Any tips for a Ukrainian who is planning to move to Canada? Maybe cultural differences, food, weather, etc.
- Housing affordability is BAD, but if you avoid the major cities (Vancouver/Montreal/Toronto) it is not as bad
- Many will point out our health care systems is all backed up especially after covid, but if you need urgent care it is there and will not bankrupt you like in the US.
- Most of Canada is COLD in the winter, doing some googling the ONLY place in Canada as MILD as your weather is the west coast near Vancouver (expensive cost of living).
- Canada is MASSIVE https://www.thetruesize.com/ All of Ukraine is about the size of one of our Provinces.
- Canada has a lot of diversity, each Province has a bit of a different personality and mix of cultures.
- Lots of open beautiful places to explore if you venture out.
- Flying domestically across canada is quite expensive, again it is huge.
- Population density is actually quite low over all, we have lots of open space.
Thanks!
First, get to know as much as you can about Canada, its Provinces and Territories. Like you asked, you will get a pretty good overview of its culture, food, festivals, history, climate, geography, economy, demography, governments (federal/provincial/municipal).
Secondly, get know the many generations of Ukrainian Canadians that live here throughout Canada. You may find long lost relatives or even old friends 😁 and then Canada won’t be much different from Ukraine, just more people of various culture, religion and walks of life, everyone chipping in trying to make a positive difference in each others lives (although Canada has it own assholes and criminals, they generally tend to not openly/bombastically flout the law).
Work wise, I would recommend to focus on anything related to sustainable development, climate change adaptation and the tech sector as those are where all the investment are being thrown into (renewable energy sector, electric transportation and manufacturing chain, mineral resources exploitation, forestry and sustainable agribusinesses, etc.)
Hopefully, my Canadian 2 cents helps. 😆
Welcome!
This is my take: most people are decent. There are bad eggs, but generally, they got your back. If you’re trying to get settled, the libraries are a good place for help. Free wifi, books, games, that sort of thing. Our local library helps with getting paperwork sorted and resumes written, so, yeah.
So glad you’re coming here!
Can I actually go to a library and ask for some help with the resume? I’ve heard that it’s difficult applying for jobs because lots of CVs are automatically sorted out. Does having social media accounts help finding a job? I’ve abandoned/deleted fb/Instagram, etc long time ago, and my wife only has some Chinese analogs.
Thanks for the response, and for being so welcoming.
I know here in BC the Labour ministry has job centres called “WorkBC” that not only help with resumes and job searches, but actually have dedicated classes specifically for newcomers from Ukraine.
P.S. Welcome! We’re glad to have you, and I hope everything works out without too much trouble :)
I will take a look. Thank you!
I’m a hiring manager.
Most employers will do a quick social media snoop of applicants they are interested in, but FB and instagram are not important if you don’t have them. Don’t feel pressured to go back to those cesspools. Many managers (not me, but it feels like most others) like to look at a LinkedIn profile, but it’s probably not a very big deal since you won’t have any Canadian connections yet.
Libraries are a great resource like phanto mentioned, and would be a good place to ask for help with resumes as well.
Roughly where in Canada are you moving? There are a lot of places with big Ukrainian communities.
It’s good to hear that I don’t need those. I do have a LinkedIn account, and I’ll update it soon.
We’re not sure yet, so I do appreciate all the suggestions in this thread. We were thinking Toronto because of friends that we have there, but I’d rather go to some smaller city with decent Chinese community. I have no problems living in a different country, but I’m worried that it will be difficult for my wife.
FB or instagram aren’t going to be useful job hunting. If you’re in IT, perhaps LinkedIn would be expected, but a Github account with a commit history would probably be more useful in reality.
I wouldn’t sweat it, just start applying and see what comes. Obviously an email address will be necessary. You can access internet at the library if you don’t have other sources.
FB or instagram aren’t going to be useful job hunting
That’s good to hear. Thanks for all the help
I’ve always asked friends and family for help with my résumé but a library or a community centre will definitely be able to either help or point you in the right direction. Worst case you can post again here with the personal information changed or blacked out.
Welcome to Canada! I’m sorry for how things are going there and I hope you enjoy your time here!
You’ll be fine. Ukrainian immigrants have been doing great for more than a century here, plenty of this country was homesteaded by Ukrainians.
It’s tough, but I hope you can make it work, because we love having you here!
Big cities are where the good jobs are, but they’re also where all the people are, and not nearly enough housing or land area for all of them, so it basically quickly turns into an unaffordable nightmare unless you have generational wealth/inherited property, which of course you won’t. Unfortunately it seems this is largely where the default “Canadian immigrant experience” will put you, and it’s really not working for anyone as far as I can tell.
I’d argue that you will do better to find yourself a small town to move to that’s more remote. Not necessarily somewhere far north or completely outside civilization (although there are many such places in Canada, and in many cases Canadian government will actually give you extra money if you live in these areas as they can be both extremely remote, extreme weather, and extreme cost of basic necessities) But you can find many small less urbanized areas throughout the country, some are farming communities, some are industry towns (lumber, pulp and paper mills, mining, etc) some are better connected and serviced than others, but generally speaking the further away you get from the major cities and capitals, the cheaper housing will be. Other stuff gets more expensive though, but housing is such a dominant cost of living problem right now that it’s still the main factor you’ll benefit from trying to minimize. Anywhere outside the major cities, jobs will probably suck, but there will be some jobs. They won’t be jobs that take advantage of any education you have, they will be simple jobs in hospitality, services, sales, business administration and other less skilled labor that don’t necessarily pay very well. Cost of living is much lower in more rural areas of Canada – depending on how you are willing to live. It can be a harder life, especially if you’re used to city life. If you can get some support in the community and are willing to sacrifice some conveniences I think it is probably one of the better and more cost effective ways to live for many people right now. But it’s not for everyone, and it may be especially tough for an immigrant as small communities can be insular and isolating. If you can find towns with a Ukrainian diaspora, that would be ideal, and there are already lots of them (and more every day!). Especially in the prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) which have long had a significant Ukrainian community well established.
For jobs I’m really not sure what the outlook is for a Ukrainian immigrant. I know there’s a lot of bureaucracy and obstacles in getting education and skills recognized over here, which is really a shame. I seem to find a lot of Ukrainian people working in hotels and restaurants for example, because it requires no formal certifications or proof of anything to get such a job, however often these people have extensive education and skills. It’s a shame for everyone involved, but a job’s a job, and you need a job to pay the bills, so at least there’s something. If you can find a way into something like the trades or industry, the money is crazy good and people are desperate to hire right now, but again, the process for getting people trained and certified is long and probably very frustrating.
I don’t know what you expectation of standard of living is like. I know Ukraine used to be quite a poor country overall, but I think it was quickly improving before the war, and like Canada, I think there was quite a significant variation between the relatively wealthier cities and the remote rural towns. I think you will find it overall is similar here, although the prices and scales will probably be much different.
Wish you all the luck, and hope you have a great experience here.
All of this is fair, but I want to add some encouragement to consider more remote parts of Canada.
Most Canadians live relatively near the US border and, unless they have travelled, may assume the rest of the country is “uncivilized” – not so! I have lived for decades in northern regions of Canada in very civilized communities!
I live in Whitehorse, Yukon now – it is a small city (~30,000+ people), but very liveable, especially if you like outdoor activities and nature. We have all the basic amenities you could wish for (university, library, plenty of stores, trails, recreation, hospital, good restaurants, etc.) and many advantages you might not think of. I can say similar things of other places I have lived and worked in the far north.
Some advantages include sense of community, good access to health care, lots of good employment opportunities, less stressful atmosphere, welcoming people, grassroots politics, travel connections to major cities, natural beauty beyond comprehension, and, for immigrants, much quicker routes to permanent residency. The north is very diverse and surprisingly cosmopolitan, btw – not all rednecks and yokels.
Northern communities are great places to get established and build up some capital – even if you eventually decide to move to southern Canada. The north is chock full of people who came up for one summer and loved it so much they never left.
Especially in the territorial capitals, there are many jobs that don’t suck! Federal, territorial, First Nations, and local governments, small and large businesses, and non-profits all hire highly educated and specialized workers to high paying jobs with good benefits (and often union membership). If you don’t have Canadian credentials in your field, you may find it easier to get a foot in the door in the north.
Yes, the climate here in Whitehorse is cold in the winter, but very comfortable most of the time. We seldom have more than a week or two of unpleasantly cold temperatures (below -10°C) without a break. We also have real summers. Cold might sound terrible, but it really isn’t! Yellowknife is the other largish city north of the 60th parallel and is a bit colder, but still very liveable. Similar can be said for lots of other even smaller communities in the territories and northern parts of provinces.
Are there disadvantages? Sure. Cost of living is higher, but so are wages. If you hate winter, you might have to learn to love it. Winter days are shorter further north, but summer days are longer. You have to hop on a plane to visit the big city, but that is not a bug, it’s a feature.
Canada is a great place to live, but don’t assume you have to live down south. Forgive the analogy, but northern, rural, and remote Canada is the lemmy to Southern Canada’s Reddit!
I just moved to Saskatoon and there’s a decent sized Ukrainian population here if you’re looking to connect with people. Super nice here, not a great deal to do but enough space and work to figure out your next chapter :)
And I don’t suppose the cost of living is as high as in the major cities, am I right?
Both Saskatoon and Regina are around 250k people and have reasonable CoL.
Also worth looking at Edmonton, which, with the surrounding areas, is well north of 1M with a sizable Ukrainian population, while being comparable to Saskatoon in affordability.
Welcome!!
Thanks!
What kind of work will you be looking for?
As much as Alberta gets a bad rap, Calgary and Edmonton both have rich Ukranian and Asian communities. Depending on what you’re looking for, there are jobs to be had.
To be fair I’m down to do anything. I’d prefere to do translating/interpreting, but I’ll have to get licensed in Canada first.
I moved Mykolaiv+Odessa to US in the 90’s, then married someone who grew up in Canada. Citizen of both.
Food wise, try a lot, Ukrainian flavors are incredibly bland, depending on where you live (I know Mississauga well) the Indian food is very good and authentic and kind of the polar opposite of traditional slavic cooking.
Canadians are more diverse, cultures vary depending on who you’re talking to, cannot always tell just by appearance. Very very different from Ukraine in this regard as well.
Other things people here covered already.
Try poutine as soon as possible. Sometimes the best poutine is in the strangest places too. My personal favourites are the poutine from a local bingo hall and the local university in my city for example. So if you end up liking poutine try some out of the way locations if you’re interested in finding the perfect one.
The best poutine is in Québec, mon chum.
Depends on where in canada you are going. It’s a huge place. Each province ia very different from the others
Here is some general information that applies almost everywhere: Food: expensive. Almost all the grocery stores are owned by only 3 companies, so they dont really compete to have good prices Telecom: Almost all the internet/mobile providers are owned by only 3 companies, so they dont really compete to have good prices Health care: is really bad everywhere. Hospitals are all over capacity. People have problems finding a family doctor
Despite all the above problems, it’s overall a good place to live
If you can be more specific about where you are moving to, it would help. I’m sure we can give you some good things to lool forward to instead of all the negative stuff above
Welcome!
Thanks for the response. I’ve heard about the negatives that you’re talking about, as those seem to be all over internet. To be honest it does scare me a bit. I’m not sure on where I’d like to go. I’d love to go somewhere like Vancouver or Toronto, so my Chinese wife can have easier time in the foreign country, but the prices do scare me. I’d be happy to hear any recommendations. Thanks again
Avoid those two cities.
For a Chinese wife, the west coast is going to be better due to a higher Asian population. More exposure tends to mean better acceptance.
Somewhere on Vancouver island that’s not in or near Victoria may work. Consider Nanaimo, Courtenay, Campbell River, or smaller places like Port Alberni or Ladysmith maybe. They’re not cheap, but they’re still cheaper than the two big cities and there are still many normal jobs depending on your skills.
Good luck and welcome to Canada.
I will definitely look into those places. Thanks!
The thing with Vancouver and Toronto is that everyone wants to live there for some reason so it’s super expensive.
Personally, I’d rather live in a smaller town where I can afford a better quality of life for a smaller cost.Does your wife speak English?
I gree with you, but my wife’s English isn’t great. She can get by, but I think she might have problems finding a job.
Yea, that’s not an easy choice to make for sure.
Thing is… Toronto is expensive enough that living on a dual income in Toronto might actually be worse off than a single salary in a cheaper city.
Rent in Toronto is on average 43% higher than Calgary, 64% higher than Montréal, 125% more expensive than Gatineau or Québec city, 190% more than Sherbrooke.
Vancouver is even worse.Not all places are fun or even interesting, and your own job options will be vastly different in different cities too, so it’s much more complicated than just those numbers.
There’s also way more to this than just the money.
Yours and your wife’s social circle, professional opportunities, or simply just doing something fulfilling is certainly important.All I’m saying is if you can work half as much between the two of you for a similar standard of living, that’s also something to think about.
If you have to work 3-4 jobs between the two of you, would you even have the time or energy to enjoy anything Vancouver or Toronto has to offer?I don’t wanna be a party pooper here, my own bias is showing, and plenty of people do make it in more expensive places too, so it’s not like it’s impossible. I just think they’re way over-rated for the price.
Whatever you choose, good luck and safe travels.
Rent in Toronto is on average 43% higher than Calgary, 64% higher than Montréal, 125% more expensive than Gatineau or Québec city, 190% more than Sherbrooke. Vancouver is even worse. I definitely need to research more about that. In the end I just want to find a few locations that we think will fit us, and when the time comes I’ll go there first to see which one I like more
Calgary is worth looking at. We have a rather large Chinese population (not as big as Vancouver obviously) and fairly large Ukrainian population as well. Cost of living is going up here but wages are good and jobs are available. What is your trade / education in?
I majored in Chinese/English translation. Had Chinese-English, English-Chinese translation job for a few years, a few gigs here and there translating and interpreting between Chinese, English, Ukrainian and Russian. Currently teaching ESL/EFL… I feel like I’m all over the place without a proper career path
Bienvenue!
Housing is expensive and difficult to come by, especially in the big cities. It’s not impossible but it’s not great and it’s getting worse.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/immigration-housing-crisis-calgary-1.6952184
Thanks, I’ll take a look
If you move to central Alberta, there may be more Ukrainians than you are used to.
In all seriousness though, it is a big country so there are no definitive answers.
The Canada / US border is about the same latitude as Lviv ( south of Kiev ). Most Canadian’s live within 200 km of the southern border. That should give you an idea of the weather though it is milder out in Vancouver.
There is a lot of immigration to Canada. Food is dominated by which ethnic groups are common in the area and mostly British influenced outside that ( except in Quebec where you swap French for English ).
