Blog
Popular Cities in Canada for Expats
Canada is one of the most popular places for expats to move to, particularly from the UK; it is estimated that more than 650,000 Brits have chosen to move there, attracted by the healthy lifestyle and the stunning scenery.
Hamiltons Removals have years of experience in organising commercial and domestic removals to a wide range of worldwide destinations. If you are considering moving home to Canada, here is our guide to the most popular cities.
Toronto
This city in Ontario has the largest population in the whole country, standing at more than 2.7million in 2016 to more than 3.27million in 2024. Actors Keanu Reeves, Kiefer Sutherland and Jim Carrey all grew up here. The city’s most visible landmark is the CN Tower, a communications and observation tower which is 553 metres tall, making it one of the world’s tallest free-standing structures.
Ottawa
This city, in southern Ontario, is Canada’s capital. It scores well in international quality of living surveys, mainly due to its large number of educational and research establishments; the people here are thought to be the most well-educated in Canada. A thriving economy, fuelled by flourishing IT and public service sectors, mean the city also has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Famous people from Ottawa include comic and actor Dan Aykroyd and singer Alanis Morrissette. It is famous for the historic buildings on Parliament Hill, which are the seat of Canada’s government.
Vancouver
This city in British Columbia, to the west of the country, has Canada’s largest British expat community, although it is an ethnically very diverse city. More than half of the population do not count English as their mother tongue. It again scores well in international quality of life surveys, with more than 80 parks and green spaces within the city’s borders, and the Pacific Rim National Park and the spectacular North Shore mountains are both close by. Actor Ryan Reynolds and Carrie-Anne Moss, and singer-songwriter Michael Bublé, were all either born or grew up here.
Edmonton
This city in Alberta has a population fast approaching the one million mark and is a popular city to move to for British expats in particular. The oil and gas industries helped to build up the economy, while in recent years its growth has been down to the high-tech and research sectors. Until 2004, the West Edmonton Mall was the biggest shopping centre in the whole world; with more than 800 stores, and over 32 million visitors a year, it is still the largest in the whole of North America. Actor Michael J. Fox was born in Edmonton, while Bank of England governor Mark Carney grew up in the city.
Hamilton
This port city on the banks of Lake Ontario is popular not just with British expats but also people from many other European countries. The economy is largely based on agriculture and manufacturing. Pop singer Nicole Appleton, of All Saints Fame, and actor Martin Short were both born in the city. Hamilton’s most notable landmark is the Niagara Escarpment, a ridge which divides the city and is marked by a series of conservation areas and waterfalls.
Hamiltons Removals can help you if you are moving home to Canada. We frequently arrange moves to all these popular cities and other destinations across the country, including Winnipeg, Montreal and Quebec. We can also organise removals to the USA, Australia and New Zealand, as well as many international destinations.
FAQs
Q: Is Canadian healthcare free for expats?
A: Public healthcare is free for Permanent Residents, but it doesn’t cover everything. Most expats still pay for private insurance to cover your teeth, your eyes, and any prescriptions. Also, be aware that some provinces have a three-month waiting period before your public coverage kicks in, so short-term private insurance is essential for your move.
Q: What about driving in Canada?
A: Canada drives on the right. While you can drive on your UK licence for the first 60–90 days (depending on the province), you will probably need to take a local theory and road test to get a Canadian licence, as there is no direct “swap” agreement like there is with some other countries.
Q: How long will it take to ship my items to Canada?
A: It depends if you opt for a dedicated service or a groupage (shared container) one. A groupage service can take between 10 and 14 weeks (usually at least a couple of weeks longer than our dedicated service).
Another factor is which coastal port you will be using. East coast destinations (Toronto/Montreal) take between five and seven weeks; for the west coast (Vancouver) it can be between seven and 10 weeks.
Air freight (for smaller items) is quicker, but more expensive.
*all information correct at the time of writing
« Back