Hi Jim,
I am new to survival/preparedness and was curious if you have any resources for Canadians? In particular places to source out retreat locales? I just found your site, and love it. Keep up the great work. – Brent A.
JWR Replies: Just like the US, my advice is go west! The eastern provinces are at risk from nuclear fallout from strikes in the US, in the event of a full scale nuclear exchange. Of course the population density is much lower in Canada than in the US, so population in and of itself is not as great a risk. (Although in a worst case situation Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec might be at risk from refugee inflows from the eastern United States.) But again, even aside from population density considerations, you would probably want to be west of Edmonton or Calgary (in Alberta) to avoid fallout.
I generally don’t recommend Canada because of its draconian gun control laws. But if you can live with that, then my preference is for the relatively mild climate portions of British Columbia, such as Duncan (in the Cowichan Valley, in the southern end of Vancouver Island), or around Kent in the Fraser River Valley, or perhaps as far inland as the Bella Coola Valley. (Which is much colder, but wonderfully remote.) If you dislike the heavy rainfall in western BC, and don’t mind a shorter growing season, then look for property in the Kamloops area. Another nice agricultural area with moderate rainfall is around Creston. You can link up with other Canadian preppers through Survival Bill’s Forums. (Most of their readership is Canadians.)