Canada Welcomes You

Got a loonie? If you’re planning on moving to Canada it might be a good idea to get the hang of the Canuck lingo: a loonie is a dollar, suckers are lollipops and noodles means pasta. Read on fortips on how to make the process of relocating abroad to this diverse and exciting country a success. Canada is the world’s second-largest country after Russia, but its population is only around one-fifth of Russia’s. Its north is taken over by wilderness as almost 90% of Canadians live within 200 km of the border with the US. Canada has one of the highest per capita immigration rates worldwide. During the year of 2012, the country was looking to attract between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents, as reported by the immigration service. Thus, newcomers should feel welcome in Canada. Quick Tips

• The major airports are Ottawa and Toronto.
• The most popular languages spoken are Canadian English and Canadian French.
• The local currency is the Canadian dollar. On November 12, 2012 £1 was $1.59.
• Cabs come in all colors; though many are yellow (Americans don’t get confused)
• In 2012, the price for a three-bed house in Vancouver was about $750,000.
• Ice hockey, or simply ‘hockey’ as Canadians refer to it, and lacrosse are the country’s national sports.

Visa Tips The skilled workers and professionals visa is the most common visa; however, you must prove that you will benefit the economy. The scoring criteria include age, occupation, education as well as language skills. International students pursuing their PhD at a Canadian institution can now also be eligible for the Federal Skilled Workers Program. If you are unable to obtain the professionals visa, there are also visas for investors and entrepreneurs, visas for people with skills that are wanted in a certain province as well as family visas for those planning to live with a family member. The Canadian Experience Class  grants permanent residence to those expats who have spent a minimum of two years working and living in Canada or for those who have graduated from a Canadian institution (with at least one year of skilled work experience). Québec is the only Canadian province where French is the main language and it also has supplementary regulations regarding work permits. Political and Geographical Environment In the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec, separatist aspirations have caused a significant domestic issue. The Parti Quebecois, in favor of independence, lost in the 2003 provincial election, but regained power in 2012. Additionally, in 2006 parliament sent a symbolic message by coming to the agreement that the Quebecois should be seen as a “nation” within Canada as a united country. The entire country calls for visitors and locals in vacation mode to explore it. Whale-watching off the coast of Vancouver and a trip to Newfoundland to see the northern lights are just two opportunities to experience Canada’s natural beauty.  Snow-covered mountains, deep forests, and cool lakes; Canada has it all! There are many oil and gas fields, which bring investors and economic success, in the northern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Regions, such as the Atlantic Provinces, face an increased amount of economic difficulties and thus are less likely to be a destination for expats relocating to Canada. The most popular place for expats is the southern part of Ontario and most of them work in the Greater Toronto Area (Canada’s most important financial, commercial, and economic center). Professions Expats should be fluent in either English or French, depending on the province where their work is. With the ability to speak both languages come increased chances of employment in Canada. Popular professions among expats include engineering and the natural sciences, as well as professions related to the service sector. Finance, telecommunications, healthcare, insurance and next-generation technologies (such as bioengineering) are especially popular. Culture Interested in immersing yourself in your new home culture? Then you should not miss the following events:

• Okanagan’s icewine festival in January
• Quebec City’s winter carnival in February
• Regina’s powwow in March
• Whistler’s ski and snowboard fest in April
• Ottawa’s tulip fest in May
• Montréal’s jazz fest in June
• Calgary’s stampede in July
• New Brunwick’s Acadian fest in August
• Toronto’s film fest in September
• Kitchner’s Oktoberfest in October
• Hamilton’s Aboriginal Fest in November
• Niagara’s winter festival in December

Canada will keep you entertained all year long. So enjoy your move and welcome to Canada! Marie Morrison Oct 2nd, 2014 http://www.updatednews.ca/2014/10/02/canada-welcomes-you-2/