Moving to Canada -

No need to stress out :) Im Canadian and moved to the States in 2000. For one, keep your items from here, and move them up there in a Uhaul. The price of everything up there is expensive compared to what you are used to seeing here. Also they have a sales tax that is 7%, if I remember right. Housing isnt that hard to find. Here is the website for the local newspaper, just need to look in the Classifieds for rentals... http://www.calgaryjournalonline.ca/ Health care is really simple. Call this place for the address in Calgary to get it set up.. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/reference/refcentre-centreref/in...
Make sure that your husband has all the proper paperwork needed for moving the family to canada from Immigration. There is an Immigration center in Edmonton, Alberta that you can get all that information... you will need passports for everyone including the children PRIOR to you leaving the States. For records for health care, dental, school etc, call those places for copies of their records. Thats good enough for when you go up to Canada. Laws for the cat require that he has all his vaccinations prior to leaving the states otherwise they will hold him in confinement for up to 2 weeks to make sure he isnt bringing anything into canada. Money exchange is I believe currently at 89.00Canadian per every 100.00usa.

Dont worry.. Canadians are truly very helpful, and will welcome everyone with open arms. Let me know if you need anything. I have family all over Alberta. :)

Your husband must have some legal paperwork that allows him to work in Canada (even from the US). If he wants to come here with you and the children you all need proper paperwork, including passports.
Once you have all the required documents moving is easy. Canada will let you bring in everything for the home. Make a list of every nail file, video game, music cd, book, piece of furniture, toy, etc that you are bringing with you. As long as it is personal and for use in the home there is no charge to bring in personal effects. If your husband needs to bring tools or other things that are work related, you will have to pay duty on those items only. The border guards assess the value of those items at the border. There is no way to determine what that cost might be in advance.
The border guards will ask for your passports, all your paperwork and the list of household items you are bringing with you. Work permits are issued at the border when you cross as long as you have everything you need. You simply pay the $150 for the permit and move on.
You can also bring your vehicle with you. Again with proper paperwork you won't have to pay duty on your vehicle, but there are certain requirements around safety that you have to meet. Check the Manitoba Public Insurance website (just google it) for more information around what you'll need to do.
It will help you greatly if you are able to tell the border guard you will be living at a given address and be able to provide a valid Canadian phone number.
Check out the Immigration Canada website for more information on moving to Canada for work. Most of the responsibility falls on the employer trying to bring in the employee, but there will be some things you will need to do.
Hope that helps. My hubby moved here from the states so we went through most of this already.
Good luck!

Lucky you. I think you and your family are in for a wonderful opportunity! Good luck on your adventure.

I think you answered part of your own question- you want to make this transition smooth and fun for your sons! If you go into it with that attitude, they will too!

People have given you practical advice- here is some 'adjustment advice'.

1)Don't expect everything to be just the same as it was in the states. Try to make those little things that are different- new store names, different labels and brand names on everyday things, different cartoons or toys for your sons, etc. into something good! You'll find new favorites before you know it.

2)If you are going up ahead of time without the kids to check out a house, school, etc. try and do some networking even if you are only there a short time. Ask at the school if there is a PTO or mom's group or something like that. Usually the head of the PTO will give out her number for new parents and can be a great resource just for neighborhood stuff like babysitters, a good park to go to, how to register the kids for hockey ( you are in Canada, after all! ) etc. Ask if they have kids your sons' age or can introduce you to some other families with kids in their grades. A few friends can make all the difference at a new school.

3)Enjoy the adventure! A lot of people live only one place, and that's fine. But getting to experience a new place is great too. Just keep positive and your sons will too! Best of luck to you and your family!

Wow! That is a lot to digest. I have no idea, but I did a google search and came up with this:
http://www.howtomovetocanada.net/how_to_move_to_canada___...

good luck!

Look online and find a forum (a bit like this one) for people moving to new countries , you can ask all sorts of Q's and get answers from people that have done it. I would say take your stuff with you , either hire a moving company or UHAUL and drive.

Good luck it sounds fun