Patricia Parker

Reasons for Brits to move to Nova Scotia

Firstly, I guess you would have to decide if you wanted to move to Canada. I don't know how we would entreat you to come to Canada ....most Canadians can't even explain who we are, let alone ask you to join us. Canadian, that inexplicable nothingness, the thing that makes us not American. That is how we define ourselves, as not American; that vast backdrop for every country, but especially for Canada. After that bit of Canadian fence sitting, we define ourselves as westerners, easterners and those from the centre, where politics and power have their home.

Once you have chosen Canada, choosing the province of Nova Scotia would be compelling for all the reasons below:

Closest to the UK-just over 5 hours flying time to Nova Scotia
Closest to American markets, under 2 hours flying time to New York, Boston, Washington
Sunniest province in Canada, weather good enough to make very passable wine
Over 4,000 miles of ocean coastline
Lots of universities, hospitals, great scenery, good abundant food, quiet non-obtrusive politics
Homes you can afford
Education that works
Safe neighbourhoods
Welcoming people
Fresh non-gm food sources, fresh fish from the sea
Great sailing, birding, nature loving, biking, all the ings
Enough property to grow your own garden, without leaving your property
Nothing is taken too seriously

Ah, its the last one. If you take yourself too seriously, you won't get a lot of traction. Not that we don't have our serious side, we can buckle down, but its not what we're known for. It could be those long hard winters, where by the end of them, we have gotten from you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, unless, of course, you are a good and funny story teller, and then you are allowed a pass.

There are 10 provinces in Canada and two territories. Huge! It is the second largest country in the world. I've lived in the far western provinces and and the far eastern and and I would say that the farther east, the funnier. The province of Newfoundland, for instance, is the most easterly province. It is an island surrounded by icebergs for about a quarter of the year. It is colder, foggier and the more remote, but the funniest province, hands down, but that's not really a choice. Here is where Nova Scotia comes in; its the second most easterly and second funniest province, it is warmer, sunnier (the gulf stream runs along the coast of it), has an international airport and you can get there from here, as they say. Funny only wins out some times and sometimes second place is best.