When I first moved here from Europe people used to ask me what I thought about Canada and what were the main differences between living in Canada and living in Europe.
A large number of people from different countries around the world live in Canada and I must admit it is very nice indeed to live here!
There are so many pros about living here and I wish to list some for you just to give you an idea…
First off, Canada has a healthy climate and the air is clean. Forget about smog, pollution and exploitation of the territory. The climate of this country, together with the high quality of the Welfare and the health system, has allowed citizens a life expectancy of about 75 years. The Canadian territory is immense, but beautiful. There are landscapes that truly take your breath away, rich in lakes, mountains and fauna.
I noticed that freeways are indeed ‘free ways’ throughout the country: this allows you to move more often, which is ideal when you settle in a new country and you want to discover it.
Secondly, the number of free events offered by Canadian cities even when the thermometer goes below 0 Celsius…there is something for everyone and every single weekend.
There are loads of options for public transportation and, in some cities like Montreal, public transportation is free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult.
Something great I have heard is that bus drivers will drop off women traveling alone wherever they want between 2 bus stops at dusk or at night to bring them closer to home safely.
It is also very attractive the number of job vacancies available and how long the unemployment rate is, both are a sign of the country's good economic standing.
And that allows you to change jobs more easily!
Also, salaries are on average high compared to the cost of living so this allows workers to save quite a bit of money if they are wise.
Very important is also the presence of nature even in big cities like Ottawa and Montreal: lots of free parks, trees everywhere, ponds…A real joy to enjoy nature even without a car so without needing to go out of town.
I was also surprised by the presence of the flags of Canada and regional flags everywhere: on public buildings of course, but also outside of private homes, in the parks, as well as at many events.
It is a true sign of the pride of the inhabitants for their country and I think it’s a positive thing because Canadians make you love their country while welcoming all nationalities at the same time.
I was also astonished by the fact that there is no need to pay a rental deposit to rent a flat in this country. References and credit history are checked and taken into account. And for newcomers like myself, it is the good heart and trust of the Canadians that allows you to rent your first flat.
And talking about social aspects that make life better: the duration of the maternity leave in Canada can be up to one year and it is granted for all working women regardless of their job position.
In the photo: the park in Ottawa, one of the greenest cities in Canada
