Hi there all you Canadians!!! Question...

[jemgumby]

Hi there. Hope all is well! We are contemplating immigrating to Canada and I figure this would be a good place to ask some questions. Sooooo here goes......we are thinking about Vancouver.....any thoughts? Is there any part of Canada that doesn't get snow and has mild weather? (sorry if a dumb question) Roughly, what is the cost of living......how much for groceries for a family of 3? Will we need 2 vehicles or is public transportation an option? Any public schools in Vancouver better than the other????? Any tips or advice would be much appreciated! Thank you all in advance!

 

[Sue M]

Wow! I don't know how to answer that. Vancouver or any city in the SW corner of Canada has pretty temperate weather, usually there is not much snow, except for the past winter! Vancouver is pretty big, are you talking about downtown, or The Greater Vancouver Reginal District, which includes the smaller cities, municipalities, etc.
It is a beautiful part of the world. I would say, come for a month visit and do some exploring to see what you think. It's climate is very similar to Seattle.

 

[2forMe]

Well one thing to say about Vancouver is that real estate is still quite expensive. Have you looked at MLS.ca to check out housing? You could also consider southern Ontario.. although it does get snow, but typically less than the rest of Canada, excluding Vancouver/Victoria. Perhaps if you looked at the provincial web sites, they would have info on immigrating? or of course the federal govt. Citizenship and Immigration web site

 

[coastgirl]

We lived in Victoria for 10 years, which is a ferry-ride from Vancouver (close, but nothing's that close when you're queuing up for a boat!). We left b/c it was very expensive, real-estate wise. Vancouver is probably the most expensive real estate in Canada, similar to the Greater Toronto area. (I'm guessing, but I know Calgary has tanked, and my sister in VIctoria hasn't lost much value.) Victoria is a little cheaper, still pricey, but so beautiful, with maybe one or two snowfalls a year. (I didn't have winter boots by the time we moved.) If I had to live in a Canadian city, I'd pick Vancouver hands-down. Transportation isn't great, they don't have the infrastructure of high-volume roads they need. Public transit is ok, I guess, they do have a limited LRT (Sky Train).

When we moved to Victoria, we spent a year renting then we bought, so we had a chance to get to know the neighbourhoods.

Are you in the US? I think you need to visit the areas you are considering. We have lived in 4 provincial capitals from St John's Newfoundland to Victoria BC, and I think if you're not used to winter, most places will be a major adjustment. We moved to Halifax a couple of years ago, and I really like the scale and feel of this city, though this past winter sure kicked my behind. Dh's commute to downtown is about 40 min in rush hour (or less) and that's a fairly big commute locally. But there's also the economic part, and where you think you can make a living, of course.

Tripadvisor has local forums--I bet you could find some Vancouverites to talk to in more detail.

Good luck working it through. As much as I love to travel, I wouldn't call anywhere else home.

 

[CanadianImagineer]

First of all, let me say I think you're making a great choice moving up here Basically, the mildest/least snow you can get in Canada is in the Okanagan desert - yes, we have a desert! The housing market, however, is VERY expensive with lots of retire-ees settling down especially in Kelowna. Another good option would be Victoria. The housing's a bit more reasonable than in Kelowna and Vancouver.

 

[stefanospops]

I think the biggest thing you need to consider is if you need to work where are you most likely to get a job. If you are self-employed, then do you have the capital to sustain yourself?

The cost of living will vary by province/city considerably too with your biggest expense the cost of housing. SO like the other posters have said, we may need a bit more information to help you out.

I live in Toronto and it can get cold here, but not like most places in the country. Vancouver will have the mildest temperatures if you need to be in a large city.

 

[rune_74]

First of all, let me say I think you're making a great choice moving up here Basically, the mildest/least snow you can get in Canada is in the Okanagan desert - yes, we have a desert! The housing market, however, is VERY expensive with lots of retire-ees settling down especially in Kelowna. Another good option would be Victoria. The housing's a bit more reasonable than in Kelowna and Vancouver.

OK....victoria is not cheap compared to the others...its one of the most expensive places in canada.

now for vancouver, I grew up there and if you are going to move there I would suggest looking in abbotsford/langley/maple ridge areas to move too...the rent is alot better. The only catch is that the commute to downtown canbe quite long. The good news is for maple ridge at least you have a rapid rail system you can take all the way downtown.

We get on average two days a year of snow and no where near the temperatures of any othe provinces in canada. There are lots of jobs available up here, if you want to work. The bus and skytrain system in vancouver should do you fine and its quite conveinent.

BC school system ranks pretty high in canada and it has one of the best sports systems due to being able to play almost year round due to the weather. I have three kids and I am limited only by time to have things to put them in.


Not sure what else to tell you....

 

[Sue M]

First of all, let me say I think you're making a great choice moving up here Basically, the mildest/least snow you can get in Canada is in the Okanagan desert - yes, we have a desert! The housing market, however, is VERY expensive with lots of retire-ees settling down especially in Kelowna. Another good option would be Victoria. The housing's a bit more reasonable than in Kelowna and Vancouver.

I thought the Okanagan, incl Osoyoos was colder in winter than the coast?

Winter in Vancouver we just break out our fur lined flip flops Coast Girl: what are winter boots?

 

[Casken]

Don't move to Alberta. I've lived here all my life and while there are jobs, etc. The winters are brutally long and cold. I keep trying to convince my husband to move to Victoria (we have family there too) but finding a good job for the husband (and me) is important.

Anyways, I recommend the west coast too. You don't have to live right in Vancouver or Victoria. Personally, I love Vancouver Island (where Victoria is). I'd move there in a heart beat. I would love to throw my winter boots out.

 

[coastgirl]

Winter in Vancouver we just break out our fur lined flip flops Coast Girl: what are winter boots?

Before we moved back east, we came for a visit in Feb and I had to find winter boots in Victoria--I arrived with the most impractical footwear I've ever purchased!

4 years back here, I have a full range of winter boots...like the Inuit and their words for snow, I have 17 versions of " keep feet dry and warm"!

 

[CupidsKiss]

We have on average 4 snowy storms a winter. Snow laasts on average 2-3 days. Rarely more than 4 inches.

3 bedroom rancher average price $250,000.

Ski mountain in the winter. Salmon fishing the rest of the year and golf 99% of the whole year. Yes...we live in paradise

 

[squirrel]

I moved from North Vancouver to Chilliwack. I found that N.Van was getting to crowded. The two bridges caused major traffic issues if anything happened on one of the bridges.

Not so close to the ocean anymore, but there are rivers and lakes nearby. Cost of housing out this way is quite a bit less than in Vancouver or surounding area.

 

[Sue M]

Vancouver/Victoria weather is much like Seattle. Housing is pretty high, but depends what market you are comparing it to.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I am close to Calgary, Alberta and still trying to find my way out of this crazy cold country I did live in North Vancouver for 7 years but could not stand the dark never ending rain and the crazy cost of living (at that time Alberta was half the price) so returned to Calgary and dream of moving to Texas...no winters, hot summers and the gulf of Mexico...my dream lol

 

[Demi_8]

Great choice especially since a recent report just placed Vancouver as the most livable city in the world! Vancouver has picturesque snow-capped mountains, ocean and lakes, ethnic diversity and the mildest winters in all of Canada. Some snow during winter but nothing compared to other Canadian cities, it doesn't stay for long before it turns to slush. Re cost of living—it is high but if you are a two person working family or head of household making a good income, you should manage. My Ontario transplant friends tell me certain grocery items and car insurance are more expensive here but that is the trade off to living in a beautiful city with mild temps year round. Many families also choose to live outside city limits for more affordable and larger housing options. Rain is plentiful but this is the coast and folks who grow up here know that life still goes on when it is pouring outside! It keeps everything nice and green and when the sunshine is out you feel really lucky to live here. Re vehicles– not necessary to have two vehicles, public transportation is very accessible and improvements are being made and added all the time. Schooling– many options—public, private, traditional, Montessori, Catholic, French immersion, Core French, everything is available depending on what is important to you. Like others have mentioned, best to visit and stay long enough to get a feel for the place and summer time is a perfect time to do just that!

 

[TagsMissy]

We have on average 4 snowy storms a winter. Snow laasts on average 2-3 days. Rarely more than 4 inches.

3 bedroom rancher average price $250,000.

Ski mountain in the winter. Salmon fishing the rest of the year and golf 99% of the whole year. Yes...we live in paradise

A rancher in vancouver costs triple that for something old

 

[Ham Ham]

Cheaper housing in Winnipeg, but the winters are a little brisk.

 

[TagsMissy]

We have on average 4 snowy storms a winter. Snow laasts on average 2-3 days. Rarely more than 4 inches.

3 bedroom rancher average price $250,000.

Ski mountain in the winter. Salmon fishing the rest of the year and golf 99% of the whole year. Yes...we live in paradise

A rancher in vancouver costs triple that for something old

Check out something like Aldergrove or Langley perhaps

 

[Demi_8]

3 bedroom rancher average price $250,000.

Yes, please don't get the impression that housing is that cheap in Vancouver. I notice CupidsKiss is from Courtenay which is about 126 km (78 miles) from Vancouver, and perhaps ranchers are available there for that price. If you do an internet search of real estate in Vancouver and find that they are too pricey for your budget, try comparing surrounding areas like Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster (still expensive but very close to the city), or of average distance like Surrey, White Rock, Coquitlam. Further out even are Langley, Aldergrove, Abbotsford but a longer commute if working in the city even though lots of people do it. Many more choices but too many to mention here.