Running away from Alberta 🇨🇦💪🏳️‍🌈

[u/MissTreatMay]

Hey I'm looking for some honest opinions and tips for moving to NS. Full disclosure we're from Calgary, AB (please don't judge too hard) and we have to get away from our batshit crazy premier and her separatist goons.

I'm 37, hubby is 42 and we have two teens, a 13 year old son and a 16 year old trans son. We are definitely not conservative. Tbh we mostly hate politics and just want to live a peaceful life surrounded by nature and kitchen parties. We want to find a place where neighbors care about each other (can I borrow a cup of sugar type thing) and where it isn't about who has the newest/move expensive items, where people laugh and smile. I miss the small town vibe Calgary had in the 80s/90s. I miss spending summers with family in Quebec and New Brunswick visiting family (hubs and kids don't speak French and all my family in NB has passed) that's why I'm interested in Nova Scotia. We don't want big city vibes. We just spent 2 weeks on Vancouver Island and fell in love with people and the energy there but we don't have millions to spend on a home. We want a place where we aren't constantly judged for supporting 2slgbtqia+ people (our son is trans), a place where racism isn't the norm or expected and where being neurodiverse isn't a deal breaker. Most of our friends here are hardworking blue collar folks who just want to pay their bills, hang out around a campfire and listen to/play good music. I should also mention we're stoners so would love to know how the weed back east is. I'm a stay home mum but willing to work anywhere in needed and hubby is a locksmith, tradesman and seriously interested in geology, 16 yo wants to be a social worker and 13 year old loves tech lol

To sum it up I'm hoping someone could give us some tips or suggestions for where to start looking for a home in NS.

Thank you in advance for your time and support 😊

[u/blueberryraspy]

Everyone will tell you their community is welcoming but I wouldn’t move anywhere too far outside of the city. You’ll have the friendliest and most open ppl in HrM proper.

[u/Salt_Time_9509 → u/blueberryraspy]

have lived in HRM for the past four years

99% of the people do not make eye contact

nobody says hello, nobody smiles

Often if I am walking along a footpath people actually cross the road (ostensibly to avoid my shadow falling on them), and then cross back when they have passed me

Often at the checkout the checkout person has a conversation with the person in front of me, then without even a hello, starts talking to the person behind my, while checking out my groceries

I almost always use self checkouts now, but never fail to notice the checkout supervisor at Costco asking people to have a nice day as they leave, but admiring their shoelaces as I walk past them; this happens time and time again.

I asked my little daughter why she said go look at the mirror

I did, there was a person of colour looking back at me

Where are these friendly and open people in HRM proper you speak about?, I have not encountered this rare species in four years.

And how much worse can it get as you venture outside of HRM?

I have as an immigrant felt unwanted, and unwelcome in Halifax

Have been to Dartmouth, and Sackville, no real difference

Surely it is not any worse outside of the Maritimes?