Vancouver
 

We are hoping to move to Vancouver. I've never been before but thats where OH's job offer is.

We currently live in Manchester.

I have a couple of questions. What is Vancouver like? Is it a nice place to raise a family? Which areas of Vancouver are the most affordable, and nice? I also read on here that it rains alot in Vancouver, please tel me it doesn't rain more there than it does in Manchester :( I truly couldn't cope.

If you can give any direct comparisons to Manchester that would be great.

Please feel free to drop in anything about the place.

Thanks everyone. :D

Re: Vancouver
 

dboy is an ex-Manc, and now a Vancouverist. Hopefully he'll be able to give you some insight as to how they compare.

There have been many previous threads about rainfall in Vancouver, and how much it differs according to which area of the city you live in. The search function should help you out.

Re: Vancouver
 

dboy, calling dboy .... ;)

(Vikty - for your info dboy is an ex Manchester lad now living in Vancouver)

I'm sure lots of people will be along to answer your thread soon. And if you can play with the search button on this forum there maybe many other threads covering some of your questions. :)

Ooh - Edit - R I C H and I are on the same wavelength :D

Re: Vancouver
 

Raining right now! Rainfall in parts of Vancouver double that of London. It is not a dry climate, although summers are generally not too bad. It usually only rains between October and April. You can get weather stats from here http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec....s/index_e.html

Lower Mainland BC is nice to live - Would not give anything to live in Vancouver or any other city for that matter. Really though it depends on what you call nice. For me nice is miles from anywhere, for others its a tower block. The traffic around town is horrendous. Getting out of Vancouver Saturday night to Abbotsford took as long at midnight as it does at 6pm on a Friday.

Re: Vancouver
 

Thanks everyone. It didn't rain here in Manchester Fri, Sat or Sun. I think its pretty much rained every day other than that for the past couple of months. I don't mind winter rain but every day of the summer is annoying :p.

Re: Vancouver
 

I lived on the other side of the pennines for a while and I can say that in winter it feels like it rains as much (if not more) in Vancouver, but in general the city seems a lot brighter in the winter and you do get the occasional sunny days. Personally I don't mind the rain in winter as I know it means snow higher up.

Re: Vancouver
 

Greetings -

I am from Dukinfield originally. Winter weather here is identical to manchester, although we tend to get a reprieve around early jan where we tend to get bright clear skies and snow for a couple of weeks, although we had an odd winter this year with tons of snow and no rain for about 2 months.

Outside of winter, the weather here is way better. Manchester gets about 1300 hours of sun per year while we get around 2000 . So in short 8 months good to great with rain but not all the time and wet, crappy winters. As Alan points out though, rain in the city is snow on the slopes so sking is on your doorstep.

Affordable and vancouver are two words that don't go together I'm afraid. Cost of living is comparable overall, beer is more expensive, eating out cheaper. Real estate is London expensive, although rent is reasonable compared to manchester (one bed around 1000 with no council tax and most bills included).

West End would be good if you are looking to be well located.

I would say that vancouver is way better than manchester.

Good luck

Edit - oh and its raining (said on the news though that we have had more rain in the last few days than the whole of the last 4 months)

Re: Vancouver
 

Ditto for leeds

Re: Vancouver
 

As an ex Leeds girl, I have to second that :thumbup:

Re: Vancouver
 

I found the lack of kebabs hard to take at first. They've got these things called falafels or shawarmas that is nothing like the proper thing. It does rain a lot, like its raining today. :frown: Pubs here are not like back home, they don't have meat raffles. Summer's are great if go to the seaside because there are lots of beaches here, though there's not much amusements and no donkey rides. It's a small city but quite a nice place to live if you got a good job.

Re: Vancouver
 

Had a shawarma the other day - quite enjoyed it actually.

Re: Vancouver
 

Does your girlfriend know? ;)

Re: Vancouver
 

Oh it'll be good to see some snow, my daughters 2 and a half and she's never played in the snow :eek: When it does snow in Manchester it rains 5 minutes later and washes it away :lol:

Well I'm liking the sounds of Vancouver, thanks everyone, and Dboy "I would say that vancouver is way better than manchester" thats exactly what I wanted to hear, thanks.

I guess I can learn to live without donkey rides and kebabs :rofl:

Re: Vancouver
 

We had lots of snow in the city this winter - nearly a metre of it in december; a proper white christmas it was. I remember walking around stanley park in a good foot of snow which was cool

Re: Vancouver
 

[QUOTE=dboy;7830818]
I would say that vancouver is way better than manchester.
/QUOTE]

Hi
Likewise better than Devon.

Sure it's raining today & since saturday evening, but how many days has it rained since late may ? Not many as I recall and next week it's supposed to be back 33 for wednesday .
Personally I am enjoying the rain, it's a pleasant break from the heat of recent weeks and the ground really needs it.
cheers
Jerry


14 day forecast

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/fourteenday/cabc0308


stats
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/sta...02096/cabc0308

Re: Vancouver
 

[QUOTE=jerry brewer;7831057]We do need it and apparently some forest is on fire somewhere too:p

Re: Vancouver
 

Even though it was frikin cold this winter, I actually liked it. the snow was a welcome change to the rain (although vancouver was completely unprepared for it).

I wonder if it will be like that again this year?

Re: Vancouver
 

It truly is a remarkable place and I don't think anyone from the north west would have any real issues with the weather. Very safe place as well, without the yob culture (at least for the most part). We also get coronation street - although the rest of the telly is not very good - hence why I seem to be on here so much!

My three year old nephew was here in may - he loved the beaches and parks - all he said " goin' park" or goin beach"

Great place for a family - although cost of housing can be an issue - work situation is getting dire - and to have a decent life style here a decent wage is needed.

Here is a write up I did on vancouver - all very subjective of course:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...al#post7662107

Re: Vancouver
 

What are those gyro things - I thought they were kebabs - i can't eat them anyway. Yes the beaches here are nothing like blackpool with kiss me quick hats, donkeys, hen and stag dos and pissed up scots all over the place. Have to say though, I've had some right real piss ups there!

Meat raffles - forgot about them and the fella selling crab sticks out of a basket! I do miss the pub culture - although I complained that was all anyone did when i lived there.

Over all my main bitches are:

over priced real estate, wet winters, and no decent pubs -

this guide will give you a rough idea of the different neighbourhoods

http://www.vancouveruserguide.com/ne...s/westend.html

Re: Vancouver
 

Spot on really, no not much to worry about when you way up the positives.

Booze is spendy but that's Canada not just Vancouver. Apart from the Lions Gate, I think the bridges are ugly but that's really getting picky. Also, I like to go crabbing and pawning, it would have been nice if there were lobsters out there too.

Re: Vancouver
 

Dont you mean FROM October to April? :D

Summer more than makes up for it. And the OP is from Manchester so its not like their used to it.

Re: Vancouver
 

That's what I said, between October and April. October 1 to April 30 if you need a more simple definition.

Re: Vancouver
 

Actually October can be really nice when the seasons really turns, I can also remember more than a few years still having sunny weather - for me the real grinder is nov through the start of april. I actually like the rain we get in april, since it tends to be a real turning point in the seasons, all the flowers are blooming, especially the cherry blossoms.

This year has been very unusual. We have had very little rain. I'd say the weather we are having now is worse than we have seen since march.

edit - noticed you lived on the north shore - rains more there you know.

Re: Vancouver
 

It's kind of akin to saying gonorrhea's better than syphilis ;)

Re: Vancouver
 

Love crab, but really dislike lobster for some reason. Not really sure why.

Re: Vancouver
 

Like RICH said, be careful of the Crabs

Re: Vancouver
 

Not sure what that means - I guess there's one in every village.

Re: Vancouver
 

There's a sense of humour in the mail to you. I actually like Vancouver.

Re: Vancouver
 

Nothing better than eating large dungeness crabs cooked on the dock, drinking beer and chucking the shells in the water.

Re: Vancouver
 

RAIN - how much yesterday - but better today -sun is trying to get back out and my garden looks a lot better for it:)

Re: Vancouver
 

We are heading out to Anacortes for a couple of days, hope the weather holds out!

We sure needed it that's for sure. The ground is like concrete.

Re: Vancouver
 

ffs it was a joke.

From, meaning constantly.

Re: Vancouver
 

Can u send it on to Aviator when you've finished with it.

Re: Vancouver
 

I'll have some once everybody has finished with it

Re: Vancouver
 

This is a dept you seem to be sadly lacking in old chap :rofl: Maybe all that traveling took it out of you. Go have another Guinness.

Re: Vancouver
 

Hahhaaahhaaaaaaa

I see the postman hasn't arrived yet.


Guinness, good idea.

Re: Vancouver
 

Wouldn't know, have you not checked your mailbox yet?

Re: Vancouver
 

Hi Vikty,

You've got many replies and views on Vancouver, that's good.

I didn't get the chance to read them all, sorry if this is repeated:

Yes, the summer on the Pacific coast in Vancouver can be incredible. Very attractive waterfront, we find most of the people friendly, though it's a busy bustling place, by Canadian standards. Very international, variety of people, fantastic library, parks good. Airport clean, spacious, buses clean, drivers friendly...

On the other hand, there's a lot of hype about Vancouver....world city...etc. But it's expensive, someone said 'you need a good job' too true. Restaurants, pubs pricey.... depends where you are in the UK, London of course is dear, if we compare.

Overrated attractions, e.g. aquarium - expensive, but dull. Housing, as you know, is insanely priced. Partly the lack of land now, with sea / mountain parameters, and part greed- watch Realtors (estate agents), they say they'll represent you... in our experience, they represent themselves with high commission...(from the seller, you don't pay the commiss. directly, but the price is kept high on the property....). Some realtors on here will be defensive, but believe me, we've been through the process twice, both no good, and know others with similar stories.

Not to put you off, there are many outlying areas with varying degrees of housing, I guess you need to visit and experience it.

Naturally your commuting distance will play a big part, the Vancouver bridges get blocked, coming to downtown.

These are our experiences anyway.

All the Best with your choices.

Cheers,

Andy.

Re: Vancouver
 

Not sure that knowing the price of admission to the aquarium is really useful for moving somewhere. I've been twice in 17 years - yes its overpriced - every city has its tourist traps.

True livability comes from where the city is situated and how it is laid out. Vancouver is a very walkable city with access to endless seaside walks, beaches and parks. Great for kids. Very easy access to the outdoors.

I agree that booze is 'London' expensive (6 - 7 bucks a pint) but restaurants are very reasonable - I found eating in Manchester way more expensive than Vancouver.

Real estate is the real killer here. We are still in a massive bubble and have not (yet) experienced the price declines that the UK and US have.

Yes you need a well above average wage in Vancouver - wages have not kept pace with the increased cost of living here. Having said that, outside of buying property, i don't see a great deal of difference in the day to day costs as in the UK. With the collapse of the pound, prices seem higher when visiting, but living here and earning dollars, standard of living is much the same. Quality of life here is where manchester (and most other Brit cities) is beaten hands down. That's the upside to moving here.

I would recommend a visit - and do research - feel free to pm if you have any specific questions.