Get connected easily to primary care in Ontario, with Health Care Connect
You can register for Health Care Connect online 24 hours a day, or call them toll free on weekdays during business hours at 1-800-445-1822. You’ll be put in touch with someone from your Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) who will ask you a series of basic questions about the members of your family and their health. Continue reading Get connected easily to primary care in Ontario, with Health Care Connect
Inspiring short film from Pier 21 highlights the experiences of immigrants “In Canada”
Heartfelt and inspirational, this documentary short directed by Michael Morein, and produced by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, weaves together stories of immigrants and refugees who have come to Canada from all over the world. In their own words, they share the experiences which led them here and their impressions as newcomers. Continue reading Inspiring short film from Pier 21 highlights the experiences of immigrants “In Canada”
The commercial that became our soundtrack
Well into our planning process last year, around the time of the presidential election south of the border, the music streaming service Spotify aired an advertisement that addressed anyone who might “choose Canada this November” suggesting they accompany their exodus with My House by Flo Rida. Continue reading The commercial that became our soundtrack
The Ontario Science Centre is (at least) three of the best family museums in Toronto
This past weekend, we finally got around to exploring one of southern Ontario’s great treasures, the Ontario Science Centre. We had pretty high expectations and didn’t know exactly what to expect, but we were so blown away that I felt like it would be worth describing our adventure for anyone who hasn’t discovered it yet. Continue reading The Ontario Science Centre is (at least) three of the best family museums in Toronto
Getting your “green card,” true north style
We finally received our OHIP cards in the mail! This means two amazing lifestyle changes for our family…the first is that as of right now all four of us have the same health care coverage as everyone else in Ontario, and the second is that we can now cancel our American health insurance. Continue reading Getting your “green card,” true north style
Lugging substantial gear at minimal expense
Good old-fashioned duffel bags! It turns out, there’s a reason that (apart from the materials used) these things haven’t changed in generations. You can stuff almost anything of almost any shape, size, or degree of flexibility into every nook and cranny, and if you’re going to be checking them at the curb or using a luggage cart…who cares whether they roll? Continue reading Lugging substantial gear at minimal expense
Our first New Year’s in an all-new homeland
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to one and all, as this will probably be the last update before the holidays really kick into full swing. Today was the last day of school for our kindergartener before winter break, so starting tomorrow this househusband is probably going to be pretty busy chasing a little toboggan rider around. Continue reading Our first New Year’s in an all-new homeland
Permanent residents eager to finish moving
It’s been an amazing week, and there’s a lot to catch up on…including this blog. The biggest news to report is that we are now permanent residents of Canada. “Our home and native land,” at last! We officially became landed immigrants last weekend, at the CBSA office in the middle of the Ft. Erie border crossing. Continue reading Permanent residents eager to finish moving
Thirty-six days next to our new favourite lake
The past two months have been quite a whirlwind, and I didn’t intend to take so much time off from this blog but as it turns out when you pack up your computer to move, are a lazy smartphone typist, and have two kids to juggle…this sort of thing happens. On the upside, I now have a ridiculous amount of information to share so this might be the most “interesting” update yet! Continue reading Thirty-six days next to our new favourite lake
FBI says we’re A-OK, next step e-APR (OMG)
We just got our FBI letters (an IdHSC as a PDF document) e-mailed back to us in mere hours. Seriously. Mine appeared in my inbox before I even finished shopping for dinner in the adjacent grocery store, and we had everything ready to send to our immigration lawyers before I finished the dishes. Continue reading FBI says we’re A-OK, next step e-APR (OMG)
Those three little words, “invited to apply”
What this means in practical terms is that we now have to put together an application package that includes everything we’ve gathered so far, plus some background checks and medical exams which we shall now proceed with, and submit it all to the Canadian government. Continue reading Those three little words, “invited to apply”
Sesquicentennial: year zero for a new family
It’s just about to be Canada Day! Happy birthday, our new home and native land…that’s right, if you’re just tuning in, we’re moving to Ontario and we’ve chosen today to tell our friends because it also happens to be a national holiday and the 150th celebration since Canadian confederation. Continue reading Sesquicentennial: year zero for a new family
One does not simply walk into Ontario
When you stop to think about it, it’s really pretty weird that this isn’t more commonly known. I mean Canada is right there, along that massive northern border of the continental United States, yet in addition to not learning very much of its history in our classrooms, most Americans also know very little about current events or issues in Canada, and much like here these days, immigration is a pretty hot topic. Continue reading One does not simply walk into Ontario
It isn’t a coat factory, or a city in Vermont
Burlington is a small city on the outskirts of Hamilton, situated right along the southwest corner of Lake Ontario. It’s a pretty great place, in fact according to some folks it’s the best mid-size city to live in across Canada. Those sorts of quantitative claims about qualitative data are always a bit silly to go by, but we have to agree that for our particular needs, it’s got an unbeatable combination of good stuff going on (besides just “location, location, location”). Continue reading It isn’t a coat factory, or a city in Vermont
The pursuit of “a goal that serves to organize and measure the best of our energies”
Just shy of five years ago I posted here saying I was going to start telling stories about what led to our presumably forthcoming migration to Canada, but eventually closed down the blog and kind of forgot about it. Why? Continue reading The pursuit of “a goal that serves to organize and measure the best of our energies”
This Ontarian Life 