MORE AMERICANS MOVING TO CANADA

8 Responses to MORE AMERICANS MOVING TO CANADA

1. Ben Kerschberg says:

   July 24, 2003 at 21:00

   I find this rather interesting. I was born in Brazil, where I lived until I was five, and then grew up in the United States in the household of a nationalistic French mother. Needless to say, it took quite some time to really feel “American,” whatever that means. I always felt as though I were merely a world citizen, especially with three passports (until I was 17 when the French government wanted me to peel potatoes in the Navy). At 31, I feel quite American. Moreover, my impression, based on what commentators here have stated for years, was that Canada had an inherently negative sense of identity. That is, whereas Americans would identify themselves positively as Americans, Canadians would identity themselves first in the negative, and specifically with respect to the United States. Thus: “We’re not Americans.” I’ll have to reflect upon this further, but it seems to me that I feel very much “American,” the contours of what term embodies are changing rapidly. How bad is the weather again?
2. Susan says:

   July 24, 2003 at 21:05

   I lived in Victoria, BC, for a year, as a grad student and I fell in love with the place. Unfortunately, not much in the way of jobs on the island, but I’d love to get back. I have this dream of a little cottage on the Georgia Strait, view of the Cascades, English flower garden, the whole works. The mood of the place suited me, lots of artist types and sweet little old ladies.
3. Dave Pollard says:

   July 24, 2003 at 21:49

   Ben: I’ve lived here most of my life, and the weather in the winter is bad — usually 5 days a year when you just give up and stay home, and another dozen when the driving is traumatic. And I would say the thing I like best about Canadians is that we don’t identify ourselves at all. We’re not nationalistic, not homogeneous, not anything that can be labelled or categorized at all. We’re just individuals living in a relatively hassle-free, liberal and educated country where the shared ethic is ‘if it doesn’t hurt others, go ahead’.Susan: I lived in Victoria for 5 years and loved it, but there were no job opportunities and I got claustrophobic. You would probably love the Gulf Islands as well, where the people are even more eccentric. Canada is a great country for talented entrepreneurs, also.
4. Dave Pollard says:

   July 25, 2003 at 14:43

   Sorry to hear you’re so down on Canada, Kathy. The last person I heard of that thought we were that bad moved to the UK, where I hear they made him a Lord ;-)
5. Doug Alder says:

   July 26, 2003 at 00:43

   Cold winters? Bah – negativity dude – think of it as a golden opportunit to improve one’s skiing techniques :-)
6. M. L. Foster says:

   July 28, 2003 at 09:01

   If I could find a way to move to Victoria I would in a flash. Vancouver is too big for my liking. I do have friends who live in the Osoyos but they are up in the mountains and the winters there are too intimidating.I am looking at southern climates for my possible flight from the old U.S. though the idea of living with more U.V. is not very inviting either. As per usual I will continue to be a lump and stay here where at least everything is familiar.
7. rob says:

   July 31, 2003 at 15:39

   I wonder if many are moving to Mexico?
8. Rebecca says:

   August 5, 2003 at 09:31

   Hi Dave – I’ve been traveling the past week, so lots to catch up on regarding how to save the world … Having grown up in Buffalo and lived in Calgary (temporary work visa) I’ve seen for myself the subtle yet important shift of outlook from Canada to the US, and I very much prefer Canada’s. Just this past weekend I met at woman who is working in Toronto under the NAFTA skilled worker provisions, so I’ve become motivated (yet again) to see if I can make it work for me.Western Canada is fabulous but so far from family that I’d be happy with the compromise of Ontario. Other than for the immediate political reasons, there are long term economic reasons for a move like this. Even at 34 I’m already worried about how I’ll survive in my old age and it seems that I’m much less likely to be destitute on the street if I’m in Canada.

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