My parents are possibly moving to Vancouver Island and Im considering going along! I've never been (live in Alberta). Just curious to know what the island is like.
Whats good about it, and whats bad?
Do they have good local hockey?
Are jobs hard to find?
Good camping? Weather?
Do they have nice beaches you can swim/surf at?
Etc...
Thank You!!
2007-01-11 08:21:43 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Canada ➔ Vancouver
Sorry - I should mention that my parents are looking at either the Nanaimo or Port Alberny area!
2007-01-11 08:26:01 · update #1
I live in Victoria also but I have family in Port Alberni
Port is beautiful, but as far as I know the economy isn't as great as other parts of the island. They rely on the mills and they often get shut down for months at a time.
However if you like the outdoors, it's perfect. There is great camping, fishing, hiking in beautiful areas. And that other person who posted about the ferries going on strike is wrong.
I've lived here most of my life and remember the ferries going on strike twice, ever. It is a bit expensive to get on and off the island but unnecessary to leave all that often.
I've lived in Alberta and BC, and am happier here on the Island.
2007-01-12 09:52:54 · answer #1 · answered by duvalicious 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would help if you said where you are going on Vancouver Island. I live in Victoria, so mostly I can tell you about that.
Hockey: Victoria has a professional ECHL team, the Salmon Kings, plus there are teams from the BC Junior league up and down the island such as the Alberni Bulldogs and Nanaimo Clippers.
Jobs: The economy is in a very good state right now; Victoria has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, so finding a job should not be too difficult here.
Camping: There are tons of great campgrounds in provincial parks throughout the Island such as Goldstream, which is just outside Victoria, and French Beach. Closer to Port Alberni, is Sproat Lake.
Weather: For most of the year the weather is great. It is fairly mild most of the time and there are rarely extremes of hot or cold. It rains a lot in the winter; this year, in particular, has been very stormy.
Beaches: Of course there are good beaches, it's an island. Tofino is a popular destination, but there are lots of places all over the island you could go. You will be pretty close to Parksville; that would be another good place to go.
All in all it is a pretty great part of the world to live especially if you like to be around nature. I hope that helps!
2007-01-11 08:32:01 · answer #2 · answered by Ape Ape Man 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I live on Vancouver island and I love it. Good climate(if you don't mind a grey damp winter), great scenery in all kinds of variety, lots of things to do. If you like outdoor stuff, there's something to do all year round. People are friendly, at least friendlier than they are in Vancouver. The only drawbacks are that it can be hard to find work in some areas, depending what you do, and a place to live is probably more expensive than it is back east.
2016-03-17 23:38:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lived there once. My dad was happy to get off the island. In the summer when school is out seems like the time the ferries go on strike. Now you are stuck on the island. And the costs are continually rising to use the ferries.
You didn't say what kind of work. It is more of a retirement area.....young people are not there...they are in Alberta. Camping is kind of OK. The provincial parks are well taken care of and are of higher quality than what you would find in provincial parks in BC's interior. After all BC's capital city is there - so it is government and politicians and their ilk. Victoria is mainly older English style homes, little old ladies driving their English Wosley cars(or Hillmans, or Morris Minors and the picket fence, flower garden type thing.) There is alot of that. It was built long time back so alot of structures are grey stone and dull red brick.
My dad got off because construction wasn't happening there like it was in the interior of BC.
There is nice beaches with lots of sandy shoreline.
Weather; normally pretty mellow...even in the winter...no snow. This year however is somewhat different(if you watch the news) Tulips are up in February.
And one other thing ( something I never knew while I lived there) it is the "witch" capital of Canada.
2007-01-11 14:39:14 · answer #4 · answered by ButwhatdoIno? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This link looks informative:
http://www2.jurock.com/areainfo/van_island.asp
Enjoy your time there
2007-01-14 07:01:49 · answer #5 · answered by knowitall 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cold and wet.
2007-01-11 08:26:52 · answer #6 · answered by Joseph n 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋