Another thing that struck me as odd is Schanke's spur-of-the moment quit. Is it really possible to quit a job from one day to another in Canada? What about contracts?

Schanke seems to come to this decision on his own without consulting with Myra and Jenny. Don't they have any say in the matter? Myra has established her cosmetics sale in Toronto. Certainly she won't be as delighted to start from scratch. And taking Jenny away from her friends and in the middle of the school year appears rather cruel.