British Columbia Legislative Buildings, May 2021
May is a wonderful time of the year in Canada. General Practitioners and their families who have moved to Canada marvel at the awe-inspiring sights. Flowers and flowering trees are blooming everywhere! The colours are magnificent! And, there are many stories about these flowers.
Tulips are now celebrated with their own festival in May in our capital city of Ottawa. In 1945, following the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian forces, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands presented Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, with 100,000 tulip bulbs in appreciation for Canada’s offer of safe haven to exiled Dutch royalty and in recognition of the role Canada played in The Netherland’s future.
Since that time, tulips have become synonymous with Spring across Canada.
In 2022, Canadians hope that the celebration of Victoria Day will return.
Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria! Canada is one of the few countries that still celebrates the Queen’s birthday. Many think the celebration is in honour of Queen Elizabeth.
Victoria, the British queen was born on May 24, 1819. She was a reigning monarch (Queen) for 63 years.
Victoria Day was declared a Canadian holiday by the government in 1845.
At that time, it was celebrated with marching bands, picnics, parades, sporting tournaments, fireworks and cannon salutes.
In more recent years, the day has been celebrated as the official birthday of Canada's sovereign although in some Canadian provinces it is celebrated by a different name. It is informally considered to be the beginning of the summer season in Canada.
Authentic Facebook Posting by Physician
As a physician recruiter, I heard many of the same complaints from the UK general practitioners who I speak with. So, I undertook to summarize their thoughts.
My question was: What prompted you to consider a move to Canada?
The keywords in their answers were: Anxiety, disillusion, sadness, lack of opportunity, breaking point. A few comments from these UK general practitioners:
What these UK GP’s said about Canada after relocating here:
In my role as a physician recruiter, I am pleased to help create an opportunity for a better Work-Life balance for the physicians I am recruiting to practice in Canada. If anyone is thinking about moving to Canada, I encourage you to contact a former colleague or friend who has made the move. I am not aware of any UK doctors who have returned to Canada.
– John Livingstone
Ontario is the east-central province of Canada, sharing its borders with the United States. It is home to some of Canada's most popular destinations including the metropolitan city of Toronto, the Niagara Falls, and Canada's capital Ottawa.
There can be a number of reasons for moving to Ontario. You could move for employment opportunities, to pursue education in one of Canada's finest universities, or simply to experience a new way of life.
Ontario is the most populous province in all of Canada. That's because people from all over the world flock to Ontario because of the cultural value of its cities and its thriving economy. The following are the best cities to live in Ontario.
Ottawa: The Capital of Canada, Ottawa has an incredibly low unemployment rate of 4.6% and a strong median income of $91,000. It has also been labeled the best place to live in Canada.
Toronto: Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is one of the world’s most famous metropolitan cities. It is also one of Canada's most multicultural cities, with 49% of the population belonging to visible minorities. Toronto is widely considered to be the cultural center of Canada. In addition, Toronto is such a large city that you should look into the best neighbourhoods before you settle down.
Hamilton: Often referred to as the Waterfall Capital of the World, Hamilton is one of Canada's most visually stunning locations boasting a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the form of Dundurn Castle and a rich biosphere comprising over 100 waterfalls. It has recently also established itself as a hub for young entrepreneurs because of its relative affordability.
The cost of living in Ontario varies greatly from one location to the next. For example, the average rental rate for a one-bedroom in Hamilton is $907 whereas the average rental rate for a one-bedroom in Toronto is $2,230.
In terms of income taxes, Ontario has a moderate provincial tax rate of 11.5%, in addition to the country-wide federal tax rate of 15%.
CanadaMedicalCareers.ca has several outstanding openings for GP’s across Canada. Email [email protected] for more details.
One of our clients is a clinic in beautiful Waterloo, Ontario – about a one-hour drive from Toronto.
To learn more about this great opportunity email [email protected]
This very rare opportunity to practice in a beautiful seaside family practice clinic has just become available due to a retirement. The clinic is literally 100 steps to the ocean with nearby marinas.
To learn more about this opportunity and see a special video contact John Livingstone: [email protected]
UBC Biochemist and Molecular Biology Professor
Canada has outstanding Life Sciences programs and Dr. Pieter Cullis is a scientist who, along with his team at the University of British Columbia (UBC), developed the method for delivering mRNA vaccine in the fight against Covid-19. Read more about Dr. Cullis and his team at the Life Sciences Institute.
2021
April 27 – June 16;
July 13- 28;
Sept 1 – 22
October 19 – November 9
2022
January 26 – February 23
April 13 – May 18
July 6 -27
August 31 – September 21
October 19 – November 9
The College of Family Physicians of Canada is the recognized licensing authority for family physicians in Canada. Those physicians coming from the UK, Ireland, Australia, or the USA will usually not have to write the examination required to practice as a General Practitioner in Canada. Verification of your MRCGP, MICGP, FRACGP, FACRRM, or DABFM will be required. For more information on this certification visit CFPC.ca and check out the Education and Professional Development section. Members in good standing will use the CCFP certification.
If you are serious about practicing medicine in Canada the first thing you should do is open an account with PhysiciansApply.ca. It is an online portal operated under the auspices of the Medical Council of Canada (similar to the GMC in the UK). Every doctor coming to Canada must have an account. This is where your credentials must be verified. These credentials include your passport, medical degrees and more. Every province and territory of Canada has a regulatory authority to handle physician licensing and these authorities (Colleges) will need to access your PhysiciansApply.ca account before you can be licensed in Canada.
Don’t wait! Some documents can be verified quickly, and others may take some time, especially if you attended medical school in a country that is slow to respond to inquiries from Canada.
If you are an IMG, licensing in Canada as a physician simply does not happen without a PhysiciansApply.ca account.
We like questions!
It’s likely that you will have questions along your journey to practicing in Canada. Don’t hesitate to contact John Livingstone at: [email protected]
Or call WhatsApp +1 250-885-8802 (9 AM - 6 PM Pacific Time)