barzeroti
11/3/2015 21:19 EST
Where in Canada????
Its a big place,
I live for 6 years upstate NY 10 miles from the Ca border, worked for a Canadian company, I know the mentality being born in Europe, I am perfect bilingual French/English.
And now back in South Florida where I spend 20 years. Canadian have a mentality tough to deal with, jealousy, and super high taxes, very expensive cost of living.
Super cold the winter-30F, cope with ice and snow... good luck.
Hate foreigners, Tax rates are much higher in Ca than the US.
You can get your residency with a reasonable investment around $300k if I recall.
But as for me I woudnt exchange Fl for Canada...
Good luck
Post a Reply
 0 0 abuse
|
|
|
|
wafa
11/3/2015 23:55 EST
Hi - As a Canadian I thank you for your interest in Canada! ;)
Where to live - hmmm - I guess that IS the question.
Unless you like super cold winters and hot hot summers you best option would be somewhere on the coast - either east or west. If you're set on having 4 seasons then maybe the east coast would be a better option than the west coast but we do get seasonal influences here in BC (where I am).
As the first responder implied we do pay some pretty high taxes here but that is also offset by comparatively low crime rates, beautiful country, friendly people and a very high standard of living.
To know how to come to Canada you should go to Canada.ca and/or cic.ca Either/or website will give you the info you need to know re: moving to Canada.
Best of luck with you decision!
Post a Reply
10abuse
|
|
|
|
standupguy
11/4/2015 05:54 EST
Canadians don't care much for Americans as they think Americans see themselves better than any other nationality (and too loud). -30 cl in the North. In southern BC, it never gets that cold. I worked in the North with -45, but no wind. If you are truly bi-lingual, Ottawa is a nice city, but cold in the winter, just across the river from Hull Quebec. The Franco-Canuckleheads are very picky about their Canadian version of French and look down on French nationals pronunciation. My pick of best climate/environment is Victoria, BC. I have lived in Nanaimo an hour & a half North, but Nanaimo can be unfriendly. It was a blue collar town, but is more upscale now and cheaper than Victoria. Jobs are hard to find, Minimum wage is $10.50 p/hr. .
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
standupguy
11/4/2015 05:58 EST
Nanaimo, Courtnay, Ladysmith, maybe Port Alberni are your best bets. I'm from Nanaimo.
Post a Reply
10abuse
|
|
|
|
jamielee3206
11/4/2015 14:51 EST
Thank you!
We are okay with taxes, since we live in FL right now and pay very little in tax we see the big difference in cleanliness and localities than even in California. It's a trade-off, but worth it in my opinion.
What type of seasonal influences do you see in BC? We are mostly interested in that province due to all the good things we hear and the beautiful scenic photography.
My husband has dual-citizenship so we are not too worried about all the legalities. Mainly just want to make sure we pick the right place to move where we can make friends easily and somewhere safe and reasonable to raise children, but also be able to make a living.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
jamielee3206
11/4/2015 14:52 EST
Would you say Victoria would be a good fit for our age bracket, starting a family, purchasing property with space, and making a living? I've heard it's more of a 55 and older type place.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
standupguy
11/4/2015 17:59 EST
No, Quallicum Beach, Parksville are the bone yards. Collwood is brand new award winning municipality. University of Victoria is huge Mecca of young people. Victoria has style. Vancouver just a lot of concrete. Victoria has many different kinds of neighborhoods. In Oak Bay you get the old rich. Otherwise it's much more youthful city.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
standupguy
11/4/2015 18:09 EST
Victoria, Sannichton, Collwood, so many different kinds of neighborhoods in Victoria. If you have money,Oak Bay, Collowwod is award winning municipality that emerged in last 15 years. I like a smaller city like Nanaimo and it's surrounds. 85,000 with everything. But it's long and narrow with mall after mall. A lot cheaper housing than Victoria. Both are very clean and safe.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
wafa
11/4/2015 19:37 EST
I concur with StandUpGuy although I'd add in Comox as a location where you'd also find significant retirees.
Victoria has something for everybody. Probably the nicest city in all of Canada. Be a terrific place to re-locate to. Has one of the best climates in all of Canada too.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
standupguy
11/4/2015 20:08 EST
Comic and Courtnay side by side. Comox has Pacific Command of Canadian Air Force. Victoria has Esquimalt, Pacific Command of Canadian Navy. Comox has colder wetter weather than Nanaimo. I did not mention Duncan, half way between Nanaimo & Victoria. Cowichan Lake near Duncan is small town of mostly loggers, but has cheap real estate & natural beauty. Sooke & the Western Communities are near to Victoria on the Pacific Coast. Also, for the mainland, Pt Roberts is US territory, but accessed through Canada. Still commutable to Vancouver, but grid lock all the way. Cheap property there, good fishing from the beaches. Quite nice actually, but again the lower mainland a quagmire.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
|
|
standupguy
11/6/2015 22:25 EST
Kelowna is nice. I have been there many times. The winter weather is...for skiers who like it cold. You are land-locked & a long way from VAG. Invermere is smaller and nice winter locked spot. I think the south coast of Vancouver Island beats the weather there. I don't mind the rain since I don't have to shovel it. Kamloops nice too, except for the druggies. All those interior cities like Kelowna have one big drawback: raging FORREST FIRES.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
jamielee3206
11/11/2015 14:44 EST
Rwgarding Victoria and/or Vancouver, Is there plenty of things to do both outdoors and day/night life for people in their late 20's? What about closest surfing and snowboarding?
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
standupguy
11/14/2015 20:37 EST
Vancouver has the nightlife and restaurants as does Victoria. The North Shore mountains are wet snow at best most of the time. Whistler is OK, but you got fog and rain there too. Nightlife and pricey. You can drive around all day and not find a parking spot. On a clear day you can see the North Shore mountains, Otherwise its a concrete graveyard. Remember you do not want to live in the shadow of the mountain, North or East side. Don't choose any spot that faces North or East. Facing Southwest is best
I have lived in Vancouver, and I would not go back. Vancouverites think they are superior, but they have no comparisons. Victoria is the best big city. Personally I like Nanaimo, but for many it is too blue collar. Lost of great fishing, hiking, lakes, and 1 hour from Mt. Washington, 3 1/2 hours from Tofino. The Pacific Rim National Park is exceptional. You can book a campsite on line and they provide firewood, but no showers. Bella Pacifica Campsite on McKensie beach is cheap for beachfront. Has water and power. But you need to book now for the summer of 2016. Maybe nothing left since beachfront goes in about an hour after they open bookings in October.
Ladysmith near Nanaimo, but much smaller city. Duncan OK. The weather is colder and wetter anyplace North of Nanaimo. Few good restaurants, great live theater, nice waterfront boardwalk, great malls. You got the ferry to the mainland right there, but it is $127 round trip in a car. Park & walk on, take the West Vancouver blue bus 157 downtown. If you are headed to VAG international, take (the Nanaimo) Duke Point ferry and then bus to the sky train, or a $65 cab from Tsawassen.
Victoria close to various outdoor recreation locations and has a nice lake.
Mt. Washington in Courtney/Comox gets the best snowfall on the Coast.
Post a Reply
00abuse
|
|
|
|
