ALL BANGLADESHI APPLICANTS FORUM

[PQR]

How I can add my name in this list?

ive added u already, look at number 3
pls share when u receive the registered mail

 

[PQR]

Can anybody reply... How many days it takes to arrive MR?

Thanks.

since they sent on 9th oct, you should receive it anytime.
have u made any contact with your postman?

 

[Kartic]

Dear all,

I m planning to land next month ... I ve some queries ...

1. should i fill and sign the COPR form before or have to do it in front of the airport immigration officer?

2. can anyone plz give the sample copy of 'Goods to follow' form & PR card application form?

3. i want to bring C$ 20000 .... how to bring that? in cash?

bit worried coz that time Canada will be snow white! plz pray for us.

 

[Mun]

Dear Badal Vai,
It's a fairy tale indeed (ur life story).
We should always admire & respect people like you.
Here one of my post created some confusions (!) to color vai.
We all have (hope so) some relatives or friends in canada; we can check it out very easily by them.
I did not try to discourage or to create any panic in this forum.
We people are smart enough; should not be panicked by others.
One of my colleagues landed in Canada on 8th Aug'12. & getting his first job after 12 days of landing and he is doing two jobs right now. even he is saving money from now. (is it discouraging?)
While i saw some of our friends wanted to go in this winter, i told it will be difficult for our childs to adjust in this situation; i meant so, nothing else.
If i hurt somebody, extremely sorry again.

rgds

Mun

 

[Rashed202]

ive added u already, look at number 3
pls share when u receive the registered mail

Ok Thnaks

 

[PQR]

Dear all,

I m planning to land next month ... I ve some queries ...

1. should i fill and sign the COPR form before or have to do it in front of the airport immigration officer?

2. can anyone plz give the sample copy of 'Goods to follow' form & PR card application form?

3. i want to bring C$ 20000 .... how to bring that? in cash?

bit worried coz that time Canada will be snow white! plz pray for us.

don't worry about cold....air is conditioned everywhere , in car, malls, offices, shops, houses.....everywhere. (the one we use here is actually air cooler). ar jokhon baire ber hoben, jobba bosta to asei, nije porben, bou bachha der poraben,
jawar age bongo theke kisu ei typer jobba bosta kinte hobe, (beshi kinen na karon ei gula abar oi deshe old fashioned) ekta kore kinben shobar jonno shudhu landing er por theke ektu rest nie shopping e jawar ag porjonto service dilei cholbe emon
tarporo if you feel freezing cold, think about your past days in dhaka jokhon oshojjo gorome hash fash korte korte jibon durbisoho mone hoito
notun jaygay ektu problem to hobe initially, pore shob kisu thik hoe jabe
ar snow te borof keli korben, facebook e pic diben jobba pore snow er majhe harie gesen ei type
take it easy..kono bapar na....canada cold onek bhoyonkor ekta bapar kintu evabe amra enjoy korbo ora to ase, tai na? amra parbo na ken?

ar ami joto tuku jani 5000 travellers cheque e niben ar baki to cash nite hobe pocket/suitcase e, ekhane bola jabe na abar oikane airport e declare korte hobe, jara expert tara ei bisoe bhalo bolben asa kori

 

[Colors]

Problem

Health Care 911: the plight of immigrant medical doctors Produced by Erin Mussolum and Michelle Welygan 47 minutes • 2006 Available on DVD and VHS Health Care 911 introduces some of the 8000 medically trained immigrants unable to practice in Canada despite a critical shortage of doctors across the country.As immigrant doctors continue to take jobs as security guards and cab drivers, Health Care 911 probes all sides of the growing problem of health care accessibility in Canada. (YouTube - immigration to Canada for Doctors)

For many future immigrants, doctors from developing countries, Canada may appear as a land of prosperity and solution of all their problems back home. The real situation may be quite different from what one could ever imagine.

"Demand high but medical specialists not finding work in Canada" is a story about Canadian specialist doctors, who graduated from Canadian medical schools, got their specialist training in Canada and USA and who are now struggling to find a job in Canada. The story may be an eye opener for many doctors trained in developing countries.

One may also find the comments posted by the readers about the story more informative as well as interesting.

Demand high but medical specialists not finding work in Canada. By Tom Blackwell;
Email: tblackwell @ nationalpost.com

Retrieved from: http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/09/19/demand-high-but-medical-specialists-not-finding-work-in-canada/

Canadian qualified dr has no problem , they got easy jobs.

Problem with foreign qualified Dr is to clear some exam and show excellent English skill.

I know few friend who working as Dr in UK and US. And few who can't speak English (there IELTS is between 6-7.5 ) and they struggling since few year. Same thing in Canada .

Solution

The Medical Practitioner's Road Map
(A brief scenario of what to Expect & what To Do -to succeed in Canada)

Only one-quarter of immigrants educated outside Canada are working in medical, law and teaching occupations for which they're trained, according to a report from Statistics Canada. And with Doctors the problem seems to be an everlasting one.

Foreign-trained doctors who immigrate to Canada face a rigorous licensing process in which they must prove themselves worthy of a residency seat in the Canadian medical system. But many -often despite 7-10+ yrs. of experience, hit a serious roadblock when it comes to qualifying & becoming a medical practitioner in Canada.

What the Bosses say?

"I am told there are at least a thousand doctors from different jurisdictions that are in Canada that aren't practicing," said Dosanjh. "We need to re-skill them, retrain them and bring them on stream so they can do what they do best instead of driving cabs".
-Ujjal Dosanjh, Federal Health Minister, Sep. 27 2004

"Alberta doesn't have a doctor shortage, but a shortage of practicing doctors. We have a huge talent pool that will stale date if we don't get immigrant physicians into medical practice”.
-Dr. David Watt, University of Calgary language education researcher

“We have people who have been the heads of emergency medicine in hospitals servicing a population of a million, anesthetists who have been practicing for 20 years. After they pass all the exams, go through all the hoops, they can't even mop a floor in a hospital let alone work as a medical professional”.
-Dr. Patrick Coady, Association of International Medical Doctors of British Columbia

The Procedure to become ‘Practicing Doctors' in Canada:
In simple terms, an expatriate doctor must get Retrained, pass some Exams, complete a 1 yr. Internship then apply for a 2 yr. Residency Position. The total Timeframe in theory should take 4-5 yrs., before being 'permitted' to practice medicine. But is it? Here are the Steps involved:

Step-1. Language Tests (Written & Oral):
All foreign-trained doctors firstly, must pass the language tests [2 types -written as well as oral] to practice in this country.

Step-2. Canadian Medical Course & Exam:
Secondly, doctors must take Canadian university courses and are required to sit for a series of exams. These are two [2] exams -one written and one clinical -administered by the Ontario International Medical Graduate Program [similar in other provinces].These are the Qualifying Exams before they are allowed to practice medicine.

Step-3. Medical Practice of 1 year:
In order to be accepted into Residency Programs, they must have at least one [1] year of continuous medical practice within the previous four years. This is usually a hands-on training under a qualified medical practitioner.

Step-4. The Residency Program of 2 years:
The last step is to apply for a two [2] year residency position under the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Which are administered by universities and hospitals together.

Step-5. Medical Council of Canada's Evaluation Exam:
As a final step, there is the Medical Council of Canada's Evaluation Exam, which all foreign doctors must write to obtain his Medical License. And thereon, s/he can practice medicine in Canada.

So, where is the Problem?
The foregoing 5 steps seem to be fairly Ok. Though time consuming, but is achievable, Right? Wrong... there is a problem.

Problem-1. Govt. Policy -say Apathy:
Canada's doctor shortage is partly rooted in a 1991 report commissioned by the provincial deputy ministers of health. In that document, Morris Barer and Greg Stoddart, two health economists, predicted that Canada was facing a physician surplus. In response, provincial governments, scrambling to save money, cut first-year enrollment to Canadian medical schools by about ten percent.

Thus, however smart & experienced an overseas qualified a doctor be, the openings in those provincial medical schools / colleges are not enough. There is stiff compitition, assessment tests & accessibility of a fair passage. Thus, getting pass those is a vehemoth task for an expatriate doctor.

Problem-2. Scarcity of Residency Openings:
A major problem is the shortage of residency openings. An American residency is treated on a par with a Canadian one, but doctors from other countries are not. Therefore, the majority of immigrant doctors have to complete a residency here. “The snag is getting the residency, you can pass all your exams, but you still can't get into a training program.”

Foreign doctors can compete with Canadian medical school graduates for residency positions. But there is a catch: Foreign doctors will only be considered after Canadian-trained graduates have found residency positions. They can compete in the second round -for the leftovers. The competition is stiff. In 2003, 625 international graduates competed. Only 67 -about ten percent, found a position.

In every province the situation regarding residency positions varies: the number of positions available, the rules about how to get them and how long a doctor has to train. Each province sets aside a few positions for foreign doctors, but in no province is the number of residencies available equal to the number of doctors seeking to fill them.

Problem-3. Qualifying for the Residency Programs:
Foreign-trained doctors are caught in a Catch-22. In order to be accepted into residency programs, they must have at least one year of continuous medical practice. This is nearly impossible to accomplish. 'Coz, upon immigrating to Canada, doctors also must take Canadian university courses and are required to sit for provincial and federal exams before they are allowed to practice medicine. Therein lies the problem: they cannot get the residency without the experience and cannot practice in Canada without passing the qualifying exams A complex situation, albeit.

Problem-4. Time, Effort & Money:
This education, examination, training & residency process can be lengthy. And costs quite a lot. Most of us have digged into all our savings & 'landed' here. How many of us can afford long standing retraining costs, besides devoting some serious time over our family responsibilities? And if all goes well it would yet take 4-5 years to complete. But, if we run into red-flags, the timeframe can be anything. How many of us would have that perseverance?

Some Examples:

(a) In Iran, Dr. Shahab Khanahmad had worked as a family physician for two years. He also worked as an assistant in the Teheran University Neurology Dept's clinical Electrophysiology Lab, studying diseases such as Epilepsy. But in Canada, Khanahmadi hasn't been able to work as a doctor. The closest he's come to a hospital is as an unpaid assistant to a Neurologist and as a Volunteer in a family practice. The 32-year-old says, “I am so disappointed.”

Dr. Khanahmadi came to Vancouver in September 2001. He studied in UBC, passed all Canadian medical exams and in 2004 applied for a residency position under the CaRMS. He got two interviews but no position. That year British Columbia had only six positions set aside in family practice for immigrant doctors. After 2 more year's attempts, in 2007 he finally got his residential opening.

(b) Dr. Bashir started studying medicine ab-initio in Canada. After 3 yrs. of medical school & clearing the qualifying exams he needed to pass the clinical exam. Bashir says, “I had never failed an exam in my life.” But the first time he took the Ontario exams, his clinical scores were not high enough to be accepted into the program. He tried again a year later, with the same disappointing result.

When he wasn't on social assistance, Bashir worked as a cabbie and a dishwasher. He tried the exams again in 2002 and 2003. His written results were always among the highest out of some 500 candidates. But the examiners weren't satisfied with his clinical skills. They told Bashir his accent made it difficult for patients to understand him [though he had passed the Language Exams].

Finally, in 2004, almost 9 years and 15 exams later, Bashir got closer to practicing here as a doctor. He secured a residency at McMaster. It was what he had always wanted, but he says, “I am 33. I've lost nine years -almost a third of my life.”

Solution to the Problem:
"Admitting qualified doctors makes economic sense. If a foreign-trained doctor requires additional training to come up to Canadian standards, it is far cheaper to provide it than to educate a doctor entirely from scratch". Herb Emery, an associate professor of economics at the University of Calgary says. "It costs Alberta taxpayers about $300,000 to put a student through 3 years of medical school. This would be saved if immigrants who already have medical degrees were accepted for residencies'.

Currently, there is news of 250 foreign-trained doctors who chose to settle in Quebec, where thousands of inhabitants are in need of a family doctor. These doctors have passed national licensing examinations. They have passed provincial licensing examinations. They have passed language proficiency tests. But they aren't practicing today. We should be asking why?

Dr. Albert Schumacher, president of the medical association, said retraining international doctors isn't quite that easy. There are about 1,000 individuals who are qualified to do residency training, but they've had little or no experience working with actual patients. He says, "Getting immigrant doctors into the system would be a good idea but it's the fast-track that becomes difficult."

"Not only did they cut back our medical school numbers but they also cut back resident medical training spots and those spots went up in vapor too," he adds. The only quick solution would be for the federal government to pay for extra residency spots in Canada's medical schools, he said.

Conclusion:
Before medical doctors can practice in any Canadian province, they must complete a residency program, which is a paid hospital position considered the last step in medical training. This applies to doctors trained in Canada and doctors educated abroad. But there is an important difference between these two groups: nearly all Canadian medical school graduates are accepted into residency positions, but only just over a quarter of foreign-trained doctors were able to find a residency position last year. How could this be???

They are the victims of a complicated bureaucracy that seems intent on shutting out foreign-trained physicians. But, that's not going to remain true. There is a silverline visible beyond the dark clouds.

The AIPSO proposal is under study [link below]. And Govt. is seriously thinking of implementing it in its entirety. And their are success stories too, which should be a moral booster to many 'landed' doctors -read the stories of Dr. Saldhana & Dr. Nirvair Kaur [link below].

REFERENCES:
1) The AIPSO Proposal...
http://www.aipso.ca/pages/docs/romanow%20submission%20final%20version.htm
2) The Doctors' Dilemma...
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/canadian-dilemma-doctors-who-flip-hamburgers.html
3) Conspiracy Theories...
http://www.cbc.ca/whitecoat/2008/05/conspiracy_theories_on_canadas.html
4) Our own David Cohen's Article...
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-blog/2007/05/game-is-rigged.html
5) Minister Ujjal Dosanjh asserts...
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1096331488269_10
6) Why is Canada Shutting Out Doctors...
http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2004/08/doctors.html
Success Stories:
7) Dr. Colin Saldanha...
http://www.canadianimmigrant.ca/immigrantstories/health/article/767
9) Dr. Nirvair Kaur Levitt...
http://www.canadianimmigrant.ca/immigrantstories/health/article/548
...
I hope by writing the foregoing piece it helped my doctor friends.

Regards,
Qorax

 

[mamun.morshed]

Dear all,

I m planning to land next month ... I ve some queries ...

1. should i fill and sign the COPR form before or have to do it in front of the airport immigration officer?

2. can anyone plz give the sample copy of 'Goods to follow' form & PR card application form?

3. i want to bring C$ 20000 .... how to bring that? in cash?

bit worried coz that time Canada will be snow white! plz pray for us.

Hi, I landed in May 2012. Don't write anything in COPR, at airport officer will write necessary information and ask you and your family members to sign before them. It is extremely important not to write anything in COPR. You need not to fill-up PR application form. At airport officer will write you address in Canada. You will receive PR cards after 8 weeks. You can carry TC and Cash.

 

[Colors]

Hi, I landed in May 2012. Don't write anything in COPR, at airport officer will write necessary information and ask you and your family members to sign before them. It is extremely important not to write anything in COPR. You need not to fill-up PR application form. At airport officer will write you address in Canada. You will receive PR cards after 8 weeks. You can carry TC and Cash.

Thanks

 

[nusrat9991]

yeah this is a mixed list from MI1-MI3, i dont know how it got developed,
so many list were made before, this is just another list.
list dekte dekte ami tired
tarporo ei list e 2 jon k MR issue korse, eta dekheyh ekta shanti shanti bhav feel korchi

 

[Colors]

don't worry about cold....air is conditioned everywhere , in car, malls, offices, shops, houses.....everywhere. (the one we use here is actually air cooler). ar jokhon baire ber hoben, jobba bosta to asei, nije porben, bou bachha der poraben,
jawar age bongo theke kisu ei typer jobba bosta kinte hobe, (beshi kinen na karon ei gula abar oi deshe old fashioned) ekta kore kinben shobar jonno shudhu landing er por theke ektu rest nie shopping e jawar ag porjonto service dilei cholbe emon
tarporo if you feel freezing cold, think about your past days in dhaka jokhon oshojjo gorome hash fash korte korte jibon durbisoho mone hoito
notun jaygay ektu problem to hobe initially, pore shob kisu thik hoe jabe
ar snow te borof keli korben, facebook e pic diben jobba pore snow er majhe harie gesen ei type
take it easy..kono bapar na....canada cold onek bhoyonkor ekta bapar kintu evabe amra enjoy korbo ora to ase, tai na? amra parbo na ken?

ar ami joto tuku jani 5000 travellers cheque e niben ar baki to cash nite hobe pocket/suitcase e, ekhane bola jabe na abar oikane airport e declare korte hobe, jara expert tara ei bisoe bhalo bolben asa kori

:-[ :-X :-X hay hay ki bolen....thanday amader ki hobe... ???

 

[Colors]

Dear all,

I m planning to land next month ... I ve some queries ...

1. should i fill and sign the COPR form before or have to do it in front of the airport immigration officer?

2. can anyone plz give the sample copy of 'Goods to follow' form & PR card application form?

3. i want to bring C$ 20000 .... how to bring that? in cash?

bit worried coz that time Canada will be snow white! plz pray for us.

for Good to follow Follow this link
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/help-aide/topic-sujet/10-eng.html


PR application form & checklist
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/prcard.asp


Interview process

Arrive ready for two interviews

When you arrive in Canada, you will have to go through two screening interviews. If all of your documents are available and in order, your interviews should be over quickly.

First interview—official documents

An officer from the Canada Border Service Agency will greet you. The officer will ask to see your visa and travel documents and check to make sure that you and any family members traveling with you have the proper travel documents. The officer will find out about your health and will ask you questions similar to those on the immigrant application form.

Be prepared to answer these questions:

Are you traveling with your family?
Have you been convicted of a serious crime in your home country?
How long do you plan to stay in Canada?
How much money do you have with you?
Are you healthy?
Have you been to Canada before? Were you required to leave?
After you complete your first interview, you will meet with another officer from the Canada Border Services Agency. This officer will check the items you are bringing with you. At some ports of entry you will work with the same officer twice.

Second interview—personal goods

The second interview is for you to declare what you are bringing with you into Canada.

The officer will ask to see your declaration card. You must tell the officer you have arrived in Canada to immigrate. At this point the officer may direct you to another area for the customs procedure.

You must give the officer the list of the items you are bringing with you and a list of the items that will be arriving later. The officer will go through both lists with you and may ask questions about some of the items. The officer may also inspect your luggage.

Be prepared to answer these questions:

What are you bringing with you to Canada?
Do you have any live animals or plants with you?
Do you have any firearms, ammunition or fireworks with you?
Do you have any meat or dairy products with you?
Do you have any fresh fruits or vegetables with you?
Do you have any items from endangered species?
Do not give false answers

You must answer all of the questions truthfully. It is a serious offence to make a false statement. If you make a false statement you may not be allowed to stay in Canada. If you are well prepared and you have no items that are not allowed in Canada, the process will go quickly.

If there are no difficulties, the officer will sign your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and authorize your entry into Canada as a permanent resident.

 

[rana22april]

Thanks rana22april. You are very much correct. I have spent 3 years in a row in Canada for my study. Visited US many times then. I went to US also last year for a long month vacation and had seen many people or friends still struggling. Well other side of story is there those who has struggled a lot and now having a nice home, car, nice community living. At the end it is "You" who will decide which path to take. May be you'll be successful or may not (wish may allah make my words turn wrong)...but that is for sure all have to face reality of surviving over there. Even though I have graduated from there and working in renowned US based company in BD, I can not demand and gain 100% confidence that I will get suitable job of my field or desire soon or near future. This is the life over there. But please be positive...have confidence in you...be courageous...wish for the best but always ready for the worst because you never know when table turns on you or you be on top of it. May Allah grant all of our wishes fulfilled.

Please don't take me wrong. I am just trying to share my personal views. May be I am wrong or may be correct. Decision is Yours

Dear Raj_Hoque , thanks for your post. I agree with you totally .It is “you” who decides which path you want to go. But we should also consider one's present circumstance which varies widely individual to individual. Therefore, despite of having sheer will, sometimes situation might not permit you to improve your skill and reach to desired goal. Let me give you an example:

At least twenty Friends/classmates of mine who went to Australia, UK, and USA eight to ten years ago are very well settled and doing white collar jobs in Banks, Universities and Corporations. They went there under student visa, completed study first (survival job during study time) , managed job in desired area, got married after getting PR (most of them) and having children after well settled.

In recent time (say within last 2 years) four of my friends migrated to Canada as FSW (MI 1) and few of them finished study and now searching for suitable job side by side they are doing survival job. I think it will take a year or two to get a desired job. One friend went there with a kid and rest had nothing. They are now thinking to take babies but they gave a pause of two years just for good settlement.

A qualified married couple (immigrant) with no baby OR a single immigrant is more likely to do better in Canada after migrating than a new immigrant couple with two babies where the mother will be doing house making job and looking after the kids. If anyone is belonging in the later part, it will be hard for the Principal Applicant to concentrate in higher studies besides doing survival jobs.

I met 2 guys in New York. Both of them are earning on an average of USD 3000 a month.
Bachelor : $ 3000 - $900 ( stays with a family as paying guest & including other costs)
Married person with two kids: $3000 - $1400 (house rent) - $ 800 (Food & transport)- $ 400 (0ther expense )

Eventually, I would say both USA and Canada are very very nice place to live in for the long run once you consider all the pros and cons. I hope my post doesn't sound discouraging to the friends of this forum as I am just sharing my views based on my experience!

 

[Colors]

[size=10pt]Talk about the solutions of a Problem [/size]


Coming to U of T > Living Here > Climate and Clothing
Climate and Clothing
Toronto's climate ranges from near tropical in the summer (up to 35° C), to occasional lows of –20° C in the winter. Different kinds and weights of clothing are therefore necessary. Students who do not already possess winter clothing may wish to wait and buy it in Canada. Lightweight clothing, chiefly cotton, is popular in the summer. In the spring and fall when the weather is cooler, sweaters and a lightweight waterproof coat are useful.
Canadian students prefer to dress casually for classes and, indeed, for most occasions. Pants or jeans are acceptable for both men and women and the emphasis is on comfort and practicality. Clothing that is appropriate to the climate, is generally acceptable.

Winter Facts: How to Love Winter
Wintertime in Toronto may seem a little frightening if you have never experienced snow or cold temperatures before. The following Q&A will help you prepare for winter and possibly learn to love it!

You may also be interested in a 4th year international student's words of advice about winter for the newly arrived!

Q1. How cold does it actually get during the winter?
In Northern Ontario it can get as cold as –50˚C. The winter in Toronto however is much milder. The temperature doesn't usually go below –20°C and the average winter temperature is only –4.6˚C.

Q2. How do I get to and from school when it snows?
After a snowfall in Toronto the streets and sidewalks are cleared. It is often even safe enough to ride your bike. However, when walking, driving or biking there may be hard-to-see patches of ice (known as black ice) that can be very slippery. So, please take your time and be careful.

Q3. What is “wind chill”?
You will often hear two temperatures on winter weather reports in Canada—one is the actual temperature and the other is adjusted to include the wind chill factor. For example, the actual temperature may be -10˚C, but with wind chill it is -20˚C. This means that outside it will feel like -20˚C, even though the thermometer reads -10˚C.

Q4. What is frostbite and what causes it?
Frostbite occurs when your skin or tissues freeze like ice. The most commonly affected areas include the hands, feet, ears, nose and face. Some factors that increase the likelihood of frostbite are:
Long exposure to the cold
Very low temperatures
High wind chill factor
High environmental humidity
Wet clothing
Inadequate clothing
Clothing that is too tight
Ingestion of alcohol or drugs
High altitudes

Signs of Frostbite
Mild: Blanching or whitening of the skin. Go inside or warm up quickly! Your skin may become red and stay that way for a few hours. It may also swell, itch or burn while you are warming up.
Severe: Waxy skin with a white, greyish-yellow or greyish-blue colour, numbness, blisters, a feeling of the area being frozen or “wooden”. See a medical professional!


Q5: What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when your core body temperature drops below 35˚C (95˚F). Normal core body temperature is 37˚C (98.6˚F). To help prevent hypothermia, dress warmly and cover up!
Signs of Hypothermia
Mild: Shivering, goose bumps, numb hands, the inability to perform complex tasks with your hands. These are fairly common symptoms in the winter, but it is still important to warm yourself up as soon as possible.
Moderate: Intense to violent shivering, poor muscle coordination, difficulty speaking, sluggish movements, mild confusion or amnesia, signs of depression.
Severe: Shivering stops, blue and puffy skin, inability to walk, confusion, irrational behaviour, semi-consciousness or unconsciousness, erratic heartbeat and respiration. Death is possible at this stage.

You can safely go out in the cold for extended periods, if you are properly prepared. By dressing warmly and covering up any exposed body parts, you can prevent frostbite.


Q6: Keeping Warm — Which is better: one thick sweater or coat, or several thin layers?
Did you know that several thin layers of clothing are more effective at keeping you warm than one large, bulky layer? Layering your clothing also allows you to remove a layer or two if you find you are too warm—this prevents excessive sweating and ultimately keeps you warmer.

Q7: Keeping Warm — What are some examples of layering?
Thermal Underwear: This is worn underneath your regular clothing and is sometimes called long underwear or “long johns”. The best kind are made from insulating synthetic materials, because they wick moisture away from your skin.

Regular Clothing: Tank tops (sleeveless t-shirts), undershirts, t-shirts or thin long-sleeve shirts can be worn underneath sweaters, sweatshirts, cardigans or other shirts. You can also wear tights or leggings under your pants.

Socks: Wool socks or thermal socks will keep your feet nice and warm. You can also put a thin pair of socks underneath your wool socks for extra warmth, if it gets really cold.

Q8: Keeping Warm — Covering your extremities
When it's cold outside, it is very important to cover any exposed skin. This includes your head, neck, hands and feet.
Head: Wear a warm hat, hood, earmuffs, headband or face mask. Sometimes if you are wearing many layers but still feel cold, a hat on your head will warm you up!
Neck: Wear a turtleneck shirt or scarf. Some winter coats come with hoods or high collars that also help to keep your neck warm.
Hands: Wear a warm pair of gloves or mittens. Mittens are warmer, but limit what you can do with your hands.
Feet: Wear warm socks and boots that cover your ankles. Make sure your socks and boots aren’t too tight, as this can actually make you colder!

Q9: What is a tuque?
A tuque is a knit winter hat. Some types are fitted to the shape of your head, some have a floppy top that hangs down with a soft tassel or pompom at the end and some come down below the ears and have strings—all of them keep you warm!


Q10: Keeping Warm — What should I consider when buying a winter coat?
Basic things to think about when looking for a winter coat:
Your budget.
Your tolerance for cold temperatures.
How long you will be in Canada.
How much time you will spend outdoors.

Q11: Keeping Warm — What makes a good winter coat?
Your choice of winter coat will depend on the factors covered in Q10, but here are some features of winter coats to keep in mind.
Outer Shell: This should be a wind & water resistant fabric (e.g., nylon). This is especially important if you plan on participating in winter sports.
Inner Lining: This should be an insulated fabric like fleece.
Size & Length: Take into consideration how many layers you will be wearing under your coat and whether or not your coat will be able to accommodate them. Your coat should still cover your wrists when your arms are fully extended. Consider also the length of your coat—a longer coat will keep you warmer than one that stops at your waist.

Buttons & Zippers: Can you move freely and sit down comfortably with your buttons and zippers done up? How much of your neck is covered when the coat is done all the way up?
Collar & Hood: If there is a collar and/ or hood, does it protect the back of your neck? If the hood is too small, it may come off easily. If the hood is too big, it may prevent you from seeing and hearing properly. Many hoods have an adjustable strap running up the back or drawstrings at the front, so that you can get a better fit.
Drawstrings: If there are drawstrings at the waist or neck of the coat, make sure they aren’t too long as they may get caught in various places.
Cold Drafts: Cold drafts can enter your coat through the sleeve openings, the top or bottom of the coat, through the zipper or buttons or through the fabric itself. Make sure your coat does not gape and that it is made from a tightly knit or wind resistant fabric.

Q12: What is a parka?
A parka is a heavy winter coat with a hood. It covers below your hips, zips up to cover your neck and sometimes covers your mouth and nose. A parka is usually lined with down (feathers) or another insulating material that helps maintain warmth. The hood is often also insulated and is sometimes lined with fur along the outside edge of the hood to help protect your face.



Q13: How can I adjust to the winter environment?
Here are some common problems that arise in the winter, along with proposed solutions.

Problem: Lack of fresh air.
Solution: Go for a short walk outdoors.
Problem: Dry heat.
Solution: Use a humidifier or place some plants in the room.

Problem: Dry skin.
Solution: Drink lots of water and regularly apply skin cream and lip balm.
Problem: Changes in temperature & shock to the body.
Solution: Wear lots of layers. Remove or replace layers as you move between colder and warmer environments.

Q14: SAD – What is SAD?
SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is a mood disorder associated with episodes of depression, which is thought to be related to seasonal variations in light. The most difficult months for SAD sufferers are usually January and February.

Q15: SAD – What are symptoms of SAD?
Severe bouts of feeling down (feeling unhappy)
Low energy
Problems with sleep and appetite
Loss of interest and reduced concentration
Extreme fatigue (feeling tired)

Q16: SAD – How to combat SAD
Spend some time outdoors.
Use brighter lights at home.
Laugh!
Go for a jog.
Maintain a healthy mental and physical lifestyle.

Q17: What are some activities I can do during the winter?
Indoor or outdoor ice skating
Skiing and snowboarding
Winter carnivals
Trip to Niagara Falls
Tobogganing in city parks



Q18: When can I expect the first snow?
The first snowfall in Toronto usually happens toward the end of November, but it is very light and usually melts away the same day. Cities north of Toronto, like Barrie for example, may get their first snowfall toward the end of October. In Toronto, heavier snowfalls usually happen between December and February, although it does not snow every day. Snow season usually finishes by the end of March.

Q19: Where can I look up the weather forecast?
The Weather Network and Environment Canada both have websites where you can check the weather and weather trends. In addition, The Weather Network has a twenty-four hour television channel on cable television.
You can also find weather reports in the daily newspapers and on television and radio news casts.

 

[MMH_BD]

since they sent on 9th oct, you should receive it anytime.
have u made any contact with your postman?

Right now I am in Australia and I have informed SVO about change in my address. There is no 'system' to contact with postman.

Thanks...