First Timer - Considering the Move

[jk69]

Hi All. New guy so be gentle. I am a Professional, married, with young family. I am a director in my own surveying practice, practicing for around 15 years now. I have some family in canada (aunts, cousins etc) but have never been (trying to sort that one out..)

I hear a lot about the quality of life issues on this forum and through other people and wonder is the grass really any greener? A number of issues are firmly distrurbing about the uk at present as is widely known, crime, social breakdown, respect, loss of values etc etc.

I want to know if it's really any different in canada? I know you get idiots in all corners of the world, but on 'balance' is it any better?.

We have flirted with the idea of selling up and moving on to try something new. As a Construction Professional I would hope to be able to apply my wide skills to the canadian market. I run my own business which is doing fine thank you very much, so i am not blaming the recession, I actually think the Uk started to crack a number of years ago. I also suspect i would not be moving to to a similar level of income, but it's not just about money and materials, although i do work very hard and have built a business for 5 years with its own client base and workload and i would take the same attitude and effort with me.

We enjoy socialising and dont get enough time to do it, the work balance issue has gone out of control in the UK, we also enjoy the outdoors and yes we would actually look forward to real winters and snow..!

I want to know how any others in a similar position have got on?, any relevant experiences, regrets even? Does canada even need people like us?

I have my eyes open, I know there is no such thing as a panacea for life, but i am keen to know about real life experiences and issues to judge 'on balance' whether such a move is worthwhile considering. Things like family life, time, work/life attitudes, crime, values and so on and yes of course, work, economy, prospects, education and so on.

Look forward to some of your opinions where possible.

[cocoalfie]

I am a Canadian and have been living in the UK for nearly 19years and guess what?? I AM GOING BACK!!!! I am in the process of relocating myself and my family to Calgary. I think life is much easier there and the work/family balance is better. Beware of the winters as it is COLD and LONG unless you plan on moving to Vancouver where the weather is pretty much the same as UK in the winter. I don't think that the grass is greener - just different!! THere will be things that are cheaper and other things that aren't. It is definitely a different way of life than here in the UK but not necessarily better. FOr one thing they don't have the traditional British Pubs. THis is one thing I will certainly miss. Lots of people have tried copying the ENglish style pub - but it just doesn't marry up. I think the simple reason is the buildings just aren't old enough. Anyway, you might want to consider a good long holiday first to see how you like Canada. Hope this helps.

[jk69]

Cocoalfie, many thanks for your comments, most appreciated. A measured approach and realistic, which i like.. 'Different' can be good of course, but a trial run and holiday is a must for sure!
Even as a scotsman, i accept that a traditional english pub could be missed..! I have been in some very good ones over the years.
All the very best with your plans.

[Auld Yin]

Originally Posted by jk69

Hi All. New guy so be gentle. I am a Professional, married, with young family. I am a director in my own surveying practice, practicing for around 15 years now. I have some family in canada (aunts, cousins etc) but have never been (trying to sort that one out..)

I hear a lot about the quality of life issues on this forum and through other people and wonder is the grass really any greener? A number of issues are firmly distrurbing about the uk at present as is widely known, crime, social breakdown, respect, loss of values etc etc.

I want to know if it's really any different in canada? I know you get idiots in all corners of the world, but on 'balance' is it any better?.

We have flirted with the idea of selling up and moving on to try something new. As a Construction Professional I would hope to be able to apply my wide skills to the canadian market. I run my own business which is doing fine thank you very much, so i am not blaming the recession, I actually think the Uk started to crack a number of years ago. I also suspect i would not be moving to to a similar level of income, but it's not just about money and materials, although i do work very hard and have built a business for 5 years with its own client base and workload and i would take the same attitude and effort with me.

We enjoy socialising and dont get enough time to do it, the work balance issue has gone out of control in the UK, we also enjoy the outdoors and yes we would actually look forward to real winters and snow..!

I want to know how any others in a similar position have got on?, any relevant experiences, regrets even? Does canada even need people like us?

I have my eyes open, I know there is no such thing as a panacea for life, but i am keen to know about real life experiences and issues to judge 'on balance' whether such a move is worthwhile considering. Things like family life, time, work/life attitudes, crime, values and so on and yes of course, work, economy, prospects, education and so on.

Look forward to some of your opinions where possible.

The grass is not greener, just different. As a professional I imagine you would have a good quality of life in the UK. If that's true then the differences here would be a bigger house, perhaps bigger car(s) and a plethora of available outdoor activities. Many other UK ex-pats contend that worklife is easier providing more time for family. Crime is nothing like as serious as in Britain, the economy, while under pressure, is regarded as the best of the G20. Education is on a par with the UK and new immigrants state that their children are finding it easy to settle in. Prospects in any occupation are determined by one's work ethic and hard graft.
One of the greatest complaints ex-pats have of Canada is the cold, very cold and snowy winters, except on the extreme west coast. They are long and can wear some people down. Spring, Summers and Fall, while all short (6 months in total) are usually wonderful. Being such a vast land mass it varies considerably from one coast to the other.
You state you have some family members here so that could make it easier for doing what's known as a reccie to get the lay of the land.
There is a LIST of occupations that Canada's Government considers to be in extreme demand. If yours is on the LIST then you could get here as a PR within 12 months subject to police checks, medicals etc. If not then it can take 6-7 years unless you obtain a work offer subject to a LMO created by the employer.

[jk69]

Auld Yin
You have made me smile today. Of all the various threads and comments i have seen on this forum, yours are the ones i take most from - i often wondered what your thoughts would be on my position.
Your insights and opinions are fair and honest, even the bad bits, and that what people need to hear, although you generally seem to paint a more 'positive' picture than the UK, which i take some heart from.
Our life is quite comfortable indeed, so it is not a material issue for us, there is much more to it. As for the weather, i am from the west of scotland, so i am generally used to bad (or poor) weather. What you (and others) describe is a more defined, albeit harsh set of seasons, which quite frankly would be a god send as far as we are concerned, rather than the grey wet mess always seem to get regardless of seasons!. The outdoors is also a real attraction.
I will check the List you mention, but it seems a lot of my type of work would qualify under what seems to be called 'Construction Managers'.
We will certainly arrange a reccie as you and others suggest, that is the sensible and logical first step for sure. I am not looking for green grass, just a better balance.
Many thanks again for your comments, most appreciated.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by jk69

Hi All. New guy so be gentle. I am a Professional, married, with young family. I am a director in my own surveying practice, practicing for around 15 years now. I have some family in canada (aunts, cousins etc) but have never been (trying to sort that one out..)

I hear a lot about the quality of life issues on this forum and through other people and wonder is the grass really any greener? A number of issues are firmly distrurbing about the uk at present as is widely known, crime, social breakdown, respect, loss of values etc etc.

I want to know if it's really any different in canada? I know you get idiots in all corners of the world, but on 'balance' is it any better?.

We have flirted with the idea of selling up and moving on to try something new. As a Construction Professional I would hope to be able to apply my wide skills to the canadian market. I run my own business which is doing fine thank you very much, so i am not blaming the recession, I actually think the Uk started to crack a number of years ago. I also suspect i would not be moving to to a similar level of income, but it's not just about money and materials, although i do work very hard and have built a business for 5 years with its own client base and workload and i would take the same attitude and effort with me.

We enjoy socialising and dont get enough time to do it, the work balance issue has gone out of control in the UK, we also enjoy the outdoors and yes we would actually look forward to real winters and snow..!

I want to know how any others in a similar position have got on?, any relevant experiences, regrets even? Does canada even need people like us?

I have my eyes open, I know there is no such thing as a panacea for life, but i am keen to know about real life experiences and issues to judge 'on balance' whether such a move is worthwhile considering. Things like family life, time, work/life attitudes, crime, values and so on and yes of course, work, economy, prospects, education and so on.

Look forward to some of your opinions where possible.

Hi,

Well I guess it depends on how you look at things, I have been here for over 40 years and still consider myself Scottish, now this could and probable is just me. My husband is Canadian as are all my children, but we have been seriously considering moving to the UK and are currently looking at work for us over there.

We have lived overseas before, spent 2 years in Saudi and enjoyed it immensly, but for me SCOTLAND will always be home, never Canada. My parents came here hoping to get a better life, I am not sure that they would not have had the same type of life style had they decided to stay back home. If you have a lot of family here it might help to make the adjustment, as for crime, employment etc, I think things are really just as equal. Just a lot more larger cities in this country and a lot of influence from US. Weather is terrible unless you live in Victoria, Vancouver.
As for the pubs, it is very different, as here they go to the bars (pubs) it seems to get drunk, not for the social outing that it seems to be back home, so I am sure that is something you would miss if you are so inclined. Come for a holiday, but remember that things always look good when you are on holiday, it's when you have to do the daily grind, work, living expenses, rent or mortgage that things take on a whole different meaning. Good Luck whatever you decide. I think we will be leaving this year sometime for good auld Scotland.

[cocoalfie]

Originally Posted by Peggy

Hi,

Well I guess it depends on how you look at things, I have been here for over 40 years and still consider myself Scottish, now this could and probable is just me. My husband is Canadian as are all my children, but we have been seriously considering moving to the UK and are currently looking at work for us over there.

We have lived overseas before, spent 2 years in Saudi and enjoyed it immensly, but for me SCOTLAND will always be home, never Canada. My parents came here hoping to get a better life, I am not sure that they would not have had the same type of life style had they decided to stay back home. If you have a lot of family here it might help to make the adjustment, as for crime, employment etc, I think things are really just as equal. Just a lot more larger cities in this country and a lot of influence from US. Weather is terrible unless you live in Victoria, Vancouver.
As for the pubs, it is very different, as here they go to the bars (pubs) it seems to get drunk, not for the social outing that it seems to be back home, so I am sure that is something you would miss if you are so inclined. Come for a holiday, but remember that things always look good when you are on holiday, it's when you have to do the daily grind, work, living expenses, rent or mortgage that things take on a whole different meaning. Good Luck whatever you decide. I think we will be leaving this year sometime for good auld Scotland.

You may have been away from the UK a tad too long (40 Years). You maybe in for a shock when you walk down the High Street in any UK town on a Saturday night. Binge drinkers are everywhere and watch out you don't step in any vomit whilst strolling down the street. If you are really lucky you might even witness a slagging match going on or even a fist fight. This is the kind of thing that is typically normal here in the UK now a days. It is a shame that you haven't really got anything particularly positive to say after living in Canada for so long. What kept you there if your so negative?

[Auld Yin]

Originally Posted by Peggy

Hi,

Well I guess it depends on how you look at things, I have been here for over 40 years and still consider myself Scottish, now this could and probable is just me. My husband is Canadian as are all my children, but we have been seriously considering moving to the UK and are currently looking at work for us over there.

We have lived overseas before, spent 2 years in Saudi and enjoyed it immensly, but for me SCOTLAND will always be home, never Canada. My parents came here hoping to get a better life, I am not sure that they would not have had the same type of life style had they decided to stay back home. If you have a lot of family here it might help to make the adjustment, as for crime, employment etc, I think things are really just as equal. Just a lot more larger cities in this country and a lot of influence from US. Weather is terrible unless you live in Victoria, Vancouver.
As for the pubs, it is very different, as here they go to the bars (pubs) it seems to get drunk, not for the social outing that it seems to be back home, so I am sure that is something you would miss if you are so inclined. Come for a holiday, but remember that things always look good when you are on holiday, it's when you have to do the daily grind, work, living expenses, rent or mortgage that things take on a whole different meaning. Good Luck whatever you decide. I think we will be leaving this year sometime for good auld Scotland.

I have been here 43 years and came from Scotland. Have been back many times and watched the UK rise up from the results of WWll to become an affluent nation with a goodly proportion of middle-class citizens. I then watched over the past five years its decline into a country with high crime, drunken obnoxious yobs, litter ridden streets, graffiti strewn buildings. It is grossly overcrowded, parking is a nightmare in most cities/towns. It is a wonderful place to visit, has beautiful countryside, magnificent ancient buildings and I will visit again but will be sure to avoid the distasteful parts/conditions. Would I go back to live? Absolutely, providing I can buy a GBP500,000 house in the country and spend half the year offshore in a warm, sunny climate.

[cocoalfie]

Originally Posted by Auld Yin

I have been here 43 years and came from Scotland. Have been back many times and watched the UK rise up from the results of WWll to become an affluent nation with a goodly proportion of middle-class citizens. I then watched over the past five years its decline into a country with high crime, drunken obnoxious yobs, litter ridden streets, graffiti strewn buildings. It is grossly overcrowded, parking is a nightmare in most cities/towns. It is a wonderful place to visit, has beautiful countryside, magnificent ancient buildings and I will visit again but will be sure to avoid the distasteful parts/conditions. Would I go back to live? Absolutely, providing I can buy a GBP500,000 house in the country and spend half the year offshore in a warm, sunny climate.

Funnily enough I too also come from Scotland and immigrated to Canada when I was six lived there until I was 33 and moved to ENgland with my husband nearly 19 Years ago. ALthough I agree with everything you have said both about Canada and UK there is also something fundamental about the differences in people between the two countries. I don't like being critical of anyone and try very hard not to be, but the attitudes to life in general are polars apart. I miss the friendly, warming, outgoing Cannucks, as well of course, my family in Canada and quite frankly can't wait to get back. Out with the old and in with the new as they say.

[jk69]

Originally Posted by Peggy

Hi,

Well I guess it depends on how you look at things, I have been here for over 40 years and still consider myself Scottish, now this could and probable is just me. My husband is Canadian as are all my children, but we have been seriously considering moving to the UK and are currently looking at work for us over there.

We have lived overseas before, spent 2 years in Saudi and enjoyed it immensly, but for me SCOTLAND will always be home, never Canada. My parents came here hoping to get a better life, I am not sure that they would not have had the same type of life style had they decided to stay back home. If you have a lot of family here it might help to make the adjustment, as for crime, employment etc, I think things are really just as equal. Just a lot more larger cities in this country and a lot of influence from US. Weather is terrible unless you live in Victoria, Vancouver.
As for the pubs, it is very different, as here they go to the bars (pubs) it seems to get drunk, not for the social outing that it seems to be back home, so I am sure that is something you would miss if you are so inclined. Come for a holiday, but remember that things always look good when you are on holiday, it's when you have to do the daily grind, work, living expenses, rent or mortgage that things take on a whole different meaning. Good Luck whatever you decide. I think we will be leaving this year sometime for good auld Scotland.

Cocoalfie, Auld Yin, good to hear your further thoughts, it seems my original post has turned into a bit of a debate about the good and evils of each place, which is a big part of it i suppose.
Peggy, i dont know how old you are, you have obvioulsy found something in Canada to stay so long. Like others, i would caution against thinking Scotland was in any kind of shape. I will always consider this place home like you and i would fight and die for it, but i am afraid the lunatics have taken over the asylum in recent years. I have read some posts about vancouver gangs and i'm sure there is crime in canada like most other places, but in Scotland and in particular the central belt, it seems bad. I could run off how many people have been stabbed, slashed, overdosed, mugged or murdered this weekend. I am sure this exists in canada, but not the same frequency or ratio per capita?. People are afraid of the city centres after dark, gangs are again on the increase and drugs, well you get the picture. Same as any big city? maybe? As for alchohol and diet, just remember you will be moving back to to heart attack and liver disease capital of the world. I'm afraid i dont see much socialising in pubs these days, is there any other country in the world who's parliament is trying to impose a minimum charge on booze and ban happy hours...appalling.
I still take comfort you stayed for so long even with your perceived faults of canada. Like i said originally, what is the best balance for individuals and families? If you do go home, choose your location wisely, but i wish you all the best in your choice and many thanks for your comments, its another real snapshot of canadian life.