Globe Trekker Canada

Posted In: Canada

Oscar Zogg says...

I had never seen any of the Globe Trekker programs before, but I found this one to be quite enjoyable. As is detailed in the product description above, this is actually two films combined on one DVD, one film being in eastern Canada, and one in western Canada. With a total 2-hour run time, you do get to see a good bit of Canada, and the guides of both films are easy-going and humorous. I liked too that both films were done in a "you are there" style, with a single host showing us the extraordinary as well as the mundane aspects of the journey. Generally, I like that better than I do films having an invisible narrator reciting general data about what we are seeing.



However, I agree with another reviewer here that even at 2 hours this DVD feels a bit rushed, since it IS covering a huge amount of territory. As, when one of the guides goes through Montreal, you don't get much of a sense of that interesting city since he basically stays overnight there and goes through a mall, then on with his journey! So in addition to this DVD, you probably would also want to see more detailed films of the areas covered here. One mild objection I have is that on each program there are 1 or 2 segments that are quite offensive. In one segment, there is graphic filming of animals that have been killed to be eaten at a festival; in another, the guide cleans out horse stalls at a rodeo and makes crude jokes; and a few other instances. Of course, not everyone would be offended by these things, but still I felt like they were unnecessary and created moments of unease in the mixed company where I watched them.



But overall I found this DVD to be very enjoyable. You do get a general sense of various parts of Canada, and there's a lot of great scenery here too.

Posted on September 25, 2011

Rachell Shandy says...

This book won't tell you everything you need to know to move to Canada, but it will get you started and tell you where to go for more information. The names, addresses, phone numbers and websites in this book will save you many hours of research. Vignettes from people who have already made the move are interesting. A detailed section on health care, province by province, describes waiting periods, what's covered and how to sign up.

Posted on September 26, 2011

Ruby Veenstra says...

I have never read such a comprehensive and authoritative guide to emmigration. I would recommend it to any and all of my colleagues and friends who are considering such a move.

Posted on September 26, 2011

Randell Bickelhaupt says...

Definitely a good primer on how to move to Canada. If you want more in depth information on Canada, consider "Politics in Canada: Culture, Institutions, Behaviour and Public Policy". It's a bit dated, but very comprehensive.

Posted on September 26, 2011

Arnette Akles says...

It may be a bit too much to say that this DVD has all you can do outdoors in Canada, but it certainly shows a lot of things you can do along the way while you follow one of two paths (one for the summer -across the Rockies, heading to the west of the country- and one for the wintertime -heading towards Arctic Canada-) suggested in the DVD.



The landscapes and recommended trips are as amazing as Canada can be and each path has a different host with a great sense of humor. The one thing that bothered me about the overall package is that, in spite of the total of two hours of running time, it made me feel as if there was a rush to take the traveller through the adventure, which left me wanting some more footage and tips. I guess that can be obtained in the Canada book from the Eyewitness Guides series, but still I wouldn't give it five stars because of this.

Posted on September 27, 2011

Karma Alampi says...

Found this book very useful.Good practical info that helped me get settled here in the last month-- contact info for a variety of agencies: social insurance, health care, etc. that definitely helped me transition efficiently without hours spent pouring through web searches.A nice primer that's been a good resource.

Posted on September 28, 2011

Dian Calvello says...

Myths about Canada abound: it's a "fake country," it has a population of 20, people are allowed to marry moose, it's one big year-round hockey tournament, it doesn't really exist, everyone speaks a vulgar form of French, and they have free healthcare but you'll perish waiting in line for service. Canada gets taken for granted. As such, many south of "the other border" know little about the enormous country that sits on top of them. And so myths perpetuate like Yukon snow. But moving to Canada? That assumes one already acknowledges its existence and possesses at least a speck of knowledge about the land with the maple leaf flag. "How To Move To Canada" only assumes the former. Those with no, or very minute, familiarity with Canada will drown in the historical, cultural, and political knowledge contained in these thick 200 pages.



Though its subtitle, "A Primer for Americans," remains a bit of a misnomer (since Canadians are also Americans), this book nonetheless provides a great launching pad for those wanting to immigrate to the Great White North. Note that this book assumes readers want to permanently move to Canada, or at least obtain dual citizenship (only a recent possibility). But those who merely want to "try it out" via a temporary work permit will also benefit from the information within. Both groups will learn about the steps to long term settlement, the long process, and the potential legal roadblocks. Such questions as "when do I need an immigration attorney?" and "how long does citizenship take?" get addressed throughout. A handy "Immigration Time Line" outlines the steps from deciding to move, to permanent residency, and ultimately to Canadian citizenship. But again the underlying assumption is that the reader wants to immigrate, not just get a job. That's an important distinction the book doesn't address very clearly. People can move to and work in Canada without immigrating. Section Two does mention work permits, but briefly. It also contains another very short section on retiring to Canada. Those looking for detailed information on those subjects should look elsewhere.



Hopefully those considering moving to Canada have already done their homework about where and why they want to move. Regardless, "Moving to Canada" contains droves of information on Canadian history, healthcare, politics, climate, differences from province to province (and territory to territory), employment, crime, economy (including housing prices) and demographics. No previous knowledge required. The final section, which makes up more than half the book's bulk, outlines basic information for all ten provinces, three territories, and many major cities. A word of caution: this book was published in 2006, but much of its information dates to the most recently available data. Some dates to 2001. Laws and the economy obviously fluctuate, so readers should consider that while perusing this book's figures. Canada's immigration website, frequently mentioned in the book, remains a good up to date resource.



"How To Move To Canada" contains far more than immigration instructions. It encompasses a historical and cultural survey of North America's placid giant. Expect to learn things like "why do people in Quebec speak French?" "does Canada have a Queen?" "how did Canada become what it is today?" but especially "how do I move there permanently?" This book even serves as a great reference for those who don't ultimately immigrate. As such, "How To Move To Canada" remains a great and easy to read introduction for anyone.

Posted on September 30, 2011

Janice Simich says...

This is a good review of moving and living in Canada for folks who intend to work there or open a business. It offers no real information for retirees wanting to live or relocate there. Unfortunately, THAT was the information I was looking for.

Posted on October 1, 2011

Joann Valasquez says...

Great book, comprehensive and well-written. Tipped us off to a Customs regulation (it involves inventorying your entire household, including counting your socks!) that caused us to abort our plan to move to Canada. Wish we'd had this book earlier, we would have saved thousands of dollars in fees and two years of my life.

Posted on October 1, 2011

Shanika Schuhmacher says...

This is the most thoroughly readable how-to book I have seen on moving to Canada.It is practical and authoritative and has helped my quest for emigration greatly.It's a good investment and the perfect 'starter' book for anyone with thoughts of becoming an ex-pat by moving north of the border.

Posted on October 8, 2011