Hey. First time for everything. Great site for loads of info. Have a question about some areas away from the city... so....thinking of these two outside Vancouver but near enough to commute. Comments or anyone have any good info? Thanks!

Not well placed for commuting to Vancouver - assuming that's where you are talking about commuting to.

Isn't there a train service? What about general transport links, like bus and car. On the maps it seems to be pretty well connected ... or have I just misjudged?

Having said all of that, what are these places like to live in, forgetting the travel or distance to the city?
Thanks

I would choose Mission myself, as I think it's nicer. There is the West Coast Express. I don't take it, but I hear it's not bad. Not sure what the cost is, but the main drawback is the operating hours (peak only).

It must be at least 40kms from MR to Van and maybe 50-60 from Mission? Taking Bus or Car to downtown at peak hours and you're looking at 1.5 - 2hrs each way. I wouldn't do it. I'm sure someone will be on shortly to give you more local detail??

There is a train service but I've no idea how good it is. The towns are kind of quiet. They are also pretty much identical.

The train service is the West Coast Express. They have trains departing Mission and Maple Ridge in the morning to Vancouver, and the returning trains in the evening. Honestly? That kind of commute is not an envious one. You're at the outer edges of Greater Vancouver by basing yourself in Maple Ridge and Mission. Definitely take a look before moving out there.

Thanks for the train info, but what about the places themselves. What they like? Which is better and why? Facilities and ameneties? Anyone living in either of these places? Houses? I've seen mls but you can't really get a feel for a place just with that ...

Thanks

There is some information in the wiki here: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Vancouver#Neighbourhoods. You can also get information on the train form the West Coast Express website.

In my opinion "downtown" Maple Ridge is nothing special and I wouldn't chose to live there. However, if you are after a semi-rural lifestyle there is a reasonable selection of properties with an acre or more of land, either with woodland or potential for a hobby farm. There are also suburban sub-divisions (called housing estates in the UK) which will be fine, but much like sub-divisions anywhere else.

Overall amenities are what you would expect: good schools, local hospital, parks and recreation centers and so on. You are close to the mountains and the wild back country. Plenty of stores.

I know Mission less well. There is some perfectly pleasant housing on the outskirts but the centre of town is dominated by busy highways. There is nothing specifically wrong with Mission as far as I know, but I can't think of any reason why I would want to go and live there. Hopefully a Mission resident will be along to tell me I am completely wrong.

They really need to run more trains and have a connection of some kind to abby and chilawack. Not sure why they haven't expanded this service more - likely cost.

The odd time I have to go out to mission for work, I call it "Mission Impossible"

And what did you do for the rest of the day after thinking of that joke?

I've never lived there, so don't take what I say to heart. While the countryside nearby is appealing, I've never felt drawn to Maple Ridge or Mission - they're places I've only driven through. To me, Maple Ridge has always felt like generic suburban sprawl connected to the suburban sprawl of Pitt Meadows, Coquitlam, etc. And not only that, but it's too far for my liking. Too far if I wanted to make Vancouver a part of my daily routine.

It's located along the Fraser River, which is a very fertile agricultural belt, and the mountains are right behind you. Both places are a little more "country" and "white bread" culturally, but that's the trade-off for living where real estate is cheaper. Living there I'm sure would be very pleasant as long as you knew what you were getting into - a rural suburb on the outskirts of Greater Vancouver. We're talking Reading-London distances.

You're not completely wrong but I do need to make a few points, since I am a resident here. Firstly, Mission has become quite a bit busier along the highways and byways around these parts. It is well placed for pretty much everything - Harrison Hots Springs, the wilder back country, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, access to Vancouver via the terribly inconvenient commuter rail service (incovenient for the masses and why hasn't it been expanded to evening and weekend use?! - costs obviously) and the Loughheed Highway, some fabulous areas to live in with acreages, tree lined avenues, cookie-cutter housing (if you like that sort of thing), several gated developments, absolutely stunning scenery in places, It sounds lovely, doesn't it?

Then there's the other side: It's Hicksville in many parts. Nothing wrong with that, if that's the sort of environment you don't mind. Downtown is ok during the day but after dusk, it's full of ne'er do wells, prossies, drug addled folk and waifs and strays .. usual downtown story. The whole place could be an amazing place to live if the municipality could muster the energy, commitment and resources necessary to give the entire downtown area a massive facelift and revitalise the shopfrontages - a lick of paint would do wonders. There are (so I understand) plans for a future (read 10-15 years) waterfront development which sounds pretty interesting. There's also the massive Genstar 10,000 (some say 40,000?) home development to go up and around Silverdale, which is located between Mission and Maple Ridge along the Loughheed.

Amenities are great. There's a fab rec centre which is well used and very new. The people are friendly but, like many Canadians, take time to open up beyond a superficial level (no offence, Canada) and on sunny days this place is glorious. Access to the lakes, rivers, mountains and tons of outdoorsy stuff ... what's not to like?

The problem we've found is that it's an insular place with not much going on up top, if you get my drift. I think the hustle and bustle of city life is something we miss but we also want the peace and quiet of the country, if that makes sense? Actually, we want it all but can't have it (yet). Country(ish) living with access to weekend city stuff. If the train service were to expand, this place would be great. We initially loved it here and we still have days when we realize that what we have is so much better than before or elsewhere. It all depends on what you're looking for. If I could afford it, I'd buy an acreage on a flat, usable lot and grow chickens .... or something ...

Good luck.

Well said!

On the surface, looks great! Amenities, great! Culturally? Boring. But if you don't care, great!

I agree.