Both the banks have a starter program for new immigrants to open a Canadian a/c, right at their homeland, prior to move. This is available in India, Dubai, China & a few more countries. U may like to log-on to their sites & have further info.
We can open that a/c asap we receive our Visa+COPR. Deposit the POF. Get a Banker's statement & carry that to Canada. This statement shall be our POF at the POE. The sooner u land, reach the nearest Branch & log o to our a/c. Voila, the funds is yurs to transact hereon. As simple as that.
Said that, I personally feel the 'Start Right' program of Scotiabank is quite good. It offers free banking for a whole yr. Including a Free locker facility for a yr. Check out at : www.startright.scotiabank.com for more info.
Qorax.