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Canada, here I come!
Monday 22nd June 2009, 9:37AM BST.
Shropshire Star reporter REBECCA LAWRENCE explains why she is preparing to pack her bags and start a new life on the other side of the world.
When I first met my fiance Simon back in 2003, I will admit to being a little impressed with the fact he is an RAF fighter pilot.
Right from day one, he always said there was the possibility he could get an exchange abroad and move there for three years. Various locations were banded about, from Saudi Arabia to California, and Canada was often mentioned.
I tended to let Simon talk about these far off places – not believing in anything until it was concrete.
Then in early 2008, an exchange opportunity in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, came up and Simon and I made the brave decision to apply for it.
When I told my parents, I actually shed a few tears (Simon called me a wimp) at the thought of leaving home and everything I knew – but it was mainly tears of excitement.
And when my parents were equally enthused about the opportunity, I began to keep my fingers crossed that we would get the position abroad.
Our next big news was Simon proposing in February, 2008, in Saas Fee, Switzerland, at the top of the world’s highest revolving restaurant.
I began planning the wedding and put news of an exchange trip to the back of my mind. The wedding was booked for September 18, 2009 at Shrewsbury’s Abbey and the lovely Albright Hussey.
Then in June last year, I got a call from Simon. His exact words were: “Pack your bags, we’re going to Canada.”
And that was when I knew I really wanted to go – there was no feeling of regret or worry – just pure excitement.
We told our families and friends and then began the long countdown.
June 2009 has come round remarkably fast. Simon flies out on June 16 to get basic things sorted out like a car and bank account, and starting work at the Moose Jaw airbase, while I fly out on June 27.
We are renting a typically North American looking house with a veranda and I’ll have to get used to driving a 4×4 automatic and saying ‘trunk’ instead of boot.
At home in Shrewsbury, we’re still busy sorting everything out. We’ve found a couple to rent out our house through Belvoir Lettings, and Simon has sold his car.
We’ve arranged for the removal people to pack our stuff to send it to Canada next week and the rest of our belongings will soon be going into storage.
It’s all becoming very real. I left my job at the Shropshire Star on June 12 and will spend two weeks back at my parents’ house in Surrey saying goodbye to people.
Getting on the flight on my own will be scary but I can’t wait for Simon to be standing on the other side of the gate waiting for me in Calgary.
Then I’ll be trying to find myself a job in Moose Jaw, hopefully on another newspaper, and starting a new life . . . for three months, anyway.
It’s lovely to know that at the beginning, it’ll only be a short while as we’ll be back in September to celebrate our wedding with our friends and family before we jet off back ‘home’ to Canada.
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Go for it Rebecca! Canada is a beautiful country and I wish you and Simon all the best
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hi rebecca,you will love it its very different out here in a nice way,we have lived in okotoks just 20 mins south of calgary for over 3 years now from admaston and we see the rockys every morning is great,dont forget to see banff its about 1hour and a half west of calgary,you will find there are lots of uk expats i work with 5,live by 6. good luck.nigel
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You will love it!
My brother-in-law and family live in Calgary. We intend to sell up in a few years (when financial markets pick up) and start again in Toronto. I can’t wait to go and leave this mediocre place I once loved for once and all!
So much tax such poor service!
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Rebecca i know what your going through but honstly its worth every little bit, we have lived in High River in the Foothills of the Rockies 3yrs now,10mins from where Nigel lives i came from St Martins Shropshire & as Nigel says we see the Rockies every morning beautiful,also lots of UK expats met quite afew from Shropshire you will be welcomed by all the Canadains love us Best Wishes i’m sure you will be as happy as we all are
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Hi Rebecca, My dad lives in Shrewsbury so I sometimes check the local news over there. I live in Canada, born and raised. So when I saw the “Maple Leaf” on the front page I, of course, had to read the story. I would like to say welcome to Canada and what a perfect time for you to come!! Canada Day is on July 1st – so get ready for a big party when you arrive. You can pretend it is for you and Simon :-)
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We moved here just about two years ago and love it – less of a rat race, more family fiendly, better education, lower crime rate, better cost of living, none of the ‘keeping up with the joneses’ judgemental one-up mentality. Wouldn’t ever go back, although surprisingly I still miss ole blighty – the history – personal and of country and family/friends.
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Go for it girl, I moved out to Canada 5 years ago, and I would never go back to the UK. Life is so much better out here, people are friendlier, more opportunities for kids and its much cheaper to live too.
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Canada is a poor man’s United States. It’s similar to Wales in comparison to England.
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have you ever been to canada lately john because if you visit most parts of calgary as people like ann will tell you ive never seen so many flash cars boats rv’s well over a million $ homes in my 37 years of living in that hell hole called england/poland. wales is full of sheep and people who don’t like english,plus wales has lots of mountains 90% of canada is as flat as a ironbourd.
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Oh dear – so we live in a poor man’s US – I don’t think so.
I live in the N. Okanagan Valley. In the south we have landscape that reminds me of Crete or southern Italy with wonderful wineries on the shores of the 100 mile long lake. In the centre of the valley the climate changes and we have beautiful peach, apricot and cherry orchards – the towns and villages boast splendid restaurants and cafes where you can sip wine or latte overlooking the the emerald waters of Kalamalka – another lovely lake with great water skiing and sailing.In the north, where the climate is similar to say Lake Como in Italy, the orchards change to apple and pear and of course lots of strawberries – yet still many cottage wineries boasting international medals for their quality. To the east you can travel to the Rocky mountains (I’ll be there this Thursday snowshoeing on the glaciers and likely return home for a swim in the lake) …. temperatures through our long dry summer are usually around 30c at this time of the year but can go up to 40c.
Our local ski resorts boast the world’s best powder skiing and no line ups….everywhere the usual polite Canadian friendliness in the service industry… and the cost of living is half what it is in England.
I’ve been here for 35 years.
Welcome Rebecca ….and look us up when you are in the Okanagan/Shuswap.
I guess some of us prefer Wales!!
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I imagine that given the chance, 99% of the British people would leave this “dump” in a flash. Our country has been totally wrecked by this Labour Government and Canada must seem beyond the wildest dreams of many people.
Having 30 years on the right side and having toured over the whole of Eastern Canada, we wouldn’t have to think twice, it’s only our ages that keep us in this hell-hole.
Have many relatives in British Columbia, they live life as it should be lived and in an environment that makes one drool. I would recommend anyone to leave this country if they are in a position to do so. It has had it.
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hi tony,maybe john didnot see your lovely photos in the winter, maybe you should send some summer ones because we was in you area threw weeks back with the inlaws and said the same as stuart,if they where a lot younger they would be here to mo,they say we are very lucky living here.
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Go for it Rebecca, my wife and I came to British Colubia over 30 years ago and never regreted one day.Welcome.
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Good luck Rebecca and Simon! I’m sure you will absolutely love Canada and your friends will all want to come out to visit… Keep up the blogs.
Go for it!
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