travelling to see girlfriend/ perhaps getting married

Dear forum,
I am a 28 years old British citizen who has just finished their PhD. My girlfriend is a 31 years old PhD with duel citzenship of US and UK. As of September this year she is starting a job as a lecturer at a univerity in Canada. She has started her move to Canada and is currently in the US. I am currently in Britain.
What is the best way for me to gain access to Canada to be together?

1) is it worth considering my 6 months visa-free travel to Canada as a serious option? As I understand it if I mention that I am using this time to visit a girlfriend then I am automatically at risk of being turned back at the border as a person liable to breach the 6 month limit.
1a) I have 11, 000 GBP in the bank which I can use to demonstrate that during this 6 month period I will not be taking out work illegally/ illegal work. Is this enough?
1b) Of this money how much could potentially be requested as a bond?
1c) I currently have no definite employment in the UK after my 6 months visa-free in Canada to prove that I would return to the UK after this period.

If travelling to Canada under my 6 month visa free entitlement the plan would be to secure work for 2010, return to the UK at Christmas-time and secure a work permit and work visa.

2) The second option is for my girlfriend to fly back to the UK in July and for us to get married. As I have already mentioned, she is a UK passport holder - as am I - so marriage in the UK is theoretically (!) no problem.
2a) What benefits does this give us for me living in Canada with her?
2b) Where would I go to get a spousal visa?
2c) What would be my entitlementa under this?

My girlfriend's/ fiance's job is a two year contract July 2009- July 2011 plus the option of a yearly extension.

Any information would be very useful.

I'm planning a trip to London and Canada House next week.

Juggler