I am starting the process to immigrate to Canada from the US. Maybe unsurprisingly I find I have no ideas where I would like to live. I do enjoy mountains, and don't want to be in the heart of a city.
I definitely require high speed internet access. Other than that, I could use some help!
EDIT: Mountains are not a deal breaker. Water would be nice, but sea level rise is a concern.
Canada’s about to elect our own right wing version of Trump. So if you’re looking to escape that by moving here… don’t be too optimistic.
BC almost went conservative provincially in the last election. Alberta and Saskatchewan are batshit insane conservative. Manitoba used to be but they’ve gone centre left. Ontario conservative corporate.
Quebec… I’m not going to touch that one.
And then the east which I don’t have a ton of feedback on personally.
It you're leaving for progressive reasons, Alberta is north Texas. BC is pretty progressive, although I don't know how they lean outside of metros. I have my suspicions though.
If you want to be near mountains, want affordable living and are progressive, Lethbridge, AB may be your best bet. The landscape there is a bit weird. Looks kind or like Iceland or something. Super hilly with big valleys and very few trees outside or the city, but definitely not a big city vibe like you'd find in Edmonton or Calgary.
Pretty mild climate too.
But the Alberta government is fucking idiotic, so I can't say what will happen in the future with healthcare and human rights.
If you want mountains, you're kinda limited. Vancouver, BC, has great mountains, ocean, and forest access, but COL is pretty high for Canada. Calgary, AB is the closest city to the Canadian Rockies, but is in the middle of nowhere elsewise.
If you're looking for good internet, though, you're going to want Vancouver or Toronto. Those are the tech hubs of Canada.
You aren't going to find mountains in any of the parts of Canada that you'll want to live in. BC is trending right, Alberta and Saskatchewan are the right (Alberta is the Texas of Canada), Ontario is a shit-show, and Quebec is... Well, how good is your French?
I'd suggest PEI or Nova Scotia and satellite internet.
Sorry, I don't have a recommendation, but I will warn you against Alberta. I've lived here my entire life here and I love this land, but it's getting more dangerous here for queer folks. BC could be a consideration if you can afford housing there.
It's got mountains around, it's not completely caught in the Conservative trap, you've got decent amenities of civilization around without the big city or suburb vibe of Metro Vancouver, (I still think it pales as a "city" compared to Toronto), but as a day trip you can head there to sightsee or pick up big box stuff.
If you want something more laid back I second Yukon.
If you're ok downgrading from epic Rockies style mountains to just like... Big hills (a hundred foot cliff is still pretty impressive up close, ok 😅), then the maritimes might be pretty good.
Summer and winter are much milder near the cost (although I wouldn't call the weather good), and the east coast is cheaper than the West Coast.
If you live near to a "city" you can get good Internet. I have like 1.5gb fibre, and I live on the boundary between suburban and rural.
I wouldn't get my hopes up, you want to come here and still work for your current US employer? What does Canada have to gain from that? You're not coming to fill a gap for us, you want to move to reap the benefits without any direct involvement.
If you like mountains and your job is remote then why not try and live in somewhere in Alberta? Canmore is right next to Banff and is absolutely gorgeous. That being said Alberta is pretty much the America of Canada meaning their politics is pretty right wing. If you want to live in a province that's more left wing you can try British Colunbia which is on the other side of the rockies.
Might I recommend Milo Alberta? Super cheap. They use an air raid siren every day to announce lunch (the town is closed other then the restaurant 12-1).
If you want something with mountains, you likely can not afford that.
Try Drummheller if you have not seen it its in the badlands. Looks like this
If you, or anyone else in this thread is actually serious about becoming immigrants in another country, this is a great thread for what it will actually take to get started in making the move.
I think they are cracking down on it though so maybe it’ll work…or maybe you’ll end up waiting for so long another president takes over. Mixed blessing. Cuz in Canada you get stuck with turds for prime minister for life. Their bipartisan is locked in way harder than in the US. But at least they have a seat system to keep it somewhat in check so there’s that.
Moving here is going to be a long term drop in quality of life. Wages are lower, the dollar is weaker, taxes are higher and the "free" health care is not free.