Our ServicesMost people who are deciding where to immigrate in Canada choose a location based on factors such as employment, proximity to family, climate, education, and other amenities.
MoneySense.ca recently published its list of the best places to live for Canadian immigrants. They considered average household income, crime, unemployment rate, languages, weather, and other factors to create a list of the top 100 places for immigrants to Canada to settle. If you are considering immigrating to Canada, check out the website’s top five cities.
#5 – Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is located on the banks of the Assiniboine River in Western Manitoba. For immigrants who like a small-town feel, Brandon is a great place to live and work. Just over 50,000 people call Brandon home. Since 2010, the number of immigrants has increased tenfold, largely due to recruitment by the city’s largest employer, Maple Leaf Foods. Most of the newcomers speak Spanish, Mandarin or Ukrainian, and 19% of residents say that their first language is neither English nor French. The median household income in Brandon is $71,000, while the average rent is $844, which makes it possible for newcomers to live comfortably.
#4 – Brossard, Quebec
Brossard, located in Quebec and part of Greater Montreal, has a huge population of people who were born outside of Canada: over 36 percent of its 87,842 residents are immigrants. In addition to French and English, a variety of other languages are common in the city, including Chinese, Spanish, Cantonese, Arabic and Persian. Brossard is a highly livable suburb and with an average rent of just $793, the city is a bargain. Newcomers to Canada can work in Brossard or commute to Montreal. Immigrants interested in law, business, health or engineering may be eligible for specialized courses through the Ministere de l’Immigration, de la Diversite et de l’Inclusion.
#3 – Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital of Saskatchewan. With over 226,000 people, it is the second-largest city in the province and the 16th largest city in Canada. Regina has become an attractive city for immigrants due to its importance as a service provider to the natural gas and oil industries. Most people in Regina speak English, and immigrants to Regina will also find people speaking Filipino, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Punjabi, Chinese, German, Urdu, and Spanish. Regina is famous for its cold winters and humid summers, but it is also one of the sunniest cities in Canada.
#2 – Waterloo, Ontario
With a population of almost 110,000 people, Waterloo, Ontario is a small city with big town aspirations. New York’s Intelligent Communities Forum voted Waterloo its Intelligent Community of the Year in 2007 and it’s easy to see why. The Toronto-Waterloo corridor is home to more than 500 tech companies, including IBM, Google, RIM and more. Waterloo also boasts two excellent universities: University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. More than 50,000 students live in Waterloo, making it a top destination for newcomers who want to further their education. Waterloo is easy to navigate, with most places in town easy to reach by car in 5-25 minutes. The cost of living is lower than it is in the big city, but salaries and wages are competitive with Ottawa or Toronto. Waterloo residents can choose to live in an urban environment or in a rural area.
#1 – Ottawa, Ontario
As Canada’s capital city, Ottawa is the seat of government. The city boasts a booming tech scene that attracts many newcomers seeking employment in the technology sector. With a population of 900,000, Ottawa has the cultural opportunities of Toronto or Vancouver without the chaos of a much larger city. Asia is currently the biggest source of immigrants to the Ottawa region. One in five people speak a language other than English or French. Ottawa is the third-cleanest city in the world, with a reputation for being friendly to immigrants. There is plenty to do all year long such as skiing, yoga, skating, horseback riding, cycling, or fishing. There are also museums, concerts and other cultural events, making it a great place for people of all ages and backgrounds.
If you are interested in learning more about how to get settled in Canada, please contact the Immigration Law office of Ronen Kurzfeld for more information on the best places to live.
