Expat Experiences in Canada

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When considering a move to a new city, there is nothing more useful than hearing real life stories and experiences from other expats who live or have lived there. We'd love to hear about your expat experiences. Please contact us if you live or have lived in Canada and would like to share your story.

Micha is an expat who relocated to Marystown, Newfoundland from Israel in 2022. As an R&D project leader and water treatment system designer, Micha's journey began with several visits to Newfoundland, where he became familiar with the local community and ultimately decided to move. Read his interview to learn more about his experiences and insights on living in Newfoundland.
Shannon is a 30-year-old expat from North Yorkshire, England currently living in Victoria, Canada. She moved to Canada in 2016 after travelling to the country as a student and falling in love with Vancouver Island. She says she enjoys the access to the great outdoors and the excellent work-life balance in the city. Read more about her expat experience in Victoria.
Figo is a South African expat who moved to Toronto with his wife (a Canadian native) in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says moving to Toronto has been fantastic, although he misses the climate and diversity in Cape Town. In his interview with Expat Arrivals, Figo shares all about his expat experience in Toronto.
Catherine is a South African expat who moved to Calgary in 2019 with her husband and two children. She says it’s been a wonderful adventure and enjoys sharing her experiences on her blog, Cape Town to Calgary. In her interview with Expat Arrivals, Catherine tells us about the ups and downs of her expat experience in Calgary.
Tim and Kamila are expats from South Africa and Slovakia with plenty of international travel experience. They moved to Canada in 2019 and help advise others in their move. They share their expat experience with us, telling us about their life in Canmore, Canada.
Karen is a South African expat who moved to Canada in 1993 with her husband and children. In search of a better future for their family, they settled in Toronto, and after 25 years are now proud Canadian citizens and happy to call Canada their home. Read more about her expat experiences in Toronto.
Cyrus Janssen is an expat who spent 10 years in Asia before relocating to Vancouver in April 2017. He is a golf professional and sports marketing executive who enjoys international travel, language learning and blogging about his journeys. Read his experience as an expat in Vancouver.
Juliette Giannesini is a French expat living in Ottawa. Moving alone, she started teaching French as a second language and has now made a name for herself in freelance work. She still can't stand the winters though. Get to know more about her expat life in Ottawa.
Michele Vincenti is an Italian expat who moved to Vancouver with his wife and young child in 1995 in search of a better quality of life. Although he misses good Italian food, he enjoys life in Vancouver and runs his own business consulting firm. Read more about his expat life in Canada.
Natalie is a British expat who moved to Ontario with her husband and two children for better opportunities for the family. Although she misses her family and friends back home, she is enjoying small-town life and feels safer than she did in London. Read about her expat experience in Canada.
Aisha Ashraf is an Irish expat living in Whitby, near Toronto. She and her husband have embraced the many adventures and challenges of life in Canada, and are loving the outdoor lifestyle, proximity to a world-class city and general safety. Get her detailed and interesting take on life in Canada here.
Geraldine Eliotis an ex-South African living in Vancouver. She runs her own copywriting and editing company and teaches at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She is also a published poet, social media convert, and active blogger. Read about her experience of expat life in Vancouver here.
Claire Leekis a British expat who has settled on the outskirts of Vancouver. She still misses a few of Britain's bits and pieces, but is satisfied with the swing of the day-to-day in Canada. Read more about what she has to say about moving to Vancouver.
Emmanuelle Archer is a French expat entrepreneur living in Vancouver. Seduced in '99 by a summer vacation, she's still in awe of this amazing city. So much so, in fact, that she busies herself giving no-nonsense business tips and career-boosting advice for expats new to the area. Read about her expat experience.
Melissa and her partner moved to Canada to pursue a few privileges they were denied in the States. Now settled in the Canadian countryside, she reflects on the trials and tribulations of expat life in New Brunswick.
Francois Roux is an expat of French extraction now living in Vancouver. He has moved around a bit, and lived in Australia and the US before settling down in Canada. He now advises other expats on moving to and getting the most out of Vancouver. Read his take on expat life in the city right here.