Moving to Canada

Canada is simply huge in scope. It’s the second largest country in the world, occupying a vast northern corner of the earth, and an enormous expat destination attracting immigrants from every corner of the globe.

As testament to its qualities, in seven out of eight years, Canada has been ranked number one by the United Nations in their annual Human Development Index. This combines factors such as the cost of living, adult literacy, job opportunities, life expectancy and school enrolment. Many people from the US and the UK move to Canada for a better quality of life.

Canadian cities such as Vancouver and Toronto are not the dynamic business hubs of certain other global expat destinations but what they offer instead is a truly multicultural society blend set against rugged and spectacular scenery. Its British and French origins are shown through European architecture, American culture through fanatic sport leagues and entertainment, Inuit traditions with a rich and ancient history, and more recently, Asian immigrants with vibrant neighbourhoods and strong ties to the east. Yet for all the spices of multicultural life the unavoidable freezing temperatures can be taxing.

Canada is for a hardier expat, not averse to a bit of low pay and lower temperatures in favour of a comfortable quality of life. Between its borders, the country has truly endless places to visit although the north is little traversed and mostly uninhabitable. Most of the population is confined to the far south which is even more concentrated around the Toronto area. Yet in these cities, such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, expats in Canada can balance slick city attractions and a life filled with rugged outdoor adventure.