As a Canadian, I love reading threads about people considering moving there. It's a nice country with lots of friendly folk.
West coast will offer you stunning scenery and a more adoptable climate. Victoria and the island are beautiful. The Gulf Islands, if you can find work, are heavenly. We lived on the coast for a couple of years and we're there once a year.
Once you head over the Rockies it gets colder in the winter. Calgary sits at 4,000' above sea level. What falls as rain in lower elevations, falls as snow. Lived in Calgary for nine years. Expect summer to start in late June and start wrapping up in mid August. January will give you -30C for a couple of weeks. Calgarians will go on and on about Chinook winds. Bottom line is, it will be colder than other places in Canada. Good vibe in Calgary. Stunning geography to the west and south. Banff is an hour away.
Edmonton is nice. Cold, long dark winters. But....long long summer days with good weather.
As for the Prairies, great people. Flat land. I mean flat. Flat as in, you can watch your dog run away from home for two weeks.
Winterpeg? Mosquitos.
Toronto....I hate Toronto. I have to hate Toronto. I'm originally from Montreal. And besides that, Toronto sucks. (just joking)
Ottawa...ok place.
Montreal...North America's most European city. High taxes. Cold long winters. Entertaining provincial politics. Great steamay's, poutine, Orange Julep, smoked meat. Kind of like Canada's version of New York from the perspective of being a Montrealer first and a Canadian second.
Quebec city is nice.
If you move to Quebec and have children, unless changed in the past few years, they may have to be schooled in French. Look into it.
Atlantic Canada has its own distinct feel and attitude. Halifax and area is nice. Big enough city yet small enough.
Newfoundland....The Granite Planet. Hands down the nicest people in Canada. They'll make you laugh the moment you show up. Seriously good hearted, kind, fun loving people. I LOVE NEWFIES.
Now....you want to consider a truly off the wall but rich experience, consider going to the high arctic. I spend three years up there and still maintain it was a highlight of my life. If you are above the arctic circle, you will see the last sunset in early December with the first sun rise in mid February, gaining 20 minutes of sunshine per day. Within 2.4 months, you have 24hrs of sunlight. You will have 24 hours of daylight much earlier. Summers in the arctic are WONDERFUL is you enjoy the outdoors. Daytime high can hit 15C in the summer. As for cold, late September until last March will be consistently -30 to -35. Some days colder, some days slightly warmer.
Climate is the easiste thing to get used to. You dress for it, except for excessive heat, when you can be a prisoner to indoors and AC.
Canada is great country. It offers diversified geography, climate and cultural experiience. It's safe. I never locked my door when we're home. I still don't do it. Habit, I guess.
Canadian's are very helpful, open, and friendly.
Good luck. Hope you pull it off. PM me if you want to talk further about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-ZvAVcBIrQ
