The Relocation Coach

Summer and school

Frank — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:50:51 +0000

Our local beach

I popped into Staples yesterday for some paper and noticed the Back to School signs were up. They had all the local elementary school stationery lists there too, so that you can buy everything that your child needs.

It was a not very welcome, and rather premature, reminder that summer is going [...]

How to stay positive when relocating

Frank — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:35:30 +0000

Skiing on Cypress Mountain

Relocating often seems to be more about waiting than moving doesn’t it? For us that was true. We waited for visas. We waited to sell our house. We waited for the removal men. We waited at the airport. We waited at immigration and we waited at customs.

It can be pretty frustrating [...]

How can you avoid the freshman 15?

Frank — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:30:13 +0000

You have probably not heard of the freshman 15. It is the name given to the way first year students away at college gain 15 pounds in their first semester. So what has that got to do with you as a new arrival in Canada?

It may have a lot, depending on how you adjust your [...]

What do Canadians do over a long weekend

Frank — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:33:07 +0000

Vancouver beaches

We just enjoyed our Canada Day celebration, so I thought I would paint a picture of how Canadians make the most of these extra days off. Most of us who come to Canada have a vision of our lives in Canada that includes enjoying the great outdoors, and you’ll be glad to know [...]

What will you give me for my old UK driving license?

Frank — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:53:19 +0000

Now you can drive

There is some good news for all those people from the UK who have been worrying about taking the road test to get your BC license. Now you can exchange your UK license for a BC one.

The ICBC web site has now been updated to confirm this (rumours were spreading for [...]

World cup soccer

Frank — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:50:26 +0000

I probably don’t need to tell you that the soccer world cup is underway at the moment in South Africa. Here in Canada we are following it too. I have to say that it is pretty low key compared to 1. Hockey and 2. the Olympics. Of course Canada is not in the competition so [...]

What is in your wallet?

Frank — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:25:40 +0000

Lululemon - yoga and active wear

One of the things that seems to have expanded since I came to Canada is my wallet. Not because I carry around a lot of cash. No sir. But I sure do carry around a lot of plastic.

Last week we went off to the States for a short holiday [...]

Mothers Day – time to run

Frank — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:37:30 +0000

Downtown Vancouver from Vanier Park

This weekend is Mothers Day in Canada.

Mothers Day is apparently one of the busiest days in restaurants around the city. What better way to enjoy the day than to treat your mother to a slap up meal in one of our great restaurants. Apparently not everyone thinks that way because this Sunday [...]

How to survive Canadian tax season

Frank — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:06:00 +0000

HR MacMillan Space Centre

If you are like me, then paying your taxes must rank right up there with root canal work as one of your least favourite things. I am not going to kid you that it is any better in Canada than anywhere else. Whatever else Canada has going for it, a simple [...]

Can you live with the bears

Frank — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:13:01 +0000

Bear warnings are a sign of spring

Spring has come. And with it our local bear population is waking up and is hungry. Your chances of meeting a bear are higher now.

I personally like the idea of sharing our environment with bears. We are the newcomers here. And these creatures are generally not a problem. But if [...]