Canada vs. UK??

[pinklady]

How crucial learning French in Canada??

I think you only need it if you plan to live in Quebec.

 

[sidkrose]

How crucial learning French in Canada??

Pretty important if you plan to live in Quebec, Ontario or New Brunswick.(useful for Winnipeg). Could be important if you plan to work in the public service sector (for the government, for the city, especially for the federal gov.)

If you're planning to move to Vancouver, Mandarin or Cantonese would be INFINITELY helpful. Personally, I speak just the most basic of French that I learned in school, but I read it pretty well. (I could understand all the comments above...Lols).

 

[pinklady]

I've lived in Ontario for almost 5 years and the only french I've seen is on food and drink packets. But it's in english too. They also have french options on automated call places, but in Ontario, English is usually option 1.
Just sayin' I don't think you need it if you plan to live somewhere other than Quebec.
I am in Toronto area though, maybe Ottawa or closer to the Quebec border is different?

 

[sidkrose]

I've lived in Ontario for almost 5 years and the only french I've seen is on food and drink packets. But it's in english too. They also have french options on automated call places, but in Ontario, English is usually option 1.
Just sayin' I don't think you need it if you plan to live somewhere other than Quebec.
I am in Toronto area though, maybe Ottawa or closer to the Quebec border is different?

Yes, I didn't say it was crucial. But there are many opportunities in Ontario (especially Ottawa) where speaking French would be an advantage. As for NB and Winnipeg, these are just more bilingual places, where opportunities for French speakers may be numerous. Here in Vancouver, it is hardly an advantage unless you want to work in the public sector.

 

[Mehwish9]

Good and bad are everywhere,but it all depends on what priorities a person might have to live in either UK or Canada. Fo education,travel,shopping, food,social life,I think Europe is much more advance.while Canada is a peaceful place to live.

 

[Baloo]

Yes, I didn't say it was crucial. But there are many opportunities in Ontario (especially Ottawa) where speaking French would be an advantage. As for NB and Winnipeg, these are just more bilingual places, where opportunities for French speakers may be numerous. Here in Vancouver, it is hardly an advantage unless you want to work in the public sector.

Agreed, if you look at Government jobs in Ottawa, most require some level of bilingualism.

 

[shamsia]

A young man was hired as the lifeguard at the pool at the Prime Minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive. The Harper family was making use of the pool when one of their two children encountered some difficulty and cried for help. The lifeguard ignored the cries, so Stephen himself had to plunge into the pool to rescue the boy.

Afterwards, Harper grilled the lifeguard. "You idiot! Didn't you see that my son was in trouble?"

"Yes, sir, but I can't swim."

"How did you land the job of lifeguard, then?"

"I'm bilingual."

 

[Baloo]

A young man was hired as the lifeguard at the pool at the Prime Minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive. The Harper family was making use of the pool when one of their two children encountered some difficulty and cried for help. The lifeguard ignored the cries, so Stephen himself had to plunge into the pool to rescue the boy.

Afterwards, Harper grilled the lifeguard. "You idiot! Didn't you see that my son was in trouble?"

"Yes, sir, but I can't swim."

"How did you land the job of lifeguard, then?"

"I'm bilingual."

Sometimes people wonder

 

[British_Bulldog]

I was born in England and my family and I emigrated to Canada when I was 12. I grew up here and went to school here. Once I met my partner I lived in England for a couple of years and I'm now back in Canada with our daughter waiting for my partner to join us.

Canada, for me and my family, is a much better place to live. The standard of education is better, people value themselves and other's properties more and overall, the country has a more positive vibe to it. Jobs are few and far between in the UK, the poor are taxed more than the rich, there is still a class divide, the education system is rubbish and no one bothers to better themselves because a life on benefits gets your further than working. The crime rate is sky high, compared to here where if my daughter leaves her tricyle on the front lawn of the house overnight, it's still there in the morning!

Granted, things are different in Canada. The people are different and they don't have our humour or wit (in some cases) but I'd gladly swap that for piece of mind...That's something you can't buy!

 

[edupolo]

Hello,

I have lived in the United Kingdom since 1999, even though I was lucky enough to live in NYC for three years in between. I am now a Canadian PR and I can give you some pointers about the UK as I cannot wait to get out of here in just a few months when my work projects are done and I can trasnfer there. In one line: 'I do not even want to transfer through the UK anymore'... but I will be fair and tell you what I think is positive and what I think is negative:

Negative:
- The level of violence has been getting so much worse. I cannot even go out at night in London without the thought that there is a possibility that I am going to be stabbed by a 16-year old.
- British people are always unhappy, there is no happiness in the streets. Everyone seems moody and grumpy, unless they are drunk and totally fake. Unfortunately, this is very contagious and I feel like my personality has become very grey since I moved here.
- A very important thing, is that unless you are British, you will never be able to call this land your home. They will never see you as one of them, and the levels of integration are awful. I felt like nobody could claim being American or Canadian because they are new countries. If you do not look English or speak like them, then they will never consider you one of them, which makes it very difficult for me to be proud about this country.
- In England, you need to queue for everything, and everywhere is crowded, not just a little crowded but very crowded, even jails. Yesterday, it took me 2 hours to do 30 miles in the city; I could have chosen to travel by Underground, but most lines were delayed or down due to signal failures, which leads me to the next point...
- The UK is not a modern country (even though they think that everything outside of Britain is Third World). I always love to go to Spain because we have evolved and become modern, we do not rely on Victorian faucets, rails, houses, pipelines... the public transportation moves as fast as my apartment, but at least my apartment is not crowded.
- Weather weather weather. I am not going to live in Calgary because I need to be in Ontario close to my in-law family in NY state, but I will take a freezing sunny day over the endless days of cloudiness in the UK. I call it the land of the eternal summer, there is barely a difference in weather between January and July (unless we are having a freaky year). Like the English say, this year Summer fell on a Thursday. It is very very sad. I need seasons: Cold and snow in Winter and Heat and sun in the Summer.
-Cost of living is outrageous. You will need to settle for things you do not even like such as the home you buy or the apartment you rent.
- There are many more but it could get personal so I think I will stop here and move onto the positives.

Positive:
- Travelling is cheap and easy because London is a major hub (so it is easy to escape). We have travelled all over Europe and North Africa and you can do that during a long weekend if you want.
- Employment law here is great! you are very protected and you get a lot more than you do in Canada in terms of holidays, maternity, getting laid off, notices and so on. That is the thing that I will definitely miss from Europe in general I think. The recruitment process is easy and employers are aware of international papers and work experience.
- If you do not like the cold or the heat, then come here
- The NHS is much better than people say, althogh I hear it depends on your council, but I have not had to wait very much for anything and my doctors are mostly available.

If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[ahm2299]

Hello,

I have lived in the United Kingdom since 1999, even though I was lucky enough to live in NYC for three years in between. I am now a Canadian PR and I can give you some pointers about the UK as I cannot wait to get out of here in just a few months when my work projects are done and I can trasnfer there. In one line: 'I do not even want to transfer through the UK anymore'... but I will be fair and tell you what I think is positive and what I think is negative:

Negative:
- The level of violence has been getting so much worse. I cannot even go out at night in London without the thought that there is a possibility that I am going to be stabbed by a 16-year old.
- British people are always unhappy, there is no happiness in the streets. Everyone seems moody and grumpy, unless they are drunk and totally fake. Unfortunately, this is very contagious and I feel like my personality has become very grey since I moved here.
- A very important thing, is that unless you are British, you will never be able to call this land your home. They will never see you as one of them, and the levels of integration are awful. I felt like nobody could claim being American or Canadian because they are new countries. If you do not look English or speak like them, then they will never consider you one of them, which makes it very difficult for me to be proud about this country.
- In England, you need to queue for everything, and everywhere is crowded, not just a little crowded but very crowded, even jails. Yesterday, it took me 2 hours to do 30 miles in the city; I could have chosen to travel by Underground, but most lines were delayed or down due to signal failures, which leads me to the next point...
- The UK is not a modern country (even though they think that everything outside of Britain is Third World). I always love to go to Spain because we have evolved and become modern, we do not rely on Victorian faucets, rails, houses, pipelines... the public transportation moves as fast as my apartment, but at least my apartment is not crowded.
- Weather weather weather. I am not going to live in Calgary because I need to be in Ontario close to my in-law family in NY state, but I will take a freezing sunny day over the endless days of cloudiness in the UK. I call it the land of the eternal summer, there is barely a difference in weather between January and July (unless we are having a freaky year). Like the English say, this year Summer fell on a Thursday. It is very very sad. I need seasons: Cold and snow in Winter and Heat and sun in the Summer.
-Cost of living is outrageous. You will need to settle for things you do not even like such as the home you buy or the apartment you rent.
- There are many more but it could get personal so I think I will stop here and move onto the positives.

Positive:
- Travelling is cheap and easy because London is a major hub (so it is easy to escape). We have travelled all over Europe and North Africa and you can do that during a long weekend if you want.
- Employment law here is great! you are very protected and you get a lot more than you do in Canada in terms of holidays, maternity, getting laid off, notices and so on. That is the thing that I will definitely miss from Europe in general I think. The recruitment process is easy and employers are aware of international papers and work experience.
- If you do not like the cold or the heat, then come here
- The NHS is much better than people say, althogh I hear it depends on your council, but I have not had to wait very much for anything and my doctors are mostly available.

If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Very well said Can you tell more about Canadian Health System? waiting times, dedicated family doctors like in the UK, dental care, medical access, equity, etc??

 

[pinklady]

people value themselves and other's properties more and overall, the country has a more positive vibe to it. Jobs are few and far between in the UK, the poor are taxed more than the rich, there is still a class divide, the education system is rubbish and no one bothers to better themselves because a life on benefits gets your further than working. The crime rate is sky high, compared to here where if my daughter leaves her tricyle on the front lawn of the house overnight, it's still there in the morning!

You have hit the nail on the head with this one!! This last halloween, a neighbour went to town on their front garden, the decorations were fantastic and I said to my husband, if that was england, the decorations would be gone after the first night, and the pumpkins smashed to pieces.

I remember aswell, a few years ago, I hadnt been in Canada long. We went to a starbucks and a man got up from the table and left his cell phone there. I thought he'd forgotten it until my husband pointed out, he'd left it there to reserve his table. As if you would EVER do that in england!!! (I mean I wouldnt do that here either, but you get my point!)

edupolo - you make some excellent points aswell

 

[Canooknic]

I took my little boys trick-or-treating for the first time last year and I was amazed at how many houses get involved, it was amazing.
The thing that shocked me the most were the houses that obviously had plans/didn't want to stand at the door all night that left big bowls of candy on their front step with a sign saying 'please take one' and people did!! They took one!!! In the UK some hideous teenager would have emptied the entire bowl and been proud of himself!!

I am so impressed with how my town looks after people. All the outdoor skating rinks are open to the public & free to use - I know that in England there would be a big fence around them and you'd be charged £5 to use it. On the night that the Christmas lights were turned on they provided hot dogs & hot chocolate...free!! On NYE they had a family festival at a park with live music, free food & drink, games & prizes, competitions for the kids and a big fireworks display at 9pm so the young kids could still get involved without being to late to bed.

As I said before, I loved where I lived in England - but mainly because all my friends and family are there - but my life is amazing now!! I've never been so relaxed and contended

 

[edupolo]

I think that everyone pretty much agrees that in terms of quality of life and what money gets you, Canada is better. It all depends on what you are after from my point of view.

If you are obsessed with opportunities, you have an extremely high income and you like the buzzing city life, then people should choose England. If what you want is a nice pleasant life with friends, a nice home and security, then you should go to Canada.

I personally do not like living on an island, you feel very isolated. I love the idea of living in Canada and being able to drive to America or around Canada. I remember growing up in Barcelona and my family would get in the car and drive to Italy and Germany, we couldnt do that in the UK without having to plan for a ferry or a very expensive Eurostar train to take the car.

I cannot say much about the Canadian Health system, luckily, my health is quite good. I have not heard good things about it, although I have never heard good things about the NHS in England and it is actually quite good. I hear that it varies by province and even by cities. It all depends on the demand. If you have an emergency I know of friends who were treated very well, not so well for other minor issues, they will make you wait for those, but it is the same in every country where health and medicine is socialised. Anyone else here could have a complete different opinion.

 

[trickydicky16]

I'm sure most people moving to another country have the fear of the unknown.

We grow up with an idea of how our life will be based on what we see around us and to be moving to another country where things are different leaves you with a feeling of insecurity in your own future. However, having read all your posts it makes me much more confident in moving to Canada. Although I have never doubted it will be a better place for bringing up a family I now recognise alot of things that I dislike about the UK.

I'm sure there are negatives about Canada too but it will be nice to be more comfortable and not constantly panicking about not knowing if you will be able to afford things.

I always remember my partner (who is Canadian living in the uk) asking me why everyone only though of holidays as somewhere hot with a beach and getting a sun tan. Then after his first "summer" he knew!! I realise how cold it will be in Canada during the winter but the thought of actually being able to count on a summer every year makes up for that!! And i trully believe that the reason most Brits walk around with unhappy faces is that the weather is very depressing when it rains almost every day and the sky is grey it is hard to keep smiling.

I am very excited about moving to Canada, but I will always be Scottish.