To conclude this series, I’d like to share with you some online resources about Canada. Canada at your fingertips, without the cold and the windchill!

The Media: TV, newspapers and magazines

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
• You can also browse the list of Canadian channels (with info on each channel)
• The Globe and Mail
• National Post
• Le Devoir (in French)
• Toronto Star
• Each city also has several local newspapers, such as the Ottawa Citizen, Le Journal de Montréal, Calgary Herald etc. You can find all the local newspapers in this list.
• L’actualité (in French)
• Adbusters
• Maclean’s
• Chatelaine

Immigrate to Canada

• The Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration is the only official immigration resource. You may download your visa applications here.
• Immigration Québec: if you wish to visit, study or settle in Québec, you may use the provincial government’s website.
• Loonlounge offers community support to future immigrants. I’m an “expert” on this forum, designed to answer any question you may have regarding visiting, studying or settling in Canada.
• The Expat Forum is also a great resource to share tips about Canada.

The Canadian Blogosphere

• A New Life In Canada, by Aiglee: a couple from Venezuela settles in Toronto. Aiglee blogs in English and in Spanish about her new life up North.
• Johnada (+ wife and newborn Esme) is from the USA and now lives in Toronto. Watch for his Moslon rating system!
• Although not an immigrant (well, she is from Vancouver!) , Gail is a talented photographer who shares snapshots of Toronto, where she lives, and the world in general.
• On the other side of the country, Expat Traveler, originally from Switzerland, blogs about her life in Vancouver.
• The Prairie Road is the story of an American family who moved in a small town, in Saskatchewan.
• Los Zieglers In Canada is the story of a family of 6 (well, 5 + the dog) from Argentina who moved to Ottawa. The blog, written by Guillermo, is in Spanish, but full of tips and fun stories. Guillermo speaks English fluently so don’t be scared to comment in this language (like myself, when I’m lazy!).

Misc. Resources

• Tax Calculator: for all provinces
• Art and Culture in Canada: literature, magazines, museum etc.
• The symbols of Canada: the flag and the national anthem, along with explanations and a bit of history.
• TSN: sports from a Canadian perspective (yes, it features hockey and curling!)

I hope you enjoyed this “How to… Canada” series. If you have more questions about my new country, please, don’t hesitate to contact me!

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Humor, jokes, what’s funny and what’s not strongly differs in cultures. Canadians have a strong sense of humor, and Canadian humor is an integral part of the identity.

The weather: fucking cold…eh?

The legendary winters in Canada are always a good excuse for a laugh:

In Canada we have two Seasons…six months of winter and six months of poor snowmobile weather.

You know you’re Canadian when…

• You’ve plugged a car in overnight
• You design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit
• Driving is better in the winter because then the potholes are filled with snow
• You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.

Our Southern neighbors: The U.S.A

It’s not that we don’t like them. I just that we like to make fun of them!

On the sixth day God turned to Archangel Gabriel and said: “Today I am going to create a land called Canada, it will be a land of outstanding natural beauty. It shall have tall majestic mountains full of mountain goats and eagles, beautiful sparkling lakes bountiful with bass and trout, forests full of elk and moose, high cliffs over-looking sandy beaches with an abundance of sea life, and rivers stocked with salmon.“

God continued, “I shall make the land rich in oil so as to make the inhabitants prosper, I shall call these inhabitants Canadians, and they shall be known as the most friendly people on the earth.“

“But Lord,” asked Gabriel, “don’t you think you are being too generous to these Canadians?“

“Not really,” replied God, “just wait and see the neighbours I am going to give them.“

Canadians are also supposed to be very polite and to apologize a lot, especially compared to Americans whom are seen as arrogant. Here is a Canadian Apology to the USA, from Rick Mercer:

On behalf of Canadians everywhere I’d like to offer an apology to the United States of America. We haven’t been getting along very well recently and for that, I am truly sorry. I’m sorry we called George Bush a moron. He is a moron, but it wasn’t nice of us to point it out. If it’s any consolation, the fact that he’s a moron shouldn’t reflect poorly on the people of America. After all, it’s not like you actually elected him.

I’m sorry we beat you in Olympic hockey. In our defense I guess our excuse would be that our team was much, much, much, much better than yours. As word of apology, please accept all of our NHL teams which, one by one, are going out of business and moving to your fine country.

I’m sorry about our waffling on Iraq. I mean, when you’re going up against a crazed dictator, you want to have your friends by your side. I realize it took more than two years before you guys pitched in against Hitler, but that was different. Everyone knew he had weapons.

I’m sorry we burnt down your White House during the War of 1812. I see you’ve rebuilt it! It’s very nice.

And finally on behalf of all Canadians, I’m sorry that we’re constantly apologizing for things in a passive-aggressive way which is really a thinly veiled criticism. I sincerely hope that you’re not upset over this. Because we’ve seen what you do to countries you get upset with.

Our national sport: Give Blood, Play Hockey

When it comes to hockey, if often Canada vs. Toronto, as this team has the more money but never ever seems to win. Poor Maple Leafs…

A Montreal Canadiens hockey fan is driving home from work when he passes the local priest. He stops and gives him a lift.

A block later they pass a man wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. The Montreal fan suddenly feels an uncontrollable urge to run him over with the car. He puts his foot down on the accelerator and tries to hit him. At the last minute the Maple Leafs fan jumps out of the way and the driver hears a thump which he figures must just be the curb.

The two men procede in silence until finally the Canucks fan blurts out, “Look Father, I’m really sorry about that incident back there. I tried to run the Leafs fan over but I believe I missed him : can you forgive me father?“

The Priest replies “It’s okay son, no need to apologize; I got him with the car door.”

Canadians love to brag about how violent is hockey:

Reporter to hockey player: “Did you ever break your nose?” Player: “No, but eleven other players did!”

A hockey puck is a hard rubber disc that hockey players hit when they are not hitting each other.

Hockey is definitely too tough. I mean, what other sport has a coroner?

You know it’s going to be a wild game when a fight broke out in the middle of the National Anthem.

Regional humor:

We make fun of BC because of its weather (pretty mild but very wet) and its “laid back” attitude:

Top reasons to live in BC:

• The local hero is a pot-smoking snowboarder
• There’s always some sort of deforestation protest going on
• If a cop pulls you over, just offer them some of your hash

Manitoba, and especially the city of Winnipeg, is famous for its freezing winters:

Top reasons to live in Manitoba:

• Amusing town names like “Flin Flon” and “Winnipeg”
• Hundreds of huge, horribly frigid lakes
• Nothing compares to a wicked Winnipeg winter
• You remember the dates of major blizzards 30 years ago.

A lot of Canadians resent Ontario, or at least, like to make fun of it, because the province is home to both Canada’s biggest city and the national capital. Therefor, the province is seen as corrupted and boring.

Top reasons to live in Ontario:

• Your provincial capital calls in the army to help clean up after a snow storm.
• Your $400,000 Toronto home is actually a dump
• You, and you, alone decide who will win the federal election
• The only province with hard-core American-style crime
• You live in the center of the universe
• There’s no such thing as an Ontario Separatist
  
• Your grandparents sold booze to the States during Prohibition

Quebec is another easy target. The only province with a majority of French speakers and an history of separatism is of course being made fun of.

Top ten reasons to live in Quebec:

• You cant believe that a cashier in Ontario speaks French too!
• Other provinces basically bribe you to stay in Canada
• The only province/territory to ever kidnap federal politicians
• NON-smokers are the outcasts
• You can blame all your problems on the “Anglo bastards”
• Your hockey team is made up entirely of dirty French guys

In addition to that, every Canadian knows a joke about Newfoundland. Newfoundland was the last province to join Confederation in 1949 and they had the choice of either becoming part of Canada or part of the US. They decided to join Canada, and became a national joke… sorry guys! Newfie are our redneck (as well as Albertans, but that’s just jealousy because they are richer than other provinces right now).

For more Canadian humor, check out:

• “I Is An Newfoundlander“
• “I am Not Canadian” (both are a parody of the Molson beer Canadian Rant)
• More Moslon rant parodies
  
• The Toque (great Canadian jokes)

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Your first year in Canada will most likely be one of the most interesting year in your life. You made it, after all! Yet, adapting to a new culture and to a new country takes patience and time. Here are my tips to survive your first year in Canada.

Surviving your first Canadian winter:

• Buy warm clothes and dress in layers: save your money, buy winter clothes in Canada. A French jacket will never be as warm as a Canadian one… The best way to keep warm is to dress in layers: outdoor is freezing but indoor is often very well heated. The most important thing to remember when you go out is to trap the body heat: forget about these low-rise pants and invest in long shirts, sweaters, gloves, good socks etc.
  
• Do check the forecast: the weather can change very fast in Canada. The first thing I do in the morning is often to check the thermometer outside, as I quickly learned that sunny days in winter can be extremely cold (we’re talking below -20C here!). You will also want to know if it’s likely to snow during the day, and if it does, how many inches are forecasted. Trust me, 30cm of snow can make a huge difference in your day.
• Plan transportation ahead: if you drive, you may need to plug your car (block heater) in the morning to warm it up. If you take the bus, you may have to allow allow extra time to get to the bus stop during a snow storm. If there is freezing rain, you don’t want to be caught on the freeway as roads are extremely slippery.
  
• Must buy winter accessories: a shovel (if you live in a house) to dig your way out. If you don’t trust me, check out Blizzard… Checked or The Weather! Keep a snow brush and an ice scraper in your car as well, because just between us, a credit card isn’t that great to scrape the ice from your windshield… no matter how good your credit is! As for clothes, gloves and a hat are indispensable. I also like large scarves that can cover your mouth in your nose..
  
• Read more: on Seven Canadian Winter Facts!

If you’re homesick…

• Read, watch TV, listen to the radio in your mother tongue: check out your local library which will probably have books in your mother tongue. You can also pick up a community newspaper, most of them are free in big cities. Alternatively, you can watch OMNITV, a channel that has a diversity programming with news, movies and documentaries in almost every language.
• Connect with other immigrants: Canada is a very multicultural nation and chances are, you’re not alone! Some communities have their own district (like Chinatown or Little Italy). You can also visit a newcomer center (such as the YMCA) or a community center in your neighborhood… even libraries in big cities have an info desk for immigrants! You’re also likely to meet people attending a language class or a training.
• Blog about your experience: it’s always fun to share with families and friends back home! Plus, you can interact with other immigrants in Canada. I have been virtually in touch that way with Aiglee (who is from Venezuela and lives in Toronto), with Expat Traveler (who is from Switzerland and lives in Vancouver), a US family living in Saskatchewan, Johnada (who is American and lives in Toronto)… and I also exchange with expats around the world!

Living up to your expectations:

• Culture shock is to be expected: most people — including me — though that because Canada is a first world country, the culture shock won’t be as bad as if, let’s say, you were to move to India or China from Western Europe or the U.S.A. Truth is, Canada won’t make you “wow” right away. But this doesn’t mean you know everything about it! The culture, the people, the etiquette etc. will be new to you and you may find yourself clueless in social settings. Food is different, and so is the weather, the transportation system etc. Even English speaker may need to adjust their vocabulary to “speak Canadian”! For more details, read my Canadian Mindset, or Stuffs Canadians Like Part I and Part II article.
  
• You will find your dream job: most immigrants, no matter how qualified they are, find themselves starting from zero. If you manage to find a position in your field when you arrive, you may have less responsibilities than before and a smaller paycheck. You may also have to work a “McJob” to pay the bills while looking for a better position. Don’t take it personally. We have all been there and it will get better.
  
• It takes time to improve your language skills: if French or English isn’t your mother tongue, fear not: you’re not alone (see Canadian Multiculturalism). There are some great programs to help you with your language skills, but you need to be patient. It takes time to be comfortable speaking a foreign language! I had been living with an English man for five years when I started this blog and I still wasn’t confident enough to write in English (Do You Speak English). It does improve overtime though and you will swear perfectly in English soon enough!

Immigrating to a new country is a bold move. You will find what you are looking for but you will also experience ups and downs, like every single other immigrants.Good luck!

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As a newcomer in Canada, you will probably need to get a job as soon as you can: settling in a new country is expensive. But going job-hunting can be an intimidating task. Here are a few tips to help you find a job in Canada.

Your first goal should be to be assessed:

• Have your documents translated: if your work-related documents (such as degrees, certifications etc.) are not in French or English, you will need to have them professionally translated (for Ontario, you can use the Canada International Translation Services).
• Get your credentials assessed: you may need to have your credentials (certificate, diploma, degree) assessed by an organization. Unfortunately, this is not free… But on the other side, it will demonstrate how your education compares in Canada and will “speak” to your employers. WES (World Educational Services) and the University of Toronto Comparative Education Service offer such services.You can get a list of credential assessment services here.
• Have a language assessment: if French or English is not your mother tongue, it’s a good idea to get a free assessment. You need to be comfortable enough to express yourself in a foreign language all day long at work! If you feel you could benefit from some classes, Canada has some great language programs for immigrants, and best of all, most of them are free (see Learning French Or English). Note as well that Canada has two official languages: French and English. Depending where you settle, you may have to speak English only, French only (Quebec)… or both (Ottawa)! Read more in Canadianism (s): French & English.
  

All set? You are now ready to get your first Canadian experience! This can be a bit of a catch 22 for newcomers, since you need a first experience in Canada to get a job, but you need a job to have your first experience… you can however use these tips to overcome this:

• Use a staffing agency (also called temp agency or placement agency): they can be quite helpful to newcomers for different reasons: first, they are deal with newcomers everyday and will most likely accept the fact that you don’t have experience in Canada. Second, a lot of these agencies will test your language proficiency, computer abilities etc. onsite, so you will know where you stand. And finally, they will deal with your future employer on your behalf, which can makes things easier if you don’t know the Canadian job culture much yet. The downside of these agencies is that even though they offer their service free of charge for job seekers, your average salary tend to be lower than if you would have applied to jobs directly yourself (that is because employers pay the agencies a commission). Besides, most of the agencies offer entry-level positions in very generic fields (call centers, customer service positions). That said, a few agencies focus on specific fields (IT, medical) and if you are qualified, you may find a great position. Start with reputable agencies such as Manpower, Ranstad, Adecco etc. and never ever pay a fee to register (scam!).
• Be open-minded: if you have a lot of experience working in a specific field in your home country, job-hunting in Canada may look depressing at first. Having all your foreign credentials assessed and recognized takes time and you may even have to take additional classes to work in your field. Thousands of immigrants have the same problem every year and our government is well aware of it. Meanwhile, keep an open-mind and look for a first paid experience in Canada, even if it’s not in your field or in a position lower than your previous one.

So, where would you find job opportunities in Canada? Most Canadian find a job through those three mediums:

• Newspapers: they usually have a weekly “classified” section with a lot of mostly local job opportunities.
• Job websites: they can be either general, either focused on a specific field. A few reputable websites include:  Nice Job, Workopolis, Working.com, Job Bank, HCareers (hospitality jobs), Construction Jobs Center (construction), CanadaIT (IT jobs), CTen (engineering and related), Health Care Jobs, Canadian Nurse, Retail…
• Networking: in Canada’s private sector, there is a huge “hidden market”. You will hear about these vacancies that are not advertised through people you know — that is networking. The best way to network is to get to know people in your field and to keep in touch!

By the time you finished this article, you should have gotten your first job interview already! So on D-Day, remember a few things:

• Personnel screening: some employers may ask if you have a a reliabily status, a security clearance or even request a credit report. Reliability status and security clearance and usually asked when applying for a position in (or related to) the government and you will need to give personal informations for it to be processed. An authorization to access your credit report may be asked if you will be handling money or be placed in a position of financial trust.
• Bring references: Canadians loves them! Most employers will ask for references, that is the information (name, email address, phone number) of (usually 3) people you worked with. It doesn’t need to be a former manager, it can also be a former co-worker, a fellow student etc. These people will be contacted and asked a few questions about you (are you reliable, what are your assets etc.). Make sure your references know they can be contacted!
• Prove you have the right to work in Canada: do bring your Permanent Resident card, your SIN card, a copy of your work permit etc. Canadian employers do check if you have a legal right to work in Canada.

Good luck and remember: it takes time to get the position of your dream! As a newcomer, you have a lot of assets and skills but fitting in a new job market requires a bit of patience.

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As most of you know, Canada has two official languages: French and English.

Now, most of the immigrants who are chosen under the skilled worker program will have to show language proficiency in either language. But it’s not always that easy. Some won’t speak either language and will need to learn from scratch (i.e family members accompanying the main applicant). Some newcomers will need to improve their language skills in order to get a job in their field.

Now, the good news is Canada is a multicultural country and no one will make you feel bad about your English or your French. Indeed, I found that Canadians were really nice towards foreigners. A lot of resources were implemented to help people improve their language proficiency and best of all, most of them are free!

If you have just arrived, you will probably still rely a lot on your mother tongue. You can take some time to adjust and get used to your new country using the following methods:

• Check out your local library. Most of them have books in foreign languages (the most popular seem to be in Chinese, Arabic and Spanish).
• Pick up a community newspaper. There are literally hundreds of ethnocultural newspapers published in Canada, a lot of them free and printed in many languages. Here is a list of national community and ethnic newspapers. You can also check out the Canadian Immigrant Magazine.
• Watch the news: OMNITV has a diversity programming with news, movies and documentaries in almost every language.
  
• Listen to the radio: CHIN Radio broadcasts in over 30 languages, CKWR in 22 languages and CMR in 24 languages.
  

Learn English or French: If you’re a newcomer to Canada, you may be eligible to free language classes.

• Canada has a program called LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) that provides free basic French and English language courses to adult permanent residents. To register, you must contact the nearest LINC assessment centre or immigrant services organization for an assessment of your language training needs and a referral to LINC course providers nearby. The toll-free phone number is: 1 888 242-2100 (general inquiries). Here are the address of the LINC centers is most major cities: LINC Centers.
• Make sure to check your local community center. Each city usually has one and they provide invaluable resources for newcomers. Here is a list of the main immigrants serving organizations in Canada.

Once you master the basics of French or English, you may find it’s still not enough to get a job in your field, to attend university or simply to carry on with your career. This is usually the most frustrating stage (been there, done that…). But there are solutions!

• You can take enhanced language training (ELT) classes. It is a program that provides advanced level English language training to adult newcomers. The goal of ELT is to provide job-specific, labour market-level language training to help newcomers find and keep jobs that match their skills and qualifications. TLT is usually available in come colleges (see the Ministry Of Training) or professions and trades organizations (see the list). You can also contact your local community information center.
• If you work for the federal government, you may be eligible for second-language classes (English or French). Most civil servants have to be bilingual at a certain level (depending on your position’s classification) and will need to take two written exams and one oral exam to show their proficiency in their second language. These classes are free (I teach these classes by the way!).
• Get involved in language and culture social clubs: this can be a great way to make friends and to practice English or French! Membership is usually free and it works on an exchange basis: you teach the basics of your mother tongue and someone will practice English or French with you.
• Consider hiring a tutor is you’re not eligible for any free resources. Websites such as Kijiji and Craig List usually have tutoring ads. Check the person’s reference and agree on a learning plan to make sure the tutor is qualified. I tutored quite a lot and I’m happy to say my students were quite happy with the result!

To be able to speak French or English, or better, both, will do great for your career and your life in Canada. Resources are available… use them! Who knows, I might even end up being your teacher!

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Money is always a bit tight for newcomers to Canada. Settling in a new country is expensive, especially between the immigration fees, the settling expenses and the fact you may not get a good job right away. So here are a few tips on managing your money in Canada.

First thing you need to remember, is that the prices you see in stores are before tax. This is very important because it adds up and makes a difference on the final price you pay!

In Canada there are three types of sales taxes:

• Provincial sales taxes (PST) — in every province but Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Goods to which the tax is applied varies by province, as does the rate.
• Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) — the current rate is 5%
• Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) — this tax is the combination of the GST and PST into a single tax. There is a HST (instead of a GST + PST) in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia.

In any case, the combined provincial and federal taxes are between 5% (Alberta) and 15.5% (PEI). Now, it may not make a huge difference on a bottle of Coke, but it does on a meal, a car or furnitures! And as I said, taxes are never included. So make sure you calculate the total price before making a big purchase.

North America, in general, is a country where supply and demand rule the market. Prices can be quite competitive and you may take advantage of promotions, deals and offers, for almost every kind of goods. You can use these following tips to make your money go further:

• Check stores flyers and promotions weekly. Many grocery store chains, such as Loblaws, Food Basic, Loebs or the Canadian Superstore publish weekly flyers and highlight discounted products, or “special”.
• Collect and use coupons: No, you won’t look cheap. Canadians love their coupons and you will see many people using them! You can easily save a few cents or dollars on products you would buy anyway. We usually have coupons booklets mailed at home. You can check these following coupon websites: Smart Canucks, Red Flag Deal or Save.
• Take advantage of the various reward programs offered in your favorite stores. Many popular chains, such as Shopper Drug Mart, Loblaws, Subway etc. invite you to apply for a free point card. This card, often given on-the-spot, will be swiped each time you make a purchase at the particular store and will eventually get you rewards. I personally have the Shopper Optimum card and get about $75 to $150 in reward every 6 months or so, just buying basic toiletry products — not bad! I also have a Scene card and I collect the point to get free movie tickets at Cineplex. Works well!
• Shop local: not only it’s good for the environment and it benefits local farmers and producers, but you will also get better deals. I find veggies’ price has really raised lately, but at the market, I can still find fresh zucchinis, peppers, beans, tomatoes etc. for a good price. Plus, veggies actually look like veggies. Phew, I’m tired of this unatural shine and bright colors…
• Buy in bulk: stores such as the Bulk Barn are a great place to stock up on herbs, dry pasta, spread (hazelnut, chocolate etc.). No fancy packaging but great prices.
• Last rule is, stock up on non-perishable items when there is a promotion. Pasta sauces, soups, rice, canned veggies, toiletry such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste etc. won’t go bad and there are specials regularly on these products (and many others!).

The best part in Canada is that we have shops that cater to all kind of budget. You don’t have to stick to the cheapest ones, but still visit them once in a while and you will save on basic items. Get to know the shops in your neighborhood and compare the prices. Chances are you will notice one supermarket usually has good price on veggies, the other one has great fresh meat and fish, the third one is no-frills but has cheap cans etc. As for me, I shop at Food Basic for veggies (in the winter, since I go to the market in the summer), Loblaws or Farm Boy for meat & fish and then at ethnic stores for international food (the best noodles will always be found in Chinatown).

The hardest part I find in North America is to resist the sale pressure:

• Ditch the plastic: credit cards are great because they help you build a credit history but you I find you generally tend to spend more using them. Pay daily purchases with cash and you will realize how much you really spend.
• Resist sale pressure: chances are, you will be offered credit cards when you shop at department stores, paid “extras” when ordering food and special “one day only” deals anywhere else. There is nothing wrong with that. Just make sure you actually want the deals.
• Watch the interest rate: if you are short on cash, there are solutions. Usually not the ones advertised on T.V though. Beware of these “payday loans” and cash advances. The interest rate is just unbelievably high.
• Read the fine print: there is almost always a trick. Make sure the coupon you have in your hand is valid (typical for restaurants, the coupon won’t be valid Friday – Sunday), that all “extras” are included in the price and that you don’t commit yourself for longer than you wish (i.e cell phones plans).

Happy shopping!

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Unless you’re from the U.S.A, chances are you will find banking a bit confusing when arriving in Canada. Interact, checking and saving accounts, credit cards may be new to you. Besides, opening a bank account on a resident visa and applying for a credit card can seem challenging. Let’s have a closer look at that!

The main commercial banks in Canada are:

As a temporary or a permanent resident in Canada, you will need two pieces of personal identification (your Permanent Resident card, SIN card, Health card, Canadian driver license or foreign passport are among the acceptable piece of I.D) to open a bank account. You do not need to be employed or make a minimum deposit to open the account.

Most banks are used to deal with new Permanent Residents, but they might not be familiar with your status if you hold a specific temporary work permit. Be prepared to explain a few details and to show you’re legal in Canada.

You will first need a checking account, i.e for day to day banking. You will be given a debit card with a PIN number to withdraw money. Note that you will pay a fee for pretty much everything: monthly account fee (anything from $2.00 to $15/ month), withdrawal fee (especially when you withdraw at another bank’s ABM), cheque fees… To see an example of fees that can be charged, have a look here.

This can be confusing but remember a few rules:

• Always withdraw money from your bank ABM
• Do most of your transactions online, as they are likely free
• Calculate how many transaction you do a month and pick a package accordingly. For example, if you live by yourself, you’re pretty unlikely to do 50+ transactions a month… so a basic 15 transactions/ month package should be enough. But as a family (or so I’ve been told!) you may want to consider paying a slightly higher monthly fee that allows you up to 20/30/40 etc. transactions.

Canadians don’t really use cheques (unlike French!). Which is good in a way because you have to order them and pay for them (in France, cheques were automatically ordered by the bank for you and were free). Canadians mostly use Interact, the national debit service. It’s fast and convenient.

Canadians also love their credit card and that might be another challenge for you. North America has a credit card culture (read “A Nation Under Debt“…) and you will need a piece of magic plastic sooner or later. Indeed, credit card help you build a credit history — and you will need a good credit history to apply for a mortgage, a loan etc. in the future. The main credit card companies are Visa, Mastercard and American Express (Amex).

Catch 22 here is you need a good credit history to get a credit card, but you need a credit card to get a credit history. From my own experience, credit history established in your home country is rarely taken into account, which can be frustrating (or maybe a good thing for some of us!).

A side note about the credit history: you will always hear a bunch of commercials about checking your credit history regularly to spot identity thief etc. These companies try to scam people into paying to see their credit report. Getting a copy of your credit report is free from the three credit bureaux (Equifax Canada, TransUnion Canada and Northern Credit Bureaus) if you just fill up a couple of forms and mail them. I tried a few weeks ago and downloaded the form from TransUnion and received my report for free two weeks later. Please, don’t get scam and don’t pay to see what the law requires these companies to disclose!

You may try the following methods to get your first credit card:

• Apply for a store credit card (i.e Sears, Canadian Tire, The Bay etc.). These credit cards typically have extremely high interest rates (make sure you pay them in full every month!) but they can be less picky about their applicants. You will then be able to apply for better credit cards.
• Ask your bank. They know the newcomer’s credit card problem and some bank will offer you to “lock” a certain amount on a bank account (typically $500 – $1,000) and will issue you a low limit credit card (i.e $500). If everything goes well and you pay your credit card in full, they will “unlock” your money a few months later and may even increase your credit card limit.
• If by any chance you’re a student (even part-time…), mention it and you may apply for a student credit card. These card usually have a very low limit ($500) but are given somewhat more easily. And a few months later, you can apply for a higher limit if needed.
• If everything fail, just wait a few months (or maybe even a year…). Give yourself some time to settle, get a job, pay your bills and re-apply later.
  

In Canada, you also have many ways to save and invest money. Saving accounts, registered saving accounts, mutual funds etc. are widely available but depend on your bank.

Those new to Canada’s way of banking (and generally speaking, North America’s) might find the following links interesting:

• Bankrate: a good — somewhat messy — website dedicated to money. There are many interesting articles regarding credit cards. Start by reading credit reports and scores, using a credit card to establish good credit and the sad-but-true 20 sneaky credit card tricks. (This sounds like sponsored links but it isn’t!)
• Settlement: a series of informative articles about personal banking for newcomers in Canada.

Happy banking!

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1. A Nation Under Debt
2. Newcomers’ First Steps In Canada
3. How To Manage Your Money In Canada (5/10)

Even if you’re not ready to apply for a work permit or to get the Permanent Residence in Canada, you may want to visit the country. Why not? Canada is a beautiful place!

Okay, let’s tackle the myths:

• Canada is cold: yes, it’s cold…in the winter. Yet, you will survive. We do.
  
• Canada is boring: well, well…so is your country!
• I don’t speak French: nor do my students.

All set now?

When to visit?

The weather will influence your decision:

• Winters are harsh in most of the country, averaging -22C to 12C (and it’s more likely to be below 0C…). It’s very cold but except when it’s snowing, the weather can be dry and sunny. This season is great to experience all the good sides of the legendary Canadian winter: winter festivals (like the Winterlude in Ottawa); activities such as dog sledding, skating (Ottawa has the longest skating rink in the world), skiing, eating maple toffee and just experiencing a big snow storm (promise, we won’t let you shovel alone!).
• Springs are very short and the weather is unpredictable. It could still be a lot of snow on the ground (this year, in most of Northern Ontario and Quebec, the snow only melted in May) or already very hot. It’s always amazing to see nature alive again after months of staring at a white landscape.
• Summers are usually very nice and rather hot. Temperatures range from 10C to 30C. Western and south-eastern Canada experience high rainfall (summer storms… and high humidity) but the Prairies are fairly dry. There are a lot of festivals in the summer and you can also enjoy the outdoors fully.
• Fall is a great season to visit Canada. Temperatures are mild and the leaves slowly turn orange, and then red. It’s the Indian summer: no snow, no humidity, just perfect weather.

Canada is a big country and this weather summary is mostly for Southern Canada. Along the Arctic Circle, temperatures are below freezing for seven months a year…!

How to get there and how to get around

To find cheap plane tickets can be challenging, but you can check out Zoom Airlines (low-cost airlines which flies between Europe and Canada), Air Transat (flights to Canada from the USA or Europe), Corsair (To Quebec from France).

In Canada, you can either take the bus, the train, or drive from one place to another. Depending on where you want to go, you may also consider flying.

The Greyhound is probably the cheapest way to get around and it worth considering for relatively short trip (Montreal – Ottawa – Toronto etc.). You can also take the Greyhound for longer trips (I took it from Ottawa to Texas! Yes, it took three days…): the bus service operates in eight of Canada’s provinces and territories. But this is more a backpacker option… as the saying goes: “Greyhound’s buses are clean and safe but other passengers might not be”. Buy your ticket in advance to get really good deals.

Via Rail is another option. The train crosses the country from East to West, from Atlantic to Pacific. However, even though it must be a great trip, taking the train in Canada isn’t cheap nor very efficient.

You may also rent a car or flight long distance (for that, check out Westjet (a Canadian low-cost airline) or even Air Canada.

Visa, customs etc.

You should first check if you need a visa to visit Canada. If you do, you should apply for a temporary resident visa. Allow enough time for processing before planning your trip.

Even if you don’t need a visa, you should be prepared to go through the immigration upon your arrival. The immigration officer will ask you a few questions (where are you going, where will you be staying, will you be visiting friends or relatives etc.) and will stamp your passport. The date below the stamp indicates how long you can stay in Canada (usually 3-6 months). Should you wish to stay longer, you can apply for a visa extension. If you give good reasons to extend your stay, the visa will usually be extended without troubles.

What to do in Canada?

A lot of things!

Generally speaking, Canada is big on outdoors activities: camping, hiking, climbing, kayaking etc. . Park Canada has an impressive list of National Parks in all provinces, including the Nunavut territory! Winter sports and activities are also popular: ice fishing, dog sledding, snowboarding, skiing, ice skating etc.

Tourists usually enjoy visiting the biggest cities: Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

The province of Quebec has a very European feel, plus Quebec city celebrates its 400th birthday this year, so it’s a great place to be to celebrate. Ontario is the most populated province, and home to the nation’s capital, Niagara Falls, the Thousand Islands and numerous other attractions. The Atlantic provinces boast a strong maritime culture and are home to small fishing villages which have rich folk traditions. The Prairies have vast open and flat spaces, rocky mountains, forests, sleepy farm towns and host the Calgary stampede, and the Winnipeg Folk Music Festival. There are a lot of hiking and skiing opportunities in British-Colombia and the province has both the Rocky Mountains and rainforest. You may also venture North to spot auroras borealis and experience the arctic wilderness.

So, what are you waiting for?

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1. 10 Things To Experience In Canada
2. How To Immigrate In Canada (1/10)
3. 10 Myths About Canada

Feel like checking out Canada before immigrating? Or just want to experience working abroad? Let’s have a look at how you can work temporarily in Canada. And luckily, you have a few options. You can either:

• Apply for a work permit
• Apply for a working holiday visa, if your country signed an agreement with Canada

Let’s be honest: obtaining a work permit for Canada can be quite tricky. Indeed, you will most likely (90% of the time) apply from outside Canada. But to be eligible to apply, you must provide a job offer from a Canadian employer… and of course, contacting employers from abroad, without a work permit is tough. Plus, the employer will need to get a labour market opinion from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), to confirm that the employer can fill the job with a foreign worker (i.e to avoid an impact on Canadian job-seekers).

Unless Canada really needs you, the process can be extremely frustrating. Right now, three special categories enjoy an easier process because of the critical shortage: live-in caregivers, business people and information technology workers.

Remember that work permits are not immigration documents. Your work permit will include the type of work you can do, the employer you can work for and for how long. Should your employer let you go, you may have to go home… and it does happen. North American’s job market is extremely flexible and here, no job is forever!

You can download the application for a work permit and all the informations on the CIC website.

Another interesting option, providing you meet the requirements, is the working holiday visa program (WHV). It targets young people who wish to travel and work in Canada. Currently, it is required to:

• Be a citizen of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and United Kingdom (more countries are being added, so check your local Canadian embassy!)

• Be between 18 and 30 years old (but depending of your country of citizenship, you may get a WHV up to 35 years old)
• Have minimum funds (you will need proof of funds)
• A medical examination is not normally required unless the employment is in health services, teaching, child care etc.

The maximum validity of an employment authorization issued under this program is usually 12 months. The additional requirements vary from country to country. With a working holiday visa, you may not apply for social benefits and you will have to buy your own health insurance.

Applying for a WHV is usually pretty easy and done with minimum hassle. However, the number of places are limited yearly through a quota system and it comes on a first come, first serve basis. I have personally never heard of a WHV being denied: your biggest issue could be the quota system. These days, a lot of people apply for the WHV (to my knowledge, especially French, British, Australians and Kiwis) and it’s common to apply about a year before you actually go to Canada.

The working holiday visa program is a great way to discover Canada and can be your first step towards immigration, as you may apply for permanent residence once in Canada.

You might also want to check out these links:

• Working holidays visas and temporary work permits chart
• PVTistes: a French website and forum about the Permis Travail Vacances (Working Holiday Visa)
• International Youth Program: a Foreign Affairs Ministry page about international programs options
• The Canadian Visa Bureau: a good page about the working holiday visa

Hope to see you soon in Canada! And as usual, I will try my best to answer any question you may have.

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1. Immigration: The Skilled Worker Category (2/10)
2. How To Immigrate In Canada (1/10)
3. Getting Reading For Job-Hunting (1/10)

Interested in immigrating to Canada? Just want to know more about your options? You came to the right place. To start the “How To… Canada” series, I’ll present you with different immigration options.

Immigrating to Canada means to become a landed immigrant, and to obtain permanent residence. As a permanent resident, you can live, work and study anywhere and in Canada, you can receive social benefits (including health care), and after a certain period of time, you can apply to become a Canadian citizen. However, you can not vote and you must meet some residency requirements (being in Canada at least two years in a five years period).

Canada is an open country, with a transparent immigration policy. Even though immigrating is challenging for many reasons, it is usually doable.

First of all, let’s tackle some misconceptions about the immigration process:

• Marrying a Canadian citizen doesn’t make you a Canadian citizen yourself: it only allows you apply for immigration… like everybody else.
• Hiring an immigration lawyer/ lying about some facts/ being a citizen of X country speeds up the immigration process: honestly, the only thing that can speed it up is filling up the forms properly. And it’s challenging enough.
• I might win the immigration lottery: not you won’t. There is no immigration lottery for Canada. The USA do have a Diversity Visa Program (which is free by the way, please don’t get scammed), basically a visa lottery held every year. Not Canada.
• Canada is heaven on earth: maybe, but it’s bloody cold.

Now, because there are so many scams associated with the immigration process, you main reference website should always be the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Also keep in mind that immigration policies change quite often, so always get the latest informations.

There are basically six immigration categories:

• Skilled workers
• Skilled workers selected by the province of Quebec
• Sponsorship
• Investors
• Provincial nominees
• Canada also welcomes refugees
  

The most common categories are the skilled-workers and the sponsorship ones, so let’s have a look at how it works.

How to apply in the skilled worker category?

Basically, you need to have at least one year paid work experience, and this experience must be on the on the Canadian National Occupational Classification. Factors, such as your language proficiency (English or French), your age (ideally between 25 and 35…) and your adaptability help a lot. All these factors will be add up to a mark. The current pass mark is 67 (it changes often…). You can take a self-assessment test to see if you would qualify: Skilled workers and professionals self-assessment test.

What’s the difference between the skilled worker category and the skilled workers selected by the province of Quebec?

Quebec is a province of Canada, but it has the power to select its immigrants. You will still have to have some work experience etc. and pass the Quebec skilled-worker assessment. In addition to the federal requirements, a step will be added in your immigration, since you will have to obtain a CSQ (Certificat de Sélection du Québec). You can evaluate your chances to be selected by Quebec through this self-assessment test. If you’re selected by the province of Quebec and follow up the immigration process, you will be a permanent resident in Canada, so you can live and work wherever you want. However, when you’re selected by Quebec, you will sign a moral agreement that you will settle in Quebec.

Whether you immigrate to Quebec or apply directly on the federal level for the other provinces, you will have to:

• Take a full medical exam (you will receive instruction on where to take the exam)
• Show that you have the funds required to settle in Canada. This is to prove you will be able to support yourself when you arrive to Canada. As of July 2008, it’s $10,168 for one person, $12,659 for a couple etc. For Quebec, it’s much less: about $5,000 for a coupe. Note that you should have much more funds than that because your first few months in Canada are always tough!
  

And how about sponsorship?

Sponsorship is the best category for you is your spouse is Canadian. Your main goal here will be to show that your relationship is genuine: how long do you know each other, where did you meet etc. Interviews are quite common to make sure it’s not a marriage in name only…

You don’t have to be married to be sponsor: common-law partners can be sponsored as well. However, note that you will have to prove you lived together for at least one year continuously before you apply for permanent residence. If you were not able to live together for a valid reason (visa denied, work commitment etc.) you can apply as conjugal partners. You will then have to build a very strong application to show that you are indeed in a love relationship.

As an applicant, you will have to pass a medical exam.

You can also sponsor family members: see the list of eligible relatives.

How much does it cost?

• Processing fees: $550 per person for the skilled-workers, for the sponsorship category it’s $75 + 475$
• Right of permanent resident fee: $490 per person
• Third party fees: don’t forget the medical exam, documents translation if needed, language test if requested etc.

This is just to give you an idea, as there are lower fees for dependant children, other categories etc.

How long does it take?

Big question! The CIC has an official application processing time page. That said, it’s not always accurate. Some things can speed up your application:

• Make sure that all your forms are filled up and that you provide current information
• Make sure you include all the documents required (police certificate etc.)
• Make sure you justify and explain anything out of the ordinary (applications never have enough room for more explanation, just attach another sheet of paper!)

On the other side, some factors can slow down your application:

• Forms missing informations
• Police clearance required from various countries
• Previous denied applications

Expect a minimum of 6-12 months to several years for your application to be processed.

Applying from inside Canada vs. from outside Canada has long been debated. It seems that applications take longer if you’re already in Canada, but you might qualify for a temporary work visa meanwhile. Both ways have their pros and cons.

Final advices…

The immigration process is a journey. It is very draining to gather all the paperwork needed and to fill up the form (it took me several months!) but this is necessary to ensure you provide all the infos needed. Waiting for your application to be processed can be long too… use this time to research about settling in Canada, to improve your French or your English, to apply for jobs and eventually… eventually you will get it.

I’m not an expert of course, but drop me a line if you have any question!

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2. 10 Common Immigration Questions (8/10)
3. How Much Does Immigrating Really Cost? (5/10)