How to Move to the Maritimes

There are many beautiful lakes in Nova Scotia, which is part of the Maritimes.

Moving is always difficult because of the many different elements involved in the process. You have to think about what you are going to do for employment, where you are going to live, how you are going to get there and how your family and friends will adjust. The Maritimes are a province in Canada that consists of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. They are known for their beauty, fishing and access to the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Maine and Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Instructions

1. Contact Canada's Office of Citizenship and Immigration if you are not a citizen of Canada. They will provide you with information about applying for citizenship or work visas depending on how long you plan to live in the Maritimes. Make sure that you will be able to get a job once you move if you need to make a living.

2. Visit the Maritimes to determine where exactly you want to move. You should plan to see some larger cities as well as small towns, depending on the type of atmosphere you are looking for. Order copies of the local papers beforehand so that you can read about local happenings. For example, order the "Charlottetown Guardian," Nova Scotia's "Chronicle-Herald" or the "Cape Breton Post."

3. Locate an apartment or house to rent or purchase in your chosen Maritimes destination. Having this picked out before you move makes the process much easier once you arrive. Contact local Maritime real estate offices such as RE/MAX, Boats and Realty Canada, or Keller Williams Company to get started.

4. Organize your possessions and determine the best way to physically move your property to the Maritimes. Check with Canadian customs about paperwork that will needed to be filled out to get your belongings across the border.

5. Rent a truck or hire a moving company to bring your possessions to the Maritimes. Begin searching in the local paper's classified ads or visit recruiting firms in metropolitan Halifax.

6. Visit the local tourism offices once you arrive in town to find fun and interesting things to do. In bigger cities such as Halifax, Cape Breton and Charlottetown the tourism offices are located in the downtown areas, while smaller towns do not necessarily have tourism or visitor centers. Instead, visit local hotels or pubs to ask about things to do in the area.

References

• Maritimes
• MSNBC; Canada's Quieter Side; The Maritimes
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Immigrating to Canada