What is it like to live in Canada?
Updated: Jul 11
1. What do you love most about your country?
I love the culture of inclusivity and social welfare in Canada. The healthcare system allows for those members of our society in most need to get the support they need without worrying about costs. We also recognize many minority groups and protect the rights of our equity-deserving groups.
2. What do you dislike most?
The change of seasons here borders on the extreme. In Southern Ontario, where I live, we see temperatures that range from 35 degrees Celsius to -40 degrees Celsius. It can be stressful on the body, especially for the very young and the very old.
3. What problems do you see as the most troubling for where you live?
There is currently a cost of living crisis that has been building for years. Affordable housing is becoming increasingly more difficult to find, and people are moving away from the city centers to find housing. There is also the issue of climate change, which has made our wildfire season much more damaging.
4. How has where you live changed over the years?
The area I live has become much more diverse over the years. I can now buy my Asian groceries in my city without needing to visit Little India. There are also more businesses opening and more apartment buildings going up.
5. What do you consider the most important sights to see as a tourist?
In Ontario, I would say the most important sights to see are Niagara Falls and the CN Tower. In Quebec, I would visit Quebec City and Chateau Frontenac. In Alberta, you can see the Rocky Mountains. In British Columbia, I would visit Vancouver Island.
6. What do you think can only be experienced through living in your country?
You can experience the natural beauty of polar bears on ice sheets, the blazing sun on great sand dunes, beautiful beaches with crystal clear water along Lake Huron, and ski on mountain slopes while never crossing a border. There is also a true love for multiculturalism, so you can experience food and culture from other countries quite easily.
7. What would you miss most if you left?
I would miss the healthcare system, the relative safety everywhere I go, the protection of rights, and the peace and quiet.
8. Have you ever left your country? Why? What country did you go to, and did you enjoy it?
I’ve traveled to other countries to vacation, but I haven’t left for work. I visited Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, and Japan. I loved the cuisines of each country and I greatly enjoyed my visits.
9. Are there many foreigners where you live? Are expats welcomed or looked down upon?
There are many foreigners where I live, as I live east of Toronto. Expats are welcomed, and we have a large population of international students.
10. What advice would you give to someone coming to your country for the first time?
I would advise folks to look at the weather forecast, especially in the winter! We get colder winters than many other countries, and travelers are often caught without the right protection. I would also recommend that they look up cultural norms, as Canadians generally prefer to keep personal space and prefer a general politeness.