Life in Canada

Yes, IMAX is a Canadian company. Founded in 1967, IMAX Corporation grew from an experimental large-screen cinema idea into one of the world’s most recognized film-technology brands. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, provides a recent example of how the company works directly with filmmakers as well as cinemas. Many moviegoers…

Last updated: September 2026 Finding the best donut shops in Vancouver is not simply a matter of choosing the most elaborate pastry. Sometimes the goal is a handcrafted brioche donut filled with cream. Sometimes it is a classic glazed donut beside a coffee. On a busy morning or family trip, convenience may matter most. Vancouver…

A Practical Grocery Shopping Guide for Newcomers and Asian Families in Canada Moving to Metro Vancouver from another country means adjusting to many parts of everyday life, and grocery shopping is one of them. At first, newcomers may naturally visit large Canadian grocery stores such as Costco, Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, and Save-On-Foods. These stores…

Moving to Canada means dealing with many practical decisions at once. You need a place to live, a bank account, transportation, insurance, and often a new school or workplace. But there are two services most people need almost immediately: a Canadian mobile phone plan and home internet. Choosing them can be surprisingly confusing. Canada has…

When people first hear about Canada’s healthcare system, one sentence comes up again and again: “Healthcare is free in Canada.” After living in British Columbia and using the healthcare system, I learned that this statement needs an important explanation. Yes, many medically necessary doctor and hospital services are covered through provincial public health insurance. In…

When I first came to Canada, one of the things I had heard many times was: “Healthcare in Canada is free.” That sounds simple. But after actually living in Canada and using the healthcare system myself, I realized that the reality is much more complicated. Yes, Canada has a publicly funded healthcare system. And yes,…

Before moving to Canada, I thought I had a fairly good idea of what life here would be like. Canada was cold. People spoke English and French. Nature was beautiful. Cities were multicultural. Winters were long. Those things were easy to learn from websites, videos and travel guides. But visiting Canada and actually living in…

Moving to Canada can be exciting, but the first few weeks after arrival can also feel overwhelming. When I first arrived, I quickly realized that landing at the airport was only the beginning. I still needed a place to live, a Social Insurance Number, a Canadian bank account, transportation, furniture, a phone plan and, eventually,…

Moving to Canada is exciting, but one question comes up very quickly: How much money do I actually need to live in Canada each month? There is no single answer. Canada is a huge country, and the cost of living in Vancouver can be very different from the cost of living in a smaller city…

Transportation is one of the most important everyday expenses international students need to consider when studying in Canada. Canada is a huge country, but the transportation experience can be completely different depending on where you live. A student studying in downtown Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal may be able to live comfortably without owning a car.…