Should I move to Canada?
- Thread starter SpookyFrank
- Start date
Ming
I shot a man in Reno...
I moved over to Vancouver in 2013. The economies pretty good (i'm a nurse and get paid more than the UK). To get a job in BC I had to get something called a Labour Market Opinion saying they can't find a Canadian to fill the post. Might depend on your job though. I don't know loads about Canadian politics yet but there are 3 main parties like the UK. The Conservatives (like ours), the NDP (union backed like The Labour party) and the Liberals (same). The current government is Conservative led by a Cameron-esq git called Stephen Harper. The Conservatives were kicked out of one of their strongholds in Alberta last month (which was described in the press as like the Republicans being kicked out of Texas). I haven't seen much racism (no more than the UK).
The healthcare system is a public private partnership free at the point of delivery. Good clinical standards. Cost of living in Vancouver is about the same as London (but its got a reputation for being expensive). A pint is between 3-4 GBP. Packet of cigs is 7 GBP. Rent for a one bedroom apartment is 400-800 gbp/month depending on area (can be more in Downtown). Mid-range restaurant meal with tip and a few pints 20-30gbp. Internets are a lot more than the UK (40GBP for 5gb smartphone plan per month). The beer is excellent. Pubs are not tied to breweries so much here so you get 20 different brews usually (the Pacific Northwest is beer heaven Portland especially). Indian food isn't as good as the UK but by international standards it's pretty reasonable. Property to buy is ridiculous in Vancouver (think London).
One of the things that sold Vancouver to me is they get a great Summer. Usually at least 2 months of pretty steady sunshine. It does rain a lot in the Winter though. The natural environment is very beautiful. The city's surrounded by beaches and mountains.
Lastly the majestic moose and other things. I've seen racoons in Downtown traffic, wild deer on Salt Spring Island, a marmot on Whistler, a pack of coyotes walking back from the pub (me not them) and a skunk outside my hospital.
To quote that horrible Paul McCartney song 'people are people where ever you go'. Canadian's are a friendly bunch generally.
If you fancy checking the place out i'll show you around. Summer's probably the best time to visit (unless you want to ski obviously). And if you like sushi its world class.
Can't speak for other areas/cities though.
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
£400-£800 / month for a one-bedroom is way cheaper than London BTW.
yeah, you might start at £800 a month in a shit area of outer london
Ming
I shot a man in Reno...
The last time i lived in London was 1998! I've heard its gone a bit mental from friends who are still there. I'm renting a one bedroom basement suite for 825 dollars a month in Cambie but in higher end places it can go up to...skies the limit.
Idris2002
canadian girlfriend
Be aware of one thing - Canadians have a very low tolerance for swearing. My crush, the first time I met her, very proudly told me her story of being in New York City and meeting a Scottish bloke who was throwing the c-word around with gay abandon, in the authentic weegie manner. Taking umbrage at this, she punched him, and knocked him flat on his back.
I live in Montreal and have done for about 8 years, I lived in Quebec City for about three years before that. Pretty much all of the info above applies to Montreal as well as Van, rent however is significantly cheaper. A one bedroom apt will set you back anything from around 300gpb upwards depending on area whilst still being near a metro line. It's a great place which certainly retains a significant European atmosphere, it's not necessary to be able to speak French but you'll get a lot more out of the city if you do and will be far more respected by the Quebecois. In my experience it's incredibly safe, random violence, alcohol fuelled or otherwise is extremely rare.
Summer's excellent fun, pretty much a new festival every week. I just wish the winter was two months shorter.
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SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Those quote unquote sausages you get at Denny's are a hate crime.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Toronto is possibly the most boring city on earth.
Montreal is ace.
As is Vancouver.
But JC3 lives there, so perhaps Montreal is the way to go.
Everywhere gets cold in winter.
Big butts are a feature of Canada. I like big butts, I cannot lie.
Montreal is ace.
As is Vancouver.
But JC3 lives there, so perhaps Montreal is the way to go.
Everywhere gets cold in winter.
Big butts are a feature of Canada. I like big butts, I cannot lie.
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Idris2002
canadian girlfriend
I'm more of a leg man myself.
Ming
I shot a man in Reno...
It does get cold in the rest of Canada in WInter but Vancouver is like the UK. As regards the big butts thing. This is the Pacific West coast. Everyone's jogging or rollerblading along the sea wall in Lycra (apart from me. I'm usually smoking a cigarette on the way to the pub). I've met JC3 by the way. Had a long beer and nachos session on Commercial Drive with him. He's good company.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Oh yeah, folk in Canada are pretty literal and don't get piss taking humour.
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
It's cold in Canada. 
I was in a French chat room yesterday where someone explained that the French Canadian accent is the way it is because there were a lot of Southern French who emigrated there - especially the Bordeaux area - they must have been very hard up to want to move.
I was in a French chat room yesterday where someone explained that the French Canadian accent is the way it is because there were a lot of Southern French who emigrated there - especially the Bordeaux area - they must have been very hard up to want to move.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
No, Toronto really is the most boring city on earth.
I went over there to DJ a few times (Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, some other places) - lovely country, they love (most) British people. Fucking cold in winter (experienced -35C brrrr).
Generally high quality of drugs (ime)
Montreal was particularly nuts
Generally high quality of drugs (ime)
Montreal was particularly nuts
Ming
I shot a man in Reno...
The weed in BC is great. Traditionally Americans used to come to BC for smoking requirements. But it's now legal in Washington, Alaska and I think Oregon too (for recreational use). It's funny that round the corner from my apartment (literally 50 metres away from my front door) is a medical marijuana dispensary and 2 doors down a bong shop. I'll get some photos and post them tomorrow. One of the ailments you can get a prescription for is 'nonspecific pain'.
trabuquera
Modesty Bag
Like everywhere else, the deep countryside can be a bit of a challenge to 'outsiders' while the big cities are mostly very mixed and it's not like you're cut off from the rest of the world.
Do be aware of the thing about swearing though - and it goes double for 'affectionately insulting' humour or really sharp irony, which Canadians really don't like either. If these things are crucial to your life Canada might be a bit difficult.
Americans also often complain about Canadians being "passive aggressive", but that might just be resentment at Canadians not being 100% gun-freedom-friendly, having a public health services and arguing that sometimes you have to charge people tax to do things.
Do be aware of the thing about swearing though - and it goes double for 'affectionately insulting' humour or really sharp irony, which Canadians really don't like either. If these things are crucial to your life Canada might be a bit difficult.
Americans also often complain about Canadians being "passive aggressive", but that might just be resentment at Canadians not being 100% gun-freedom-friendly, having a public health services and arguing that sometimes you have to charge people tax to do things.
Idris2002
canadian girlfriend
Canada is really a European country that happens to be in the wrong place. America is. . well fukc knows what AMerica is.
Idris2002
canadian girlfriend
Idris2002
canadian girlfriend
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Idris2002
canadian girlfriend
She's one of the coolest people I know, but alas for me she loves another.Because actual physical violence is better than bad language
Idris2002
canadian girlfriend
Canadian scientific superiority will allow the construction of nuclear land mine field along the 49th parallel, so that problem should take care of itself.
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