If you’re considering moving to Canada to work or study, the number of regions in the country might be overwhelming. How do you even begin choosing between the 10 provinces and three territories? Is there much of a difference from one to another? And what should you know about the weather, economies and cities in each?
Canada is a country with significant geographic diversity. Before choosing a province or territory to move to, it’s important to look at all your options. To simplify that process for you, we’ve created an overview to help you understand what each offers.
While Canada has federal immigration programs, it also has provincial and territorial immigration streams that you might qualify for. Each jurisdiction can also set its own rules around how it recognizes certain foreign credentials. Be sure to click on the link we’ve provided to resources to help you better understand how each province or territory approaches these key things.
British Columbia
Canada’s most western province, British Columbia is known for its beautiful forests and mountains. Two of the province’s largest cities, Vancouver and Victoria, are located near the Pacific Ocean and have mild but wet climates. Expect rainy rather than snowy winters if you settle in this part of B.C.
Elsewhere in British Columbia, the weather is more typical to Canada with cold and snowy winters. The province is home to world-class universities and a growing tech economy.
When you arrive, you might think some B.C. cities resemble California. That’s because the province often stands in for California in TV shows and movies.
Population size: 5,286,528 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 34,385 in 2021
Average household income: $67,500 in 2020
Average home price: $947,216 in June 2022
Top universities: University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria
Top colleges: Camosun College, Douglas College, Langara College, Okanagan College
Main industries: Agriculture, construction, film, fisheries and aquacultures, forestry, high technology, manufacturing, mining, tourism
Largest Cities: Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Nanaimo
Alberta is often referred to as Canada’s version of Texas because its biggest industries are oil and gas. The province is a mix of farmland, mountains and cities with extremely cold winters. Alberta is known for having some of the earliest and latest snowfalls of the season.
Alberta is also famous for its cowboy culture, with the Calgary Stampede being one of the province’s central cultural events. It’s also home to a UFO landing pad. If you pass through St. Paul, Alberta, be sure to check out the UFO Tourist and Information Centre.
Population size: 4,500,917 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 23,987 in 2021
Average household income: $77,700 in 2020
Average home price: $449,290 in June 2022
Top universities: University of Alberta, University of Calgary
Top colleges: Bow Valley College, NAIT, Red Deer Polytechnic
Main industries: Oil, gas and mining, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, insurance and real estate, tourism, transportation and utilities, business and commercial services, education
Largest Cities: Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Red Deer
Saskatchewan is known as a farming province. But those not cultivating the country’s grain are active in the province’s other popular industries: mining, manufacturing and oil and gas.
Saskatchewan’s flatness offers beautiful prairie vistas. It also has typical Canada winters and hot and humid summers.
Ever visited the Dead Sea? Saskatchewan has a similar body of water — Little Lake Manitou — with such a high mineral content that you can’t sink.
Population size: 1,186,308 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 7,321 in 2021
Average household income: $67,700 in 2020
Average home price: $333,400 in June 2022
Top universities: University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina
Top colleges: Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Cumberland College, Southeast College
Main industries: Agriculture, energy, forestry, life sciences, manufacturing, mining, minerals, oil and gas
Manitoba is a prairie province located in the center of Canada with several growing industries. The province is known for its advanced manufacturing and heavy-duty manufacturing. Those with experience in skilled trades are welcome.
Manitoba has a mix of flat agricultural land and forests, a landscape that is apparently a fertile breeding ground for snakes. The province’s Narcisse Snake Dens, which are just north of Winnipeg, have the highest concentration of snakes in the world. More than 75,000 emerge from hibernation each spring.
Population size: 1,393,179 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 10,194 in 2021
Average household income: $63,000 in 2020
Average home price: $376,267 in June 2022
Top universities: University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg
Top colleges: Assiniboine Community College, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
Main industries: Agriculture, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, heavy-duty vehicles and equipment, mining, the creative industries
Ontario is Canada’s province with the highest population and the home of Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, and biggest city, Toronto. Toronto is home to many corporate headquarters and is also the most diverse city in Canada: Just under half of Torontonians are newcomers and more than 52% are visible newcomers.
Newcomers to Canada have the ability to connect with other communities of people from around the world in cities across the province. Ontario is also the home to some of Canada’s best universities, including the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo.
Ontario also has Canada’s only professional basketball team. The Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019.
Population size: 15,007,816 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 107,865 in 2021
Average household income: $70,100 in 2020
Average home price: $881,475 in June 2022
Top universities: University of Toronto, Queens University, University of Waterloo, Western University, McMaster University
Top colleges: Humber College, Canadore College, Conestoga College
Main industries: Agriculture, mining, automotive, technology, aerospace, life sciences, financial, retail
Largest cities: Toronto, Ottawa, London, Burlington, Waterloo, Hamilton, Guelph, Oakville
If you’re a French speaker, you’ll love Quebec, which is Canada’s francophone province. The French language is protected and more than three quarters of the population are French speakers. All signs must be in French and most school-age children attend French speaking schools.
The provincial government prioritizes French-speaking newcomers.
Quebec is also the world’s largest producer of maple syrup. Over 70% of global syrup production happens in the province, which was once the site of a maple syrup heist that saw more than $18 million in syrup go missing! Luckily, the thieves were later caught.
Population size: 8,653,184 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 33,385 in 2021
Average household income: $59,700 in 2020
Average home price: $506,024 in June 2022
Top universities: University of Montreal, McGill University, Bishop’s University, Concordia University, Laval University
Top colleges: Dawson College, LaSalle College, Vanier College
Main industries: Technology, video games, electronics, food, life sciences, manufacturing, hydroelectricity, tourism, agriculture, forestry
Largest cities: Montreal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivieres
Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces, so fisheries are traditionally a big industry. However, shipbuilding and manufacturing are, too.
Because the province had a lot of Scottish immigrants, it has rich Gaelic and Celtic cultures. Nova Scotia’s universities are well known for certain programs outside Canada.
Like to watch the tides come in? The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia has the world’s highest tides. Every day, 160 billion tonnes of seawater move in and out of the bay.
Population size: 1,007,049 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 3,536 in 2021
Average household income: $57,500 in 2020
Average home price: $417,300 in June 2022
Top universities: Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Acadia University
Top colleges: Nova Scotia Community College, College of Continuing Education
Main industries: Construction, manufacturing, real estate, fishing, agriculture, transportation, finance, film, natural resources
The beauty of New Brunswick is largely because of its amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean and rich forests. It’s also a heavily bilingual province with a large population of francophones. Expect cold winters with heavy storms here. You’ll need a good pair of boots!
The province depends on its forestry, mining, fishing and tourism industries — as well as french fries. The small town of Florenceville-Bristol is often called the French Fry Capital of the World. About a third of the world’s frozen french fries are made there, and they even have a museum dedicated to the beloved spud, the aptly named Potato World.
Population size: 800,243 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 2,689 in 2021
Average household income: $56,900 in 2020
Average home price: $299,000 in June 2022
Top universities: University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University, Mount Allison University
Top colleges: New Brunswick Community College, McKenzie College, Oulton College
Main industries: Forestry, mining, fishing, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, services
Largest cities: Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Dieppe
Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the smaller provinces in terms of population but still offers lots of opportunities and jobs in sectors like mining and manufacturing. The province is known for its regional culture, great seafood and friendly residents.
It’s also known for having been where the first transatlantic flight took off in 1919. John Alcock and Arthur Brown flew 16 hours from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Ireland.
Population size: 522,875 (as of 2022)
Newcomers arriving: 885 in 2021
Average household income: $59,300 in 2020
Average home price: $281,300 in June 2022
Top universities: Memorial University
Top colleges: College of the North Atlantic, Western College, Eastern College
Main industries: Mining, manufacturing, fishing, forestry, hydroelectricity
Largest cities: St. John’s, Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor
Famous for its lobster rolls and the Anne of Green Gables book series, P.E.I. is Canada’s smallest province. One of the longest bridges in the world attaches the island to the mainland. One downside to living here is a lack of access to certain specialized forms of health care. Residents are flown to the mainland for certain procedures.
Prince Edward Island is known for its tourism and fisheries industries. Despite what its name suggests, it isn’t one island. The province actually includes 232 islands. With all those islands, P.E.I. is also home to a large number of lighthouses. There are 63 lighthouses still standing, but only 35 are currently active.
Population size: 167,680 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 1,211 in 2021
Average household income: $59,400 in 2020
Average home price: $367,200 in June 2022
Top universities: University of Prince Edward Island
Top colleges: Holland College, Maritime Christian College
Main industries: Agriculture, fisheries, tourism, aerospace, bioscience, information technology, renewable energy
Largest Cities: Charlottetown, Summerside, Stratford, Cornwall
Well known from tales of the gold rush that took place in the Yukon, this territory’s biggest industry is still mining. However, tourism is also a big industry in Whitehorse and other areas. Visitors come from all over the world to see the Northern Lights and go dogsledding.
The Yukon has a significant Indigenous population and a rich cultural history. Like with all Canadian territories, it has a high cost of living. Most necessities have to be flown in during the winter, making for a hefty grocery bill. It also makes it hard to build new housing, which pushes up the price of homes.
Most people don’t know that the Yukon is home to the highest mountains in Canada. Mount Logan is the second highest mountain in North America.
Population size: 43,249 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 300 in 2021
Average household income: $49,200 in 2021
Average home price: $565,626 in June 2022
Top universities: Yukon University
Top colleges: Yukon College
Main industries: Mining, tourism, manufacturing, telecommunication, service
The Northwestern Territories is beautiful, but expensive. It’s a sparsely populated territory without access to high-speed internet in all locations. However, it has a rich tourism and mining industry and can have good opportunities for newcomers due to a lack of skilled workers and professionals.
Just like the Yukon, the Northwestern Territories have a large Indigenous population. It has similar problems with high cost of living due to the difficulties of getting necessities to towns in the winter and constructing new homes.
In addition to its reputation for cold weather, the territory is also known as the Diamond Capital of North America. A number of diamond mines are located across the Northwest Territories.
Population size: 45,607 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 144 in 2021
Average household income: $51,200 in 2021
Average home price: $515,211 in June 2022
Top universities: N/A
Top colleges: Aurora College
Main industries: Energy, fisheries, construction, mining, oil and gas, tourism, fur, manufacturing
Largest cities: Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik
The northernmost territory, Nunavut has beautiful Arctic wildlife and scenery and is populated primarily by the Inuit people. The territory faces significant resource and development issues, as well as an extremely high cost of living due to the difficulties of getting necessary food and building materials into the territory.
While opportunities here are limited and access to things like post-secondary education and specialized medical care limited without travelling out-of-territory, there’s a need for certain professions in Nunavut.
Ever dream of going to Mars? Turns out Nunavut’s climate is so similar to what Mars’ climate is believed to be that the Haughton-Mars Project trains astronauts there for future Mars missions.
Population size: 40,103 as of 2022
Newcomers arriving: 21 in 2021
Average household income: $73,500 in 2021
Average home price: No data available
Top universities: N/A
Top colleges: Nunavut Arctic College
Main industries: Mining, fishing, hunting trapping, construction, arts
Largest cities: Iqaluit, Baker Lake, Cambridge Bay
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BATHURST, N.B. – RCMP in New Brunswick say a weekend ground search for evidence related to the disappearance of a teenage girl in 2021 didn’t reveal any new information.
In an emailed statement, the RCMP said 20 people participated in the search for evidence in the case of Madison Roy-Boudreau of Bathurst.
The release said the search occurred in the Middle River area, just south of the girl’s hometown.
Police have said the 14-year-old’s disappearance is being treated as a homicide investigation.
The RCMP said the search “did not reveal any new information regarding the circumstances of her disappearance.”
There are no plans for another search until police receive a tip or a lead pointing to a new search area.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
VICTORIA – A middle school in Victoria was forced into a lockdown after a man entered the building without permission, and police say they had to use a stun gun to make an arrest.
Victoria police say officers received multiple calls around noon on Monday of an unknown male entering Central Middle School, leading staff to set off emergency procedures that put the building under lockdown.
Police say its emergency response team arrived within minutes and found the suspect, who “appeared to be in a drug-induced state,” in the school’s library.
A statement from police says the suspect resisted arrest, and officers had to use a Taser to subdue the man.
He’s being held by police and has been assessed by emergency medical staff.
Police say the man was not armed and there were no continuing safety concerns for students and staff following the arrest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Former B.C. Green leader Andrew Weaver knows what it’s like to form a minority government with the NDP, but says such a deal to create the province’s next administration is less likely this time than seven years ago.
Weaver struck a power-sharing agreement that resulted in John Horgan’s NDP minority government in 2017, but said in an interview Monday there is now more animosity between the two parties.
Neither the NDP nor the B.C. Conservatives secured a majority in Saturday’s election, raising the prospect of a minority NDP government if Leader David Eby can get the support of two Green legislators.
Manual recounts in two ridings could also play an important role in the outcome, which will not be known for about a week.
Weaver, who is no longer a member of the Greens, endorsed a Conservative candidate in his home riding.
He said Eby would be in a better position to negotiate if Furstenau, who lost her seat, stepped aside as party leader.
“I think Mr. Eby would be able to have fresh discussions with fresh new faces around the table, (after) four years of political sniping … between Sonia and the NDP in the B.C. legislature,” he said.
He said Furstenau’s loss put the two elected Greens in an awkward position because parties “need the leader in the legislature.”
Furstenau could resign as leader or one of the elected Greens could step down and let her run in a byelection in their riding, he said.
“They need to resolve that issue sooner rather than later,” he said.
The Green victories went to Rob Botterell in Saanich North and the Islands and Jeremy Valeriote in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.
Neither Botterell nor Valeriote have held seats in the legislature before, Weaver noted.
“It’s not like in 2017 when, you know, I had been in the (legislature) for four years already,” Weaver said, adding that “the learning curve is steep.”
Sanjay Jeram, chair of undergraduate studies in political science at Simon Fraser University, said he doesn’t think it’ll be an “easygoing relationship between (the NDP and Greens) this time around.”
“I don’t know if Eby and Furstenau have the same relationship — or the potential to have the same relationship — as Horgan and Weaver did,” he said. “I think their demands will be a little more strict and it’ll be a little more of a cold alliance than it was in 2017 if they do form an alliance.”
Horgan and Weaver shook hands on a confidence-and-supply agreement before attending a rugby match, where they were spotted sitting together before the deal became public knowledge.
Eby said in his election-night speech that he had already reached out to Furstenau and suggested common “progressive values” between their parties.
Furstenau said in her concession speech that her party was poised to play a “pivotal role” in the legislature.
Botterell said in an election-night interview that he was “totally supportive of Sonia” and he would “do everything I can to support her and the path forward that she chooses to take because that’s her decision.”
The Green Party of Canada issued a news release Monday, congratulating the candidates on their victories, noting Valeriote’s win is the first time that a Green MLA has been elected outside of Vancouver Island.
“Now, like all British Columbians we await the final seat count to know which party will have the best chance to form government. Let’s hope that the Green caucus has a pivotal role,” the release said, echoing Furstenau’s turn of phrase.
The final results of the election won’t be known until at least next week.
Elections BC says manual recounts will be held on Oct. 26 to 28 in two ridings where NDP candidates led B.C. Conservatives by fewer than 100 votes after the initial count ended on Sunday.
The outcomes in Surrey City Centre and Juan de Fuca-Malahat could determine who forms government.
The election’s initial results have the NDP elected or leading in 46 ridings, and the B.C. Conservatives in 45, both short of the 47 majority mark in B.C.’s 93-seat legislature.
If the Conservatives win both of the recount ridings and win all other ridings where they lead, Rustad will win with a one-seat majority.
If the NDP holds onto at least one of the ridings where there are recounts, wins the other races it leads, and strikes a deal with the Greens, they would have enough numbers to form a minority government.
But another election could also be on the cards, since the winner will have to nominate a Speaker, reducing the government’s numbers in the legislature by one vote.
Elections BC says it will also be counting about 49,000 absentee and mail-in ballots from Oct. 26 to 28.
The NDP went into the election with 55 ridings, representing a comfortable majority in what was then an 87-seat legislature.
Jeram, with Simon Fraser University, said though the counts aren’t finalized, the Conservatives were the big winners in the election.
“They weren’t really a not much of a formal party until not that long ago, and to go from two per cent of the vote to winning 45 or more seats in the B.C. provincial election is just incredible,” he said in an interview Monday.
Jeram said people had expected Eby to call an election after he took over from John Horgan in 2022, and if he had, he doesn’t think there would have been the same result.
He said the B.C. Conservative’s popularity grew as a result of the decision of the BC Liberals to rebrand as BC United and later drop out.
“Had Eby called an election before that really shook out, and maybe especially before (Pierre) Poilievre, kind of really had the wind in his sails and started to grow, I think he could have won the majority for sure.”
He said he wasn’t surprised by the results of the election, saying polls were fairly accurate.
“Ultimately, it really was a result that we saw coming for a while, since the moment that BC United withdrew and put their support behind the conservatives, I think this was the outcome that was expected.”
— With files from Darryl Greer
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.