Moving to Canada—What Guidebooks Won’t Tell You

Moving is always a big deal, even more so when you’re relocating to another country. Naturally, you’ll want to learn everything about the place you’re moving to—climate, language, demographics, currency—but as always, it’s the little stuff that hurts you the most. Migration guidebooks can only teach you so much, and with that said, here are some tips to help you reduce the headaches for when you move to Canada:

In Canada, car is king…

Canada is a car-centric country, so if you want to move around, you better have your own ride. The majority of families here have two cars, and there’s little demand for bus transport services, so if you want to get around having your own car is a must.

…and so is hockey

For Canadians, hockey is a way of life. Kids as young as four already play the sport, and families throw their support in a very participative way, such as building a rink in the backyard if at all possible. There are plenty of ice rinks around offering free skating if backyard space won’t suffice.

A laidback clothing approach

If you follow fashion trends closely, then you’ll definitely stand out in Canada. Locals take a more laidback approach when it comes to apparel. In Vancouver, for instance, people’s favorite every day wear are yoga pants. It’s also not unusual to find people shopping in their pajamas.

Hopefully, you can use the information here to make a big impression when you settle in your new Canadian neighborhood. If there’s anything new you discover that you think will be helpful to other immigrants like yourself, make sure to pass it on as well.