BF and I have our hearts set on working overseas for a year. Canada is the place we both agree on the most.

SOOOOOO... Ladies I need some help and information about living in the maple leaf country.

We're looking at Vancover and Toronto because there the places where the most information is readily availiable- but we're open to suggestions really.

There's a LOT of questions here.

1: Climate - Like how many days a year does the sun rise after 7am??? 8am??? How on earth do you ride in winter?? Does it snow everywhere in winter?? Just how freaking cold does it get there exactly???

2: Living - Rent? How much does a 2 bedroom apartment/house etc go for round there? Food? How much did it cost for a carton of milk, a loaf of bread and block of chocolate last time you bought them??? Can we get by on our bikes and public transport, then by hiring a car to tour around the countryside?

3: TRIATHLONS AND BIKE RACING! BF is adamant to continue bike racing. I would like to continue triathlon (although I know I'll have to invest in a wetsuit) So what are the governing bodies and are "tourists" allowed to compete?? Would you reccommend a particular "annual" ride (road race or just for fun) or particular triathlon to do while we're there??

4: ICE SKATING. As a kid I loved my rollerblades and I've enjoyed watching a whole heap of daytime telemovies about iceskating in northern america - Just how easy is it to find an iceskating rink?

5: If you could name one place to visit in Canada - Where would it be and why?

6: Which Airline would you reccommend? BF and I would probably fly Qantas to get there, but once we're there we'd be on connecting flights - So who do you fly with domestically?

Please help me out with your opinions, BF and I are only in the planing stages and it'll probably well over 18months before we'd get there but the ideas set in our heads now and it's time to research. We'd love to know more about what it's like there.

Huge thanks in Advance!