[bHi all

My wife and me are considering to move to Canada.

I would like to know between Toronto and Vancouver with is the best city?

Sjoe Andre, die antwoord op jou vraag is Toronto en Vancouver. Dit hang net af wat jou lewenstyl is. Vancouver is soort van Kanada se Kaapstad, Toronto is meer Johannesburg, maar tog met 'n groot skoot Kaapstad.

In Vancouver gaan jy in een van die wêreldstede woon wat onder die drie bestes ter wêreld tel wat lewenskwaliteit betref. In Toronto is jy amper 5,000km nader aan Suid-Afrika en naby die regerings hoofstad van Kanada.

Vancouver kry by verre die meeste reën van die twee en Toronto loop voor wat die sneeu betref. Die mense van Toronto leef swaar onder die somer se lugbesoedeling en die somers is lekker warm. Vancoucer het meer gematigde somers.

Wat werk betref: besluit self. Tans is Calgary in Alberta die plek om te wees.

Cathy K.

Andre,

The best city for you, will be the city where you can find suitable work and afford a home.

Vancouver wins hands down for beauty, easier going lifestyle and milder climate. No one can dispute that.

However, not everyone can or even wants to live in Vancouver. Some folk thrive in Toronto, which is a huge metropolis, very multicultural and which still has affordable housing and job opportunities. Being such a large city, there is much to be offered on many levels. Toronto is not a beautiful city, but it does have some charming areas and the four very definite seasons are appealing to many. Summer can be hotter and more humid than Durban, and Spring and Fall are just wonderful here.

As the city is so multicultural, it is easier to be an immigrant here than in most places. We all come from somewhere, and there are so many ex pats wherever you go. Most South Africans settle down well enough here and eventually enjoy big city living. The suburbs are generally self- sufficient, and you do not even need to go downtown for your every day needs.

To learn more, I suggest you visit the community section of this board and click on Toronto and Vancouver to read as much as you can about life in each place.


I think the Jhb/Cape Town analogy is a good one. Of course the cities are both very different from South African ones, but you get the idea.

Dankie vir die antwoorde, ek sal gaan kyk op die community gedeelte.
Soos ek verstaan is dit moeilik om werk te kry in Vancouver, dis hoekom my aanvanglike keuse Toronto was, maar ek wil net seker maak. Dis n baie groot besluit vir ons en wil net so min as mootlik foute maak.

The nicest thing is: You're never stuck in one place! You simply move on when you find greener pastures. We did! We originally lived in Port McNeill, in the northern part of Vancouver Island. We've been in Nanaimo since 2002, and love it here.

Also remember, life is truly different in Canada. If Canadians lose their jobs, they take a nice long holiday before looking for another one. You make do. Many Canadians have two or more jobs. Stukwerk is hier 'n gegewe. People share jobs. One person might work Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Another will take over on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Canadians on the whole are not class conscious. The hospital cleaner and street sweeper are as well respected and as proud of their jobs as the engineer and IT specialist. Our six-year-old granddaughter's biggest dream is to become a "stop lady." She thinks regulating the traffic at roadworks is really cool.

Canada se werkloosheidsyfer is in die omgewing van 3%. Besighede smeek vir werkers. Kyk of dit moontlik is om op 'n werkspermit na Kanada toe te kom. Vele ander het dit reeds gedoen.

Groete.
Cathy K.

One other thing you may want to consider here has to do with housing prices. Remember that with the same skills, you probably will have a higher salary and disposable income in Toronto because of the higher housing prices in BC (and lately Alberta).

See www.mls.ca

Fact is Greater Vancouver folks forfeit on average a higher percentage of their income than any other part of Canada for mortgage payments. However the North American housing market is becoming unstable (some folks would say headed for a reality adjustment) but Vancouver property is and has been relatively stable if only because the weather here is a non-varying plus. Karen's remarks are pretty fair ones.








The other thing has to do with economic value:

BC has a lot of "mom and pop shop" small businesses which, along with Calgary, presents great opportunity for small business owners.

On the BC front see

http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/

Calgary (mentioned above) has got a more competitive and exciting business base (especially in oil and IT), but gets darn cold (for a BC guy), and living costs have increased dramatically lately. Launching a business in Vancouver is not tough. All other factors equal Vancouver is not a bad place to live, the latest Mercer study (also quoted above) suggests that things here are not that different from a while ago where Van held the same position. See http://www.mercerhr.com/attachment.dyn?idC...p;idFile=234027

Die grootste "stress" factor vir my is om werk te kry, op die forum het ek nou al baie gelees van mense wat sukkel om werk te kry dit is iets wat n mens gou kan onder kry.
Dit klink vir my asof Vancouver die lekkerste plek is om te bly, maar werk skaars is daar.
Is dit die moeite werd om werk te soek vanaf Suid Afrika?

O ja Cathy K wat bedoel jy met "Stukwerk is hier 'n gegewe".

Andre,

What field of work are you in? The answer to that question may help decide where you should consider living here.

To be honest with you, I love Vancouver and the Island. It is my aim to someday be able to retire there. However, it is here in Toronto that we are able to make a living, and that is the most important factor of your entire immigration. Without a decent salary, everything else, even the beauty of Vancouver and the milder temperate climate, can lose its lustre. On the other hand, you may land your dream job in Beautiful BC.

You appear to be a young couple, so go wherever you can find work. Nothing is cast in stone, and you can always move on if a place is not to your liking. However, I see no reason why you should not be happy in Toronto. It is a vibrant and exciting city; it is pretty safe for a place with 5 million inhabitants ( I am including the entire GTA here); there is just so much to do, it is never boring, if you embrace the four distinct seasons, you will enjoy and make the most of each one. You are close enough to drive to the entire eastern seaboard of North America. New York City is less than two hours flying away and a 10 hour road trip. You are in the hub of North America here, close to Europe and with easier access back to family in SA than from anywhere else in Canada.

If you are able to, consider doing a 'Look, See and Decide Trip". Visit all the cities you are interested in, and at least get a feel for them and talk to SA's who have made the move to each one. Whilst you are here, look at the cost of living, house prices etc etc . It will give you a pretty good idea of what is out there and what appeals to you.

Lots of luck in making your decision and keep on reading and asking questions here.

[
What field of work are you in? The answer to that question may help decide where you should consider living here.

I agree with you that the work cames first.

I am a fire safety officer and my wife has her own jewellery school and jewellery manufacturing business.

Thanks for the reply.

www.careerbuilder.com

Try the website and see if there is anything for you.