Since immigrating to Canada, living in the land of maple leaves is a delight! Every day is filled with joy and happiness! Friends and family back home often call to ask: What is it like living in Canada? Is it better than back home? In what ways? WorldWay Immigration Agency presents to you the top 10 best things about immigrating to Canada.
First Delight: Enjoying Delicious Food in Canada
As the saying goes, "Food is the heaven for the people." Let’s first talk about food in Canada. Arriving in this multicultural country is like stepping into a grand exhibition of colorful delicacies. Even for us Chinese, who find it hard to change our eating habits, we cannot resist the temptation of various cuisines from north to south, east to west, local snacks, and specialty pastries, often abandoning our strict adherence to "local food" and indulging in a feast. In Toronto, there are numerous restaurants offering Italian, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Indian, Spanish, and more. Additionally, we are familiar with the flavors from various regions of China, such as Sichuan, Hunan, Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Shandong, which are everywhere, making it hard to resist. Every time I dine out with friends or family, there are different experiences and feelings. Especially, Canada has an abundance of seafood, with a wide variety of fish, turtles, shrimp, and crabs that are both high quality and affordable. If you like, you can have the rare opportunity to enjoy lobsters and crabs that are hard to find back home. Just for this reason, dining in Canada is truly delightful!
Second Delight: Living in Canada, Holding the Key to Independence
For ordinary people like us, having a suite in a "tube building" back home is already quite good. After working in Canada for a few years, saving enough for a down payment, and getting a loan from the bank, I bought a three-story detached house, which is called a villa back home, and became a true homeowner, thus having a piece of land that truly belongs to me in a foreign country. The houses here are well-equipped, comfortable, and practical, and you don’t have to worry about trivial matters like water, electricity, gas, phone, TV, and cable; a simple phone call can resolve everything. In summer, there is air conditioning, and in winter, there is heating; cars have garages, and there are designated places for garbage. In summer, the front and back yards are lush with green grass and blooming flowers. In winter, everything is covered in pristine white snow. Please do not underestimate this small courtyard without walls; it is not only your warm and comfortable haven, shielding you from the summer sun and winter snow, but legally, it is also a sacred and inviolable kingdom. You never have to worry that one day the government will suddenly decide to expand a commercial street and take over your green lawn, nor do you have to worry about anyone disturbing your life in this courtyard. You are the true owner of this residence, and you truly enjoy the dignity and delight of being a homeowner!
Third Delight: Traveling in Canada, Driving Freely
Because Canada is vast and sparsely populated, with workplaces distributed far apart, every immigrant to Canada desires to own a car, and it is essential to have at least one car to adapt to life and work needs. New immigrants from mainland China generally consider economy and practicality when buying a car. I have one large and one small car; the small one is a BMW sedan, and the large one is a Honda SUV. I drive the small car to save fuel for commuting and use the larger car for travel for comfort and convenience. Canada has a well-developed and efficient highway system that is always open year-round. Although it is a country with heavy snowfall in winter, no matter how much snow falls, the roads remain orderly and busy, thanks to countless snowplows and salt trucks working day and night. Therefore, at any time of the year, you can drive anywhere without worrying about road conditions or encountering highway robbers. If there is a problem on the road, you may not even need to call; police cars, tow trucks, and ambulances will arrive at the scene in a short time to help you resolve the issue. This is because road monitors are everywhere, and the highway management department can see the traffic conditions on all routes at any time. Two summers ago, a friend of mine had an accident near Thousand Islands while traveling; he could not report it, but the police arrived promptly and even dispatched a helicopter to take him to a hospital in Ottawa for emergency treatment, allowing him to survive. An efficient transportation network is a symbol of a highly modernized society. We have crossed vast distances and entered such a highly developed society, directly enjoying the fruits of labor from generations of hardworking predecessors, which indeed fills the heart with passion and delight!
Fourth Delight: Shopping in Canada, Enjoying Refunds and Convenience
The commercial integrity in Canada is indeed beyond doubt. Before last Christmas, I bought a compact and easy-to-use digital camera that produced clear images and was hard to put down. However, after using it a few times, it suddenly stopped working, which troubled me greatly. Reluctantly, I took it back to the store to negotiate, feeling anxious along the way because this camera was on a clearance sale and, in principle, was non-refundable. To my surprise, when I explained the situation, the store immediately agreed to refund me, which made me feel quite guilty because I had used it a few times, and I felt responsible! Canada is indeed a shopping paradise for consumers, emphasizing credibility and quality without losing principles. The variety of goods here is vast; there is nothing you cannot find. Importantly, the products in the stores are genuine and trustworthy, allowing you to shop with peace of mind without worrying about product quality or being deceived. Therefore, when you find something you like in the store, you can pay and take it home without checking if the "prince" in the box has been swapped for a "raccoon" or if it is short in weight. Because if you are not satisfied later, you can still return or exchange it (of course, excluding food, beverages, and medicines). Thus, whenever you go shopping, you will find that the larger the supermarket, the more customers are lined up at the customer service department to return or exchange products. This does not mean that the store's products have issues, but rather indicates that the store's products are popular, and more people feel reassured when shopping there. You can ask anyone who has lived in Canada; who hasn’t had experience with returns/exchanges? Who has encountered trouble? In Canada, you truly feel like "God" when shopping; how can it not be delightful?
Fifth Delight: Traveling in Canada, A Kaleidoscope of Experiences
Working and studying in Canada can indeed be intense, but we must not let that diminish our desire and love for leisure and play. Every holiday or weekend is a great opportunity for us to go out and explore. Canada is vast, with beautiful natural environments and many places to visit. If I were to list them all, it might take days and nights. Just taking Toronto as an example: to the south is the world-famous Niagara Falls, to the east is the picturesque Thousand Islands, and to the northeast is the vast Algonquin Provincial Park. Along the eastern shores of Lake Ontario and the two Great Lakes to the northwest, there are countless parks, rivers, lakes, harbors, and inlets for sightseeing, swimming, fishing, and boating. Back in downtown Toronto, there is the CN Tower, the tallest tower in the world, allowing you to enjoy a panoramic view. In the city center, there is the famous castle-like Casa Loma for tourists to visit, showcasing Victorian-style architecture and decorative arts. Additionally, there are numerous museums, art galleries, and science centers filled with rare artifacts, archaeological discoveries, artistic treasures, and technological achievements to feast your eyes upon. In summer, the dragon boat race organized by the Chinese community has become a major festival, and the annual Caribbean Day parade and Pride parade allow you to experience the charm of this country's multiculturalism. In mid-September, the Maple Leaf Air Kite Festival showcases kites of various styles and designs from around the world. As autumn arrives, the forests surrounding Toronto begin to turn golden or fiery red, and families can drive to the suburbs to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. As winter comes, those who love skiing have a great opportunity to showcase their skills. Blue Mountain, located to the north of the city, is an excellent skiing destination, and spending a weekend there with family, enjoying the exhilarating feeling of skiing down the slopes, is truly wonderful. In Canada, you can enjoy different forms and flavors of recreation throughout the year (Canada essentially has no spring), which is indeed delightful.
Sixth Delight: Hospitalization in Canada, Enjoying Hotel-like Treatment
Canadian hospitals are indeed clean, comfortable, spacious, and bright, with everything spotless. Walking in, it feels less like a hospital and more like a high-end hotel. Generally, two patients share a room, but in special cases, a room may accommodate only one patient, and the facilities in the room are advanced and practical. Take the hospital bed, for example; the bed can be adjusted to different angles to accommodate the patient’s lying or sitting position. The bed's guardrails are equipped with buttons to control the brightness of the room lights, TV channels, and radio volume. Additionally, the hospital bed has a weighing function, allowing nurses to check the patient's weight at any time. Canadian hospitals have long achieved "communism"; patients do not need to pay a penny for hospitalization, nor do family members need to stay with them. Nurses take care of everything for the patients, even bathing and feeding elderly and critically ill patients. No matter how dirty or messy a patient makes the bed or room, nurses do their job diligently and without complaint. When I think back to my time in China, where one person’s hospitalization meant the whole family took turns to stay with them, and if tests were needed outside the room, four or five people had to carry the stretcher to the examination site, it was exhausting for the entire family. Last year, I was hospitalized in Canada, and once I needed to go to another department for an examination; although I could walk by myself, the nurse insisted on pushing me in a wheelchair, saying it was the policy, which made me feel quite embarrassed. Enjoying such superior conditions and excellent service while hospitalized in Canada—how can it not be delightful?
Seventh Delight: A Home in Canada, Fulfilling the Desire for Children
China implements family planning, allowing each couple to have only one child, while Canada, being vast and sparsely populated, does not restrict childbirth. With favorable material conditions, having multiple children does not become a financial burden for families, so it is natural for young immigrant couples to want to have several children. A friend once humorously said, "Having a baby in Canada is really simple; after ten months of pregnancy, just take your wife to the hospital, and you don’t have to worry about anything, just wait for the baby to be born." Indeed, the hospital conditions here are good, and the treatment is high; it is not like back home, where the husband is busy sweating while the whole family is in a frenzy when the wife is giving birth. Interestingly, in Canadian hospitals, husbands can be present to "support" their wives during childbirth, providing emotional comfort and support while directly hearing the baby's first cry, which is a scene that is both surprising and thrilling, leaving a lasting impression. Canada is a paradise for children; from the moment they are born, they receive love and care from all aspects. Just look at the outfits and gear children have when going out; it is comparable to an emperor going on a tour. Nowadays, walking on the streets or in shopping malls, you can often see young Chinese couples carrying or holding their new babies in Canada, their happiness evident in their expressions, beaming with joy—how can this not be another great delight?
Eighth Delight: Canadian Customs, A Society of Integrity
The social customs that people have long yearned for, where integrity is not lost, are truly felt in Canada. A few times, we took our children out to play, and while they were having fun in the park, they took off their clothes and left them on a bench. When we returned home, we forgot to take them. The next day, when changing clothes for the kids, I remembered. I tentatively went back to the park to look, and to my surprise, the clothes were still there, untouched, on the same bench. Once, in a park near our residential area, someone left a bicycle that was about 80% new next to the slide, and it remained there for at least three or four days without anyone claiming it. Eventually, the owner came back to retrieve it. Even more astonishing, a friend of mine lost his phone, and when he tried calling the number, someone answered and said they found the phone on the road and were keeping it safe, waiting for the owner to come and collect it. My friend quickly retrieved his phone. Living in such an environment of integrity—how can it not be delightful?
Ninth Delight: Canadian Housing, Peaceful and Quiet
Housing in Canada comes in four types: ordinary apartments, high-end condos, townhouses, and detached houses, which represent different levels of quality. New immigrants generally follow a ladder approach when purchasing housing: ordinary apartment → high-end condo → townhouse → detached house. However, my family only moved up two rungs, first to a high-end condo and then to a detached house. Regardless of the type of housing, the environment is very quiet. Especially in detached houses, the front and back yards are adorned with lush green grass, vibrant flowers, and tall pines, making the surroundings very beautiful. Canadian residential areas are designed with houses built along a single road, with houses on either side, typically spaced only 2-3 meters apart. Although the rows of houses are densely packed, there is no noise; the residential area is always serene and quiet. Neighbors, although close, do not have the habit of dropping by unannounced; if you want to visit a neighbor, you must call in advance and get permission. Therefore, even though the residential area is filled with houses and neighbors are close together, each home is independent and undisturbed, creating a very peaceful little world, which is particularly delightful!
Tenth Delight: Canadian Society, Comprehensive Services
Canada is a world-renowned welfare state, where citizens enjoy numerous benefits and comprehensive social services: First, Canada provides free healthcare. Canadians do not pay a penny; only those under 65 have to pay for medications, while those over 65 receive all medications for free. People receive medical care based on their area, and family doctors keep detailed records of each person's health status. If any serious illnesses are discovered, family doctors will refer patients to specialists for treatment; additionally, each person is entitled to one free full-body check-up per year and 1-2 free vaccinations annually. Second, Canada also provides free education; all students in public secondary and primary schools in Canada receive free education, with only university education requiring payment. Third, Canadians enjoy excellent postal services. Each residential area has mailboxes, and postal vehicles deliver letters to each household daily, with important letters delivered directly to homes. Fourth, there is regular garbage collection service. Twice a week, designated personnel collect garbage along the streets, and each household only needs to place their garbage in a designated bin in front of their home, and the garbage collection truck will clean it up thoroughly. Any public facilities in the residential area, such as streetlights, road signs, parks, and various sports equipment, will be repaired promptly if damaged. Living in such a country truly brings a sense of delight from the heart! The above are my personal experiences since coming to Canada. Of course, Canada is not without its shortcomings, but here I only discuss my feelings in the "Top Ten Delights," so I have not included any unpleasant experiences.