Things to keep in mind while living in Canada
1. You need to brave the cold
It is a well-known fact that Canada’s weather can be grim and atrocious at times. Different provinces in Canada have their own unique climatic challenges that you need to endure. The mercury in some provinces of Canada can drop to as low as – 40 degrees and that is too cold to not tremble, isn’t it?
Having said that, to reside or settle in Canada, your choice of city or province should be based on climatic conditions. It is always better to move to areas where the climate is not too extreme. Of course, moving from one place to another frequently would be cumbersome. So, it is always better to make a wise choice at once.
2. Canada has the strictest blood alcohol laws in the West
As per the Canada Safety Council, Canada has the toughest blood alcohol laws in the world and the punishments for drunk driving are very stringent. It is a serious criminal offense in Canada to be driving with an alcohol concentration level of 0.08 in 100 milliliters of blood.
So, when in Canada, you surely would not want to fiddle with Canadian law. It is hence, always better to know about the stringent laws in the country beforehand. Not just this law, but we recommend that you should be well informed about the legal system of the country.
3. The cost of living varies from one city to another
Irrespective of whether you are living in your own country or abroad, the cost of living is always a major consideration. In fact, while living abroad, the cost of living is the only major consideration for you. Hence, you need to know that the cost of living in Canada is of course higher in Canada than in Asian countries.
However, even across Canada, the cost of living varies from one city to another. To substantiate, as per the cost of living index by Daily Hive, the most expensive city in Canada in terms of cost of living is Victoria followed by Nanaimo, Toronto, and Vancouver. On the other hand, the cost of living in cities including Edmonton, Ottawa, and Fredericton is slightly lower comparatively.
Further, the most affordable regions or cities in Canada include Longueuil (Quebec), Brockville (Ontario), Prince George (British Columbia), Wetaskiwin (Alberta), and others.
4. It is important for non-residents in Canada to have private health insurance
When you move abroad, healthcare costs are always on the higher side till the time you attain permanent residency. In Canada, Universal Healthcare is provided to all Canadian citizens covering basic healthcare expenses. However, for non-residents in the country, healthcare services can feel very heavy on the pocket unless they have private health insurance.
While living in a foreign land, you certainly do not want healthcare services to burn your pocket because there are various other expenses to look after as well. So, till the time you get a permanent residency in Canada, it is highly recommended that you buy private health insurance.
5. There is a large demand for skilled workers in Canada
Are you a skilled worker? Are you someone with decent experience and openness to learning new skills? From soft skills for career success to hard skills with tailored expertise, the demand for skilled workers is only getting bigger and bigger in Canada. In fact, it is anticipated that there are more than one million job prospects in Canada for immigrants with strong skill sets. So, if you aspire to build a thriving career in Canada and lead a happy life backed by strong finances, continuously enhancing your skills is the way forward.
So, the points above essentially cover what you need to know about living in Canada. If there are any further doubts, Silver Fern is always more than happy to help. From applying for a Canada study visa to availing top-notch scholarships for abroad study, we are committed to your success as much as you are.
Author Bio : Mr. Almasto Kapoor
I believe that wisdom and information amplify when shared with others. With more than 14 years of vast experience in tertiary education and having assisted a plethora of students in accomplishing their higher education dreams, I’d like to believe that my knowledge is substantial. To make this knowledge count, I love sharing it with students to apprise them of the intricacies of overseas education and to go with that, my keen interest in writing makes it an even more fulfilling thing to do!
almastokapoor3@gmail.com
