The culture is vibrant, sociable and very outdoors. The people are friendly, fashionable and completely multicultural with strong Aboriginal, Asian and European influences. The city and surrounds are spectacular from all angles. We simply loved it.

Living initially in White Rock just outside the city limits, we were lured to the suburb of North Van with its proximity to the mountains and to the downtown hub. Yet only 18 months later, we were packing up and leaving our Vancouver home as the lack of relevant job opportunities became too much to bear and improved employment prospects in the National Capital were too hard to ignore.

We often look back and regret having spent such a relatively short amount of time in what was for us the ideal environment to call home. Vancouver fuses the wild, outdoors side of Canada with the practicality of a vibrant, cosmopolitan English-speaking city. It will always hold a special place in our hearts for how it opened up our eyes to an alternative and much improved way of living life. A way of life far removed from our former 9-5 office routine, the obligatory Saturday trip to the local shopping centre, and the painful regularity of the weekend hangover.

This Vancouver way of life was quite different. It involved far less routine and infinitely more adventure. For a start, I went back to university and became a mature student at the beautifully located University of British Columbia perched on the headland at Point Grey. Designed to encompass student teaching within a typically west coast setting, I immensely enjoyed my 12 months of post-graduate study and unique cultural experience offered by a superior North American university.

In a typical day, the Vancouver vibe offered a morning hike before the start of work on the Grouse Grind, aka “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster” – one of the decidedly more interesting and intense local hikes. It meant the working day started at 7am, not 9am, and finished closer to 3. It was about choosing whether to enjoy an amazing variety of fresh sushi for lunch or going for the good ole Canadian “soup and sandwich”. It was about deciding between an early evening sail on the harbour or a floodlit ski or snowboard at Cypress, Grouse or Seymour mountains.

Weekends were about hiking along the many local forest and mountain trails, a 10km run along the ocean road, or a three-hour scenic drive up the Sea-to-Sky highway to Whistler. Stop for coffee at one of an endless range of delicious and original coffee houses across the city, drop into an organic farmers’ market or health food shop to satisfy the “granola” in you, or simply pay a hard-earned visit to one of the many micro-breweries on offer across the Lower Mainland.

The vibe in Vancouver also importantly infused aboriginal culture into mainstream society – from the famous totem poles at one of North America’s largest urban green spaces, Stanley Park, to the numerous indigenous carvings at the international airport, and to the architecturally stunning Museum of Anthropology just west of Vancouver with its acclaimed collection of Aboriginal art and artefacts. For Vancouverites, the style of dress is equally important to the overall way of life in Van City, from the obligatory Mountain Equipment Co-op rain jacket or pair of hiking pants to the endless array of winter sports shops replete with Burton this and Quiksilver that.

For me, the vibe wasn’t just about what we had experienced. It was the sum total experience of all Vancouverites. It was the end result of mixing a diverse, youthful city with a vast and spectacular picture book of nature at its very finest. Blending the two together was not just an accomplishment but a means to create a vibe so unique and special that, watching the carnival atmosphere in and around the recent Winter Olympics, I realised just how lucky we were.

We hired an immigration consultant to manage the application process. To emigrate to Canada, most people apply for a skilled worker visa by way of a points system. The consultant prepared the paperwork, coordinated requests for untold copies of college certificates and character references, and gave much valued advice at every stage of the process to ensure that we met the minimum number of points. She also worked on a “no visa, no fee” basis, which gave us some small comfort when it came to parting with the princely fees required.

We attended immigration fairs, signed up to expat forums, spoke with distant relatives in our chosen new home, and undertook endless research on the web. This culminated in a fact-finding trip to Vancouver to research areas to live in, jobs to work at, and things to see and do. We were ready to go. However, the Canadian authorities were not ready for us to go. In fact, little did we know it but we were two whole years away from getting our visas. Two years of endless waiting, total frustration, and a complete lack of communication from the powers-that-be. There was nothing more we could do but wait.

In January 2003, the envelope landed on the door mat. Immediately, the house went up for sale and we got our pups ready for travel. I left my job early and began readying us for the move. In May, we were ready to leave but we had one small problem. After two years of waiting for this move, the bloody house wouldn’t sell. The UK had invaded Iraq in all its military glory and the whole property market had changed. Buyers became nervous and houses wouldn’t change hands. The seller’s market became a buyer’s market, with first-time buyers now calling the shots. We had offers fall through, buyers backed out, and our beautiful home stayed just that. Ours. The rental house was waiting for us in Vancouver so we had to make a decision – pull out or stay the course.

In May, I left for Vancouver, almost two months ahead of my family. I would set up our Canadian life and my wife would arrive to a new home, new friends, and new adventure. Unfortunately, she would also have the unenviable task of selling our house, dealing with the removal company, organising temporary accommodation, quitting her job, and putting two dogs on a plane. Our life-changing journey had got off to a slow start yet somehow we were already on the back foot…

For what it’s worth, I’ve pulled together a quick Top 5 things I’d recommend if you ever think you might move country:

1. Use the services of a reputable immigration consultant.

2. Book a fact-finding trip to your country of choice. Witnessing first-hand the actual look and feel of a place is many times more valuable than reading any travel brochure or Lonely Planet guide.

3. Start writing a list of things to do well in advance of moving. There are utility companies to contact, bills to be paid, houses to be sold, crates to be packed, dogs to be shipped. Write lists of lists. There can never be enough lists.

4. Employ a little patience. It’s a long, drawn-out process and you’ve likely got a long way to go so don’t go putting the house on the market just yet.

5. Be brave. Loved ones will be upset/angry/annoyed, friends may question your decision, and work colleagues will think you’re mad. Keep reminding yourself of the reasons for leaving and stay the course in search of your better life.

Highlights

• Helicopter tour over Niagara Falls
• Panoramic views of the falls, wine country and historic landmarks
• Small personal tour
• Guided with comprehensive commentary

With a choice of several departures throughout the day, this is a very personal and comprehensive helicopter tour, so don’t forget to bring your camera!

Please note: a minimum of two people per booking is required.

There is no mention on Viator whether this tour is wheelchair-accessible.

Please visit Viator for more information and to book online

This tour is compatible with the Niagara Falls Freedom Day Trip from Toronto.

Highlights

• Hotel pick up and drop-off from hotels located in downtown Toronto
• Boat ride on board the Maid of the Mist
• Visit Niagara-on-the-Lake, the picturesque Canadian town
• Full-day tour through the Niagara Peninsula to Niagara Falls

Your full-day tour from Toronto takes you in air-conditioned comfort through the breathtaking scenery of the orchard-laden Niagara Peninsula to Niagara Falls. You’ll get to see as well as experience the grandeur and beauty of the Niagara Falls from the Canadian side. Do your own thing at the Falls for the afternoon (approx. 3 hours) but don’t forget to take a ride on the legendary Maid of the Mist boat, included in the cost of the tour. If the boats aren’t operating (end October to mid April depending on weather conditions), you can experience the spectacular presentation on the Falls at the Imax Theater.

Your freedom visit to Niagara Falls continues by coach to the stunning Whirlpool Rapids observation deck. You’ll visit the Floral Clock, then travel through the picturesque historic community of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Your day trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto concludes with a stop at a local winery.

Note – there is no information on their website as to whether this tour is wheelchair-accessible.

Please visit Viator for more information and to book online

If you’re booking this freedom day trip, you may also like to book a helicopter ride over the Falls.

Ottawa, 25 June 2010 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement celebrating Canadian Multiculturalism Day:

“This coming Sunday marks Canadian Multiculturalism Day and I am proud to take this opportunity to reflect on how Canada’s cultural communities have contributed to our rich and diverse heritage, and to outline some of our recent accomplishments.

“The Citizenship and Multiculturalism programmes are part of a larger vision to build a strong and united country.

“This past year our government unveiled Canada’s new citizenship guide — Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.

“Discover Canada promotes a greater understanding of Canada’s history, values, and symbols to newcomers and Canadian citizens alike. It puts more emphasis on our core values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

“Our government has also taken steps to enhance Canada’s Multiculturalism Programme. These changes promote an integrated society by making institutions more responsive to the needs of Canada’s diverse population and engaging in international discussions on multiculturalism and diversity.

“Canada is one of the most ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse countries in the world. Our government is committed to helping all Canadians embrace our shared values, our shared history, and institutions. The Government of Canada is proud of the contributions that all communities make to the social, civic, and economic fabric of this country and of all efforts Canadians make to welcome and encourage newcomers’ active engagement and participation in our society.

“As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I am confident that we will meet our objectives and ensure that ours remains a society where Canadians of all origins and backgrounds have an equal opportunity to contribute and succeed.”