Does anyone live in canada

That doesn't quite fit with the "intent to reside. Canada is the second-largest country on earth, behind Russia. As such, there is no singular "Canadian climate," even if people may think it's just cold most of the time. Depending on how close you live to the British Columbia coast, for example, spring can begin as early as February and summer temperatures can rise into the 90s.

So if you're looking for places to take up permanent residence, research what the weather's like. You won't waste money or space buying unnecessary items. Now that you've left your home country behind and if you're an American, abandoned the circus of presidential elections , embrace what makes Canada unique.

Many Canadians express deep fondness for Tim Hortons, quirky slang, celebrity ambassadors, and hockey. No one will expect you to dive headfirst into this new world, but if you want to become a genuine citizen, formal requirements are only the start. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

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It often indicates a user profile. Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. Chris Weller. Preface: Make sure you're not already a Canadian citizen. Be at least 18 years old. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding.

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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Canada is a huge country. Most of it is unfit for human habitation. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. This map, made by redditor Vugg , gives a sense of just how concentrated Canada's population is: Note: The map projection here is an adapted version of Google Maps, which somewhat exaggerates the size of the north.

Vugg The area below the red line includes most of Nova Scotia, in Canada's east, but most of the population comes from the area a little farther west, in a sliver of Quebec and a densely populated stretch of Ontario near the Great Lakes. Here's a zoomed-in map of the heavily populated bit, with areas of the US included for perspective: Google Maps So why did so many Canadians settle here?

Delivered Fridays. Thanks for signing up! There is also a Self-Employed Persons Program. Permanent residents can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child or other eligible relative to become a permanent resident under the Family Sponsorship Programme.

Housing in Canada varies greatly between provinces and territories, cities and suburbs, so what can you expect when searching for a home? Where can you go for advice? Most Irish newcomers to Canada will be looking to rent rather than buy. Properties are rented by calendar month, so it is best to start looking just before the end of the month, rather than at the beginning, when choices will be more limited.

The public transport networks are good, but if a couple are moving here together, it is better for them to wait until they are set up with jobs until they decide what area to rent in. Furniture and utilities With the exception of sub-lets, almost all rental properties in Canada are unfurnished, which will add a substantial amount to start-up costs. Cheap furniture can be found in thrift shops and on websites like Craigslist. Ikea outlets are located in, or close to, most major cities.

Cathy Murphy, executive director at the Irish Canadian Immigration Centre in Toronto, advises new arrivals to check what is included in the rent before signing a lease. If it is electric, your bills are going to be huge, especially when you are trying to keep your home warm during the harsh Canadian winter.

Gas will be much cheaper. Landlords will usually ask for references, and some will request employment and income details. They are also entitled to conduct a credit check to ensure prospective tenants can pay the rent. This is more likely to happen to those who arrive in Canada without a job set up in advance. Buying a home For those looking at the move as long-term, purchasing a property can be a viable option. House prices in Canada have tailed off over the last 12 months, after rising rapidly during the past couple of years, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

However this is forecast to fall around 21 per cent by The Canadian Real Estate Association has a useful interactive map comparing prices over the past 12 months between provinces and cities. Irish people with permanent residency have the same rights as Canadian citizens when it comes to buying a property. Non-residents on a visa will need a downpayment of at least 35 per cent of the purchase price. A good financial adviser or mortgage broker will be able to talk you through your options.

When considering mortgage applications, banks will also ask for mortgage or rental payment receipts for the past 12 months, evidence that you have paid all utility and phone bills on time, copies of tax returns, and statements from an Irish bank account for the past year. These documents should be prepared before leaving Ireland, especially if you intend to buy a property soon after arriving in Canada.

Before you decide you prefer Vancouver to Montreal, read our primer to Canada's most popular destinations. Vancouver With mountains, lakes and the ocean right on your doorstep, the quality of life that Vancouver in British Columbia offers makes it an attractive location for many.

For Ruairi Spillane, watching the local hockey team, the Vancouver Canucks, is a plus of living in the city, which he says, is more suited to people who like the outdoors, while Toronto is more of an urban city. Vancouver is not short on eating options either. Toronto With a direct flight from Dublin to Toronto, the city on the east of Canada is often the first port of call for Irish migrants.

However it is best to be prepared for extremes of weather which can range from minus 20 degrees in winter to plus 40 degrees. So take coats and boots if it is winter - and seek out air conditioning for the summer. New arrivals should also note that Toronto, with its population of 2. Saskatchewan A prairie province in the centre of Canada, Saskatchewan is vast, equivalent in size to France but with a population of a little over 1 million.

Most people live in the southern part of the province and the largest city is Saskatoon. Montreal The second-largest city in Canada and the largest in the province of Quebec, Montreal is a French-speaking city. More than 60 per cent of residents speak French in their homes. It is, however, cheaper than other major Canadian cities, and accommodation is also generally easier to find and more affordable. It also has the youngest population of all the major cities in Canada, with 70 per cent of its residents between the ages of 15 and Calgary, the major urban centre for the southern half of the province, is home to 1.

If you remember the Winter Olympics, you will know that it is a mountain city, so expect lots of snow in winter. New arrivals to Canada will find a different economy from that which would have greeted them even four years ago.

With the labour market at its strongest in over a decade, Cathy Murphy of the Irish Canadian Immigration Centre in Toronto suggests there are many areas in which immigrants can find work, highlighting in particular the construction industry.

There is still a crane on nearly every corner in Toronto. Over 55, construction jobs have been created throughout Canada during the last year, with 17, added in March alone. This is part of a wider upward trend in employment across the board which began in the second half of The unemployment rate now sits at 5. Beyond the obvious professions associated with construction, such as engineering, project management and quantity surveying, Ruairi Spillane of Outpost Recruitment, which focuses on the construction and engineering sectors within western Canada, says the country needs IT workers and is still in need of doctors.

This shortage is expected to worsen in the next five years, because the age profile of doctors means that many are nearing retirement.

Given the scale of the country, it may make sense to target your search depending on what type of job you are looking for. This means that demand is strong for anything in the construction trades or in manufacturing. Ontario is another province Irish migrants can target. British Columbia is an area on the rise, according to Murphy. However, Murphy says there are roles for those in IT and the skilled trades in particular. It can be difficult to secure a job from home, and Ruairi Spillane from Moving2Canada warns that it can take from three to four months or more.

Murphy says this is particularly an issue for those working in business. Those in business banking, accounting, marketing, sales etc may need several months to land a career role. Networking will be crucial. Get out there and meet people before the interview stage. You may find out about openings through referrals or just meeting people for a coffee. When it comes to how much you might earn, Spillane says salaries in general are comparable with those in Ireland. Salaries across the country are on the rise.

A report recently published by Statistics Canada showed that average weekly earnings were up 3. The industry with the highest increase was accommodation and food services, which saw an increase of 8. Those in the public sector saw their weekly earnings rise 4. For more detailed information on salaries, check out canadavisa.

Unless you have skills that are in demand in Canada or manage to secure a job at a recruitment fair in Ireland, it can be difficult to apply for jobs before leaving for Canada, as employers usually want a Canadian address on an application.

But there is still a lot of preparation jobseekers can do before moving. Tradesmen need to take accreditation papers and graduates should have copies of academic transcripts. Across all sectors, networking plays a much bigger role when it comes to finding a job in Canada than in Ireland. Spillane estimates that more than half of all vacancies are not advertised online, so making contacts is vital. We have great personalities so networking is much easier.

Your focus should be to build contacts and learn more about how you can improve your employability. The Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce , which has six branches, holds events to help the Irish community to connect. Canada is renowned all over the world for its free healthcare system, and each of its 10 provinces and three territories finances and runs a state-wide health insurance programme, Medicare, which covers most basic medical services, such as doctor visits, diagnostic tests, hospital stays and most surgeries.

You may find the system is not as comprehensive as you would like, however, as it is up to each province to decide whether or not to cover supplementary services, such as dental or drug cover, or even maternity services. As a result, many Canadians face additional expense. On top of that, they have some of the longest wait times in the world. A survey from the Commonwealth Fund found that one in five Canadians reported waiting over seven days the last time they needed medical attention.

At the ER department, a third of patients waited over four hours, while 1 in 2 had to wait over four weeks to see a specialist.