I'm from Alberta and more or less agree with Peter. However, I've heard many good things about Westminster Abbey in Mission, B.C. I'll eventually make a retreat there one year. Check out this website:
http://www.westminsterabbey.ca/chants.html

My first advice to any Canadian seeking to "do" Church Music full-time is to get the heck out of Canada. If you're extremely talented (even if its just visible potential) you should try to find a Catholic parish here in the United States to hire you, get an R-1 Visa and get over here. Parishes will pay for that sacred music education here in the US if you're already far enough to be able to be a full-time DM at a parish.

At the end of my "run" in Canada, I was playing 8 Masses per week in three languages (English, French and Latin), running 3-4 weekly choir rehearsals, maintaining the instruments of three churches, and all of the administrative tasks of essentially four parishes... and I was making around $12,000 a year. Luckily I was in my early twenties and could handle all of these tasks, but even then it was taking a toll... and in order to make it between these many Masses in multiple buildings, I was literally risking my life during the winter as I had about 15 minutes between Masses to make it from one building to another (a 10 minute drive).

These churches were not forward thinking - none of them had children's choirs (and they had no desire to start them), which was probably why their adult choirs were all aging quickly. They saw music as "something nice to have" and offered a small stipend to whoever would stroll in and play some hymns. They were not interested in truth, worship and beauty being found in Holy Mass - the Mass was about community building so they could further their outside programs. (these previous comments are not regarding the Latin Mass community I worked at, but rather the parishes).

All of these churches had full-time secretaries and custodians, one had a full-time nurse, two had full-time youth people, - yet none would even consider a full-time music director position. I knew of only one fellow in my entire city who made a "full-time salary" - and even that was a small portion of what could be made across the border.

I wouldn't recommend that anyone try to make it "full-time" in Canada, unless they won the lottery and/or found the dream gig and became DM at the Toronto Oratory or one of a few other locations. Other than that you're just going to have frustrations, empty bank accounts and will be opposed at every turn. The positive signs regarding liturgical music in the United States are obvious and abundant - when I speak to my Canadian colleagues, all I hear is doom and gloom - or how they're working insane hours as a DM but also have to work full time in another industry to pay their rent.

If I ever did go back to Canada (and I doubt I ever will), I would probably work as a bartender and volunteer to play a middle-of-the-road Parish (w/a pipe organ)'s earliest Sunday Mass and try to make a difference in a very small way there. That would, likewise, be my advice to anyone who wanted to make a difference in sacred music while staying in Canada. However, I do know of many Canadian musicians who are making great progress at improving the state of sacred music in the United States. The snow in our blood makes us a better fit for dealing with the difficulties of running parish music programs, I think. ;)

Well, you should be at the CMAA Colloquium singing chant on July 1.

There are some good, solid seminarians and newly ordained priests in Canada. I know of several in my home Diocese. Once they become Pastors, hopefully they will still be hopeful and orthodox and will make a difference.

I think if one of them really invests some money and effort into their mainstream parish music program and begins something impressive/holy/good and that effort brings forth a large increase in attendance, offertory money and faithfulness of parishioners - then perhaps others will follow suit.

Results will lead to others following the pattern.

Well, aside from the last note, which I found to be rather off the wall, I am interested in your comments. I rather agree with the two of you, but lean on the fact that I want to stay in Canada. I won't exclude the possibility of going to the USA for education, though. Ally, what does EF stand for, which your brother attends? By the way, I have a friend just in Vancouver who is making a living, not being the maestro, but a member of the sacred music choir at Holy Family parish. Granted, he has other gigs, but that says something. Are there any recommendations, then, for getting the sacred music scene started here in BC?

EF Stands for Extraordinary Form. If you can make it to the CMAA conference, it's a wonderful week of education! I strongly recommend it. It is in the West this year... perfect for you!

I'm Canadian. I don't think it's fair to paint everyone with the same brush. There are some great things going on here too. I'm on the other side of the country, so I can't be a help in BC. Brick by brick.

Anyone heading from BC to the CMAA Colloquium and want to carpool? I want to go, but would need a ride!

It's not all doom and gloom in Canada. I've been to many Masses at a number of parishes where the liturgical music is just beautiful, with or without the choir with a professional director. The chant, the incense, the Tabernacle in the centre on the altar, the priest facing with the people, the icons... Oh yeah, they don't call it Mass. The call it Divine Liturgy, and it is Divine.

I've been asked a number of times when I'm going to change rites. I guess instead of Latin I should begin to learn Church Slavonic. (Actually, the churches mentioned above use half English and half Ukrainian.)