Canada

[LostFarmboy]

Well, I've decided that i'm gonna go live and work in another country for a year or so at the end of this year. At the moment i'm leaning towards Canada, but i don't really know much about the place except that all the Canadians i've met are cool and it gets mighty freakin cold in winter. Seeing as i'm an Aussie, i'm not real fond of the cold, in fact i hate it. So, my question is - what's the warmest place in Canada?? How warm does it get?? How cold does it get in winter?? Keep in mind that i think the winters here are cold and it doesn't snow, so i consider anywhere that has ice falling from the sky on a semi-regular basis mighty farkin freezing. Is it possible for it to snow but not be too cold?? That would be cool, i would like to get into some winter sports, but not if it's cold.

Also, while i'm questioning Canada, how easy is it for an Aussie to get IT type work in Canada for a year?? I'm assuming it's like the states where i would have to get sponsored by a company or something. Does anyone know of any good Canadian job websites??


Thanks for the help

[O-Face]

I've lived all over Western Canada, which in my personal biased opinion, is the best part. So I'll give you the skinny on the places I know out here.

for the warmest weather, the Okanagan valley is your best bet, a lot of those towns set heat records for all of Canada, in the summer there are a ton of lakes and places to go, in the winter you're not incredibly far from the Rockies. Gets to be about 35 at the absolute hottest but expect more high 20's. Most areas there get some snow in the winter but not for too long and it'll only get to be -10. Disproportionate number of meathead assholes out there though. And may be hard to find IT work. Look up places like Kelowna, Penticton, Osoyoos and you'll get an idea of it.

Calgary gets reaal fucking cold in the winter(this is from a dude who lived 4 yrs in the Yukon, by Alaska), lots of jobs, good night life, close enough to the rockies for skiing, can get really hot in the summer some years but not consistently. I was in Calgary 4 mos this last summer, didnt get too hot, the summer before that cooked though. Lot of redneck politics and racist assholes out there, but once you weed through them there are a lot of good people, it has one of the youngest populations in Canada. Oh yeah, everything is dirt cheap there(comp to other cities in Canada) from houses and cars to chicken wings and beer. Wages also low...

Vancouver is a pretty awesome city, I grew up there and was back to live for 4 mos last spring. It's fucking expensive there, but you have mountains, coast, international city, good tech industry so finding IT work shouldn't be hard. Gets to be almost 30 in the summer, rarely freezes in the winter, but rains a lot. Close to whistler, too, where they're have 2010 olympics.

Vancouver Island is a good temperate balance, doesnt get quite as hot in the summer, stays pretty warm (but rainy) in the winter, rarely ever gets below freezing. You got lots to do on the coast, and I think the area around Victoria is actually classified as a rainforest, so it's pretty incredible. Laid back people, lots of students and retirees, interesting balance. Oh yeah, the university has a ridiculously high girl to guy ratio Another pretty expensive city though.

Basically, Calgary gets cold, but is cheap and fun. Okanagan is hot, has very liesure oriented life style. Vancouver has natural beauty and good weather, but is pricey. Vancouver Island is laid back, lots to do, costs a lot, and it sometimes sucks being stuck on an island.

Can't speak for the east coast and you definately will avoid the middle of Canada, it gets crazy cold. What I do know of the east coast is you don't have to drive as far to see cool things, places like Toronto and Montreal and Quebec City would be cool to check out if you're there. I know Toronto can get pretty hot in the summer, don't know how the winter is. I'm sure there's tonnes of East Coast Canucks here to give you a better idea of that area.

But about the cold - if you wanna have real fun in Canada, like skiing and snowmobiling and hockey (if you're a quick study) - suck it up and deal with the cold, it's totally worth it. We have a damn good time in our mountains. Anyhow, any specific questions about Western Canada, let me know, I've lived all over here, and seriously there's only like 2 highways I haven't been on in BC.

[Jason_Europe]

ya im from victoria on vancouver island as O-face said and ya its very warm here all year round in the summer 20 to highest 34 celcius but nights are usuay around 12 and in the winter its average temp is about 10 and can sometimes when were lucky get below zero to get some snow. Yes there is lots of rain it can get kinda annoying sometimes but u learn to deal with it. This last month its rained for 30 days straight lol. You will always be occupied out here theres so much to do. lots of great parks and forest to hike. Ski mountain 2 and a half hours a away from victoria incase u wanna run up to some colder temps. umm tofino is a great place for surfing if ur into that. parksville has a huge beach there its very nice and sandy, theres lots of ocean and boatings pretty major here. it can be pretty expensive so ive heard but ive grown up here so i wouldnt no.

[MolsonGirl]

Vancouver for sure.... we get TOTAL extremes here around Toronto... its' 40 C in the summe and - 17 in the winter...

[LostFarmboy]

Originally posted by MolsonGirl@Jan 17 2006, 05:55 PM
we get TOTAL extremes here around Toronto... its' 40 C in the summe and - 17 in the winter...

[snapback]99016[/snapback]

holy freakin crap, that's insane.


After some chatting, i am thinking about maybe sucking it up, not worrying so much about the cold, and going somewhere that gets a lot of snow so i can experience a completely different way of life........maybe. A white christmas would be a kinda crazy experience. So, do you think i'd be able to take the cold, or would it just be too much?? Keep in mind that i'm used to pretty hot summers (it was 46 degrees on our other farm a few days ago) and winters that very rarely fall below zero.


cheers

[LiveFreeorDie]

I just wanted to say your original post cracked me up (even though I realize it was not meant to be funny, per se). Asking what's the warmest part of Canada to me is like asking would I rather be killed by a guillotine or firing squad...well, it really doesn't matter, I am just as dead either way.

I can tell you the east coast of Canada gets mighty cold, but Toronto and Montreal are both great cities. Montreal especially seems a bit european with the french influence. In the summer it is absolutely fantastic. In the winter, they have lots of tunnels that link between the subway and various buildings, malls, etc so you can literally move around the city without going up to the surface. Montreal is also close to some great skiing. Probably not nearly as epic as the West, but very quaint with a ton of snow. Anyway, this is coming from an American but I live only about 4 hours from Montreal and have been up there fairly frequently. If you decide to go, enjoy your time. You will eventually get used to the cold - its all about mental fortitude!

[Esterina]

Southern British Columbia is definitely the warmest, but for a white Christmas, it's anywhere else in the country. As Molsongirl said, in Toronto and just about everywhere under the 50th parallel, it's chiiiiilllly in winter and niiiiiice in the summer.

I'm from the East, Quebec. Here though, if you plan on working, it's more difficult if you don't speak french. No problem to travel, but to work, I suppose all you could find is plenting trees in the summer, or wash dishes in a restaurant. But lots to do in Quebec and the east coast.

Read that,you'll find some good infos, and also this thread.

[IDDQD]

theres a lot of choice for you. If youre looking for the big city life, go to Toronto. Biggest Cultural difference, Montreal. Good pubs, cheap lobster, and 10 feet of snow, go out East. Active, outdoorsy, tree hugger type, go to British Columbia.
Suicidal, the Prairies or the Territories

[omisan]

Dunno if there's still a push for it, but I know for a while, some MP wanted Canada to annex Turks & Caicos in the Caribbean. That would definitely qualify for the warmest part of Canada!

[The Sasquatch]

If you're suicidal go to the praries???? come on, i resent that. Saskatchewan Rules!!! We have tons to do, theres...... theres....., um, i'll get back to that, but it doesn't get that cold, we usually only have one straight week of -40 per winter (not including wind chill) and other than that, those -40 days are spread out fairly evenly. Theres no ocean, no mountains, booze is rank expensive. Ah, who am i kidding, i'm going to kill myself.

[TERI]

I'm born and raised in Canada. I HATE THE COLD WEATHER!!!!! even though i've seen winter come and go every year, I just never get used to the cold. I do go out and play in it and stuff. I tried skating a few times.........but then I fell and brusied my tailbone. Then I tried skiing once..............(long story) going too fast... couldn't stop ( i was in plow!!!).....WHAM! knocked myself out. totally unconsious. head first into a wooden fence. oh, and this one time (again long story) i almost colapsed in a snow bank, from frost bite trying to get home. i fell in my front door, litterally, and my mom thought I was hammered.

Anyways, where was I going with this? aww.. the winter sucks!!! but in the end, you'll get over it. it'll make for great stories later.



i was so meant to live somewhere warmer.

[d_fresh]

I never consider toronto and montreal to be eastern canada.....weird.

for warm all year round, head to bc. here in the east (that's newfoundland) it's 20-30 C in summer and anywhere from 5 to -15 in winter.

[tumblezweedz]

While it's not quite as big as Toronto, Vancouver does qualify as a big city, and has the advantage of mountains 20 minutes away and the ocean on the doorstep. Don't know where you're from in Oz, but if you want a combination of city life, civilized weather year round and access to the ocean, that's definitely your best bet. Rain is not unheard of. If you want to avoid the big city prices, you could look on Vancouver Island (again, pricey in Victoria, but not so bad beyond that), or the Sunshine Coast. Most IT jobs will be in the cities, of course, but you might find something up your alley in a smaller place, and will definitely spend less on rent! It will never get as warm as you're used to - if you want the heat, definitely hit the BC interior or anywhere back East...but back east you do get a lot more humidity. And flies. And really cold winters.

Haven't been to the Maritimes, but by all accounts it's gorgeous, friendly people, tons to see and do - colder winters than BC though. There's something about that north Atlantic...brrrr.

[O-Face]

Originally posted by LostFarmboy@Jan 17 2006, 07:09 PM
holy freakin crap, that's insane.
After some chatting, i am thinking about maybe sucking it up, not worrying so much about the cold, and going somewhere that gets a lot of snow so i can experience a completely different way of life........maybe. A white christmas would be a kinda crazy experience. So, do you think i'd be able to take the cold, or would it just be too much?? Keep in mind that i'm used to pretty hot summers (it was 46 degrees on our other farm a few days ago) and winters that very rarely fall below zero.
cheers

[snapback]99017[/snapback]

You should be fine adjusting to the cold, my girlfriends family moved from Vietnam straight to Cold Lake Alberta. That's north of Edmonton=very fucking cold. If they can handle it, you should be alright. Buy a better coat though...

[elfmaiden]

Yeah probably Vancouver is part of the warmest, I'm from Northern Ontario and it's umm...well it gets f*ing cold! I like winter though, all the fresh white powder makes that hot chocolate extra special at the end of the day.

But being from OZ, I can see why. Hee hee, minus -40 C probably doesn't sound like much fun.

Canada is cool and we need more people with awesome accents. HA HA.

Jenn

[benna2]

Well you know those Australians....NOT the manliest of men ya know?? Nicky will have to get himself a nice warm winter coat and some long underwear to keep himself warm.

[Jen05]

Originally posted by The Sasquatch@Jan 18 2006, 01:25 AM
If you're suicidal go to the praries????* come on, i resent that.* Saskatchewan Rules!!!* We have tons to do, theres...... theres....., um, i'll get back to that, but it doesn't get that cold, we usually only have one straight week of -40 per winter (not including wind chill) and other than that, those -40 days are spread out fairly evenly.* Theres no ocean, no mountains, booze is rank expensive.* Ah, who am i kidding, i'm going to kill myself.

[snapback]99063[/snapback]

Glad to see there's somebody else out there representing the Prairies! Yeah, we may not be the top choice for Canada, but we're good people! Anyway, I say go West to Vancouver or something. At least their "winters" are mild.

[LostFarmboy]

Wow, thanks for the replies everyone

Well, seeing as everyone knows so much about Canada i might continue with my Canada questioning. I'm starting to think that a cold winter will be ok, so disregarding cold temperatures, what city or town in Canada do you think would be the best place to live for a year or two?? Has the nicest people? Has the funnest things to do? Has a good night life? I wouldn't mind getting into skiing or snowboarding while i'm over there, what place would be good to live for this sort of stuff? I'm a country boy so i'm not a huge fan of cities, but i guess it's all about new experiences. Oh, also, i want to go to a place that doesn't have too many tourists, maybe a bit off the beaten path. Does such a place exist?? I reckon it would be awsome to go to some little country town that is in the middle of nowhere, but i think IT work might be a little impossible to get in such a place.

Originally posted by The Sasquatch@Jan 17 2006, 11:25 PM
but it doesn't get that cold, we usually only have one straight week of -40 per winter (not including wind chill) and other than that, those -40 days are spread out fairly evenly.

[snapback]99063[/snapback]

Phew, only one straight week of -40, well that's ok then, and here i was thinking it was cold in Canada......that's CRAZY!!!! I didn't even think -40 existed.

[benna2]

Any of the cool snowboarding cities will be packed with tourists...so you may not want to necessarily settle down in those towns, but definately make a point to visit them. Whistler and Banff are the ones that come to mind. If you narrow it down to what province you want to live in, I may be able to help you a little bit more. Another thing to consider is that you will want to be somewhere where they have some public transit since you won't have your fancy new truck with ya! The Toronto subway lines are great and can get you literally anywhere in the city....yet Toronto is a big city and I don't know if a self proclaimed little "country boy" would be happy there. So anyway...narrow it down to what province you want to go to. Look at one of your handy little maps at work.

[IDDQD]

the people I know that have lived in Whistler, British Columbia have all proclaimed as the best place to be in Canada, epecially when it comes to outdoor living/activities. That being said, its also unbelievalby expensive and theres next to no room to live, and Im told the ratio of people that live there is like 8:1 men to women...so not the easiest transition.
In conclusion, I havent really helped...


And those from the Prairies, Im just teasin, I love all y'all