Pros:
- Free health care. Keep in mind that pharmaceuticals and dental work are not covered, and you will require a health insurance plan to cover them. Many workplaces offer this, but they can also be purchased individually for around $100/ month.
- Fewer guns on the streets. Public carry is a no go unless you’re transporting the weapon to a range or something. Gang violence is still a thing, so don’t make the mistake of thinking the rules are completely effective, but they sure make a difference.
Cons:
- Cost of living is higher - I think. A pack of smokes costs $15 and we’ve been getting gouged on groceries for the last few years. But minimum wage is $15/hour, so that may balance out. I’m not sure what the incomes vs. expenses situation is like for you out there. Rent can be ridiculous in some areas, but there’s usually a lot available and you can find an affordable place if you really look.
Lodges:
- Not sure. There’s a Druid’s association here in AB and that’s all I’ve really heard of besides the Masons. Ontario and Quebec, being much larger urban centers, are likely to have more options.
Magick Outlets/Supplies
- Easy to find. There are three small cities (think less than 50,000 people) within an hour drive of me that each have a magick shop where I can get incenses, oils, herbs, crystals, cards, books…The larger cities might have dozens of similar shops scattered throughout.
Views/Laws
- It is illegal to pretend to practice witchcraft in Canada. Yes, you read that correctly. You want to curse someone? Go ahead. You want to scare them by pretending to curse them? Illegal. This seems mostly to prevent fraud by psychics and whatnot, but it is pretty funny.
- While there is a lot of common interest in the supernatural, with an emphasis on the New Age movement, people’s eyes tend to get wide and they take a step back when you tell them you actually practice. I often keep that information to myself.
Churches
- There’s a lot. You can find just about any branch of Christianity, and I’ve seen plenty of others that I don’t even recognize the names of. We don’t seem to hate or discriminate individuals based on religion up here. The Catholic Church has a really, really bad reputation and the Pope might catch more flak than the Prime Minister, but I can’t think of the last time I heard about someone being bothered for their personal views.
In summary, our cultures are quite similar, but our governments are involved a little differently. Canada helps out the common man a little more, but has more control over some of the luxury freedoms. A gal who moved up here from the Midwest told me that we’re super nice in comparison. Keep in mind that there’s a ton of diversity here. You could move to the heart of Toronto or to a small town in the middle of nowhere and think they’re totally different countries.
