In 2011, Canada was named the second best nation in which to live by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Better Life Index, a quality of life guide which scores 34 nations on factors such as education, health, housing and life satisfaction.

Canadians were regarded to be the most educated and said they felt safer on the streets after dark compared to people from the majority of nations surveyed, while 75 per cent said they were happy with their lives – a great deal higher than the 59 per cent average.

This promise of a better life is what continues to attract thousands of Brits to the world’s second biggest country each year. In 2010, Canada welcomed its highest number of legal immigrants in more than 50 years, at 280,636 permanent residents. It’s certainly why British emigrant Matt Speight, who now calls Vancouver home, would recommend Canadian life to his friends and family back in the UK. “It’s a good mix between the US and British way of life,” Matt explains. “There’s no class system here. It doesn’t matter where you come from, in Canada any one who works hard can make it. Unlike America, you have a more socialist type of government and welfare state, the standard of living is higher and, of course, Canadians are very friendly,” he adds. “The immense size of the country and its small population,” is another reason Matt lists as to why he’s made Canada his home for 11 years.

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