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Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Hi, I'm getting in a real muddle over the different Vancouver communities to live in. OH needs to choose a college reasonably near where we intend to live (& we don't have time to visit beforehand).
We're hoping to use public transport to get around as much as possible and hopefully have not too long of a commute but not have to pay a ridiculous amount for rental. Lots of places in the downtown Vancouver area look nice but a place to rent for four of us is expensive. I read on one thread that South Vancouver might be a good option - but what areas does that cover? Port Moody and North Van appeal to me most after that. But North Vancouver is bloody expensive. And I've just realised that in Port Moody, my daughter would need to go to a middle school - she wants to go to school with her brother. I think Coquitlam also has the secondary school system. Are they the only areas that do this? That leaves Burnaby. I've read that North Burnaby is best. But which area does North Burnaby cover? I've looked on Google maps but I can't figure out where north meets south. Thanks. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8255545)
Hi, I'm getting in a real muddle over the different Vancouver communities to live in. OH needs to choose a college reasonably near where we intend to live (& we don't have time to visit beforehand).
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Personally, if I were planning to rely on public transit a lot, I wouldn't live in Port Moody or Coquitlam. There is transit there but it's not frequent enough imo and it would be a bit of a pain. North Van only if I had close access to the seabus. Transit-wise, north OR south burnaby, northeast van and northwest van/dt are the best imo. though I suppose if you could get close to the canada line south van isn't so bad anymore. really depends on which college the OH is at as to which area is best for commute though?
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Kiwilass
(Post 8255595)
I'm confused. Is your OH studying or working at a college? Does he know where he's going yet/if he's accepted yet?
He likes the look of Douglas College, which has campuses in Coquitlam and New Westminster. But he wouldn't mind applying to a different college if he has to, as most of them seem to offer the subjects he wants to do. Which bits of Burnaby are best to avoid? |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Oh, okay. I was thinking your choice would only make sense for Douglas. So yeah, if it's Douglas, then Coquitlam/the Po would make sense. In terms of transit, New West is a much better choice than the 'Lam because it has the Skytrain which means it will be easier for you to get to other parts of the lowermainland (like vancouver) without a car. A nice family area close to skytrain in NW is Sapperton - has it's own small shopping strip etc. NW tends to be cheaper too. Not sure how it would work for getting to NW douglas campus. I don't know why people don't talk about NW more - it's actually one of the oldest and most interesting cities around here. And did I mention cheaper? Why yes, yes it is.
I don't know of any 'bad' areas of Burnaby really. You should ask dboy, he's a copper round here, but except for the usual gang killings that happen everywhere, burnaby is general is pretty safe I think. North Burnaby has a cachet over South just because it's older and faces teh North Shore mountains and is close to DT. But South Burnaby is gentrifying rapidly. I wouldn't discount it. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
I don't disagree with anything Kiwilass has written.
Yes, North Van is nice but it is relatively expensive. If you are living on one income and need to keep within a budget then this could be a problem. Rents generally get cheaper the further away from downtown you get. But this is only a generalization. There is good and bad in every area. It is very hard to give any constructive advice unless we know where your OH will go to school and where you will work. If you will rely on public transport it makes sense to look for somewhere served by the Skytrain. The Skytrain works well if you need to go downtown but is not much use if you need to go across town. Don't rule out the buses. I tend to think of the Lougheed Hwy as the boundary of North Burnaby. A Skytrain line runs alongside (or above) the Hwy and to the north are some very pleasant residential neighborhoods. I would try and avoid Kingsway as it is a busy commercial corridor and Edmonds as it is a bit tatty but this is just my opinion. As I said above, there is good and bad everywhere. If you get the work/school locations sorted you should be able to find somewhere decent to live. You are only committing yourself for a year when you rent and by the end of the first year you will have a much better (and probably completely different) idea of where you want to settle long-term. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
yeah, north burnaby goes from boundary road in the northeast, bordered by lougheed in the south and burnaby mountain in the east, roughly.
for sapperton, look for sapperton skytrain station and check from there. south van - from about 41st on, around marine drive, up to the border of Richmond in the south and south burnaby in the east. Not so good for walkability though. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Kiwilass
(Post 8255629)
Oh, okay. I was thinking your choice would only make sense for Douglas. So yeah, if it's Douglas, then Coquitlam/the Po would make sense. In terms of transit, New West is a much better choice than the 'Lam because it has the Skytrain which means it will be easier for you to get to other parts of the lowermainland (like vancouver) without a car. A nice family area close to skytrain in NW is Sapperton - has it's own small shopping strip etc. NW tends to be cheaper too. Not sure how it would work for getting to NW douglas campus. I don't know why people don't talk about NW more - it's actually one of the oldest and most interesting cities around here. And did I mention cheaper? Why yes, yes it is.
I don't know of any 'bad' areas of Burnaby really. You should ask dboy, he's a copper round here, but except for the usual gang killings that happen everywhere, burnaby is general is pretty safe I think. North Burnaby has a cachet over South just because it's older and faces teh North Shore mountains and is close to DT. But South Burnaby is gentrifying rapidly. I wouldn't discount it. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by JonboyE
(Post 8256738)
I don't disagree with anything Kiwilass has written.
Yes, North Van is nice but it is relatively expensive. If you are living on one income and need to keep within a budget then this could be a problem. Rents generally get cheaper the further away from downtown you get. But this is only a generalization. There is good and bad in every area. It is very hard to give any constructive advice unless we know where your OH will go to school and where you will work. If you will rely on public transport it makes sense to look for somewhere served by the Skytrain. The Skytrain works well if you need to go downtown but is not much use if you need to go across town. Don't rule out the buses. I tend to think of the Lougheed Hwy as the boundary of North Burnaby. A Skytrain line runs alongside (or above) the Hwy and to the north are some very pleasant residential neighborhoods. I would try and avoid Kingsway as it is a busy commercial corridor and Edmonds as it is a bit tatty but this is just my opinion. As I said above, there is good and bad everywhere. If you get the work/school locations sorted you should be able to find somewhere decent to live. You are only committing yourself for a year when you rent and by the end of the first year you will have a much better (and probably completely different) idea of where you want to settle long-term. We really need to choose a long term area to live when we get there, as I don't want to move the kids to different schools after the first year. The schools and the safety of the area is most important, which is why I'm looking at areas at the same time as colleges. I've heard folk say on here that choosing a school isn't important but I read an article that mentioned kids set lockers on fire etc at one school in Vancouver and a school like that definitely wouldn't be acceptable to me. I won't be looking for work until a few weeks after we arrive and I'm not too fussed about what job I take initially, as I'll probably start another business. I like the look of White Rock, where you live but I can't find any details of nearby ski slopes for there and we'd really like to do night skiing. Is there a ski slope near to you? |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
hey sparkling.
it's the internet. i wouldn't take it too seriously. :D the lowermainland has had targeted shootings on and off for a while now, targeted being the operative word, and that includes areas like west van and the west side... so don't get involved with gangs, and you'll be fine, most likely. ;) and again, check with dboy...he's a cop in the local rcmp here |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8260700)
I like the look of White Rock, where you live but I can't find any details of nearby ski slopes for there and we'd really like to do night skiing. Is there a ski slope near to you? |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Kiwilass
(Post 8260708)
hey sparkling.
it's the internet. i wouldn't take it too seriously. :D the lowermainland has had targeted shootings on and off for a while now, targeted being the operative word. so don't get involved with gangs, and you'll be fine, most likely. ;) and again, check with dboy...he's a cop in the local rcmp here. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
dboy seems pretty approachable to me. i'd do it.
burnaby does have lots of parks and greenspace...it's a well-run city too. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8260700)
I've heard folk say on here that choosing a school isn't important but I read an article that mentioned kids set lockers on fire etc at one school in Vancouver and a school like that definitely wouldn't be acceptable to me.
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8260700)
I've heard folk say on here that choosing a school isn't important but I read an article that mentioned kids set lockers on fire etc at one school in Vancouver and a school like that definitely wouldn't be acceptable to me.
You won't just be able to just choose a school, there are school districts and catchment areas, they have quotas, if the school is full you get directed to the next nearest one. They also won't accept a registration until you have a permanent address. If you have a rental lined up, that should be enough, even if you are not living there just yet. There are only so many things you can plan before arriving. You really won't get an appreciation for a community until you go there yourself and consider living there. What suits one may not suit another. It seems so much different once living somewhere rather than on the Internet or visiting. Also, when selecting a college, make sure the courses you want are delivered at that campus. Often different campuses deliver different courses or part courses. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
See someone sent out the bat light. How can I help:D Been out in the sun last few - about boody time!
Burnaby - I work major crime which includes murders and frankly i wouldn;t hesitate to live there. When I think of the murders last year, most were gang shootings and one was a domestic murder. I think there was about 4. 3-4 is the norm. Bad areas of burnaby are in the south east, close to the new west boarder, although the city has really improved these areas over the past 10 years that i've worked there. The area is known for low level street prostitution and drugs. Lots of lower income areas and project style housing. I'd avoid these areas, althogh there are pockets that aren't bad. It's all relative and not as bad as Manchester. The onetime I almost shot someone was in that area. Stay away from the Kingsway corridor - when i worked patrol two thirds of calls were along there - the mall and the stores and the 'crime train' didn't help. Still generally safe though. As far as gangs go, there are a Hells Angels and some tired remnants of traditional organsied crime (yes the Mafia), but they are zero concern, both groups live in the area but defintately don't shit on their own patch - they are of little concern to us, but we keep an eye on them. I'd be more concerned about violent street gangs - there are non established in Burnaby -and the hits are usually related to something in Vancouver. They do pass through from time to time, but usually in the south end of the city. North Burnaby has very low crime - more of the nusiance variety - there will be a rash of break ins from time to time, but that happens just about everywhere. I was bored when I worked in north burnaby - which is good when a copper says that. North Burnaby has excellent links to Vancouver - 17 mins in heavier traffic to gastown. Very walkable, nice shops and restaurants, community feel and awesome park at Barnett Marine. There is a Italian influence in the area which adds a lot of character - check out Capitol Hill and Vancouver Heights. The heavily media driven shootings took place over a year ago now and was largely a drug turf battle between teh red scorpions and the UN - I worked a number of them and there were many arrests. Besides only one shooting happened in Burnaby on North Road which was not related to the rash of shootings and we have charged 2 people in that. Most of the other shooting were in the valley and only one was on the west side of vancouver. Like everywhere i the LMD there are likely a numer of grow houses in the city. All secondary schools have police liaison officers assigned to them. I've never been invovled in any serious investigations at a school in Burnaby. They are as safe as they can be. Hope that helps |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Lychee
(Post 8260759)
There are bad apples at every school, so I wouldn't be so quick to write off an entire school based on one isolated episode with an unruly student. I'm sure the school doesn't think it's acceptable either, but mischief happens at even the best schools. Arson is the extreme circumstance. Therefore, I wouldn't think this would be necessarily a reflection of how good a school is (unless this is happening on a regular occasion and the school responds to it in an unsatisfactory manner). In your example, it sounds like a problem with the individual, not the school. That kind of behaviour often results in the student being expelled and quite possibly arrested.
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by The Aviator
(Post 8260772)
Stuff happens as schools everywhere. We nearly destroyed the chem lab at school in the UK, the teacher did not find it too acceptable either, he was still in it!
You won't just be able to just choose a school, there are school districts and catchment areas, they have quotas, if the school is full you get directed to the next nearest one. They also won't accept a registration until you have a permanent address. If you have a rental lined up, that should be enough, even if you are not living there just yet. There are only so many things you can plan before arriving. You really won't get an appreciation for a community until you go there yourself and consider living there. What suits one may not suit another. It seems so much different once living somewhere rather than on the Internet or visiting. Also, when selecting a college, make sure the courses you want are delivered at that campus. Often different campuses deliver different courses or part courses. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by dboy
(Post 8260814)
See someone sent out the bat light. How can I help:D Been out in the sun last few - about boody time!
Burnaby - I work major crime which includes murders and frankly i wouldn;t hesitate to live there. When I think of the murders last year, most were gang shootings and one was a domestic murder. I think there was about 4. 3-4 is the norm. Bad areas of burnaby are in the south east, close to the new west boarder, although the city has really improved these areas over the past 10 years that i've worked there. The area is known for low level street prostitution and drugs. Lots of lower income areas and project style housing. I'd avoid these areas, althogh there are pockets that aren't bad. It's all relative and not as bad as Manchester. The onetime I almost shot someone was in that area. Stay away from the Kingsway corridor - when i worked patrol two thirds of calls were along there - the mall and the stores and the 'crime train' didn't help. Still generally safe though. As far as gangs go, there are a Hells Angels and some tired remnants of traditional organsied crime (yes the Mafia), but they are zero concern, both groups live in the area but defintately don't shit on their own patch - they are of little concern to us, but we keep an eye on them. I'd be more concerned about violent street gangs - there are non established in Burnaby -and the hits are usually related to something in Vancouver. They do pass through from time to time, but usually in the south end of the city. North Burnaby has very low crime - more of the nusiance variety - there will be a rash of break ins from time to time, but that happens just about everywhere. I was bored when I worked in north burnaby - which is good when a copper says that. North Burnaby has excellent links to Vancouver - 17 mins in heavier traffic to gastown. Very walkable, nice shops and restaurants, community feel and awesome park at Barnett Marine. There is a Italian influence in the area which adds a lot of character - check out Capitol Hill and Vancouver Heights. The heavily media driven shootings took place over a year ago now and was largely a drug turf battle between teh red scorpions and the UN - I worked a number of them and there were many arrests. Besides only one shooting happened in Burnaby on North Road which was not related to the rash of shootings and we have charged 2 people in that. Most of the other shooting were in the valley and only one was on the west side of vancouver. Like everywhere i the LMD there are likely a numer of grow houses in the city. All secondary schools have police liaison officers assigned to them. I've never been invovled in any serious investigations at a school in Burnaby. They are as safe as they can be. Hope that helps I will check out the areas you mentioned - a place with a bit of character would be nice. Would it be ok if I PM you sometime? OH is going to college then hoping to apply to join the police, so we might need some advice. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8260820)
It wasn't an isolated incident - it was a regular thing. The article was bragging about how much the school had improved their grades but went on to say that lockers being set on fire etc still happened all the time. Don't remember the name of the school - just that it was in Vancouver.
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8260839)
Thank you. That is a brilliant help. OH was panicking when he read about gangs and murders and was thinking about moving to Toronto instead. He will feel a lot better when he reads this.
I will check out the areas you mentioned - a place with a bit of character would be nice. Would it be ok if I PM you sometime? OH is going to college then hoping to apply to join the police, so we might need some advice. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8260700)
I like the look of White Rock, where you live but I can't find any details of nearby ski slopes for there and we'd really like to do night skiing. Is there a ski slope near to you?
<ducks into cover> |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Another plug for Burnaby:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/22/t...ity-in-canada/ Burnaby is one of the wealthiest cities in Canada and one of the few with balanced books. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8260839)
Thank you. That is a brilliant help. OH was panicking when he read about gangs and murders and was thinking about moving to Toronto instead. He will feel a lot better when he reads this.
I will check out the areas you mentioned - a place with a bit of character would be nice. Would it be ok if I PM you sometime? OH is going to college then hoping to apply to join the police, so we might need some advice. |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by JonboyE
(Post 8260847)
I like White Rock too, but there are no ski hills here. The snow would melt in the almost sub-tropical climate.
<ducks into cover> ;) |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by dboy
(Post 8260841)
It couldn't have been that newsworthy, I never heard about it, and any serious offences/safety concerns are relayed to use via a daily breifing from Vancouver Police - I never saw anything.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/new...652/story.html |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by dboy
(Post 8260873)
Another plug for Burnaby:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/22/t...ity-in-canada/ Burnaby is one of the wealthiest cities in Canada and one of the few with balanced books. I hope you don't mind me asking but we were looking at North and West Vancouver, how's the crime rate there? |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Hi Michelle - From what I've read so far North Vancouver has very little crime. I've been checking up mostly on violent crime and murder, so I'm not sure about car theft, burglary etc though.
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8262064)
Hi Michelle - From what I've read so far North Vancouver has very little crime. I've been checking up mostly on violent crime and murder, so I'm not sure about car theft, burglary etc though.
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
This is a useful post, thanks to the OP and those that have replied. Looks like rentals in Burnaby are much more affordable than some of other places that I've seen online.
Simon |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Okay, I have to ask cos I don't get it.
Why the concern about crime? |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by sparkling_gal
(Post 8261823)
I re-read it and it sounds like the worst of the problems were about six years ago, which is why it probably doesn't ring any bells. Here's the link to the article:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/new...652/story.html |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Kiwilass
(Post 8262992)
Okay, I have to ask cos I don't get it.
Why the concern about crime? |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Alan2005
(Post 8263031)
It's a valid concern. Somebody offered me some shards the other week (which I can only assume is drug lingo for meth). I don't know what I was more horrified by, the blatant criminality or the fact that some random dealer thought I looked like a meth-head.
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
:rofl:
Is it? I generally assume when I move to another western country there'll be a bit of crime, and none of them have let me down yet. It's just interesting to me that it's one of the first things Brits want to know about. You guys seem very concerned about it I have noticed. So I'm curious...why? is it so bad in the UK? |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Alan2005
(Post 8263031)
It's a valid concern. Somebody offered me some shards the other week (which I can only assume is drug lingo for meth). I don't know what I was more horrified by, the blatant criminality or the fact that some random dealer thought I looked like a meth-head.
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Kiwilass
(Post 8263075)
:rofl:
So I'm curious...why? is it so bad in the UK? |
Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by Oink
(Post 8263054)
How was it?
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
Originally Posted by SirTainly
(Post 8263103)
Yes, the UK is now like a scene from Mad Max, haven't you been keeping up with the Daily Wail's stories? ;)
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Re: Help Understanding Vancouver Communities Please
we don't need another heeeeroooooo...
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