Just to chuck my two penneth in. I worked out there over (Canmore and Calgary) the summers in 96 and 97 for 4 months a piece and I found the people in my sector (outdoor leadership) to be some of the most open, friendly and liberal people I've ever met. I've seriously considered emigrating in the past (I'm a Canadian by birth so I hold a passport but had only been resident for a year or so before coming to the UK). I'd looked into Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta/BC. Cost of living will be higher in Ontario and especially Toronto. I can see how some people in other sectors like the building trades or agriculture might be less liberal but can you honestly say the Brits are any different?
PS How was Canmore John? I used to Love the Drake Inn!
There are some interesting and conflicting views (as expected)
My experience of Canada is of visiting friends near Toronto (mostly very flat) and visiting Ottawa (very cold!).
I have to say that of the countries I've visited, Canada is the one in which I felt most 'at home'(-much more so than the places I've visited in the USA) and the people easy to get along with with a sense of humour similar to the UK. There were a fair few off licences and pubs/bars in Ontario and people seemed to use them, although less of a 'British drink [i]culture[/i]' certainly wouldn't be a problem to me. Strip joints appeared very popular too!
Certainly in that area, every other person seemed to have Scottish, English or Welsh grand-parents.
Plumber, is it really surprising that there are racist & homophobic views in the construction industry? I've never noticed the UK to be particularly progressive in that area either...
Canada is a massive place and probably can't be summarised in a few paragraphs.
Canmore was lovely for the 5 nights we were there. Weather was changeable but what do you expect at that elevation?
The Drake is still there, although we didn't try it. Lots of new build hotels/apartments going up just off the Bow Valley Trail. Saw an elk walk across the hotel car park - that was the biggest bit of wildlife we saw.
Banff was lovely too, as was Lake Louise, but you know that, eh?
5 nights in Canmore, 2 in Calgary for a wedding, 1 in Kamloops (hot - 39decC), 3 in Vancouver & a long drive back to Lake Louise, making the final hop to Calgary airport for the trip home a nice short one. In hindsight I would've booked the return flight from Vancouver, but I did get to see a lot of a VERY big country on the way back. Loved it. Shame I didn't get to do any cycling. Maybe next trip* 🙂
* Sister lives in Peace River, AB. We will be visiting again. Did I mention I liked Vancouver?
I lived on the Northshore in Vancouver for a year on the BUNAC visa a few years back. Had an amazing time exploring/sking/biking for a year. BC is beautiful but Vancouver is the only place I would consider living. Calgary was pretty uninspiring. Oh, I might live in the Kootenays though...
We came back as my wife decided she wanted a career change and did a masters back her in the UK. I sometimes regret it, but am better off here and still got 25 days skiing this year, and about 3 weeks biking(alps)....so its not all bad.
