5 Things You Should Do During Your First Year in Canada

5 Things You Should Do During Your First Year in Canada

So, you’ve moved to Canada. Congratulations! Canada is one of the most exciting places to immigrate to at the moment, not least because of its burgeoning business landscape and its better cost of living compared to other countries – the UK, the US, and Australia included.

You’re well looked after, too. If you’re moving from the UK, there are a number of articles giving solid advice on the first things you should do.

These include learning how to get a job in Canada from the UK, how to find housing accommodation, how to apply for a Social Insurance Number, how to apply for a Health Care Card, how to set up a bank account, and how to get support from settlement services – all the necessary and responsible things to do to make your move a success.

But all the information on that is out there already. What about the real reason you have moved to Canada? To experience a new way of life, a new adventure, and have fun!

Of course, it’s important to get all the essential steps out of the way first, but after you do that, there are going to be several things you’ll want to do to start getting acquainted with the place. To get you started, we’ve listed five of the best ways to introduce yourself to Canada and begin your exciting new chapter:

• Get To Know Your Neighbours

One of the best things about Canada is that it is multicultural, which means the people there are very welcoming to newcomers who are not from the same walk of life as them. This is definitely something you should take advantage of, too.

While it can be difficult to put yourself out there and learn how to approach and talk to people, it’s a great idea if you want to start making some Canadian friends and immersing yourself in the local neighbourhood.

• Make An Impact at Work

Sticking with the welcoming theme, the friendly trait of Canada can be felt in the workplace too. We mentioned before that moving to Canada is all about finding a new adventure, but performing well at work and moving up the ranks is an adventure in itself.

Thankfully, in Canada, every voice is listened to, and new voices specifically are both nurtured and cherished. For this reason, don’t be afraid to express your opinions, convey any ideas, and use your outsider knowledge to your advantage at work.

• Go To a Hockey Game

Now onto the fun stuff! You’re in Canada. It’s time to like hockey. As you’re probably well aware, Canada has a very big love for the game of ice hockey, so much so that it is now considered an obligation to have a team and go to a game. Well, not an obligation, but it’s still very important if you want to immerse yourself in Canadian culture!

• Go Snowboarding

Are you sensing something here? That’s right, Canada is very into its sports, with the most popular Canadian sports including hockey, basketball and skiing, A good way to infuse yourself into the culture, then, is by trying out these sports and getting involved in the action.

Our personal favourite sport, in this case, is skiing – not least because it involves visiting the beautiful ski resorts that are present in the country. Thankfully for you, all of Canada’s major cities are within two hours of the best ski resorts in the country, so you won’t have to go too far out of your way to give it a go.

• See Everything

We’ll finish by saying that if you want to get familiar with Canada in your first year, the best way to do it is to explore and see everything. Well, maybe not everything – that might take a little longer than a year – but certainly try to see as much as you can!

It can be easy to be a bit reserved when you first arrive in a new country, but Canada is recognised as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, so it’s important to take a deep breath and go see it! This will also give you plenty of opportunities to meet new people, experience new activities, and make a proper, adventurous start to this new chapter in your life!

Guest Article.