One thing i’d say is, on your cover letters make sure to put “available to start immediately”. You may get the job over someone more qualified or a preferred candidate (basically a Canadian who they don’t have to worry about visas with) because you can start next week, versus someone starting in two months time because they’re already in a job.

I got my current job in admin as someone on a 3 year visa from the UK, simply because it was a small company and someone left suddenly for (outside work) personal reasons and they needed someone ASAP. I doubt i’d have gotten this over a Canadian citizen otherwise.

If you can afford it, having a south facing view of the lake really does wonders for your mental health. Waking up and opening the curtains and seeing the colours of the water gives such a boost. There are so many more blue sky days here than back home, people in Toronto complain about weather but it is a thousand times less depressing than the British Isles.