Moving to Canada? Turning over a new leaf?

[Guest]

I had a wonderful pool side conversation gabbing with the gals and one lady has a transportation company in Canada. She and her husband spend winters in my locale. They are branching out into the USA and they may have a job opportunity for me in the coming months. Then our conversation moved to how I could get a citizenship in Canada. This has been a thought in my my mind like a sore tooth I can't keep my tongue off of, but always seemed unlikely without a way in. This could be my way in. Will l figuratively be glad I did, in your opinion? What are the up sides and the down sides?

She suggested that in the mean time I could do some research and file for a passport, but didn't know all the requirements. She said that Canada has programs to get skilled "blue collar" workers, that would be me in many trades. I want the input of my friends here before I burn up a lot of energy to a dead end.

I have these specific questions at the gate: 1. How does one research such a move? Any links or help information, please? 2. Where are the places of most economic opportunity and what are the colloquial societies like? 3. Are these places or others Trans family friendly? 4. Any do's or dont's related to these questions?

And my last questions directed to my Trans Trucker friends on both sides of the Port of Entry. What difficulties and how do you present yourself to Shippers, Receivers, Carriers and people along the road? I'm concerned and what to do about the necessary evils of Truck Stops too? I plan to dress causal

female, not dresses and heels of course. Any safety concerns and places to avoid? I can "Boy up" if needed.

Please feel free to share what you know irrespective of where you live. Thanks in advance. Jody

[Sally]

Jody, I do not have a lot of information on the fine points of the how to become a Canadian Citizen but I am sure that you will be hearing from some of our Canadian members about advantages/disadvantages of living in Canada.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest]

Thanks Sally, maybe I should have put the word Canada in the title? Others will be along later I hope. Feel free for a Mod Edit if best. Jody

[Sally]

You have Canada in the title, the only change that you could make to get more attention would be Turning Over A New Maple Leaf - seriously I think that some of the members are thinking about this one and what they know about any of it - a lot of Canadians do not know any more about what it takes to move there than most Americans know about our immigration policies.

Be patient and maybe in the words of John Lennon, "There will come an answer."

Love ya,

Sally

[Michelle 2010]

Lizzie McTrucker has posted tons on the thetrans trucking experience. You might check her profole for the content selection. Also PM her. There are one or two others but I can't remember names. Good luck with the ecision!

Michelle

[Guest]

That's a good point about immigration Sally. I also just need some daily life stuff for folks like me. Also I want to thank the friend that I admire a lot that fixed the title for me. Giggle. Jody

[Guest MsPerseveres]

Okay, going to try my best with the questions :-).

1. Best thing would be to check out the Canadian consulate closest to you (or the embassy if your closest location is DC). This link (http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/washington/offices-bureaux/index.aspx?view=d) is a good starting point. Immigration regulations are at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/ (note that ".gc.ca" is the URL suffix for all official Government of Canada websites, if you want to make sure you're getting the straight scoop).

2. Most economic opportunity is difficult to say, since there are opportunities in most any location. The stereotypes are Alberta (oil and gas industry primarily) and Ontario (business and industrial centre of Canada). The Atlantic provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) are often perceived as the poorest in Canada. Not sure what you mean by "colloquial societies" - can you clarify?

3. I would think that, in general, larger cities will have more potential for trans persons to fit in, particularly Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Alberta is perceived as the bedrock of conservatism in Canada, but I think that it would probably qualify as one of the most socialist/liberal states if it was moved to the US. I am not aware of any out and out discrimination or violence against trans persons in Canada, but it's not the kind of topic that gets much air time, and I may just be oblivious. I wouldn't personally be afraid to be out in any part of Canada, although there are always "bad" areas in any country.

4. I can't think of any don'ts - as Canadians, we're typically seen as nationally polite, and I think that most of us would be flattered that someone from the US thought that Canada was worth moving to! Like anything else, honest questions, without too many assumptions, are your best bet. And remember, that although we're next door neighbours, we're very different in many ways - weapons laws and hockey are the first ones that come to mind, but there are very many more (like our spelling - I constantly get red wiggly lines under words that I've spelled correctly, like neighbour and centre :-) ).

Hugs, Brenda

[Guest]

Thanks Brenda, you are so kind.

{Not sure what you mean by "colloquial societies" - can you clarify?} I will try without offending anyone, forgive me if I stick my foot in my mouth. In my lifetime I have moved around my nation quite a bit, Driving semi truck and living many places. I have been "planted" for many years so I may be making assumptions from some very old personal experiences. I can remember from my rural "farm belt" school district, I had a friend in school that was from the only black family. They had to suffer through being the " token coloreds" and even though people were polite to them, "They are so nice" they were socially and economically shut out from the community. They were "niced" right out after struggling for years. I was so sad and very much missed my friend.

I moved for a time to the deep south. As a long haired "hippie", I got harassed by the Klan and beat up by the cops more than once.You can keep Dixie, I got my butt out. Huntsville and Atlanta may be friendly but I think the rural dangers force people to be locked in the city limits. I like cities in the "Bible belt" but I don't like to be regarded as a child of Satan! The state I was born in is predominantly Republican and all the attitudes that go with it, so home will never be home again. Nor was it ever, so I never get home sick, just sick of it. Every region and every town has idiosyncrasies of living there. Some attitudes may put my family at risk. I don't want to have to be armed 24/7 to survive. Been there done that with my ex-wife's stalker husband. Those kinds of stresses and prejudices I don't need or want to move to. Even some my local churches offer nothing, when I don't fit the male mode. I went casually dressed to a big box TV church a while back "just to see if I fit in."and you would have thought I had parted the red sea. I would not want to make my life worse looking for greener grass. Thanks for the info, I hope to get more replies. Hug. Jody

[Guest MsPerseveres]

Well, being "armed 24/7" will get you arrested in Canada :-) - we just don't do that. I think that there are social/cultural expectations in most regions, but I don't recall that sense ever of not fitting in and feeling endangered, and I've lived in BC, Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick. But, again, it may just be because of who/what I am/was - presenting as a conservative, white, anglo-saxon male, with a short hair cut, and bland clothing, I'd end up being aligned with, or tamer, than everyone else in pretty much any community... This probably doesn't help at all, so I'll stop there :-).

Hugs, Tami

[Guest]

That's a great relief, because these days I'm only armed with my higher power. I still tread a bit cautiously around people I don't know or want to know, but I am a social person. I do my best to fit in and look like every other woman in my peer group, with the same casual spring, summer, fall, winter fashions and I'm many times very well dressed on Sunday. This week I have had to dress male for various reasons, several of my friends told me that they had to do a double take to spot me. That was flattering. I very much suspect that when I reach the end of puberty and universally fit in as a woman, I will want to leave all of my male "teabags" behind and all the boy stuff with it. I'm not there yet in appearance so I live as I must. My life is on "spin cycle" right now.

Thanks for your help and replies, I'm hoping maybe a few other Canadians will fill me in on daily life stuff too. I checked the web sites you gave me and it is an informed start. Thanks. Hug. Jody

[Guest Berry Picker]

Jody, that trucking company should be able to sponsor you with a work permit, after a certain number of years you will be able to apply for permanent resident status.

There are other ways, but that seemed to make the most sense to me since it seems like you have a job offer.

Canada is quite a tolerable country our hinterlands can be quite progressive, particularily Northern Ontario I have known some people who have felt quite accepted up there. About a year or two ago trangender rights bill was brought up and 15 Consverative MP's supported it including Cathy Macleod who is MP for my Mom's hometown Kamloops a city of about 80, 000 people considered a blue collar town with largish pride parade. It is quite accepting.

I think the Ottawa Police Service even flew the TG flag out of respect, and trying to mend relations. Our it was the Pride flag I'm not exactly sure, but I remember they tried to reach out to the TRans community.

Canada's a great place to live, our quality of life is pretty good.

Good Luck,

Nicki ?