Choose a city you are interested in learning about:
- Toronto, Ontario
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Montreal, Quebec
- Calgary, Alberta
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Quebec City, Quebec
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Waterloo, Ontario
- Hamilton, Ontario
- Kingston, Ontario
- St. John’s, Newfoundland
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, Canada’s most populous city, is a very desirable destination for immigrants. The city prides itself on its diversity — almost 50% of Torontonians are immigrants. Toronto is home to many ethnicities, including, Chinatown, Koreatown, Greektown, and Little Italy. Due to the large nature of the city, you are sure to find a community that you can identify with.
Although the cost of living in Toronto is higher than other Canadian cities, Toronto has a flourishing economy and a broad network of professionals — making the city perfect for career-driven individuals in any field.
In particular, Toronto is seen as Canada’s financial capital. In the city’s Financial District, you will find many companies, brokerage firms, as well as, the Toronto Stock Exchange — the world’s 7th largest stock exchange. Toronto is also home to many powerful companies such as Bell Media, Rogers Communications, Toronto Star, Four Seasons Hotels and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
The city is also an education, research, and innovation hub, as many major world-recognized universities and research institutes are based in Toronto.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city surrounded by nature, just off the shore of the Pacific Ocean. With its lush forests, open spaces and Pacific backdrop, it comes as no surprise that Forbes named it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. As such, Vancouver is perfect for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. From whale watching to hiking, you’ll never get bored in this city.
As such, tourism is a large source of income for the city. It welcomed approximately 10.3 million tourists in 2017.
Vancouver is also a leader in the lifestyle industry. Many of the world’s favorite apparel and accessory brands, like Aritzia, Lululemon and Hershel were all founded in Vancouver. On top of this, forestry is also a vital part of the city’s economy. In fact, many forestry companies are headquartered in Vancouver.
Lastly, it consistently ranks high in terms of livability by media companies, such as The Economist and Mercer.
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal is a beautiful and cultured city. Located in the province of Quebec, the primary language in this city is French. Many people, however, are bilingual.
Montreal is home to some of North America’s lowest rent rates. It has a relatively low cost of living in comparison to other cities — as seen in the price of things like tuition, utilities, and transit. In fact, Montreal’s public transit system is cheaper and far more extensive than Toronto, it’s neighbor to the west.
In terms of education, Montreal has some of the lowest local tuition rates in the country. McGill University, considered one of the best universities in Canada, is located in Montreal. The institution is best known for its medicine, science, engineering, law and management faculties.
Calgary, Alberta
Due to their strong, growing economy, Calgary is a popular city for new graduates — particularly those in energy or business. Many major corporations, including the TransCanada Corporation and Petro Canada — are headquartered in Calgary. Calgary is located in the province of Alberta — a region that is known for its plentiful oil reserves. In fact, it’s oil reserves are the largest in North America.
Moreover, in Alberta, Calgarians do not have a provincial sales tax. Therefore, residents of the city only have to pay the 5% federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) — a very small number when compared to other major Canadian cities.
In terms of the environment, Calgary is one of the cleanest cities in the world. The city does not experience much air pollution. Believe it or not, the city actually has fines for littering.
On top of this, Calgary also has a strong culture. Sometimes referred to a “Cowtown”, it holds the famous Calgary Stampede yearly. The event features the world’s largest rodeo, concerts, a midway, First Nations exhibits, and chuckwagon racing.
Edmonton, Alberta
Once called the “Oil Capital of Canada,” Edmonton also has a strong oil and gas industry. Edmonton is located in Alberta and as mentioned, the province has very large oil reserves.
Edmonton, however, has one of the most diverse economies in the nation. The city also has a strong agriculture, technology, business, and finance sector. Therefore, immigrants are likely to settle in Edmonton with ease as the city has numerous employment opportunities.
Edmonton residents enjoy some of the highest incomes in all of Canada. This, coupled with their reasonable cost of living and lack of provincial sales tax (PST), means that Edmontonians have a higher disposable income than other Canadian cities.
In terms of entertainment, Edmonton is great for its festivals, cultural scene, and shopping malls. In fact, the city is known for the West Edmonton Mall, the largest mall in North America. The mall comes complete with an indoor roller coaster, amusement park, swimming pool, water park, and skating rink.
Ottawa, Ontario
As the nation’s capital, Ottawa is a key place to be for anyone interested in a career in public service. Being the capital, the city also experiences a lot of tourists. Its place in Canadian tourism is understandable, as there are many beautiful places to explore, such as Byward Market, Neapan Hill, Parliament Hill, and the Rideau Canal.
With a population of under a million people, Ottawa has a small town flair with elements of the big city. Moreover, Ottawa is a great place to raise a family as the city enjoys some of Canada’s lowest crime rates in the country.
Located minutes within Quebec, this city is also a great option if you are bilingual or interested in learning the French language in the future.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Located near the Atlantic Ocean, this city is one of the largest in Canada’s maritime region. The city’s small-town atmosphere, resident hospitality, and scenic harbor views make it a very pleasant place to live for those who prefer a more relaxed lifestyle.
Although it is a smaller city, there is definitely no shortage of things to do! You can spend your weekends exploring a plethora of beaches and parks. Moreover, there is plenty of good food in Halifax, particularly seafood. People often cite the city as having the world’s best lobster.
Lastly, Halifax is a university hub. It has many post-secondary institutions, including the largest university in Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie University.
Quebec City, Quebec
Quebec City is a historical area known for its beautiful architecture and lively festivals. As with Montreal, Quebec City’s primary language is also French.
Quebec City is cited as one of the most affordable places to live in Canada. As with Montreal, this city has relatively low tuition prices and rental rates, as well.
As the capital city of the province of Quebec, the government is one of the city’s largest employers. Quebec City is also a prominent business hub. Many companies such as Industrial Alliance, Cossette, and Ubisoft have headquarters in Quebec City.
Quebec City is calling for more new immigrants! There are currently 17,000 job openings in and around the city.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg’s small-center atmosphere is a popular selling point for new immigrants who want a more relaxed lifestyle. Overall, the province has a lower cost of living in comparison to other provinces.
Winnipeg is located in Manitoba — a very welcoming province for newcomers. Canada’s first Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) was actually created in Manitoba. The city has welcomed 200,000 immigrants over the past 10 years.
Within Winnipeg, strong economic sectors include agriculture, technology, and insurance. There is a high demand for those with computer development skills. Moreover, it is the headquarters of Great-West Life, one of Canada’s largest insurance companies.
With the highest immigrant employment rates in the country, newcomers are sure to are sure to adjust well to their new life in this city. In fact, the immigrant retention rate in Manitoba is 89%.
If you’re looking to move to Manitoba, you’re in luck. Earlier this year, Manitoba actually increased its cap of immigrant nominees under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). They will be allowed to nominate 5,700 individuals for the immigration — a 14% increase from their previous cap of 5,000.
Waterloo, Ontario
If you are interested in tech, Waterloo is the city for you.
Waterloo is often called the Silicon Valley of the North. This nickname is fitting given the fact that it has the world’s second largest startup density.
As such, Waterloo is constantly looking for top talent. Some notable tech companies hiring in the Waterloo area include Google, Blackberry, Shopify, Intel, and McAfee.
Waterloo also has a booming startup scene. In fact, over the last six years, 1,895 new startups were created in the Waterloo region and have attracted more than $670 million in investment.
Long before it became one of the nation’s most popular tech hubs, however, Waterloo has always had a prominent finance and insurance sector. Many employers, including Sun Life Financial, Manulife, Bank of Montreal and KPMG are hiring in the city.
Moreover, the city has three world-renowned think tanks, including the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, the Institute for Quantum Computing and the Centre for International Governance Innovation.
The city is also home to prominent universities such as Wilfrid Laurier University and Waterloo University.
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton juxtaposes natural attractions with suburban life — making it the place for people who want the best of both worlds. Located in Canada’s Golden Horseshoe, the nation’s most industrialized region, it comes as no surprise that Hamilton attracts a lot of new immigrants. Popular attractions include the Royal Botanical Gardens, Webster’s Falls and Albion Falls. It’s also an hour’s drive to Niagara Falls.
Hamilton’s housing market is much more affordable in comparison to other cities in Ontario. In fact, the average family living in Hamilton spends around $55,000 to $65,000 annually.
Hamilton has a significant manufacturing sector; 60% of Canada’s steel being produced here. A huge contributor to the city’s economy is also McMaster University, one of Canada’s leading universities. The institution is known for its science programs. In fact, it’s undergraduate Health Sciences program is one of the most prestigious and competitive programs in the country.
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston is a city on the shores of Lake Ontario with a unique geographic landscape and historical architecture. With a population of approximately 100,000, Kingston is perfect for anyone who prefers the more peaceful lifestyle in a medium-sized city.
Despite its size, however, Kingston is rich in history — it once served as Canada’s capital city. Many popular attractions including Fort Henry and Kingston Mills serve as UNESCO World Heritage site.
The government is a large employer in the region. From it’s 4 hospitals to Queen’s University, many Kingston residents are in the public services sector. From the student side, however, Kingston’s Queen’s University has always been a popular choice for undergrads and post-grads alike. It’s business and commerce program is well-known nationally for producing top business talent.
St. John’s, Newfoundland
St. John’s is a picturesque coastal city located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s colorful row houses, overlooking St. John’s Harbour looks straight out of a Hollywood film. Top attractions include Signal Hill, Cape Spear, and The Rooms.
St. John’s has some of the lowest cost of living in Canada, offering residents with a very affordable quality of life. The city’s economy is strongly fuelled by its vast fishing industry. However, the province it’s located in, Newfoundland and Labrador also have a prominent mining sector. St. John’s produces 50% of Canada’s iron supplies. Due to this, there is an ongoing need for skilled workers.
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