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| MOVING UP THERE - CANADA A
Mosaic, Not a Melting Pot Breathtaking mountain scenery, cosmopolitan urban centers, polite people not afraid of the word liberal – Canada ranks at the top of various lists of most livable countries. Canada is not where expats go for beaches, balmy weather and cheap household help. They go for winter sports and for safe, clean cities. (When U.S. movie companies use Toronto to film New York scenes, they add some litter to make it look real!) Canada is also where people go because they respect the Canadian governmentÍs stance on such issues as universal health care, marijuana, gay marriage, gun ownership, etc. They go because they think Canada has got it right in ways the U.S. hasnÍt Æ if they can get in, that is. About 20% of CanadaÍs population is foreign born, and the country is well known as a haven for refugees. Canada took in tens of thousands of U.S. citizens escaping the draft during the Vietnam era, but the number of U.S. immigrants has dwindled to an average of just 5,000 per year recently.æ æ Moving to Canada from the U.S. may not mean moving far. The most highly populated areas are not close to the border. Halifax is just two hours by car and ferry from Boston while Vancouver is just an hour from Bellingham, Washington. It is a different country, after all, and there are differences that may not be immediately apparent. A fair amount of U.S.- bashing goes on. Canadians are usually too polite to tell us what they donÍt like, but Americans whoÍve been mistaken for Canadians report hearing criticism. Commenting on AmericanÍs renewed interest in Canada, Thane Burnett wrote in The Ottawa Sun, "As Canadians, you'll have to learn to embrace and use all the products and culture of Americans, while bad-mouthing their way of life." Literary philosopher Northrop Frye observes, -American students have been conditioned from infancy to think of themselves as citizens of one of the worldÍs greatest powers. Canadians are conditioned from infancy to think of themselves as citizens of a country of uncertain identity, a confusing past and a hazardous future." Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau once said that sharing a border with the U.S. -is like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly or even tempered is the beast, if I may call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt." A Canadian who moved to the U.S. is quoted in Culture Shock, Canada as saying, -The U.S. was created out of revolution, civil war and lofty ideals. They underwent lots of important character-building tests that Canada never did. Canada is a nation had no real sense of purpose, except not to be like their neighbor." He also notes that the U.S. always seems to be having an election. Many of the same peoples settled both sides of the border, and although Canadians and U.S. citizens sound alike and share a similar frame of reference, they see themselves and each other differently. People from the U.S. often cite the similarities, while Canadians emphasize the differences. Perhaps in the U.S., we are more attuned to similarities while Canadiansæ respect and honor differences. The -melting pot" idea never took hold in Canada. Social historian John Porter called Canada a -vertical mosaic" in the 1960s, and the mosaic metaphor keeps coming up because Canada encourages newcomers to keep their cultural identity. Canada, however, has been bi-cultural all along. CanadaÍs -first people" were here thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Today about 6 million or 25% of Canadians are French speaking although only 4% are actually bilingual. At least 2 million speak some other language, which could range from Polish to Punjabi. These other languages are referred to as -heritage languages." Canadians see Americans as gregarious but harder to get to know really well. Americans generally see Canadians as reserved. An American woman who greeted a Canadian friend with a warm hug says she felt the embrace wasnÍt as welcome as it would have been with her American friends. Some see Americans are highly individualistic and Canadians as more community oriented. A woman from Canada who worked with a U.S. agency following one of the California earthquakes was appalled at how inept Americans were at working together. Others may
have totally different experiences, and generally, Americans and Canadians
get along well. Also, Canada has regional differences just as the U.S.
does. Canada is a vast country, the second largest in the world, consisting of 10 provinces and two territories. Since World War II, most Canadians have moved to urban areas and many are still new to city life. Some say this accounts for the friendliness Canadians are known for. Canada has no official program for retirees as in Mexico and Latin American countries. Foreigners may apply to immigrate as a skilled worker, self-employed person, entrepreneur or investor. Each category has strict requirements and the immigration process is complex, lasting taking two years or longer. ItÍs not uncommon to hire an immigration lawyer. Rules for Quebec are somewhat different. See Resources below for more details.
A Few of CanadaÍs Wonderful Places Vancouver,
British Columbia The third largest city in Canada, after Montreal and Toronto, Vancouver has many different ethnic neighborhoods: German, Italian, Greek and others. A gateway to Asia, it has East Indian, Japanese and Chinese influences. Chinatown here is the second largest in North America. Victoria
The Gulf Islands Toronto, Ontario Public transportation includes a subway system designed for safety and buses that run all night. With many ethnic neighborhoods, it has been called the most multi-cultural city in the world by the United Nations. Montreal, Quebec Montreal is the only French metropolis in North America. The downtown area is modern with tall office towers and chic shops. Much of the city is accessible on foot. A well-designed metro system and underground passageways make getting around easy. There is also a vast array of underground shops. Along the banks of the St. Lawrence are the cobbled streets of Vieux-Montreal or the old city, with architecture dating from the 17th century. Various ethnic neighborhoods add local color. Many festivals and cultural activities enhance the experience of living there. The Maritime
Provinces Halifax, Nova
Scotia A special Network for Living Abroad report on Canada will be available in early 2006.
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