Newsletter

10/04/2025

Hi to all family and friends,

We have been in Canada four months, doesn’t time fly when you are enjoying yourselves!

We were both suffering from cabin fever so last week we bought a second-hand car, Ford Escape SE AWD (All Wheel Drive) which will get us around for local shopping, sightseeing, etc. In Canada 95% of cars are AWD and 99% are automatic. In winter, tires are replaced with winter tires from November to March due to the snow and ice on the roads. Also, most cars have block “heaters” which is a heater element inserted into the sump drain plug which heats the oil and hence the engine block. It is connected to a mains outlet over night during subzero temperatures. Some cars have a socket near the grill or others, like mine, has a connector under the bonnet.

In Alberta, there is an organisation called “Alberta Motor Association” (AMA) which I joined. It is like the AA and DVLA rolled into one where you get roadside assistance plus other benefits, and I also changed my UK licence to a Canadian licence through them. Obviously, there was a fee and a medical (£150) to change the licence, however the government refunded 25% of the medical fee when I got my licence, which was nice. In Canada, cars only have a rear registration plate, and the plate does not belong to the car but the car owner. So, if I change the car I keep the number plate, plus you can choose from several available plates. Car insurance in Canada is very expensive compared to the UK. My last insurance for my car in the UK was just under £500 with six years no claim. The insurance for the Ford Escape is $2,600 (£1,400) with six years no claims, which seems to be the norm.

All the snow has now almost gone, and the climate is warming up. The second week in March we had a warm spell with most of the snow gone, then a week later we had a cold snap, and a load of snow was dumped on Alberta, about 15” (38cm). Due to warming up of the climate the ice on the lake in nearby park is slowly melting allowing wild fowl to return. So, I had an opportunity to take some photographs of early birds arriving back to the park and our backyard which you can view on the website.

In Alberta alcohol can only be bought from designated stores very similar to that in Qatar. There is no alcohol available on shelves in supermarkets only non-alcoholic and “softies”. We shop at a supermarket called Sobeys like Morrisons in the UK, and alongside the store there is a separate building Sobeys Liquor where alcohol can be purchased.

The Canadians are rebelling against Trump’s tariffs by removing American produce from shelves, as Mark and I observed in one liquor store we visited. All American bourbon and other American products had been removed from the shelves. When I was at the AMA getting my car registration plate, a Canadian woman was changing here plate as the letters on her plate were USD! (US dollar)

I take Barley, Claire’s WestiePoo, for a walk every morning which gives me some exercise plus, I am meeting some of the locals and generally have a chat with some of them.

Mark and Claire are on a Cruise from Boston to the Caribbean for ten days so we are left looking after the pets and grandson.

Love to all,

Grahame and Geraldine