Greetings all,
I recently left my job with the Army Corps of Engineers in California, and I’m once again in the position of trying to come up with a new plan for my life after the old one fell apart. I’m looking at immigration to Canada and I’ve already started pursuing a few different avenues. This thread is not meant to be about the intricacies of the immigration process or a discussion of whether I should or shouldn’t leave the US (I understand living in Canada has its own set of challenges, just like anywhere else). However, I am still unsure where I may end up exactly, and it’s important to me to be somewhere that I can continue exploring and observing for iNat, so I would be happier to live somewhere with the widest variety of habitats and species. I know we’ve got some Canadian forum members and others who have spent time in the country. I’m hoping you might share your opinions and stories on your favorite places in Canada. Do you have any favorite spots or have recommendations on the best provinces/cities for nature lovers to live in? Are there any biomes or particular habitats that strike you as particularly iconic elements of the country?
Right now, if I had my pick, I think Calgary would be at the top of my list. Most of my job prospects are in the Ottawa, Vancouver, or Calgary areas, and of the three, Calgary seems to be comparatively less expensive (or comparable with Ottawa, depending on who you ask, but definitely less than Vancouver). It’s close to mountains, forests, and prairie habitats. It’s also relatively close to Banff and Jasper National Parks. I’ve never been to any of the Canadian National Parks, but the National and State Parks in California have been a big part of my life since I moved here, so it’d be nice to have something similar close to my new home.