moving to Canada?

[WSSix]

Just thinking out loud and asking questions. Is it difficult to move to Canada? I'm referring to vehicles and my cat really. I'm thinking it's a little more involved than moving to a new state but to what extent I haven't a clue. So can anyone give me some quick insight/advice

I'm asking because a job is available in Calgary that interests me and it puts me closer to the mountains than I currently am. I don't even know if I can apply as a US citizen or if it's only for Canadians. It just got the wheels in my head turning, and before I got in over my head, I figured I'd ask.

Thanks

[Vegas69]

Two seasons, winter and winter.

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

Trey, this was August----and they do have a desert!!!..............jim

[Vegas69]

:unibrow: They have sand, no desert.

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

watch out for chunks of ice if you decide to do some water skiing in the lake in the third photo in front of the glacier. lol

I assume U mean these.............hang in there Trey ...It is a beautiful place-this was western Canada

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

Got nice railroads for commuting.............lol...........and yes i was on this train taking shots at 25mph!!...........jim

[WSSix]

lol, you guys are awesome!

It's nothing definite. I just really dislike Kansas and am looking for an out. I have absolutely no social life and none is really offered since there's not a damn thing to do out here but leave! I saw a posting for a job within my company for Calgary and that just got me thinking of Canada as an option. Would it be difficult to get my car, bikes, and cat up there or is that just a huge headache?


Thanks guys

[scherp69]

You would need to apply for a temporary work permit to move to Canada. Once you have your permit, there would be no issue bringing your belongings with you, it would be like any other move. Here's a link to help answer your questions:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

Calgary is a nice city. Winter time....lots of snow and it gets quite cold. Summer time is nice. Good thing about Alberta is their income tax is less than most provinces and they don't have sales tax on purchases (there is a federal tax though).

[WSSix]

Thanks for the link Mike. I'll check into it.

[DBL NKL]

lol, you guys are awesome!
It's nothing definite. I just really dislike Kansas and am looking for an out. I have absolutely no social life and none is really offered since there's not a damn thing to do out here but leave! I saw a posting for a job within my company for Calgary and that just got me thinking of Canada as an option. Would it be difficult to get my car, bikes, and cat up there or is that just a huge headache?
Thanks guys

Moving is no big deal and isn't much different than to any other state, except for the following.

***No Hand Guns "Period"
***Rifles can cross the border only if you properly register them and complete documents in advance with a complete criminal background check.

Moving here is no different for US citizens as it is for Canadian Citizens wanting to go stateside, and that involves paperwork. If it's a company position where they will sponsor you with a work visa, then they would complete the paperwork for you through their legal department. You can't simply pack up and move across the border nor can I just pack up and head stateside for anything other than a holiday. Paperwork has to be filed in advance if one plans to move and work abroad, and it's a bit of a PITA. That's why I tell you to check with your employer to see if they'll sponsor you. That's the easiest way.

I'm in the west at the foot of the Rocky's in Calgary. Great city, great place to live, lower taxes than anywhere else in the country, but homes are pricey with an median price of 400K for a starter home and 200+ for a condo. A middle income family home here is an average of 500-600K and they hold their value here. Alberta is oil country on the East side of the mountains with the big hills just 30-40 minutes west from most cities in the Province. We get the odd 90+ degree day in the summer with the average daytime temps of 70-80 degrees over the summer. Spring around here comes in April and Fall in late Sept to October. We get normal snow of 2-3' over the winter but lots of mild days caused by Chinook weather conditions that roll over the mountains and warm us up nicely on a semi monthly basis for a week at a time. We're lucky if we see more than 20 bitterly cold days each winter, and it's not much different than the weather they see in Chicago or anywhere else towards the north.

The mountains are wicked up here. Just google Banff, Jasper, Revelstoke and so on. Oh yeah...health care up here is free, so no need for your 401K or any insurance when you live up here, and the crack head, gang issues, and gun violence are very minimal when compared to a lot of US cities. It's pretty damn peaceful around here most of the time and it's a huge country to live in that has a great economy going for it. Especially in Alberta where it's "Boom Time" once again. We're leading Canada's economy and it's expected to stay that way for quite a few years to come as Oil & Gas is a commodity that's driving our growth once again. Hope that helps you out. Google Canada Immigration to find out more about US citizens wanting to move to Canada. Here's a link, and remember it's easier to have your employer sponsor you with a job up here.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

[WSSix]

Thanks! Are there good roads to go for motorcycle rides on like I'd find down around Denver or are there only a few roads to travel on?

[DBL NKL]

Only gravel or mud roads up here for the most part as we have no pavement from north of the US border! :rofl:

http://www.aaroads.com/shields/img/AB/AB19800931i1.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIu7zP82A6U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H29ROEDaaFc

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/motorbike-rides-in-canada-/alberta--/calgary-out-1a-to-_76b0d9.html (here's my favorite loop to ride!)

Nah,

There's plenty of great roads to ride around here. I'm a biker myself and ride with a couple different groups up here. Mostly Harley riders that I know, but there are all types around here from mellow to hardcore. Highway 93 to Jasper is an awesome ride, and Highway 40 through Kananaskis is also high up on the list. There are lots with mountain roads and twisty's to run through.

[out2kayak]

As someone who lived in Alaska for quite some time and made the drive from Montana to Alaska many, many times I can tell you, Canada is a very beautiful place. The Rockies, the lakes and rivers, and all that is our northern neighbor is something to behold.

That said, I can also tell you of many times where I did not wait for the gas tank to fill before I had to get out of the mosquito fog. Yep, they are that bad (or worse). Also, northern Alaska has black flies and I hear that Canada does as well. These things are just flat mean, taking a good chunk of flesh off of your hide.

So, if your going to live in the great white north, I am envious of you. I do miss living in Alaska something awful. Just be sure to wear a full face visor on your helmet and plenty of mosquito spray (100% DEET -- accept no substitute).

http://www.spaceg.com/multimedia/collection/motorcycles/bugs%20in%20teeth%201.jpg

:cheers:

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

As someone who lived in Alaska for quite some time and made the drive from Montana to Alaska many, many times I can tell you, Canada is a very beautiful place. The Rockies, the lakes and rivers, and all that is our northern neighbor is something to behold.

That said, I can also tell you of many times where I did not wait for the gas tank to fill before I had to get out of the mosquito fog. Yep, they are that bad (or worse). Also, northern Alaska has black flies and I hear that Canada does as well. These things are just flat mean, taking a good chunk of flesh off of your hide.

So, if your going to live in the great white north, I am envious of you. I do miss living in Alaska something awful. Just be sure to wear a full face visor on your helmet and plenty of mosquito spray (100% DEET -- accept no substitute).

http://www.spaceg.com/multimedia/collection/motorcycles/bugs%20in%20teeth%201.jpg

:cheers:

Joe-maybe these will convince him......(I just thru in the Harley shop for fun---In Ketchikan).........jim

[KPC67]

If you are looking to try it out my brother has a condo you could rent out in a nice part of the city. pm me if interested

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

Trey,I thought u said u had no life? Looks like u have friends ^^^^ even in Canada already............lol.............jim

[WSSix]

lol, thanks Jim and everyone else. I'm waiting to hear back if the job is still available and if US citizens can apply. I'm not even sure I want the job that's available. I believe I'd like it but I have a lot of questions and decisions to make. Sounds like it wouldn't be too terrible to get my stuff up there if I do decide to make the move. I was worried I'd have to sell off my junk.

BTW, I ride a Ducati Monster 1100s and have a 98 Ninja 9R that will be back on the road soon. I need twists, turns, and elevation changes to enjoy riding my bikes.

[scherp69]

BTW, I ride a Ducati Monster 1100s and have a 98 Ninja 9R that will be back on the road soon. I need twists, turns, and elevation changes to enjoy riding my bikes.

From Calgary you wouldn't have to ride west very far and you'd be right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains where you would get all the twists, turns and elevation changes that you would need.

[Rybar]

This is funny, we all live in igloos up here lol

Never been to Calgary but I heard it's a hella fun town especially during the stampede. And get ready to become a hockey fan if you do move north. It's on TV steady up here. Great sport for people that know. I'd say it's pretty even with the NFL for random game excitement to watch.

And Mike is right, Banff national park and the Rockies are just west of Calagry and the scenery is pretty unreal. Postcard like for sure. If you ride bikes then the roads are perfect for sure. Just be careful for Elk and wildlife on the highways there!

[Ron in SoCal]

From Calgary you wouldn't have to ride west very far and you'd be right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains where you would get all the twists, turns and elevation changes that you would need.

This is funny, we all live in igloos up here lol

And Mike is right, Banff national park and the Rockies are just west of Calagry and the scenery is pretty unreal. Postcard like for sure. If you ride bikes then the roads are perfect for sure. Just be careful for Elk and wildlife on the highways there!

Mike and Ry are correct. I've been all over N America and the most scenic by far - to me at least - is the Canadian Rockies. Absolutly beautiful and if you haven't been you should go at least once.

Last time I was there, the ride from Calgary to Banff had something like 12' high fences along the highway to keep the wildlife off/out. We were told to still keep our eyes peeled while driving! Also tried my hand at fly fishing in July but still kept an eye out for the Grizz...:lol:

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

^^^^ Maybe look close at these pics...and that ain't no zoo!!...............:unibrow: ...jim

[Rybar]

This is more like what you would see on a normal highway in banff, this is in the summer of course.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/images/Owners/plan-your-ride/destinations/photo-motorcycle-canada.jpg

[DBL NKL]

I've seen just about everything riding the highways near Banff and K-Country. See many black bears, deer, elk, wolves, coyote's, and skunks. Just gotta keep your wits about you and watch for the animals and sheriffs that wander these roads. Highway 732 is a shorter loop that drops down from Bragg Creek to Longview and is know for some nice twisties and a short 1 hour loop.

A few hours southwest will take you down through Fernie BC and into Creston where you can twist along the rivers and mountain lakes. The run from Creston to Crawford Bay ferry crossing is one of the best twisties in Western Canada but can be packed with summer traffic. Two hours south of Calgary takes you down through Waterton Lakes to the US border where you can hop across and ride the infamous Going to the Sun highway. It's a day ride, but one you won't soon forget because it looks just like some of the roads in the Andes.

http://www.bing.com/travel/content/static/br-images/image-aHR0cDovL2JsdWJlZGJ1aWEwMTo4My9pL0U4LzE4NjkxMjQxQz MwMTBBRDVGMTIxRkQ4REE4OTYxLmpwZw.jpg

http://www.watertonpark.com/images/going%20to%20the%20sun%20road.jpg

http://www.automopedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/going-to-the-sun-road-picture.jpeg

I have some video's of a few of us riding most of these roads, but we're all nut cases on 130-140hp Harley's and most of our rides are the kind that get us in trouble if the po-po find them on youtube. I've beaten a couple V-Max's on my bagger and passed a Gixxer once, but have never run a Monster (yet). Probably get my a$$ handed to me by that one, but would open you eyes a bit I would suspect. The cool thing about the bagger is I can carry ice and beverages in one bag and 600watts of audio in the other. Nothing beats a mountain cruise than a bagger with good tunes, and a bug screen. lol

[out2kayak]

If you do get to head up that way, take some time to visit Alaska while your up there:

http://www.santaclaushouse.com/ (I lived just down the road from here)

http://www.alaskaknottyshop.com/ (They have * great * ice cream and lots of stuffed animals)

http://www.denali.national-park.com/ (go up pre-season and drive back to Wonder Lake)

http://www.skinnydicksak.com/ (say hi to Dick for me)

http://www.chenahotsprings.com/ (there are those who feel it's a blessing to conceive your children under the northern lights -- watch out for them in the winter!)

http://www.alaskanturtle.com/ (best prime rib I ever had -- be careful, though the portions are very large)

http://www.alaskayellowpages.com/Tacks%20General%20Store/Info_33171/ (get a big wedge of the best pies -- we road snow machines up to the store, well worth freezing your butt off for a wedge).

http://www.manleyroadhouse.com/ (Another great place to visit)

http://www.alaskatravel.com/seward/kayaking-fox-island.html (Fox Island is where I took my now wife on my home leave from Europe).

http://fairbanks-alaska.com/alaskaland.htm (pretty cool theme park and all you can eat salmon / steak).

These are just a few. Seriously, you can spend months up there and not see 1/10th of what's there.

BTW, pick up the Alaskan Milepost (http://milepost.com/). It goes mile marker by mile marker of what's up there to see.

Heavy sigh. Did I say I miss it? :D

:cheers:

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

^^^^^ I agree-was there a week--not even close............jim

[WSSix]

Man you guys are really giving me motivation to not give up on getting back into the Rockies in general. I've been back in GA since the 10th and have to leave the 21st to get back to Kansas. It's going to be hard to leave since I'm so unhappy in Kansas. I've been considering moving back to GA or maybe even to PA. I know I wouldn't mind being back in GA and possibly would like PA but I really want to spend time exploring the Rockies. I don't think vacationing would cut it.

Thanks guys

[frojoe]

Come on up, visitors are always welcome eh! :P