its a big help.

idontknowmyname

Vancouver also gets my vote, a lot of my family live there so I've been there many times. It's my home away from home. It gets a fab summer and has the mildest winter weather in Canada, although it still snows but wouldn't get as cold.

mrsmagoo

tom dunne wrote:

If you don't mind me asking, why are you moving to a country you have never been to? I just couldn't do that.

Tom Dunne in response to your question:
It's called living on the edge! I trust that this is a great country.
If I wait to afford to go on holiday to Canada I'll be in my mid thirties probably with a mortgage, career and family.
So while still in my mid twenties I am biting the bullet to go out, live a little, and try experience a new country, continent and culture.
Anyone who can afford a short trip over to Canada obviously has a means of affording it (proper job!) I am just about affording to get money together to go work over there.
I'll never do it if I don't do it now.:D

ChuckProphet

well said

daveg

Whats the story with Visas for Canada? Were in the process of applying for visas for Australia which is long winded and expensive (136 skilled visa)

littlesurfer

i think theres a load of company's who offer to do it for you for a fee...but i don't know how much it costs....i've looked it up on the internet a few times but can't find the cheap way

mrsmagoo

DAVE G: The big question is.. What age are you both???

If you are Under 35 then you are sorted. USIT do a really easy visa for one full year. I'd recommend going with that and sorting something else out when you get out there if you want to stay longer.

It costs money but it's hassle free. (I know what hassle a visa can be. I went on a J1 as a student and the American Embassy had me plagued for documentation, appointments with them etc while I was in the middle of sitting my finals). Going to Canada is much easier.

Check out this website:
http://canada.usit.ie/nonstudent_programme/index.html
If you're lucky you'll get one. If you're not so lucky you'll go on a waiting list. That's what happened to me and I was put 27th on the list. I got offered it a month later. Now I'm flying off to live there come Christmas time!

Good luck!

littlesurfer

oh cool thanks. i'l look that up now. i'm only 23 but i'm afraid my boyfriend is all old and wrinkly. he's nearly 30 : )

apparantly if he got a work visa i would qualify as his common law wife in cannadian law cause we've been together for ages and ages!!

anyway the usit way might just be a lot easier...thanks for that

Tom Dunne

mrsmagoo wrote:

DAVE G: The big question is.. What age are you both???

If you are Under 35 then you are sorted. USIT do a really easy visa for one full year. I'd recommend going with that and sorting something else out when you get out there if you want to stay longer.

It costs money but it's hassle free. (I know what hassle a visa can be. I went on a J1 as a student and the American Embassy had me plagued for documentation, appointments with them etc while I was in the middle of sitting my finals). Going to Canada is much easier.

Check out this website:
http://canada.usit.ie/nonstudent_programme/index.html
If you're lucky you'll get one. If you're not so lucky you'll go on a waiting list. That's what happened to me and I was put 27th on the list. I got offered it a month later. Now I'm flying off to live there come Christmas time!

Good luck!

Damn you! *shakes fist*

Now you've got me thinking I could go back to Vancouver. Damn you!

I did look into applying for a Canadian visa some time back, but I didn't know this program existed. Hmmmmmm, SSIA maturing after Christmas...hmmmmm.

mrsmagoo

Now you've got me thinking I could go back to Vancouver. Damn you!
Hmmmmmm, SSIA maturing after Christmas...hmmmmm.

Well I'm delighted I got you thinking. I don't know you but I highly recommend you do it. It'll be one of those things you'll tell the grandkids! Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.

If you have any type of a job that can be put on hold for a year while you see some of the world then just do it. I only wish I had an SSIA to fund this venture.

A few pointers for you. If you're going to do it you need to act fast.
I suggest applying on line Now.. Not tomorrow. NOW!
You have to fly out by New Year's Eve.. or else wait for next year's round of visas which goes out in February. Bascially it's available most of the year. Only thing is whether they have any left. Go on a list. That's what I did and I'm jetting off in a couple of months!!

They'll ask for your credit card details but nothing will be debited until you get the visa. It will cost €380 for the visa. You have to book flights with USIT and they kind of corner you into their insurance also. (total of both equalled €1400) You need some cash in your pocket and youre off!

If you dont do it now.. can you really see yourself having time to do it in a few years?! Me thinks not. You'll have other priorities.

You mentioned you have been to Vancouver. If you have any tips for me on what to see, where to go I'd be obliged.

There is no way that this could be a mistake for you. I'd like to see everyone as excited as I am right now. Bring it on!!!

Tom Dunne

I only visited Vancouver for a long weekend, so we (myself and Mrs. Dunne) really only did the whole touristy thing. One thing I did was take a seaplane tour over the city - awsome! The sheer novelty of taking off and landing on water was incredible and seeing the city from up high was amazing.

We were living in the States at the time and took a long drive up to Vancouver. In the US we would always make a point to sit at the bar and see who we could get chatting to. Generally we had the odd chat with maybe a barman, maybe other customers and the conversation was usually "So like, where are you guys from?" and petered out into rambling discussion about "how cool Ayre-land is". Contrast this to the discussion we had in the Canadian bar - politics, weather, sport, music, education, science - you name it. We spent the best part of 6 hours talking to various people, including the bar man. We found the Canadians to be incredibly laid back, incredibly friendly and genuinely interested in us and the world around them. And of course, it wasn't just in that one bar, it was everywhere.

I personally found Canada had the convenience of the US with a distinctly European outlook, and that sounds like the right combination.

Hmmmmmmm..........

mrsmagoo

I personally found Canada had the convenience of the US with a distinctly European outlook, and that sounds like the right combination.

That's the type of thing I like to hear. Canada is sounding better everyday. Aren't I just glad I risked it for a biscuit and bought that visa. Cant wait to fly out now!!

Thanks for the tips and good luck with whatever you decide to do!

daveg

mrsmagoo wrote:

DAVE G: The big question is.. What age are you both???

If you are Under 35 then you are sorted. USIT do a really easy visa for one full year. I'd recommend going with that and sorting something else out when you get out there if you want to stay longer.

It costs money but it's hassle free. (I know what hassle a visa can be. I went on a J1 as a student and the American Embassy had me plagued for documentation, appointments with them etc while I was in the middle of sitting my finals). Going to Canada is much easier.

Check out this website:
http://canada.usit.ie/nonstudent_programme/index.html
If you're lucky you'll get one. If you're not so lucky you'll go on a waiting list. That's what happened to me and I was put 27th on the list. I got offered it a month later. Now I'm flying off to live there come Christmas time!

Good luck!

LoL sorry mate were heading to the other side of the world to Oz. I was only asking out of curiosity to be honest. Were halfway through our visa application for Oz.

good luck with it all...

littlesurfer

okay so i think we've decided on vancouver...eventually. But does anyone have any tips on surviving the first week...is it easy to find a place to rent? I don't want to be in a hotel for a month...and how cold will it be in october?????

littlesurfer

and also if anyone knows the best areas within vancouver ....like where should we be looking to find a place in!

Ponster

littlesurfer wrote:

okay so i think we've decided on vancouver...eventually. But does anyone have any tips on surviving the first week...is it easy to find a place to rent? I don't want to be in a hotel for a month...and how cold will it be in october?????

How could you possible move to country for a couple of years and not even check out the average monthly temperature of the city you plan to move to?

High's of 13°C and lows of 6°C in October


Try this site for rental help :

http://vancouver.renting.canada.com/properties/search/index.php?qTerms=rent

cerebus

Vancouver weather is pretty good at the moment - been 20C most days this week, nights down to 7C/8C.

Supposed to get wet this weekend and cooler afer that, so the summer may finally be over.

In terms of where to live, one neighbourhood you could consider is Kitsilano - very nice place to be.

Charlie

Kitsilano or Point Grey are two fantastic areas. lots of shops and places to eat but a really laid back feel. Plus, you're only about 20 mins form the downtown area but, the area still feels very smalltown. Outside of this I always thought the North Van area was really nice but I never really hear it get mentioned when people talk about nice areas in Vancouver. Rent and house prices are quite comparable to Ireland and in general, Vancouver is quite an expensive place to live in, more so than most other North American citys I would imagine.

One thing you should be VERY AWARE of is that you should avoid staying anywher that is in the Eastern part of the city, particularly the downtown eastside area. This area has a terrible drug problem, with the sidewalks paved with used needles, strung out crack users and haggered prostitutes. It really is difficult to describe what this area is like to someoe who has never been there cause there is no where else like it. Here's the wikipedia entry for it, and this dosen't do justice to how sad and depressing this area is : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Eastside

cerebus

charlie mchugh wrote:

One thing you should be VERY AWARE of is that you should avoid staying anywher that is in the Eastern part of the city, particularly the downtown eastside area

Yeah, the downtown eastside is pretty crappy... but other parts of east Vancouver are not bad. Commercial Drive is a pretty happening spot (lots of great places to eat), and Main Street is very trendy these days.

Don't discount East Vancouver entirely.

littlesurfer

guys thanks so much, thats really helpful,

"How could you possible move to country for a couple of years and not even check out the average monthly temperature of the city you plan to move to?"

I guess we're just adventurous kind of people! Well, that and we're finding it hard to organise visa's...we like the sound of vancouver but unless we get job offers there it's going to be difficult to get them. So our research is still in its early stages.....

plus we heard vancouver doesn't get those same heavy winters as the more northern parts of canada!

I'm going to start entering those neighbourhoods in some search engines!

And thanks for the warning about the eastern part of the city!

Ponster

Littlesurfer....if ever you feel like sharing your research, Mrs. Ponster and I are thinking of moving there next year and also looking at Vancouver

Charlie

cerebus wrote:

Yeah, the downtown eastside is pretty crappy... but other parts of east Vancouver are not bad. Commercial Drive is a pretty happening spot (lots of great places to eat), and Main Street is very trendy these days.

Don't discount East Vancouver entirely.

I know what you mean, but I guess I was just trying to get him to steer clear in case he happened to be in the wrong part of the eastside. Its hard to convey to people who've never been but the area's get rough very quickly (one minute you're in lovely west hastings, two blocks away and its night of the living dead material) and its hard to define boundries as to where in the Eastside is safe and where is not.

Personally, I think north Van is the best option. Its considerably cheaper then places like west van and kits but retains their great scenary and general niceness. But if you have the money then definitley go for Point Grey/ Kitsilano.

Also, if you do go, check out Whistler and a small town north of it called Pemberton, out of this world.

Anyone here who's been to Vancouver ever go to Vera's Burger's? I would kill for one right now.

littlesurfer

hey ponster, that sounds good, I'l pm, you with anything interesting as long as you do the same:p Mister littlesurfer,....(that doesn't work so well),.....is not ver helpful with the research so i can do with the help...

Oh and Charlie Mc hugh,...I looked up the east side....thanks for the headsup!
I'm going to look up north vancouver now.

Also was looking up jobs on monster.ca and as far as money goes it doesn't look like we'd be bringing any home! there goes the dreams of coming home and buying up the irish property market!

Ponster

Littlesurfer, if your overall plan is to make a load of $$$ then I'd suggest you stay in Ireland

I bought a 350sq foot 1-bedroomed flat in Paris 3 years ago for €70,000. Today the same would cost me €100,000 but it's still affordable to a lot of people. Right now I really can't afford to move back to Ireland so it's a cjoice of moving elsewhere or moving an hour from Paris by train and buying a 4-bedroomed place on 2 acres for about €250,000

ionapaul

Just a word to those planning to apply for permanent residency in Canada, via the skilled worker visa (you need to score XXX points according to various criteria they lay down, including education, language skills, etc...) - I applied in November 2004 and was told the wait (via the London application office, the one those from Ireland would use) would be 18-24 months...a few months ago I got a further letter telling me it would be another 18-24 months due to so many people in this part of the world applying! Funny, while the Poles and Latvians come here, we are heading over there!

Anyhow, just be aware that for the permanent visa, you will be waiting a long, long time before finding out - hopefully I'll actually get it in the end! Vancouver is really special, for those who haven't been.

littlesurfer

i think we're going to hold out for the temporary one year under 35 work visa from usit. The only catch is we cant apply till february for those and they can take a month to process!

Do you know is it possible to apply for permanent residency when we've been in canada a year ionapaul??

Ponster

Hmmm, 18-24 months is a lot longer than I thought, esp. for a skilled worked visa.

I had better get my skates on then

frenchman

to be honest commercial drive in east van is my favourite part of vancouver!vibrant and cool place to be! slower pace of life than west van and at the same time livlier i think!

littlesurfer

would it be like living in temple bar, fun place to go out for drinks not much fun to listen to from your bed at four in the morning???

cerebus

littlesurfer wrote:

would it be like living in temple bar, fun place to go out for drinks not much fun to listen to from your bed at four in the morning???

Hmmm, Commercial Drive can't really be compared to Temple Bar. One or two blocks back off the Drive in either direction and you're in peaceful (and reasonably affordable) housing areas.

Vibrant community, lots of interesting things happening usually. For example, they have a great festival in the summer where they shut down a big section of the Drive for Car-free day, this weekend there is the Parade of Lost Souls for Halloween.

littlesurfer

Thanks for those links i checked out lost souls day, that looks pretty amazing! I'l check up rentals on commercial drive, see how much it'll all cost!

Sundy

If your in Vancouver be sure to check out the cup cake shop on Denman St, downtown they are best cakes ever.

I was in Vancouver for a few weeks during the summer and its a really cool city. And yeah avoid the east side, hastings st, chinatown area full of junkies and hookers, even day walkers!

To be honest id imagine if you wanted you could easily live somewhere like Burnaby which is covered well by the skytrain and seemed to be quite a nice place.

For shop lovers dont miss metrotown (metrotown=dundrum*5) its on the Expo Skytrain Line.
The Capilano suspension bridge is also worth a visit. (be sure to get discount for going on the bus and ask for student discount) Dont eat the green tea fudge there, its sick.
If you like walking up steps do the Grouse grind. A hill with lots and lots of steps.

Another thing that can be done and is loads of fun is take a seaplane from downtown to Vancouver Island (victoria/nanimao) and spend some time there. Its nice and well worht a look. theres bundgy jumping in nanimao if thats what you like.

The second best place i visited was Kelowna, really hot in summer. Its BC's second city and is on a beautiful lake, from what i heard its a bit dead in winter though.

Cant think of anything more at the moment, dont get too addicted to Tim Hortons, Iced Cap's and bagels rock!

Tar.Aldarion

This thread makes me want to move to Canada, well, so do their accents.

Ace pictures.

Motley Crue

I've been to Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto and also Banff and Jasper National Parks. Toronto is a great city and I hope to return next year. I've never been to Vancouver but it looks fabulous.

The only problem I have with what your saying is that apparently its very hard to get into Canada. Id like to go after I graduate and that being said they have strict laws for students and even stricter laws for non students. You can live and work their illegally, but its getting harder and harder these days and you really wanna look into making sure you have proper paperwork going over there.

Weather in Oct will be like it was today, cold, but it wont snow and it wont rain. Just so you know

I love Toronto, its my new home city I think lol

Motley Crue

littlesurfer wrote:

would it be like living in temple bar, fun place to go out for drinks???

Temple Bar is not a fun place to go drinking in my opinion and nothing like any area of Canada ive been too. TB is literally crap compared to the nightscene in Canada, and you dont need to fear that you might get knifed on a Sat night coming out of a pub either

Sundy

Motley Crue wrote:

I've been to Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto and also Banff and Jasper National Parks. Toronto is a great city and I hope to return next year. I've never been to Vancouver but it looks fabulous.

The only problem I have with what your saying is that apparently its very hard to get into Canada. Id like to go after I graduate and that being said they have strict laws for students and even stricter laws for non students. You can live and work their illegally, but its getting harder and harder these days and you really wanna look into making sure you have proper paperwork going over there.

Weather in Oct will be like it was today, cold, but it wont snow and it wont rain. Just so you know

I love Toronto, its my new home city I think lol

It does in vancouver, lots

littlesurfer

I'm not comparing commercial drive to temple bar, i'm just wondering if it is the kind of place you want to live or just the kind of place you want to go out for drinks in??

I'm getting so excited now about this whole thing!! I'm going looking for that cake shop too!

As for living illegally it sounds like too much hassle. I'm waiting for the usit under 35 work visa in february! Bit of a wait but i'm hoping it will be hassle free and worth the wait!

littlesurfer

oh and it doesn't really rain that much in vancouver does it??:(

Ponster

Rainfall = http://www.bcpassport.com/vital/temp.html

lost_for_words

6 weeks to go and I'll be off to Vancouver for the year...not even that much rain could put me off

mrsmagoo

I'm in the same boat as Lost for Words.. heading off to live there in 6 weeks and couldn't care less about the bit of rain.

For anyone that has maybe lived in Galway, like myself, the average rainfall per year there is a whopping 98 inches! Vancouver's meagre 44 inches is small fries in comparison. If you're Irish Vancouver will be a welcome break!

Cant wait!!

littlesurfer

there seems to be a whole pile of people on this thread heading to vancouver...we should try and keep the thread going and see how everyone gets on.

Sundy

Yeah defintely keep this thread goin, im hoping to go back for a year starting next summer and would like to know how people get on there.

littlesurfer

Anyone know anything about the cost of internal flights in canada? Also if anyone out there is a nurse or knows one well who knows anything about nursing jobs in canada let me know

nellocon

Hey i plan to go to canada for the summer..as im a student ill be doing like a j1 kinda thing...Does any1 know what its like to try and get a job out there...maybe in a restaurant or a pub or something you know..Im not sure whether to go to toronto, vaqncouver or elsewhere yet!