Moving to a completely different country, and leaving everything behind is a big deal – which must not be taken lightly. Several factors had to be weighed. Sometimes, you might get stuck in a loop.
Thanks to a recent study by the Globe and Mail, they have come up with a list of the most livable cities for those looking for Canada immigration Express Entry. It was mainly done to see the ease with which immigrants can blend into the Canadian community, access the basic amenities, and afford housing.
Here’s a list of the 20 most livable cities for newbies in Canada
- Pitt Meadows, BC
- Victoria, BC
- Winnipeg, MB
- North Vancouver, BC
- Saanich, BC
- Wellesley, ON
- Burlington, ON
- Regina, SK
- Delta, BC
- Maple Ridge, BC
- West Vancouver, BC
- Oak Bay, BC
- Abbotsford, BC
- Colwood, BC
- Norwich, ON
- Parksville, BC
- Fort St. John, BC
- Port Coquitlam, BC
- Middlesex Centre, ON
- Coldstream, BC
The study done by the Globe and Mail found that some factors mattered more for immigrants than others, including housing. These factors were given more emphasis when determining the ranking. The scores of all the factors were added and averaged for each city.
No city was perfect – even the city of Victoria got average scores for housing and healthcare. Though from the rankings you will get an idea of how livable the city is to live or study.
Factors Affecting the Livability Rankings for Immigrants in Canada
The livability rankings of the cities of Canada are done for newbies who have arrived in the Great White North in the last five years. They are as per their needs and preferences. The ranking took a wide array of factors into account –
- Economy
The cities were examined based on the local economy. This meant considering the jobs, taxes, average household income, and overall economic stability. The best cities that stood out in terms of low unemployment rate (less than 6%) were Oak Bat, Middlesex Centre, Colwood, Norwich, and Port Coquitlam.
- Demography
The survey also took demography seriously and saw how stable the city’s population is in addition to cultural diversification. Mainly three factors were used, the percentage of people not having English or French as their first language, the percentage of first or second-generation newcomers, and the percentage of visible minorities. The cities that stood out were Abbotsford, Delta, Winnipeg, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, and West Vancouver.
- Healthcare
Another major factor that was considered was the ease of access to healthcare services for newcomers. The major factors that were considered were the speed at which newcomers can get help for minor issues (within 2 days) and the percentage of individuals with a healthcare provider regularly (which was 88%). The cities that came on top were Pitt Meadows, North Vancouver, and Maple Ridge.
- Housing
As a new immigrant to Canada, the top thing that might concern you is the housing situation. Therefore, the survey by Globe and Mail focuses on how affordable the homes are, especially for seniors. The value of houses on average, property taxes, and the percentage of household income spent on purchasing or renting homes were calculated.
- Transportation
Canadian cities like Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg were the most livable cities in Canada in terms of walkability. The survey emphasized the ease of using public transit and navigating. The main factors considered were the closeness of homes to the airports and public transport like buses, trains, etc.
- Amenities
The cities with the greatest number of recreational places, shopping centres, and other facilities were ranked as the best places to live in Canada for newbies. The gyms, movie theatres, and cannabis stores were considered. Also, the proximity to essential services like grocery stores, parks, childcare, and grocery stores played a key role.
- Education
Many newcomers, mainly international students apply for visas to study in Canada. Thus, education is a major sector that was emphasized in the survey. The qualifications of the residents and the accessibility to schools and universities in the area were taken into account.
- Safety
The likelihood of crimes in a city affects the number of immigrants directly. Therefore, for the safety sector, cities like Wellesley have 88% fewer criminal activities than the Canadian average. This made it appear on the livable cities list. In addition to this, cities that have below-average crime rates included North Vancouver, Burlington, Saanich, and Pitt Meadows.
- Weather
Lastly, we have weather, which as we know Canada is popular for. Many newcomers consider this factor to settle as winters in Canada can be quite harsh. Therefore, The Globe examines the weather conditions in each Canadian city. They checked the days with a humidex of more than 35 and the number of days with a temperature below -15 degrees Celsius. Two cities stood out with the most days with that temperature – Winnipeg and Regina.
If you wish to apply for Canada PR, talk to Canada PR consultants in Chandigarh, Nationwide Visas. With more than 16 years in the industry, with a 100% success rate in 30+ applications, they are the best in the field. Reach out to get one-on-one FREE counselling sessions where you can consider where you want to live as per your circumstances, PR options, and more. Get visa assistance, post-landing services, and more to make the transition to Canada seamless.
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