BC or Ontario?
#31
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Re: BC or Ontario?
Mission isn't a bad spot for commuting, and if working downtown M-F 9-5 type job, the train into downtown is a nice ride, just over an hour.
I spent about a year in Mission living with a friend, they lived up in the mountains pretty close to Maple Ridge border, but they had a huge house and like 3 acres, quite nice really.
I spent about a year in Mission living with a friend, they lived up in the mountains pretty close to Maple Ridge border, but they had a huge house and like 3 acres, quite nice really.
#32
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Re: BC or Ontario?
Also, once you arrive in Canada, if you move to Ontario, you will probably only be spending the bulk of your time in Ontario and rarely venturing beyond. Likewise for BC, once you arrive there, you will likely not venture outside of BC very much. Flying between BC and Ontario includes a very expensive 5-hour flight. Hence, I emphasize, the lifestyle and social cultures of the communities you choose to live in will play a much more important role in your life once here. You will not be nipping back and forth across the country unless you have a good reason - it's so cost prohibitive to travel domestically in Canada.
Last edited by Lychee; Jan 28th 2019 at 9:23 pm.
#33
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Re: BC or Ontario?
I never understood this reason for choosing somewhere to move in Canada. Toronto to London is approximately a 7-hour flight. Vancouver to London is approximately a 9-hour flight. Unless you are commuting between Canada and the UK multiple times a month, the two-hours worth of savings shouldn't be big part of the factor. The lifestyle, amenities, culture, etc. on the ground in Canada would have more of a day-to-day impact on your life.
#34
Re: BC or Ontario?
Grinrod is nice. This doesn't even have a house on it, but otherwise checks a few boxes. There will no doubt be something similar in the future with a nice house for a bit less.
https://www.point2homes.com/CA/Comme.../62343674.html
https://www.point2homes.com/CA/Comme.../62343674.html
#35
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Re: BC or Ontario?
We liked Salmon Arm when we were there in June. However I agree that it isn't where I'd move my teenagers to from the other side of the world. Prince George either. If it were me (and it's not) I'd be looking seriously at the Brockville option. It's not too far from Ottawa, Montreal is close enough, Toronto only a few hours drive. Salmon Arm or Prince George would be very isolating for a new-to-the-country teenager.
Last edited by Lychee; Jan 28th 2019 at 9:32 pm.
#36
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Re: BC or Ontario?
I never understood this reason for choosing somewhere to move in Canada. Toronto to London is approximately a 7-hour flight. Vancouver to London is approximately a 9-hour flight. Unless you are commuting between Canada and the UK multiple times a month, the two-hours worth of savings shouldn't be big part of the factor. It's a long flight regardless of where you end up. The lifestyle, amenities, culture, etc. on the ground in Canada would have more of a day-to-day impact on your life. Choose somewhere in Canada that aligns with your values, interests, hobbies, career, etc. first. The long flight will happen regardless of where you end up.
Edit: I may have just found an air transat one which takes 9 hours, but even then the extra 2 hours would add to the strain for elderly travellers.
Last edited by HGerchikov; Jan 28th 2019 at 10:42 pm.
#37
Re: BC or Ontario?
It does make a huge difference if you want to fly to somewhere other than London. A quick search on Expedia and other travel sites and I can't find a single direct flight from Vancouver to Manchester - which increases the journey time to 15 hours. Given that its usually my elderly parents that do the travelling from the UK to here - the difference between that and the 7 hour direct flight to Toronto is the difference between them being able to visit and not.
Edit: I may have just found an air transat one which takes 9 hours, but even then the extra 2 hours would add to the strain for elderly travellers.
Edit: I may have just found an air transat one which takes 9 hours, but even then the extra 2 hours would add to the strain for elderly travellers.
#38
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Re: BC or Ontario?
Although we need to factor flights into the equation as our family’s and friends will want to come and stay, it’s however not a huge focus as long as we can get there.
So we’re still looking at BC areas (it’s an itch that won’t go away at the moment)
any my thoughts on Kamloops? (Direct flight to Calgary,with domestic flight to Kelowna)
So we’re still looking at BC areas (it’s an itch that won’t go away at the moment)
any my thoughts on Kamloops? (Direct flight to Calgary,with domestic flight to Kelowna)
#39
Re: BC or Ontario?
Agreed. Salmon Arm and Prince George would be dreadfully isolating and would likely compound culture shock....It is a long, long way to get away for a change of pace. At least Vancouver and Victoria would ease the culture shock somewhat, and they're quiet-enough places for teenagers fresh from the UK. .
It does make a huge difference if you want to fly to somewhere other than London. A quick search on Expedia and other travel sites and I can't find a single direct flight from Vancouver to Manchester - which increases the journey time to 15 hours. Given that its usually my elderly parents that do the travelling from the UK to here - the difference between that and the 7 hour direct flight to Toronto is the difference between them being able to visit and not.
Edit: I may have just found an air transat one which takes 9 hours, but even then the extra 2 hours would add to the strain for elderly travellers.
Edit: I may have just found an air transat one which takes 9 hours, but even then the extra 2 hours would add to the strain for elderly travellers.
Don't factor in family and friends. It's your move and your lifestyle that you need to satisfy, not someone else's. Family and friends will visit wherever you are if they're motivated enough.
I lived in/around Kamloops for 14 years. It's relatively inexpensive to the rest of BC to purchase property in, the weather is beautiful with hot dry (low humidity) summers and very benign winters. Canada's 2nd largest ski resort is 45 minutes away, there are 100's of local lakes for recreation, a growing university and plenty for growing kids to get involved in.
#40
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Re: BC or Ontario?
Isn't it all relative to what you're used to and looking for? After 14 years in BC I moved back to the UK and now live in a small village in the Cotswolds and have less immediate access to amenities than anywhere I lived in Canada. Living near Kamloops provided all the shopping and recreational facilities I ever needed, whereas here I have at least a 40 minute round trip for anything. Salmon Arm and PG both provide enough amenities for daily living (though the aesthetics of PG never won me over), and if you want natural beauty and year round recreation galore, SA is an excellent location. It's also an easy drive to Vernon, Kelowna or Kamloops for alternative entertainment or shops. I grew up in North Yorkshire - as a teen, moving to Vancouver and Victoria would have been a far bigger culture shock.
I moved back to the UK due to ageing parents who need taking care of. The flight to Vancouver had become too much to cope with, but reducing the travel time wouldn't have made any difference - it's coping with luggage and logistics in the UK that's the problem, not 2 hours extra in a seat.
Don't factor in family and friends. It's your move and your lifestyle that you need to satisfy, not someone else's. Family and friends will visit wherever you are if they're motivated enough.
Fly direct to Vancouver (Manchester or London), then a 45 min internal to Kamloops or a 4hr drive. That's quicker than messing about changing in Calgary or Kelowna and still having a 2.5hr drive.
I lived in/around Kamloops for 14 years. It's relatively inexpensive to the rest of BC to purchase property in, the weather is beautiful with hot dry (low humidity) summers and very benign winters. Canada's 2nd largest ski resort is 45 minutes away, there are 100's of local lakes for recreation, a growing university and plenty for growing kids to get involved in.
I moved back to the UK due to ageing parents who need taking care of. The flight to Vancouver had become too much to cope with, but reducing the travel time wouldn't have made any difference - it's coping with luggage and logistics in the UK that's the problem, not 2 hours extra in a seat.
Don't factor in family and friends. It's your move and your lifestyle that you need to satisfy, not someone else's. Family and friends will visit wherever you are if they're motivated enough.
Fly direct to Vancouver (Manchester or London), then a 45 min internal to Kamloops or a 4hr drive. That's quicker than messing about changing in Calgary or Kelowna and still having a 2.5hr drive.
I lived in/around Kamloops for 14 years. It's relatively inexpensive to the rest of BC to purchase property in, the weather is beautiful with hot dry (low humidity) summers and very benign winters. Canada's 2nd largest ski resort is 45 minutes away, there are 100's of local lakes for recreation, a growing university and plenty for growing kids to get involved in.
this resonates with us as we also live in the part of the UK that large city/towns are an hours drive away!
We we are leaning to BC for the lifestyle that we want, both our boys are not city kids, although maybe this may change as they grow? But meanwhile I wanna enjoy the fact that they wanna spend some time with us!
#41
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Re: BC or Ontario?
Although we need to factor flights into the equation as our family’s and friends will want to come and stay, it’s however not a huge focus as long as we can get there.
So we’re still looking at BC areas (it’s an itch that won’t go away at the moment)
any my thoughts on Kamloops? (Direct flight to Calgary,with domestic flight to Kelowna)
So we’re still looking at BC areas (it’s an itch that won’t go away at the moment)
any my thoughts on Kamloops? (Direct flight to Calgary,with domestic flight to Kelowna)
Do you have to be anywhere specific for that job offer/option you mentioned? A bonus if you don't - but I presume you will need to have an income of some sort?
Last edited by Siouxie; Jan 29th 2019 at 5:05 pm.
#42
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: BC or Ontario?
Collect bags, clear customs at POE, check in for domestic flight. Domestic baggage allowance on domestic flights often less than international, unless booking straight through. Not something I would choose to do after a trans Atlantic flight. Cost is around $300 to $600 return, depending on availability. Quicker and cheaper to fly direct CYVR, connecting flight to YLW.
#43
Re: BC or Ontario?
Collect bags, clear customs at POE, check in for domestic flight. Domestic baggage allowance on domestic flights often less than international, unless booking straight through. Not something I would choose to do after a trans Atlantic flight. Cost is around $300 to $600 return, depending on availability. Quicker and cheaper to fly direct CYVR, connecting flight to YLW.
#44
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Re: BC or Ontario?
A plus to consider with teenagers is that both Kelowna and Kamloops have universities ............. it is possible to do 1 or 2 years at the "home" small university, then move to a big one, eg UBC, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto.
Kelowna has the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus
Kamloops has Thompson Rivers University
PG also has a well-established (25 years), well-regarded, university, University of Northern British Columbia, with some interesting differences in faulty and departments, and a focus on northern studies.
As a result, all these places have some more upscale advances such as decent coffee shops, fantastic restaurants, brew pubs, entertainment options, etc.
I was amazed at the changes in PG when we visited there just under 2 years ago vs our last stop there about 10 years previous to that.
Against this, I feel that I have to caution that both PG and Kamloops both still have at least one active pulp mill ....... the smell emitted by such mills has to be smelled to be believed. Kamloops has tried to solve the problem by building the largest chimney you might ever see to try to lift the emissions above the valley so they can disperse more easily. It is not always successful!
Kelowna has the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus
Kamloops has Thompson Rivers University
PG also has a well-established (25 years), well-regarded, university, University of Northern British Columbia, with some interesting differences in faulty and departments, and a focus on northern studies.
As a result, all these places have some more upscale advances such as decent coffee shops, fantastic restaurants, brew pubs, entertainment options, etc.
I was amazed at the changes in PG when we visited there just under 2 years ago vs our last stop there about 10 years previous to that.
Against this, I feel that I have to caution that both PG and Kamloops both still have at least one active pulp mill ....... the smell emitted by such mills has to be smelled to be believed. Kamloops has tried to solve the problem by building the largest chimney you might ever see to try to lift the emissions above the valley so they can disperse more easily. It is not always successful!
Last edited by scilly; Jan 29th 2019 at 8:35 pm. Reason: adding information
#45
Re: BC or Ontario?
I don't see the logic here. Children grow up, they go away to university, that's the end of them. They go away because they choose the university they think best suited to them and because going away to university is part of growing up. It doesn't seem to me that physical proximity is much of a factor in choosing a university; no one gives up a place in a veterinary course at Guelph or the good school in Alberta because they live within a bus ride of, say, UBC's faculty of law.