An American Takes the Long Route to a Life in Canada

Introduction to a Life of Travel and Change

After living in 15 cities across the United States, Britain, and Africa, Katie Fahrland plotted a course to a life in Canada. She didn’t expect that it would lead through Colorado and Florida.

Early Life and Career Moves

Ms. Fahrland, who grew up in Connecticut and graduated from McGill University in Montreal, worked in software sales before a career pivot to international development work in Africa. Her daughter Zoe, now 9, was born shortly after she moved back to Washington, D.C., for a new job. In 2018, after losing both that job and a trusted au pair, she decamped to Denver, where a brother lived.

Challenges as a Single Parent

“I’m a single parent and it was a lot to handle,” said Ms. Fahrland, now 44. An experienced world traveler, she got a job with a private tour operator. “I was unhappy,” she said. “I had no friends. My people were in Montreal, where I went to school.”

The Decision to Move to Canada

In 2020, she applied for permanent resident status in Canada, which would allow her to purchase a home despite Canada’s ban on most foreign buyers.
“I wanted to live somewhere that aligned with my values,” she said. “People here are kind, friendly and supportive. And subsidized education, along with national healthcare, was important.”

Detours on the Path to Montreal

Ms. Fahrland sold her Denver house and set out for Montreal, only to learn that her residency application had been delayed. Frantic, she made another detour to Jupiter, Fla., where friends had invited her and Zoe to stay. Finally, in 2024, the paperwork came through, and the two landed in Montreal. “It was a project four years in the making,” she said.

Settling into Montreal

Her first stop was a rental apartment in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, a leafy neighborhood southwest of downtown filled with century-old brick homes. Zoe enrolled in a school there, and the area enabled a car-free lifestyle. Its main artery, Monkland Avenue, offered plenty of dining, shopping, and services.
“She knew exactly where she wanted to be, and had very specific criteria for the apartment,” said Ms. Fahrland’s agent, Monique Assouline of The Agency.

Finding the Perfect Apartment

The right place would have at least four rooms — one each for her and Zoe, an office (she now works remotely for a New York-based hospitality marketing firm) and a guest room. Two bathrooms were also a must. But Ms. Fahrland’s budget of 900,000 Canadian dollars (about $660,000) would be a challenge in Montreal’s hot condo market.
“I had wanted to spend less, but realized I wouldn’t find what I needed,” she said.

Conclusion

Katie Fahrland’s journey to Canada was long and winding, filled with detours and challenges. However, her determination to find a place that aligned with her values and provided a good life for her daughter ultimately led her to Montreal. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of finding a community that feels like home.

FAQs

• Q: Why did Katie Fahrland want to move to Canada?
  A: Katie wanted to move to Canada because she valued the country’s kind, friendly, and supportive people, as well as its subsidized education and national healthcare.
• Q: What was the biggest challenge Katie faced during her move?
  A: One of the biggest challenges Katie faced was the delay in her residency application, which forced her to make detours and wait for several years before finally settling in Montreal.
• Q: How did Katie choose her neighborhood in Montreal?
  A: Katie chose the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood because it offered a car-free lifestyle, plenty of dining and shopping options, and a good school for her daughter Zoe.