Where in Canada?
 

Hello,

My husband and I have moved over to Vancouver. We have been here for for 8 months. We are happy in Vancouver but we have just had a baby (3 months old) and we would like to be in a more rural area to bring him up. We have explored some of BC but it is difficult to decide where to move to after only a couple of days in each place. Ideally we would like to visit places again before we make our move but money and time make it difficult for us to do so. It would be great to have some input on the areas we are looking at and whether anyone has any further suggestions.

The areas we have liked are -
Smithers
Comox Valley, particularly Courteney
North Vancouver
Victoria (love the town but would prefer to be nearer to skiing)
Tofino (bit of a wild card as it does not have any skiing but we like the feel of the town)

My husband is really into fly fishing, especially salmon and steelhead, I would like to be near to some skiing and also a decent town with amenities and a nice feel (sorry I know that sounds vague). Good schools will become important in a few years.

Whilst we would need a job in the short term (we are happy to do anything) our long term plan when we find the right place is to set up a business, so a great job market is not essential. We have PR, or will do if/when we pass our medicals (we are taking them on Saturday!).

We have not looked at inland areas but have heard good things about Nelson and the Kooteneys. Nelson sounds like a great town and the skiing sounds fantastic but we are a bit nervous of the drug culture in Nelson. Is this an issue? Also, we do not know anything about the Okanagan. A big town like Kelowna does not really interest us but we know nothing of the surrounding areas.

We are happy to look inland and at different provinces to get what we want.

Please can anyone advise on their thoughts on any of the areas or if there are places we are missing that fit our criteria. Or tell me if we are asking too much from one area to have skiing, fishing and a town (!).

Thanks in advance.
Becky

Re: Where in Canada?
 

http://www.best-in-british-columbia....arealakes.html
http://www.tourismkamloops.com/home_...ion_ID_51.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b0poj6y4Vk

Re: Where in Canada?
 

http://www.okanaganforum.com

plenty of smaller places than Kelowna
Skiiing available but I'm afraid I know nothing about fishing

(only a visitor at the moment)

http://uk.britishcolumbia.travel/en-...onOkanagan.htm

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Kootenays, Okanagan (anywhere), Shushwap, Mid Island, all could meet your criteria. A forum is unlikley to answer your question and personally something I would not rely on the make such an important decision.

The only way is to visit and pick one. If you plan to start a business, your potential market should be a primary concern.

Moving to a rural area might be great to live for you, however as the kid grows up, chances are they won't be able to wait to get out. I know a few Canadian's that escaped the rural life of their parents for the city life.

We nearly bought some ocean front at Robert's Creek. Decided after talking to some friends who grew up there and left, the Sunshine Coast was not it for our kids as they grew up.

Drug culture is everywhere, you won't avoid it. Many grow op are in rural areas, so there is less chance of them being found.

Personally I loved Smithers, but bugger all to do up there (and it was a long commute to work).

No substitute for traveling around and deciding what works for you. You may want to take a look at Maple Ridge or Poco, even Silverdale/Whonnock/Mission

Re: Where in Canada?
 

There are lots of really nice small towns in the Okanagan. Naramata, Kaleden etc. It's beautiful there but I only have been there in summer. It's hot and dry in summer, lots of great wineries and good dining. I hear it shuts down pretty much in winter however I don't know it that's true. It has a lot of retirees.
You would definitely like the 'feel'

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Summer tourists swell the numbers in the Okanagan considerably, which can be a frustration if you're tying to live and work with the extra traffic. Summer tourist attractions certainly close in the fall, and visitor numbers drop off, but to say the area 'shuts down' isn't accurate. Kelowna has a population well over 100,000, so amenities and other seasonal activities continue as normal.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Have you thought about simply moving somewhere in the Lower Mainland like Ladner, Steveston, Fort Langley, or Harrison Hot Springs?

The issue with rural living in BC is that cultural values will shift away from what you'd typically expect in Vancouver. Small town BC can be quite different than Vancouver, depending on where you go.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

I am sure Rich knows more about it than I do since he's in Kamloops. It's true that Kelowna is a big city however the OP was asking about smaller towns. I have been in the smaller towns that I mentioned in the Okanagan in late fall. I can tell you that in the weekend the houses were occupied but during the week it is like a ghost town. Most of those houses are vacation homes. So that has been my experience. However I still think it's a great place, I would move there without hesitation!

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Apart from the skiing aspect which is a coouple of hours north of us, you might like the Cowichan Valley area. North of Victoria, south of Naniamo has a "rural" feel but it's only 30-45 minutes to downtown Victoria when you want/need it. Also, depending on what your proposed business is, this area should provide a good market for you.

We like it anyway....Good luck!

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Define 'rural'. I live in what I'd consider a rural location, along with 20 properties located in a small valley, each with c5 acres or more. No bus service, out of city limits, no garbage collection etc, but, I can be in downtown Kamloops within 20 minutes. You don't have to be completely isolated or cut off to enjoy some space and countryside.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Hi all,

Thanks for everyone's input. Please could I ask a couple of follow up questions?

You are right about the definition of rural being important. I think I would need to have access to amenities within about 30 minutes drive, so living in a small community with access to a larger one nearby would be good. Or living in a small town with all the amenities.

Lychee: In what way do you mean attitudes change in rural areas? I always had the impression people would be friendlier in rural areas? Is this not correct? Can anyone else give their opinion on this, please. We really want to move somewhere to meet people, get involved and be part of a community.

Boiwonder: Your experience of the Okanagan sounds great but it would be a concern that properties were stood empty when the holiday makers left. Perhaps if we were in an area nearer to a central hub this would mean more permanent residents lived there?

Rich: Are there not a lot of winter visitors for skiing?

Aviator: When you say there is nothing to do in Smithers do you mean in terms of work and business? Have you spent a period of time there? We really like Smithers too. The reasons being my husband is in fishing heaven, we both loved the mountain and we found the people to be friendly. It also appeared to have a nice community feel. Our only concerns are the town and the winter. The town seems nice enough but it is so far away from a larger town I am not sure this would be enough for me (it doesn't bother the OH - he'll be on the rivers anyway!) and the winters seem long and extremely cold. Are our first impressions right or can anyone add to them?

I also should have pointed out the business will not be reliant on having customers as we can work remotely.

Thanks again for everyone's input.
Becky

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Hi Becky,

No, I don't mean that people aren't friendly in small towns. Certainly that's not an issue. I'm referring to the (potential) like-mindedness of your neighbours. Religious beliefs. Political beliefs. Lifestyles. Having similar values. That kind of thing.

I only bring this up because many British Expats on this forum that move to small BC communities for the rural lifestyle often cite they have a hard time fitting into the community, not because the locals are unfriendly, but because they have little in common beyond the superficial friendliness.

Another thing to consider with small town communities in BC, depending on where you go, typically revolve around resource economies - forestry, fishing, mining, oil, etc. It can truly be hinterland living, depending on where you go.

That's all I'm trying to convey.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

We live in North Vancouver and love it!! like you we both ski (well snowboard actually) 5-10 min drive to all 3 mountains. We live right by the Seymour demonstration forest too so have loads of biking/walking trails right on our door step, feels rural even though its not really, just much more green, loads of trees etc. I'm sure the fishing is good too.
We will be starting a family in the next year or so and if we can afford it we will defiantly be staying on the north shore.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

I've lived rurally, in Ontario, not BC but I can't think it's very different. I liked it and expect to live rurally again but, in my view, it's completely incompatible with a desire to "get involved and be part of a community". People live in the country because they farm, because they belong to a persecuted minority or because they want to get away from people.

Farmers are busy all the time and fear outsiders, they don't socialise much and anyway are related to enough locals not to have to mingle with anyone who has a different eye colour. Mennonites, Hutterites, polygamists deal with people outside their compounds only for trade. The one thing you can say is that people in the country, who are not part of the local inbreeding, are likely to mingle with members of groups they'd avoid in the city simply due to the general lack of people. Militiamen and gay couples do come together to fight windmills or gravel pits or whatever other blight is being threatened.

Something to consider is that rural Canada is very different to rural England. There's no internet to speak of, the power's unreliable and it's not uncommon to be trapped on the property for 24 hours because of falling snow. It can be a bit brutal.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Hi again,

Thanks, Lychee, I can see what you mean. Thank you for explaining it a bit further. It is a real consideration for me.

dbd33 - That was an interesting post. When you consider rural living would you class living somewhere like the town of Smithers in the same way? E.g the type of people, the access to internet, etc?

We have no idea of the reality of living in rural Canada (other than it will be vastly different from anywhere we have lived before) so it is good to hear people's thoughts. If anyone else has any thoughts on this please let me know.

Stacey - You make North Van sound great. Do you think there is a community feel to it, or is it just like living in an extension of a large city? How do you feel about raising a family there? Do you know if the schools/childcare/other playgroups are good? The major issue is the cost of housing. We really would like to live in a family home but I am not sure we could afford it in North Van. Would you say that other costs are higher than elsewhere or is the major concern housing?

Too many choices.
Thanks again everyone. Thanks for letting me pick your brains.
Becky

Re: Where in Canada?
 

I had to google Smithers to see where it was. I tell you that so you know I'm not claiming any particular knowledge of rural BC.

However, based on other similarly remote parts of Canada and the US, I would not expect to find better than dial-up internet there and would question the utility of mobile phones and satellite radio. I would expect the population to consist of embittered cranks and substance abuse to be rife. Everything will be expensive. I would not be surprised to learn that the population is trapped there for the winter.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

I also live ruraly, 5 mins drive from a nice small village (and its associated LCBO), 25 mins from a couple of larger towns, one of which I work in.

I would say there is nothing at all to stop people from being part of the local community, and that small communities are a lot tighter knit than those in the towns.

Farming is the glue that holds the small village community together, and it can be a bit daunting to break into that clique, but if you are living there for the long haul and contributing to local causes, coaching local teams, members of local groups etc then being involved in the local community is no problem at all in my experience, but it doesn't happen overnight.

My specific location between hills makes internet tricky, but thats not true for most. I have never been trapped by snowfall, and I have a generator for the inevitable power outages, but have never yet used it in anger as the power is usually back on within a few hours.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

I suppose it all depends what people mean by "rural".

"Rural" as in surrounded by fields but within X minutes of a village with a shop? People to talk to and community groups, if you like.

"Rural" as in the nearest farm is 20 minutes drive on gravel roads (and guess what....they go to Texas for the winter!), the nearest thing resembling a village isn't worth the drive and the concept of a community group / local team etc is a bit laughable?

Re: Where in Canada?
 

I believe the local causes in Melancthon, which I imagine to be a lot more similar to Smithers than Belleville, to be limited to the windmill sabotage and gravel pit fighting associations. Granted they're something that brings people together but shooting windmill blades is a bit Monkey Wrench Gang for most people. Immigrants are not likely to know enough about ice hockey or curling to coach, participate or want to witness. Groups, yes, if you're Catholic, a Native American or Presbytarian, there's probably an association to celebrate that.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

I've heard about Canada a lot. I think it's a great country. And you make me feel I'm right.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Quite, point taken.

Even in the real rural areas there are community centers, and community events, but it just takes a longer drive and more effort to get there.

In the past I have refered to my situation as semi-rural, we even have a corner store within walking distance, even if it mostly sells fishing gear and ice cream.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Good grief....you live in a cosmopolis!

I am reminded of a place we drove through in Pennsylvania. I use the word "place" loosely. It was a handful of ramshackle houses at best, beautiful setting with mountains on one side and a valley, lovely trees. There was one service available, a store boasting the sign.....

Fishing Tackle
Ammunition

I wish I had taken a picture. There's a fine line dividing rural from bleak.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

LOL, cant be, not nearly enough traffic and construction noise:p

My oldest was saying after our road trip that she would never, NEVER, live in Toronto cos the noise was too much to sleep. I explained that you get used to it, and besides, anyone visiting us from Toronto would be kept up all night by the noise of the crickets and bull frogs!

She said "What noise from the crickets".:unsure:... QED.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

FWIW, I don't notice any difference in attitudes or approach to life amongst my rural dwelling neighbours, compared to work colleagues, friends and acquaintances that live in Kamloops itself. My neighbours hold down professional jobs, blue and white collar. If I was an additional 30 minutes out of town, I think some of what dbd was mentioning would start to hold true - self sufficiency starts to become more important, farming and logging become the biggest employers and life's a lot rougher around the edges.

WRT skiing, yes winter brings a big influx of tourists, but they're living within the confines of the ski resort, which is 40 minutes from town (applies to Kelowna and Kamloops), so their impact on the regular population is negligible (except for lift line ups).

Re: Where in Canada?
 

I quite often say I want to live in the woods with the bears - i.e. in the middle of nowhere, hours to the nearest town of substance. Reality being that I don't think I'd do very well at getting supplies in. So in my case a rural location within short driving distance to some sot of shop for supplies would be the order of the day.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

You paint a bleak picture.

Stirling is a village of about 2000, the whole area / township is about 4500. I just work in Belleville, its not where I live.

I coached soccer in the village. You dont have to know anything much to help out with little league sports. My wife knew nothing about skating, but helped the skating club by being on the exec commitee. I do some musical things in the village to, and that helps with fundraisers and just being part of the community. There is no need to think in such self limiting ways. Just cos you have no interest in immersing yourself in local customs like hockey doesnt mean that everyone does. I get the impression that quite a few of the expats that post here follow their local junior A hockey teams for example.

Granted, church is important in most small town canada, but its not everything.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Yes. Most of rural Canada is poor and suffers grim weather. The Unabomber would be at home in, say, Grey County, while British immigrants might well miss the warmth and conviviality of the Hebrides.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Which is odd, as I keep bumping into brits who are perfectly happy to live in it...

Re: Where in Canada?
 

As noted above, I was happy with it. I don't think though that we're comparing apples with apples. From past pictures, you could walk to your neighbour's house, which is hardly rural by Canadian standards. I'd think a house even a mile from Smithers would be properly rural, no problem shooting a gun off your porch there.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

You'd be hard pressed to find many rural homes in Canada that you couldn't walk to, unless it was remote farm or ranch type of property. Your definition of "rural" is quite extreme. I think the OP is talking about living in or near a town, which would be classified as rural by Canadian standards, not a remote part of the arctic only accessible by plane or ice breaker.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Smithers - lovely town but winter is long. One cell network has coverage the other doesn't. The local ski hill does not have night skiing (nearest night skiing is Terrace I believe). Job opportunities will be limited to government (provincial) and self employment.

Comox Valley - sorry, no idea but I've really tried to like Courtenay/Comox when I've visited (and failed). I actually preferred Campbell River but it is further from the ski hill and times there are hard with the mill shut down.

North Vancouver - not rural but on the edge of wilderness. Lots of good schools and amenities aplenty. Look at the larger townhouses - there are lots of family-oriented complexes - for better affordability. Or rent.

Victoria - twedium defined.

Tofino - you're 'avin a laugh. Victoria is too far from the skiing and you're worried about drugs in Nelson so you are considering Tofino? As for schools I don't suppose the population is big enough to support any choice, but I could be wrong and maybe the community school is excellent.

Different communities have different characteristics. Kaslo might suit you but once you are in the Kootenays you are in a different world. Alternatively, look at the Sunshine Coast, although you'll only have cross-country skiing unless you are into back country stuff. Pemberton is nice but has expanded beyond belief in the last few years. And as others have said, look at areas around the Lower Mainland a bit more closely, e.g. Maple Ridge is close to wilderness but cheaper than North Van.

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Try Kimberley, BC, and surrounding areas. Skiing, Fishing, LOTS of wilderness and wildlife, tons of lakes, very close to amenities, very close to an airport that services a wide area of Canada, close enough to the US border, and the schools are good (family members do very well so thats what i base an assumption on), and not too expensive property (in my opinion).

Re: Where in Canada?
 

Wow. Thank you so much for everyone's time. You really have given me a lot to think about.
Many thanks,
Becky