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divagirl
  8/31/2016 13:10 EST

I'm a Bahamian female, 45 looking into moving to Canada within the next 6 to 12 months, depending on the process time.

I would like advice on what's the nicest areas to check out temperature wise, and where the people are friendly and nice like we used to be here in the Bahamas.

I don't have a family so I will be moving alone and would like to make my decisions based on concrete viable information rather than taking my own stab in the dark approach.

I will be going to live and work so advise on which cities, provinces, towns are more welcoming or commonly hire non-Canadians in the financial services/banking fields.

Id appreciate any and all responses to this question as I am hopeful of going but still a bit hesitant since I don't know the place or anyone there.

Please help allay my fears.

wafa
  8/31/2016 13:20 EST

Hi Divagirl - I think if you talk to Canadians we will all tell you the area of Canada we live in is the nicest for a wide variety of reasons. For example: I love the west coast where you do not get the extremes of hot & cold weather BUT you do get lots of grey days and rain, rain and more rain. On the other hand if you live in Ontario you get lots more bright days with sun but hot summers and very cold winters. Expense-wise I don't find living in my area all that expensive as the communities are geared to small city living, offer less services but less employment opportunities. Vancouver offers everything one could ever dream of wanting but it also comes with the expense of big city life.

I'd use this time to research extensively, figure out what your baseline living style is and then make your choice(s).

Best of luck :)

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divagirl
  8/31/2016 13:26 EST

Thanks. That's what I'm doing here.

TSarah
  9/8/2016 02:17 EST

Hi!
Have you any preference on which part of Canada you want to move on?

HerculesOlivier
  9/8/2016 10:20 EST

Hi there,
We are primarily looking at British Columbia

divagirl
  9/8/2016 13:18 EST

I actually don't at the moment. I am just trying to gather information here to help me make the best determination of where its best for me to move to. I'm interested in the areas with the best climate, friendliest people, most cultural and artistic entertainment, best eligible men and highest pay. These are all factors that are important to me but I know I may not find all in any one place. so fee free to share info on any places where one or more of these factors exist.

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OldPro
  9/14/2016 08:36 EST

Well first comes the question of how you intend to make such a move legally. Have you checked to see if you are likely to qualify to get a Permanent Resident visa? Without that, it's a waste of time asking about jobs, weather, etc.

divagirl
  9/29/2016 20:50 EST

Not at all Sarah Im open at the moment but would prefer somewhere not too cold since i will be moving from such a warm climate. Id also like to move somewhere where they are welcoming of foreigners and hire them enthusiastically and not reluctantlyt. Love the arts and am single so finding a good culture and dating pool would be a jackpot. I know I want alot but Im flexible with what I will settle on or not.

divagirl
  9/29/2016 20:51 EST

So share the knowledge on British Colombia my friend Im all eyes.

divagirl
  9/29/2016 20:53 EST

I am very qualified for this move. Ive spoken with immigration consultants already so I know I am more that qualified for immigration.

wafa
  9/29/2016 22:06 EST

You realize British Columbia is extremely diverse in all respects. Some areas are urban cosmopolitan while others are redneck rural, some areas climate is pretty good other areas you're in deep freeze for the majority of the year.

Welcome and hire you over a Canadian with open arms? Totally hard to say. That is going to depend on your qualifications, skills, education and experience and your own personal charm AND whether you're hired or not depends on what kind of job you're looking for.

Economically the province isn't flying high, times are tough for many, cost of living is high, rentals are hard to come by and cost a fortune so how well you'll do here is literally "up in the air."

Hope you've got the education/skills/qualifications to get hired. Hope you've got all the legal paperwork stuff in order to come here and hope you've got the resources to back yourself up to be able to get yourself settled and sorted whilst waiting for employment. In other words come informed and prepared.

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divagirl
  10/1/2016 21:04 EST

No I dont have a permanent residence or a citizenship. I am just now trying to determine the best place to apply for residency. Your info has been great. Thank you so much.

divagirl
  10/1/2016 21:19 EST

No I did not, thank you for telling me. I have some college education and a certificate in French so that will prove useful for the first time since I earned it. Finally!lol. I am optimistic of finding a good job though since I have experience in banking and financial services starting from 1991.

I dont like the idea of the economy not doing as well as other areas though, I am coming there with the intention of being able to sustain myself financially.

I am still in the research process so thanks again for your info. Feel free to respond to this or any other posts you may see from me in the future.

divagirl
  10/1/2016 21:21 EST

I love this post, so helpful. Thank you very much. Now this is positive and exactly what the doctor ordered.I will definitely look more closely at Toronto now. Thanks so much.

OldPro
  10/2/2016 11:48 EST

Being Bahamian provides NO preferential treatment when applying for Permanent Residency.

I'll say again that there is no point in asking about where to look for a job etc. UNTIL you know you are likely to be allowed to apply for Permanent Residency.

Read here for how the process works. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-express.asp

IF you get to the 'invited to apply' stage, you can expect it to then take around 6 months minimum before you get approval and can move to Canada.

If you were looking to apply under 'Express Entry', you will find if you go through this eligibility test: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-express.asp

The first question is which English or French language test did you take and it must have been within 2 years of your application date. If someone who has either language as their First language and they select 'none', they are not eligible right off the bat. So can you even qualify under language skills to begin with? If not, then you will need to take a language test through one of the approved organizations before doing anything else.

If you get through the language requirement, you then have to answer the work experience related questions. You say you have worked in the financial field but doing exactly WHAT. A bank manager will rate higher than a bank teller for example.

So my advice is once again, to go through the questionnaire to determine whether you have any chance of gaining entry or not. Until you do that, there is no point in asking about where to live or whether there are single men available or not.

divagirl
  10/2/2016 17:47 EST

hi there

I appreciate the info. I have an interest in moving out of the Caribbean and since Canada has come a calling I am exploring this option. I didn't see any pictures though. I hope that I selected the right Guy Hamilton. Let me know.

Thanks
Divagirl

divagirl
  10/4/2016 17:22 EST

well maybe you should send me a friend request because I dont see a Guy Hamilton with that description here. I am Natasha Brown and I have a Xmas photo up with a pink blouse on and my hair out long. Xmas tree in the photo.

divagirl
  10/4/2016 17:22 EST

well maybe you should send me a friend request because I dont see a Guy Hamilton with that description here. I am Natasha Brown and I have a Xmas photo up with a pink blouse on and my hair out long. Xmas tree in the photo.

divagirl
  10/4/2016 17:22 EST

well maybe you should send me a friend request because I dont see a Guy Hamilton with that description here. I am Natasha Brown and I have a Xmas photo up with a pink blouse on and my hair out long. Xmas tree in the photo.

divagirl
  10/4/2016 17:22 EST

well maybe you should send me a friend request because I dont see a Guy Hamilton with that description here. I am Natasha Brown and I have a Xmas photo up with a pink blouse on and my hair out long. Xmas tree in the photo.

divagirl
  10/4/2016 17:22 EST

well maybe you should send me a friend request because I dont see a Guy Hamilton with that description here. I am Natasha Brown and I have a Xmas photo up with a pink blouse on and my hair out long. Xmas tree in the photo.

divagirl
  10/4/2016 17:25 EST

hi guy

send me a friend request on facebook cause i dont see a guy hamilton fitting this description. I am natasha brown and i am holding a red rose in my profile picture and my cover photo is a xmas one of me in a pink blouse next to a xmas tree.

divagirl
  10/14/2016 18:28 EST

No, just want to know that I can find good job and practice my french daily

divagirl
  10/14/2016 18:28 EST

still havent seen those pics

divagirl
  10/14/2016 18:29 EST

try to add me to your page. I couldnt find you. Natasha Brown Nassau Bahamas. Its a pic of me wearing big earrings and holding a red rose.

divagirl
  10/14/2016 18:30 EST

still dont see them

divagirl
  10/16/2016 15:48 EST

You suck

divagirl
  10/16/2016 15:49 EST

Sorry guys that was for OLD PRO.

Positive vibes only, Positive vibes only, Positive vibes only.

OldPro
  10/20/2016 16:13 EST

I take it you mean you did not like my response on the other thread you have now posted here:
http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?frmid=318&tpcid=3415968

Having asked people to spend their time answering questions about Canada where you stated you WERE moving, no ifs, ands, or buts, you now ask about getting UK citizenship.

No doubt you are hoping people will waste their time answering you there also.

There is nothing wrong with someone considering several places to move to. What is wrong is saying that you ARE moving to a place when in fact that is not decided.

In your post on the UK branch, you ask people to do YOUR work for you. "I would like to know how I would find out if I qualify to apply for a British passport."

Well the answer to that question is quite easily found by reading the UK government's Immigration website. But you wan't others to do the work and just tell you the answer. .

I happen to think people here have wasted enough of their time on you.

stevenlloyd
  10/28/2016 20:06 EST

Other than the prohibitive cost of living there, Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world - but don't take my word for it. Check it out. It also has the arts and culture and entertainment and everything else. Rain? Yes, but overall the weather is pretty mild there. As far as big cities go you'd be hard pressed to beat Vancouver. About 400 klicks inland is the Okanagan Valley. Also very nice.

stevenlloyd
  10/28/2016 20:06 EST

Other than the prohibitive cost of living there, Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world - but don't take my word for it. Check it out. It also has the arts and culture and entertainment and everything else. Rain? Yes, but overall the weather is pretty mild there. As far as big cities go you'd be hard pressed to beat Vancouver. About 400 klicks inland is the Okanagan Valley. Also very nice.

GeologyRocks
  11/10/2016 16:22 EST

How do you get in touch with a consultant on how to move? I live in South West England, anywhere down here?

standupguy
  11/10/2016 18:16 EST

GeologyRocks - Sponsorship is provided by corporations and marriage partners. Huge mining industry in Canada where they manage mines all over the world in a somewhat cut-throat manner. You can apply for a work permit. I think these are only good for 6 months. If you are single - you might look for life partner on dating website or go for mining company sponsorship. You might end up in the bush up North. I worked 15 years there for government. Different kind of life, but on weekends, I could return to the south. There is the Tar Sands in Alberta. dirty industry there too. Gold, Copper, Zinc and Diamonds in the North. There must be a mining company interested in fresh blood. Your UK accent is a huge advantage. Canadians more likely to hire your accent than a Canadian one. Good Luck. Search for mining companies, look at cic.gc.ca and [email protected]

OldPro
  11/11/2016 11:29 EST

Where do you get ideas like having a UK accent will get you hired over someone with a Canadian accent standupguy? I've never heard anything more ridiculous than that.

The person who can communicate clearly will be hired first, regardless of accent. I can just see someone with a Mancunian or Brummie accent trying to communicate clearly to Canadians without learning to speak 'proper' English first. LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzpvU4PBCv8

standupguy
  11/11/2016 18:03 EST

OldPro - here you go again. Lots of people speak clearly and get hired. No doubting that. My opinion is formed from the many comments Human Resource managers have made to me. Canadian accents fine, even some Southern American drawls. Pinoy accents get hired by the feds. where in my shop I had to get them to repeat what they were saying often, as I do here in the Philippines where I now life. OldPro, how come you got such a bee in your bonnet about me. Do you scan everything I say waiting to find something you can begin smashing again. Believe it or not, the British accent is an asset over an American one. Disagree all you like.

OldPro
  11/12/2016 11:09 EST

I have no problem with you standupguy. Do not confuse disagreeing with something you say, with being a comment about you personally.

I disagree or even attack opinions or issues. I do not attack the person. They are not one and the same.

standupguy
  11/12/2016 21:27 EST

Old Pro - Every message contains two parts. The content part (or message), and the tone (or command message). What you are saying is true of the content part, but your tone is always a not so subtle critical remark about me personally. Mostly what I feel personally (regrets for stating a personal comment), about you is that you are very competitive with me. It's OK if you feel that way towards me. We are quite different persons.

OldPro
  11/13/2016 12:34 EST

You read things as you read them standupguy. I have no control over that, only you do.

Tone in speech can indeed be heard but tone in writing is always an interpretation by the reader. It does not necessarily reflect the tone of the writer.

Communication between 2 people is quite interesting. I used to facilitate seminars in which it was included as a topic.

For example, I can say, 'I have no reason to be angry with you.'

If I SAY it with gritted teeth and a grimace on my face, the message is pretty clear. I am in fact angry with you and the words mean nothing.

If I SAY it with a smile and in a pleasant voice, then the message is again clear. I am indeed not angry.

The problem with communication between two individuals is that only 7% of the message being sent is in the words. There is 38% in the tone and 55% in the body language. That is what example above illustrates.

So without actually being able to HEAR the tone in which something is said or SEE the person when they are saying it, we try to infer the tone and have no idea at all regarding body language.

We can tell this is the case if we look at what we do when someone gives us a message from another person. If it is a phone message we are likely to say something like, 'how did he sound?' If it was given in person, we might say, 'how did he look or how did he seem?' We are looking for the tone and the body language to better understand the message we are being given.

While some writing can indeed have a very definite tone indicated by the choice of words chosen, unless it is very obvious, we have to infer the tone and have no way of inferring body language at all. So there is a good chance we will get it wrong. I'm sure you have seen people misconstrue a message many times.

I have no reason to be angry with you standupguy. Take the words as read without inferring anything at all. I generally tend to say exactly what I mean and IF I had a reason to be 'critical of you personally'. I would WRITE it very clearly indeed believe me.

standupguy
  11/13/2016 18:56 EST

Old Pro - I completely agree with your analysis. I am not angry at you either. For me, I am too old to care much about whatever. It seems some kind of judgement was made on my post on this topic since the moderator removed it quickly from the stream. At least with us, everyone gets a generous portion of diversity in opinions. Thank you for clarifying you position. Carry on. Cheers JWS

desmab2
  11/22/2016 18:25 EST

Hello Divagirl
i am from montreal and working in the financiald fiel ...the nicest area in Canada depend on your criterias...if it s climat than Vancouver is warmer than Calgary and Montréal, the winter is milder but there is a lot of rain, if your looking for jobs in the Financial market i would suggest Toronto since 50% of the work force in the banking industry is there, the climat also is a ittle warmer but not as warm than Vancouver, now if you are looking for a friendly more latin culture you need to go to montreal

hope this help

standupguy
  11/22/2016 22:31 EST

desmab2 & Divgirl - I am from Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island. 85,000 people there, very affordable homes, but jobs hard to find. If you consider other criteria like concrete jungle versus beautiful mother nature, then avoid the big cities. When it's cloudy there, its an ugly concrete bunker. I lived for 32 years in Vancouver and North Vancouver (Deep Cove). I would never go back. The pace is hyperactive on steroids. Everything too far, no parking when you get there. If you are a city mouse - go for it, But after living in Chicago and Maimi before coming to Vancouver, I went for the green acres country mouse life style. My philosophy, I can always catch a ferry to Vancouver, but no surfing beaches there, no fishing, beaches too crowded, all about materialism. In my back yard, all you can hear is the frogs & an occasional dog barking. It is dead quiet, clean air, pure water from the tap, great shopping, and drought in the summer with temperatures during the day topping 32 cl and at night 16 cl. I use my inverter aircon for about 5 weeks. I chill in my hot/warm tub and stare at the stars (no air pollution) while sipping brandy. After they closed my Nanaimo office, I commuted on the ferry and bus for 11 years before retiring. I wouldn't recommend that to anyone.

divagirl
  11/23/2016 12:02 EST

thank you. very helpful.

memommah
  2/12/2017 01:13 EST

I have lived in Southern Ontario, Vancouver,BC and Kelowna BC. Kelowna (Okanagan Valley) is home for me now for 17 yrs. It is known as Canada's Hawaii. Summers are hot as high as 38 to 40 degrees Celsius. We get about 4 wks of really cold winter and another 2 mo. of cold winter. Dec, Jan, and Feb are coldest months. We have amazing wine country, golf, skiing, and boating. Jobs are harder to find but good ones can be found. Rentals availability is very low. Housing prices are high but you get a lot more for your money compared to Vancouver.

martin12k
  3/18/2017 17:51 EST

Having to move to a new country can be very time consuming especially when it comes to finding a new home and designing it. To save time and money consider using Furnishr.com when moving. Browse our beautifully designed room packages and choose which design fits your home best. From there we will do the rest of the work for you and even set up everything in your house in a single day.

pokingAround
  10/1/2019 11:10 EST

Hi, memommah!
I am running away from Rio de Janeiro.
May I ask you about your 38~40 degrees on summer, what number of sun protector do you use?

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