Becoming Canadian

After 3 years in my new home, a momentous decision has been made. I’m applying for Canadian Citizenship (as are the rest of the family, which is actually rather comforting).

It all began in 2004 with a second redundancy looming within 18 months of the first. A nagging feeling that the UK wasn’t going to be the place to be was once again prodding me and after several discussions with Lesley we sat down with our kids to discuss what next. The short version is that after deciding to make some sort of move to an English speaking country, Canada came out tops as the place to try for. I checked out the process for moving and after several weeks of gathering information, and boy was there a lot to gather, I delivered our application for Permanent Residence visas at the Canadian High Commission n London.

Fast forward 14 months and our wait was over, but only partially. The Commission wrote to me advising that the process was running late and that I’d another year to wait. Another fast forward and in April 07 the family were asked to attend medicals. It was at this point that it became clear that we’d cleared the points bar and were close to achieving our goal.

After a visit to Vancouver in June 07 the relocation completed in late August and it turned out to be the end of the preface, the real adventure was only just beginning. Why Vancouver? When asked my somewhat flippant replies are “I don’t do -30, +30 temperature ranges”, or “I you’re going to have a mid life crises, do it in style.” The truth is probably stranger.

Back in 2005 I was busy listening to podcasts and via a somewhat strange route of Wired Jesus, the Evil Genius Chronicles, Ted Riecken’s Island Podcasting had arrived at John Bollwit’s Radiozoom. His outsiders take on life in Vancouver hooked me and having researched the area concluded that the west coast it would be.

So, many stories and challenges later here I am, at the start of the next stage of becoming Canadian. After 3 years in my new home, a momentous decision has been made. I’m applying for Canadian Citizenship (as are the rest of the family, which is actually rather comforting).

The process isn’t quick – some 14 months to wait, but the thought of choosing the shortest line up at airports can’t be under-valued as the family will end up with dual citizenship and able to move within North America and the EU without much hassle. There do appear to be more advantages to dual citizenship that airport line-ups, not having to re-apply for permanent residency would be one so at the start of October, the applications were posted.

Becoming Canadian edges closer however I can’t see me losing my Englishness (whatever that may be). Hmmm, I may just have to dip back in to Billy Bragg’s the Progressive Patriot to remind myself of what being English can be. Another day.