Lifestyle and Leisure
Reasons to move: Leisure
Many British migrants have practical reasons for moving to Canada – the idea of lower house prices, a strengthening economy in the face of the credit crunch and better job prospects holds great appeal.
But underneath these sensible considerations an ulterior motivation often lies: the simple desire to have more fun.
"Before I moved to Canada I was working all hours and I had no time to spend with my family," says expat Vancourite Melanie Stoddart. "When I got back from work, I tended to just collapse in front of the TV and stay there for the rest of the evening. We lived in the middle of a city, and there really wasn't anything else to do. But Vancouver offers so many leisure opportunities, and with all those on our doorstep we thought that we'd do more activities as a family – and we certainly have done! We go skiing, hiking or mountain biking most weekends."
The abundance of leisure activities available across Canada also helps to attract a much younger breed of British migrant – such as 26-year-old David John Hall, a city worker who plans to move to BC later this year. "I'm a real fan of the great outdoors, and I love the idea of being able to enjoy both winter and water sports, all within a few hours of where I live," he says.
Josh Thomas, an Edmonton PHD student from Nottingham, agrees. "One of the reasons I decided to do my PhD in Edmonton was the proximity to the Rockies," he explains. "There's nowhere in England which offers such great opportunities to get close to the great outdoors. I lived in Aberdeenshire during my MA and there were places to surf and hike around there, but it was nothing like the Rockies. I'm picking up lots of new sports while I'm out here too – downhill mountain biking has become a real passion, and I'm actually starting to get into ice hockey!"
At the other end of the country, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Lissy Rutherfurd is also enjoying the leisure opportunities that Canada has to offer.
"I love the fact that there are so many places to explore," she says.
"There's all this wild scenery, which feels like it's never been discovered by anybody else before, and then there are some really lively cities too. I've recently got back into horse riding, which is a fantastic way to enjoy Canada's amazing landscapes – but I think that people should know that Canada isn't all about the outdoors. The city living out here is also great fun – you can do all the things that you can do in a British city and you feel a lot safer doing them. The music scene out here is great; my husband and I discover a new up-and-coming band in Halifax almost every weekend!"
Canada also offers some great leisure opportunities for children and teenagers – although they aren't quite what you might find back in Britain.
Nineteen-year-old Laura Harris has spent most of her mid to late teens on Vancouver Island and loves it. "At first I was a bit freaked out about moving here and making friends," she admits, "But it's such a nice area, so laid-back, and teenagers don't just go out drinking every night.
Socialising is a lot different and a lot safer – we have bonfires and go to Tim Hortons instead of going drinking in bars! Since I've been here, I've also spent a lot time doing my two favourite hobbies – riding horses and driving cars! I think the leisure opportunities out here for people my age are great!"
Perhaps the best thing about leisure in Canada is that there is something for everyone – whether you love partying or enjoy exploring the great outdoors, you're sure to have maximum fun in your new life.
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