Tell me what it's like to live in CANADA!
 

I've never been to Canada, and I want to know more about it. I did a Google search, but couldn't find much. I want to know more about the weather (yes, I know, COLD, but besides that), the workforce, education, culture, the food, the arts, and anything else you deem to be pertinent. I know it varies from province to province, but just tell me what you know. Also, if you've lived in both Canada AND the US, tell me how it compares. Thanks!

Oh, and feel free to move this if it would fit better in another forum.

I've lived in Canada for my whole life so to date, so I can't offer any personal comparative observations, but my parents lived in the KC area for about 4 years, and the last year they've been just outside of San Diego, and I've talked to them about their observations a few times.

Southern Ontario is a great place to live in the summer, but I have a harder time each year with the winters. The biggest problem with our winters isn't the cold - I'm only slightly further north than Buffalo or Detroit, and further south than Mineapolis - it's the constant dreariness. During our summers we get about 28 sunny days per month, but the opposite is true in the winter. I suspect that the same would be true on the US side of the Great Lakes as well.

Politically, we tend to be more socialist than the US. A portion of the cost of post-secondary education is absorbed by the provincial governments. I don't know if that is done in the US as well. Our medical system, while not perfect, excludes no resident. A single mom earning 20k per year is entitled to the same medical care as the executive pulling down 500k. Alot of people complain about how long it takes to get the medical attention that you need, but my experience is that the speed of the care is directly related to the urgency of your affliction.

Canadians claim to be overtaxed, but for all of the services we get - especially free healthcare - we don't pay any more taxes than Americans after considering Social Security and consumer taxes.

Canada is definately not perfect, and I would like to live and work in other places (mostly warmer places) but I am glad that I have such a great home to come back to.

I live in Detroit...I am closer to Canada than other city in my state, or the US.

I've been there a few times. It's good to know French. Other than that...listen to Jimmy =)

Thanks, guys!

Everything I've heard so far sounds good, as I am very liberal and the US has become extremely conservative. That is the #1 reason I'm considering moving.

I think my biggest concern would be how much money & time it would take to get a Visa there - especially the money part (how you have to save up like $12,000 to show you can support yourself or something of that nature). That seems impossible.

Now is a good time - the Canadian dollar surpassed the US dollar - for the second time in history (first time this happened was during the Great Depression in America).

Stay the hell away from southern ontario....The Goths are so political its not even funny....

It's cold in the winter, yes, but we do have very hot summers in most of the major cities.

Even though we have a Conservative Prime Minister right now, the majority of people, especially in large cities, are at least slightly liberal and share a few common values - like believing that guns are unnecessary, scary objects and that all people have their place in society, even if they're deemed "outsiders" by some. Of course, there are some bigots, just like anywhere.

You really have to pick the right city for you.
I can tell you that Vancouver is very green (in every sense of the word), artsy and rainy, while Toronto is a bit more industrial and fast-paced with a big-city attitude. Montreal is hip, young, and you actually don't need to know that much French to live there. I would also suggest considering smaller cities like Victoria, Halifax, and Edmonton, if you're easily stressed but don't want to feel too isolated.

Toronto, btw, is not really that attractive, if aesthetics matter to you, but it is the biggest city and therefore has the biggest goth scene.

I don't know much about getting a visa, other than you need one year of work experience to get in and that they like you to have a bit of post-secondary.

I live in Sault Ste Marie, and all I can say is that when winter comes here, it get so cold, it seems like nuclear winter!

So I've heard! :) Scary for the US though...

Political how? Because if they're liberal I'm all for it. ;)

Thank you for all that info! I like to live in a medium-sized town with some natural scenery, but close to a large city for entertainment purposes. :D


LOL! Wow. Brrr.. makes me cold just thinking about it.

If you like medium sized cities, I think that Waterloo would be a good place to live. It's a university town with a population a little over 100,000 not including temporary student residents. There doesn't seem to be much of a "Goth Scene" there, but you could be in Toronto in about an hour, where you can find pretty much anything you're looking for.

Waterloo has a strong economy, which seems to be largely based on technology and R&D, and in the last couple of years they've ranked at or near the top of the world's most inteligent communities. Companies like Research In Motion always seem to be looking for good people, and if you have something they're looking for, they might help you get a Visa.

Really? I haven't noticed that.

Canada seems like an interesting place to live. I wouldn't mind, if only for the sake of the weather.

One thing that I find discouraging, is that drivers here in Ontario are assholes. Canadians have a reputation for being polite, forgiving, friendly.... and much of it may be still true, but around here when we get in a car we tend to turn into ignorant asses. Just an observation.

They can't be any worse than Tennessee drivers. >:\ People here don't even signal, and they think if they drive a big pickup truck they can cut you off or tailgate you 24/7.

**chuckles** Any where near Waterloo would be a place to AVOID! People, take it from me... I have worked in the companies in that area with some of the stupid assed "sour-kraut" fucktards that live in that city and I will be the first to tell you that they are all PSYCHOTIC ASSHOLES!!! That city is filled with German settlers...theres nothing wrong with that but if you had not met any of one the German descent, you would think that all those fucktarsds are like that when in reality such is not the case...I know that not all Germans are not like that...Like I said...Stay the HELL way from Ontario..Alberta is a much, much better option for those who are willing to come to Canada! Jobs Jobs Jobs! at big $$ $$ $$ Yeah that's right earn big bucks even if your working at J(T)im Horton's Seriously! The pay rate at jim hortons is higher in Alberta than Ontario simply because they can't find people to fill there job positions!!!! Indeed, Go West young man/woman!!!!!

I'm jealous! BC only gives you $8 or $9 an hour for Tim's. Alberta wouldn't be too bad, it's less conservative now and if you can get into the oil business, you're set for life. It gets very cold, though.

7734¯7IA3, I'm sorry you had such negative experiences when you were here in Ontario. I wonder why you seem to attract all the assholes, while I encounter very few.

Woah. Holy well timed thread, Batman :)

I'm in the market for a new country, as it were, and this was hella helpful.

Because Unlike YOU, I'm not afraid to speak my mind- even at the risk of getting banned. And if ppl get offended its totally their problem...

You, like most ppl who live in the great white, seem to have in uncontrollable inhibition towards just about everything- a timid acceptance of the "status quo", which, I would argue is totally NOT Goth...I'm willing to bet if you really let ppl know what's on your mind you will unconver many so called "assholes" - both of us know perfectly well what we are talking about, Jimmy....

I'm quite frankly amazed at how people can't even take a joke anymore...not even online...that's so sad....At least "Green.Lady" understands....:)

I'm willing to bet that you found people in Ontario to be assholes because you feel no need to be polite, or even civil, about expressing your opinion. We aren't asses, we just prefer not to take any bullshit from arrogant and abrasice jackasses, namely yourself.


As far as living in Canada goes, the taxes are a little higher, but it's linked to the increase in services. As a people, Canada is more liberal than the U.S. (gay mariage is legal, etc). Personally, there's very few places I would rather live than Canada, though I wouldn't mind moving to either Toronto or Montréal.

I kinda live BY Canada. Minnesota, yes make fun of our "accent" if you want.

Try getting asked to say "eh" by every person who finds out you're canadian. I spent a week in Florida, and I swear I could have killed everyone. I don't even use "eh" that much.

I suppose thats a big disadvantage. I took the advice you gave me and it worked very well, thanks man.

That stereotype really needs to die.

No problem, man. Glad to of service *sweeping bow*