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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. 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. It was ranked in the top 10 of places to move to by an InterNations annual survey of expats, who scored it highly for the friendliness of the native population, making it very easy for outsiders to settle in. 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.