Apologies for the intrusion but I have been giving it a lot of thought recently and I am 95% set on a move to Canada.

I've been working in I.T. for 25 years and I'm ready to jack it all in, buy a little business somewhere and take it easy.

I'm concentrating on moving to either Ontario (mainly the Toronto area, Georgian bay etc...) or south British Columbia, but it is still early days yet.
If anyone has any thoughts, I'm willing to listen.



Again, I don't mean to intrude but I was just wondering if anyone here had any advice, words of wisdom/caution for anyone considering a move to Canada.

The one problem that I am expecting to have is that the wife is a diabetic (type 1) and I know that there's a medical involved.

 

Well I'd say overall we have pretty good healthcare here, long as you can get into the country.

Business-wise, if I were in your shoes I would be moving to Ontario, somewhere in the Greater Toronto Area. I don't know what you've been doing in IT, but there are countless companies that utilize independent consultants to oversee their technology needs. I don't know if the same opportunities are there in Southern BC that would exist in Ontario.

Good luck!

 

What kind of activities do you and your wife enjoy to pass the time? Do you like winter activities?

Personally, I love the mountains and skiing. I would move to the Vancouver area for their mild winters and close proximity to the mountains which are great both summer and winter.

 

Good to know, thanks.

I'm actually thinking a complete departure from IT, and buy a bar, restaurant, motel, whatever. There's a cracking "Bar Tavern Restaurant Hotel Complex" for sale at around $800k in Hanover, but that might be pushing it a bit

It's probably time to get out of IT before it drives me mad.
Although it would be useful to supplement the income with IT work in the early stages.



We're not into skiing, yet, but would be willing to give it a try.

Quite like a round of golf now and again, and the missus prefers the warm to the cold, so we'd be wanting to stay a bit further south
I'd just be happy with some real seasons.
It's just grey most of the time in the UK.

 

Coincidently, I just noticed your location SS.
I'm living right next door to Bradford in the UK

 

Also check out the Waterloo/Kitchener area. About 1 hour west of Toronto.

It's considered Silicon Valley North... might be a nice place to setup a new IT business.

 

I don't think you really need to apologize, we are happy to have you here

So, the good news is your pound is like gold here so you'll have plenty to work with. I'm not sure how the diabetic thing will pan out, I assume you're talking about emigrating as opposed to a work visa.

Southern Ontario and Southern BC are radically different both in climate and culture.

BC/Vancouver is more moderate with cooler summers and warmer winters but with substantial rainfall. If you're looking to escape months on end of drizzle and grey skies BC probably isn't the best choice. Southern Ontario/Toronto is more extreme in temperature with colder winters and hotter and more humid summers. Toronto gets a full 4 seasons in the year, Vancouver only gets 3.5 with winter being rather short and snowfall an oddity, they have a later fall and earlier spring with pretty much constant rain from November through February, a climate not dissimilar to Wales and Northern England.

Culturally Vancouver will appeal to the outdoor active lifestyle crowd, those who drink latte, drive Volvos with mountain bikes on the roof and think climbing a rock face is a good way to spend an afternoon. It's isolated and self absorbed with a hint of superiority. Toronto will appeal to someone who likes life a little grittier, with greater diversity and who enjoys a more big city urban lifestyle. If sitting around a pool with your Chinese, Indian, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian and West Indian friends drinking beer and eating BBQ is your idea of a good time Toronto isn't a bad choice.

 

^ I think I read that in the welcome to Canada brochure

 

I'm definitely a beer & BBQ man so I'm liking the sound of Toronto more and more

I know what you mean about Vancouver. Looking at the temperature averages it's very similar to London, and I'd heard it's a bit wet.
I was told that there's plenty of business to be done there.
It's good to know the same is true of Toronto as well. Thanks.

 

It is true... the Kitchener/Waterloo area is damn good. I've been here for about 7 months now and love it.

I've lived DT Toronto for a few months.. Scarborough for a few years and Waterloo by far is much better.

The bar/pub scene here is great and you don't have to deal with the congestion of Toronto.