Moving to Canada: ​6 Best Places in Canada to Relocate Your Family To & Tips for a Smooth Transition by 30Seconds Mom

Canada is one of the biggest countries in the world, with a huge choice of bustling cities, smaller towns and remote places with stunning scenery. Nearly 300,000 people move to Canada every year, one of the highest rates per population of any country. Choosing a place in Canada to relocate with your family can be overwhelming. Here are a few of the best options and tips to help you relocate to Canada:  

How to Relocate in Canada

• Getting a Visa: If you're moving to Canada from abroad, you're going to need a visa. You will either need to qualify for a working visa, a student visa or permanent residence. Find out if you are eligible to apply by using the Come to Canada tool.

• Buying a House: Looking to buy a house when you move? It's best to work with a local mortgage broker to help you get the best possible deal. So if you wanted to move to Orillia, for example, then you would want to find Orillia mortgage brokers, like Breezeful, who will be able to find local mortgage options and help you out with any questions you have about the process.

• Finding Work: If you need to find a job before you move, you can search online using popular job board sites such as Indeed, Glassdoor and Monster. There are also other local job boards. Eluta.ca, for example, is a Toronto-based job board. It's worth investigating whether the area you're moving to has a specific site for local jobs.

Best Places for Families to Relocate in Canada

1. Ottawa, Ontario

Canada's capital, Ottawa, offers some of the best education in the country, which could be a key consideration when you're looking to move with your family. It's home to prestigious universities, such as the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. And as it's the capital it also offers plenty of great employment opportunities.

The Ottawa River runs through the city, and the heart of the city at Parliament Hill has lots of Victorian architecture and popular museums including the Canadian Museum of History and the National Gallery of Canada. There are lots of family-friendly events and attractions, in particular the Rideau Canal, which freezes over in the winter and turns into a huge ice skating rink.

House prices are rising in Ottawa, but they are still reasonable in comparison to some of Canada's other major cities.

2. Orillia, Ontario

Orillia offers a welcoming small-town charm, while still being within easy reach of the Greater Toronto area. Surrounded by lakes and plenty of outdoors spaces, it's a great place to move as a family if you want to enjoy a range of activities. It's also home to Ontario's newest university, Lakehead University, which has two campuses and offers excellent educational opportunities.

3. Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is a thriving city, but has a small town feel, with unique neighborhoods that means there's lots to do and explore. There are plenty of job opportunities, excellent education facilities and many outdoor activities within reach of the city including skiing, snowboarding and hiking. Vancouver has a growing food scene with lots of amazing restaurants and cafes.

4. Calgary, Alberta

Calgary, known as Cowtown, has been voted as one of the most livable cities on the Global Index and offers some great job opportunities, particularly in the tech, construction and transportation sectors. It also has Calgary Zoo, lots of beautiful parks, lively markets and interesting places to visit like the Heritage Park Historical Village, which make it a great place for families. And in the summer you can attend the popular Calgary Stampede, a rodeo festival that people travel to from all over.

5. Canmore, Alberta

West of Calgary, located in the Rocky Mountains, Canmore is a beautiful area to move to with your family. It's a lot quieter than the cities, but still has all the things you would need. If you're looking for amazing scenery and outdoor walks then Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park will be right on your doorstep, and the Grassi Lakes Trail has plenty of waterfalls and lakes to explore.

6. St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

If you want to get away from busy city life then you might want to look at the coastal town St John's located in Newfoundland off the Atlantic coast. It's the oldest city in North America, with lots of colorful houses in the downtown center of the city. Overall, it's got a much smaller, community feel that you'll struggle to find in the big cities. Housing is affordable and the cost of living is also a lot lower. Plus it's great for outdoors activities – there's plenty of coastal walks, hiking routes, cycle routes, parks and opportunities to go sailing.

These are just a few of the best options in Canada to relocate with your family. The perfect place is going to depend on your interests, priorities and work opportunities. 

Photo (main): Peace Bridge across Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

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