You do have to have patience when starting out on eBay. Don't expect that first sale in your first couple of weeks. It can take several months to get firmly established.
For vintage clothing, you'll find that the majority of your buyers will be Americans. As a Canadian seller, you already have some disadvantages vis-a-vis U.S. sellers -- higher shipping costs, customs/border delays, and the fact that there is already such a huge availability of vintage garments from U.S. sellers at frankly really good prices. Also, all things being equal, I think a U.S. buyer would rather buy from a U.S. seller, or at least from a seller who has accumulated a considerable number of feedback points. Many people are reluctant to make a purchase from a seller with 0 or very little feedback.
That being said, there are things you can do to move the process along:
a) Buy a few inexpensive items off eBay to build up your FB score quickly;
b) Have a larger selection of items to offer, in various prices, preferably the lower range to start out, and preferably items that don't require expensive shipping options;
c) Try offering free shipping on some of the lighter, less pricey items;
d) Consider making your listing descriptions a bit more expansive and enticing. Although point-form bits of basic detail is fine for some types of items, with vintage clothing, it's all about excitement and attractiveness.
I don't know why you're not getting the 50 free listings. Some other seller may be able to answer that. Since I have a store, I have a different listing platform.
Good luck!
P.S. How did you like selling on Etsy? It sounds as if it worked well for you. EBay can be a challenge in some categories.
