It's hard for me to believe that I have been in the US now for 18 years. Time seems to go by so fast. I was born in Prince George, BC to a Canadian dad and American mom. I spent most of my growing up years in Northern Canada. Ten years were in Inuvik, NWT and five years in Whitehorse, YT. Four months before I turned 21 our family moved to Anchorage, Alaska. My family has always loved the North and my parents had wanted to live in Alaska for many years, so as a family we decided to make the move. While in Anchorage I met my ex-husband, and our oldest daughter was born there. We have two other children that were born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We were in the US Army and consequently we had a few moves we made.

I now reside in Columbia, Missouri with my new husband and our 4 year old son. I haven't made it back to Canada very often but do miss it a lot. I especially miss the West Coast and the North. My dad's family is mostly located in BC and I love going there to visit. It's now been two years since the last time I was in Canada and it was only for one night.

The one thing I plan on doing is taking my family to Canada so that they can see where mommy grew up and how beautiful it is there.

I have many friends here where I live in Columbia and they love to give me a rough time about being Canadian but always in good fun. My husband loves to tease me and call me an alien since that is what my first permenant residency card said.

Since being in the states I have come to love football but it will never replace hockey in my heart. Hockey has been and always will be my first loved sport. I have a friend here that loves hockey as much as I do and we love to watch games together. Canada will always be a part of me that I'm always proud of even though I don't get to go back very often.

Tonette R., columbia MO, British Columbia
September 12, 2007
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I moved to beautiful northern Virginia from Brampton, Ontario in 2003 to pursue a job as a forensic applications engineer. This job entails extensive travel and I was able to see much more of the US and Canada than I ever thought I would. In 2004, as I was beginning to think about returning to the Great White North, I met my husband, an American from California. In January of this year we moved from Virginia to California and the greater distance from home has been a challenge for me. Each time I visit Canada, I have a list of things I need to have: Tim Horton's coffee, poutine, a bloody Caesar, Turtle Jack's chicken wings, a slice of Pizza Pizza bacon double cheeseburger... but more than the food, I miss the people, the health care system (it's true!), the colourful money, the fact that I can spell "colourful" with a "u" and say "washroom" and "zed" and not be looked at strangely. I still measure distance in kilometers, temperature in Celcius and although the US is now my home, I will never let go of my Canadian roots. Thanks C2C, for keeping me connected!

Kristina W.,
September 5, 2007
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I left Windsor, Ontario in 1999 (although I grew up in the Toronto area) to get a few years of experience in nursing. I have since been travel nursing all over the U.S. except the East Coast. I moved around California for over 3 years and I really miss the Bay area.

I am now living in Naples, FL with my husband. He is Canadian, with dual citizenship. We had dated for 5 years in Canada and rekindled once we were older. My husband loves it here and makes a great living, so he does not want to go back and pay Canadian taxes. I miss Ketchup chips, Mr. Big chocolate bars, Kraft Crunchy Peanut Butter, and the warm and friendly people in Canada. We have constant guests here in Florida, from January through May, so I do get all of these things brought down to me :)

Lori A., Naples FL, Ontario
August 30, 2007
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I am an artist and was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario. I met my husband in Detroit, Michigan. He was from California and after we married, we lived in California. I would get the craziest questions about being Canadian. Namely, do all Canadians wear snow shoes and why not become a U.S. citizen? My response to both questions is no. I feel strongly about my Canadian citizenship, in that it is unique and special, and although I have enjoyed living in the U.S. for more than a decade, Canada will always be home.

Carol Y., Atlanta GA, Ontario
August 21, 2007
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I moved from Toronto, Ontario back in 1997 after graduating from high school. I originally moved to Missouri and now reside in Maryland. I graduated from a private college in Missouri and currently work as a Master Control Operator for an NBC station. The last time I went back home to Ontario was 2005, but I am hoping to return in the summer of 2008.

Mark B., Hagerstown MD, Ontario
August 15, 2007
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I am originally from New Brunswick. I turned 21 in San Francisco in 1976 and have lived in the US ever since. I am now married to an American and have 2 daughters, living in Pennsylvania. When my children were younger, I'd volunteer at their school, teaching American kids about Canada. I enjoyed doing "Show and Tell" with a map of Canada, Canadian money (Always a hit - how colourful!), French flash cards and even Canadian mints to keep their interest. I fly my Canadian flag in my flower box and wear a Canadian pin on my labcoat - which is always a good source of conversation on the elevator. I am still a Canadian citizen. I love being approached during elections here. My oldest daughter, a Senior this coming year is looking at Canadian colleges. Way to go! We do go back to NB every summer and have every intention on going back permanently someday.

Anne G., Paoli PA
August 15, 2007
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My wife Louise and I and our two children moved from Ontario to New Mexico in January 2002. Both of our children suffered from asthma and the dry desert climate was the most beneficial for their health. We originally came down for my wife's job, as she is in the medical field and was sponsered by an American company, and I decided to become a stay-at-home father and pursue my dream of becoming an author.

It's now five years later; our children don't have suffer from asthma, we all have green cards, and I have written three novels - my third novel was recently published by Outskirts Press!

We all miss Canada and make sure to visit at least once a year! This summer, we spent 3 weeks back in Ontario visiting friends and family with the highlight being the one week we spent at my parents' cottage. Sitting on a dock in front of a 130 foot deep lake, surrounded by trees, loons sounding in the distance, cold Canadian beer close at hand... What a difference compared to the dry, sandy desert where the sun can bake you crisp in an hour. If you get a chance take a look at my latest book titled Dreams Come True. Although it's supernatural fiction, many of the locations mimic my travels from Ontario to New Mexico to Las Vegas to St. Lucia.

Thane C., Rio Rancho NM, Ontario
August 9, 2007
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I moved here from Saskatchewan in late 1996, although I grew up in Alberta. I'm in the IT industry and work for a consulting firm.

All of my family is still back in Canada. I don't get to see them often, and miss them dearly. I talk to them often on the phone.

The US has been quite a change for me. There are a lot of things that I miss which are harder to get here, although I used to get them in Detoit, the last US city where I lived. For example - watching Canadian news. I never knew that I would miss it and some of the crazy stuff that they show. I do pick up some of it off the net and so that has been a blessing.

I've gotten used to a lot of the strange words that they've used in some of the states here. (This is my 3rd state - started in Wisconsin, then Michigan, and now Iowa) They looked at me in a funny way when I wanted to use a water fountain and they called it a "bubbler".

Connect2Canada is, well, a little piece of home.

Nicol S., West Des Moines IA, Alberta
July 30, 2007
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I have been living in Dallas on and off since 1992. I am originally from Candiac, just outside of Montreal. I am a high school French teacher in Mesquite. I am looking to connect with other Canadians in the area, especially those who are from Montreal!

Kerri D., Dallas TX, Quebec
July 26, 2007
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When I came upon the Connect2Canada website I was more than happy! I moved to Massachusetts in 1986 with my family as a child, and am originally from Oakville, Ontario. I have missed it dearly throughout the years. I have no other family besides my brothers and parents here in the States, and I visit Ontario as often as I can, be it summer or winter. I miss my country very much and every chance I get I let people know how great of a country it is! Thanks for this website and keeping me connected as much as possible!

Katy G., , Ontario
July 18, 2007
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