Relocation services for British Columbia, Canada

Moving to BC?

Welcome to the relocation2BC web site. We are realtors and relocation specialists, covering the whole of B.C. This site, like us, is dedicated to helping immigrants relocate to British Columbia. As well as plenty of information, advice and our weekly newsletter we offer a free relocation service.

How to use this site

Browse the reference material

We have a growing amount of reference information that is there to help you with planning and researching your move. If you cannot find what you want, try our search, or use our enquiry form to ask us.

Sign-up for our free weekly newsletter

This newsletter is a handy way of keeping informed and motivated. As a subscriber you have access to the complete archive of past newsletters. Sign-up now.

Coming on a research trip?

Book a research trip tour

If you are coming to BC on a research trip or you want a free tour when you arrive, then just book one with us. This no obligation tour lets you see the area and ask questions of us. Please note that we cover most of BC, and we will set you up with the right person to help you in the area of your choice.

Landing or wanting more help?

There are a lot of people wanting to come to B.C. While we help everyone we can, we give priority to those who have filled in our client details form. This gives us and our partners the information we need to help you. So if you want our help please fill in our relocation client form. Once we have this we will be in touch with you to discuss how we can best help you.

If you need to know more about all the free services we reserve for our clients then you can find out more.

Introducing us

This web site is written by us: Sue and Frank Gerryts. We came to Vancouver in summer 2003, along with our four kids, elderly parent and dog. We have distilled our experience into this web site. [More about us...] We have also built up a network of partners who cover most areas of British Columbia - we are all here to help.

Make a donationSue has over 20 years of management experience in International Human Resources, working for companies such as Qantas and United Airlines. She has extensive experience in helping families relocate around the world. She also can advise on job search, interviewing skills and résumé writing as well as finding banks, getting credit, SIN and MSP numbers and all the basics you need in your new life.

Our children at Christmas, 2006She can also help you find your dream home in BC. Since moving to BC, Sue has studied for and passed her realtor’s license and has joined a highly reputable BC real estate firm: Macdonald Realty Ltd, known for their professionalism and high ethical standards. If you are moving outside her area, Sue will find you a realtor who understands the issues (and stresses) affecting someone moving from overseas.

The Lions Gate Bridge from the
North Shore.Frank has over 20 years in Corporate IT, mainly in the finance sector and keeps his hand in by maintaining our web sites. He also worked as a personal coach and counsellor, which gives him the skills to help reduce the stress of moving. Like Sue, he is a licensed realtor.

We have a newsletter to keep you up to date with what is happening in BC, a teen diary which tells other teens how it really is in school!

This web site is sponsored by VancouverForHomes.com

What help can you find?

When you are thinking of moving to another country, even another continent, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Almost everything seems to involve decisions; what area should we live in? What are the schools like? What is there to do for teens? How much will this all cost?

Apart from the major decisions, there seems to be so much to think about and sort out from moving all your household, people, pets, to what to do with your BBQ and vintage bike. Perhaps the kids are worried that their Playstation will not work or that their favorite TV show will not be on. The list goes on…

Deep Cove’s cultural centre in spring
sunshine. On relocation2BC, you can find all sorts of practical help, (sprinkled with a helping of British humour,) to keep you going. We know how it feels, we have been there, done it and now have designed this web site to pass our knowledge on. You can search for answers, read our articles and stories, follow links and sign up for newsletters. We aim to de-clutter and simplify the whole process!

Plus we have built up a network of friendly, helpful people in the same situation. If we can’t answer your questions, we will find someone who can! This web site is growing and will continue to grow. If there is anything that you want to see here and cannot find, just let us know. We are dedicated to ensuring this site is useful so will do what we can to help.

Read more about us.

Moving

As you are planning your move to British Columbia, there are a lot of things that you will want to know about. This section has advice and guidance on a variety of subjects, like what to bring, moving with pets, getting all the landing formalities done and setting up your medical coverage. See this section. Find out more in our section on moving.

Finding work

If you are looking for work in Canada, then it is important to know that the Canadian process for job seeking is quite different. Your résumé (CV) will probably look quite different from the one you have in the UK. Also a lot of work is found via networking. Just posting your résumé is not likely to work. Find out more in our section on jobs.

Housing

The house buying process in Canada is different from the UK - thankfully for the better! We explain the ins and outs of the process, as well as the different kinds of houses available. Your house (or condo) is likely to be one of your major investments and so it is important to understand how to make the most of this opportunity. Find out more.

MLS® Searches

The Multiple Listing Service® is a searchable database of almost all property for sale in Canada. You do not have to wonder if you need to visit another real estate agent - all agents have access to the whole MLS®. And so do you, now that we offer you the ability to search for property right here.

And if you are looking specifically at Greater Vancouver we also have enhanced MLS searches to help you.

Area profiles

Photo of UBC taken from Lighthouse Park
on Vancouver’s North Shore.We know that B.C. is a huge area, and so we thought it would help to give you profiles of the main areas within British Columbia. These profiles will be added to over time, and are intended as a way of helping you assess an area as a possible destination.

Note that we have partners who cover different areas of B.C. Even if you cannot see the answer to your questions on our web site, get in touch and we will gladly pass on your enquiries to our partners in the appropriate area.

Explore different areas of B.C...

Services

This section is designed to show case services that are of interest to people moving to B.C. For example we have a mortgage broker, foreign exchange and a CAIPS file check service. We are looking for recommendations of businesses that have helped others. And if you run a business that you think our clients would benefit from then let us know.

Schooling

If you have kids of school age then you will want to know how the Canadian school system works. What grade will your child go into? What subjects are covered? Do they have to speak french? Well you will find out answers to these and many more questions in our schooling section.

Financial matters

Vancouver seen from the North ShoreWhen you move to Canada there's a whole load of financial things to sort out. If you are still in the UK and waiting to transfer your pounds into dollars, then you will benefit from our tips on exchanging currency.

Our financial section also covers establishing a credit history, one of the important things you will need to do early on. After all you are likely to be doing a lot of buying in the early days: buying a house, a car, furniture, warm clothes, sports gear... the list goes on. You will want to make the most of your money by using the banking system to your advantage. Find out more in our finances section.

Lifestyle

Roller blading along the sea wall
in VancouverChances are you are moving to BC for the lifestyle. As the current adverts have it - "the best place in the world to be". We agree! This section is on useful information on various aspects of living in BC - the good things. So if you want to know about snow sports, sailing, the arts, food or shopping, this is the section for you. Read more »

Immigration

This section gives you an overview of the various visas that are available for people who want to immigrate to Canada or come here to work. We are not immigration consultants but this is a good place to start your research on the legalities of coming to Canada. Read on »

Fun stuff

We have added a section of diaries. Most of these are written by our own teens, and largely unedited (except the odd parental spell check - well you have to, don't you?). We hope that these diaries will give a picture of what life in Canada is like for school kids.

And we also have our own reflections on life in Canada. This is somewhere to note the odd thoughts and observations on things we have done or seen. We hope this will be interesting too. Jasper making himself at home
on bench at Lighthouse Park.

And for completeness, our dog, Jasper, has got in on the act and added his diary.
Read the diaries.