BATM - Broadband bright future

OT from BVC for the moment just in response to interest in Nova Scotia.
You can look on the internet for answers to most of your questions.
I have just given a snapshot of what is not immediately obvious.

NS is Atlantic Canada's hub province, and Halifax which has the 2nd largest natural harbour in the world is the main city.
I moved to NS many years ago and attended Acadia University, I left & returned to the UK for a while mainly due to relatives but am glad to be back here in the Maritimes again. I am married to a Canadian and my children are Canadian.

Going against the place first is the winter weather although if you like skiing and dont mind trying out some winter activities its really not that bad.
Halifax is the same latitiude as Paris France.
Weather gets nasty around Christmas and stays that way for 3 to 4 mths.
Summers come later and are hotter and longer than the UK.
Its a relatively new country so there is a lack of history on a European scale.
Salaries are low and good jobs are harder to find but I would suspect that trained Brits would have little problem finding work particularly in teaching and medical.
If you are American then its worth thinking about the real angst between Canada and the States which is very prevalent here which could be a factor in living here, most Canadians are outraged by George W.B . There is no such problem between Canadians and Europeans,
They dont play football here but if you like Rugby they have some decent teams.
No cricket !
Its not a sports area ....

I have lived in a lot of odd places over the years and I would make one big caution to people who stray too far from their own cultural backgrounds or settle in an area where the language is foreign to them. Fine maybe for a vacation or a brief stay but not as a permanent home. Even if you might have no problems with living "abroad" you may find your family does.
ergo.....
The culture in NS is very "British" rather than English and the language is English.
Most people are linked to Europe in some way a few generations back but there is a nice mix of other nationalities.
Canada is a very tollerant country and totally different from the USA. People get along and are friendly and straightforward and this is perhaps the largest + point for the area.
The region is full of the top universities in Canada, technical colleges and arts and drama all thrive here.
They make a lot of movies here and its become a bit of an industry.
Its certainly NOT a back woods area and is a superb area to raise kids!


The cost of living is half the UK but to be honest with you the $CAD has risen some 25% in the last 3 yrs so this advantage is lessening.
The standard of living is relatively high, Canada's economy is resource based and trade with China means plentiful cheap imports.

The countryside is very empty and prices for "hobby " farms etc are rock bottom. Distances though are not that great in NS so you dont feel shut away. A lot of people have a small place in Halifax and a bolt hole in the country.
The North shore is a lot warmer than the south shore due to warm currents and you can swim in the Ocean in the North shorth shore in the summer but the South is frigid !
Scenery is impressive and driving around the province you travel between coast and country setting in a very short distance.
The region is rich in Farming and of course fisheries.
The seafood is cheap and very plentiful.

There are regular scheduled flights to the UK and there is little culture shock between the two places. People are just more layed back here, less judgemental and a lot friendlier. You can strike up a conversation with a total stranger and its not considered odd !

Its a great place to live and I am surprised more people have not moved here although immigration may be the culprit and you might need some perserverence in getting residency although visitors seem to be given very large leeway.

Here is link to MLS. for property information.





The above excellent link,posted by trojan refers largely to the far west of the annapolis valley and is a very rural area, Annapolis Royal was the first place in NS to be settled by the English some 400+ years ago !
Prices in Halifax on the peninsular for a 3 bedroom home would range from $250,000 to $450,000
with larger home up to around $1m dependent on the street location.
A nice 3 bdrm condominium on the Halifax commons would cost you over $350,000.
For Stg just divide by half.