The main cities in Canada are Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal. Here is some more information on these cities.
Toronto
Toronto is a popular city where expats choose to move to in Canada, due to this it is now one of the most diverse cities in the world. In addition it is now home to about 2.6 million people with most residents who have come from around the world.
This city is not only great to live in but the popular sites attract holiday makers with thousands of tourists visiting the country to hike, swim and boat along the shores of the lakes which are one of the continents unique features. The city has major events for leisure, entertainment and culture so there won’t be a time where you will have a dull moment.
If you are looking for work when in the city, there are many banking institutions as well as IT companies which are great companies to work for where one can develop a career and gain valuable experience. The medical system in Toronto is of high quality with fantastic health facilities and qualified doctors as well great public transport options.
Popular Attractions in Toronto
- CN Tower
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Casa Loma
- Hockey hall of fame
- Ripley’s Aquarium
Toronto Weather
The weather in Toronto has a continental climate with a humid summer and cold winters. The lake ensures the cities weather in winter is warmer and the weather in summer is cooler than it actually is.
July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 21°C (70°F) and the coldest is January being -3°C (28°F)
Montreal
The largest city in eastern Canada and the second largest French speaking city in the world. Montreal is located on an island at the junction of two rivers – St Lawrence’s and Ottawa.
The official language in Montreal is French, and most residents have emigrated from France. Expats who are not able to speak French could live here too but it may be more challenging to get a job or to even interact with people.
To work legally in Montreal, expats will be required to speak both French and English and individuals will have needed to meet certain requirements. Expats should note that employment opportunities will be limited
With its own underground city with interconnected tunnels beneath the city, expats will have no problem in travelling around without a car with the tunnels connecting shopping malls, 7 metro stations, universities and banks as well as other places of leisure.
Popular tourist attractions
- Mont Royal
- Old Montreal
- Parc Jean Drapeau
- Botanical gardens
- Places Jacques-Cartier
- Notre-Dame Basilica
Montreal’s Weather
Temperatures in the winter are cold averaging –3°C (23°F) with snowfall falling every year. The months from December to March will be below freezing with snow, rain and ice. Summer can be hot and humid with temperatures rising to 11°C (52°F) in April or October.
Vancouver
Vancouver is rated one of the most liveable cities in the world with it being the fastest growing cities and largest city in British Columbia. This city has scenic views and friendly people all around with many tourist attractions.
The city is known for hosting the winter 2010 Olympics and the Paralympics as well as international events. There is a multicultural environment in the city with people from different countries and cultures, some of which include Chinese, French, German and Punjabi. Expats will have the opportunity to enjoy festivals and events held annually. Majority of the Canadians enjoy hiking and mountain biking in the parks and local mountains.
Expats looking for property may find it expensive and highly challenging with the rents being high and properties in demand. Though, Vancouver is one of the world’s foods capitals with high quality dining experiences.
Vancouver’s Popular tourist attractions
- Stanley Park
- Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Granville Island
- Science World
- Grouse Mountain
- Museum of Anthopology
Vancouver Weather
Vancouver’s weather consists of August being the hottest month with average temperatures of 18°C and the coldest month being January at 4°C. In the month of November, expats will experience about 200mm of rainfall making it the wettest month.
Ottawa
Ottawa is Canada’s capital which is near the border of the US city and situated near the city of Montreal. Expats moving here will find that this is a popular destination to move to due to its academic and employment opportunities which are available.
The city is the most educated in the country being home to post secondary, research and cultural institutions with a diverse mix of ethnic population.
With 35 major festivals in Ottawa, expats will be able to enjoy events annually from entertainment events and fine dining. Getting to these events will also prove easy with its public transport system making it straight forward to travel across the city.
Expats moving to Ottawa with children will be able to provide them with an excellent standard of schooling options offering clean and healthy environments.
Ottawa’s Popular tourist attractions
- Parliament Hill
- ByWard Market
- Unesco Rideau Canal
- National gallery of Canada
- Canadian War Museum
- Peace Tower
Ottawa Weather
Temperatures range from 33C in summer being warm and humid whereas winters are severely cold in January at -10°C (15°F).
Calgary
Another popular city in Canada is Calgary which is home to many permanent residents. Located near the sunny eastern hills of Canada’s Rocky Mountains the environment is surrounded by beautiful natural resources.
The quality of life is high with great assets such as healthcare, education, affordable housing, employment and great public transport. The city has the youngest and best educated workforce with majority of the residents having post secondary education.
Besides this, the city is known for having national and international businesses which includes IT, agriculture, financial and oil and gas industries opening up opportunities for people moving here. Expats move to Calgary to take advantage of low taxes when opening up their own businesses so employment opportunities are available in many fields
Calgary’s Popular Tourist Attractions
- Heritage Park Historical Village
- Glenbow Museu
- Fort Calgary
- Calaway Park
- Telus Spark
- Canada Olympic Park
- The Hangar Flight Museum
Calgary Weather
With Calgary being a mountain high city the climate is usually dry. When comparing the weather to the rest of Canada, it is quite mild with the sun being out when it is cold. Temperatures range from 17°C in July and the coldest month being January at -7°C
Edmonton
A city which is the capital of the province of Alberta with a population of over 1 million people and one of the sunniest Canadian cities. Edmonton is a good place for employment, with good salary and career prospects.
Expats living here will enjoy 30 festivals which are held all year round from music festivals to arts and crafts events. With the least traffic congestion and lowest commute people will chose public transport to travel to events and work. The city has great locations for strong retail and leisure sectors.
The costs of living in Edmonton are fairly reasonable and affordable, with brilliant healthcare facilities but housing may be expensive. There are also low provincial income tax rates making it affordable for middle class income earners. Expats moving to Edmonton with children will have the choice of schools and higher educational institutions which are competitive and high in demand.
Edmonton – Popular tourist attractions
- West Edmonton Mall
- Edmonton Valley Zoo
- Muttart Conservatory
- Fort Edmonton Park
- Telus world of science
- Art gallery of Alberta
- Elk Island National Park
Edmonton Weather
Edmonton has four distinct seasons, with a hot summer, a cold and snowy winter, autumn and spring. Temperatures range from 17C in the summer and -15C in the winter.