Best Place to Live in Canada?

[mc1234]

I was hoping everyone could help me out. Right now we are in Ontario, but would like to move to a different part of Canada as we think this particular area of Canada is not fit for our lifestyle. Where do you live in Canada? What do you love, what do you hate?

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Fencesitter]

London, Ontario. Great place to raise children. Perfect location - TO only a short drive...US border only a short drive...lakes and lots of nature all over the place...we have everything you could need...and if not, you could travel to TO or the US to get it...

FS

 

[mc1234]

London, Ontario. Great place to raise children. Perfect location - TO only a short drive...US border only a short drive...lakes and lots of nature all over the place...we have everything you could need...and if not, you could travel to TO or the US to get it...

FS

Thanks for your input. We were thinking outside Ontario, but still are unsure. London would be worth the drive over. Houses are still reasonable priced there (I work in Real esate so I am always thinking about this) .. We will look into that one!

 

[Fencesitter]

If the economy on the east coast was better, I'd suggest that, too. Always wanted to live out there for some reason, but I probably couldn't handle the isolation.

FS

 

[mc1234]

If the economy on the east coast was better, I'd suggest that, too. Always wanted to live out there for some reason, but I probably couldn't handle the isolation.

FS

Yeah I feel the same about the east coast, but then again I have never been so I don't know how I would react. We are actually thinking about the West Coast! Vancouver Island, specifically. I have always live near Toronto so it would be quite a change.

 

[kaede1977]

Depends on what youre looking for...

If you want to make money, have a decent house, dont mind putting up with the harsh winters then go to Alberta,

If you want an outdoorsy lifestyle with great climate and dont mind paying high rent, gas prices and taxes, then go to BC

 

[canadianwoman]

It really depends what you want and what you like. Many people love Vancouver, others can't stand the rain. A friend of my husband from Nigeria moved to London, Ontario, and he's always telling my husband how he lives in the bush! My husband now has the idea that London is a tiny village miles from nowhere. I've been to Nigeria, and I've been to London, and how anyone could think London is an impoverished village in the backwoods, I don't know.

 

[mc1234]

Well.. realistically I want a place warmer all year round, with a more active lifestyle, I really really don't like snow and cold (some Canadian I am ) Which is why we were leaning towards BC.

 

[Canooknic]

BC is probably the warmest you're going to get, but you're still going to get very cold temperatures during winter. The outdoor/active lifestyle is definitely possible, but it depends how much you like rain.
We opted for living just outside of Edmonton because 1/ I grew up nearby and 2/ Although the winters are bitterly cold, the bright blue skies and lovely hot summers make up for it!
We are close to the Rockies but are still close enough to a city to get a bit of nightlife when we need it.

Good luck wherever you end up!!

 

[pelipeli]

You can check this out =)

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/canada%E2%80%99s-best-places-to-live-2012.html

or this

http://www.moneysense.ca/2012/03/20/%20top-35-best-places-to-live-in-2012/

 

[torroloco]

Depending where you're from and how open you are to change, you may find that Canada is NOT the best place to live Seriously. Just like that Nigerian fellow that sees London as a backwards village. Or the Mexican that's looking for warm weather ... or some that think Europe is a golden standard (to which Canada can't even aspire to).

I'm a big proponent of trying (or at least being super well informed) before buying.

 

[robrod]

It all depends on your own likes and dislikes and personality.
Overall, Alberta appears to be the best province in this country. It's the land of the excesses and wastes. That until they run out of "oil sand", I guess..

 

[mc1234]

I know as long as we live in Canada there will always be cold, and I am okay with that. Besides the weather, there are many things that Canada offers that makes me want to stay. I think BC is our best bet, I dont mind the rain, and love the ocean!

 

[canadiangirl78]

I was just in Vancouver for 4 nights. So beautiful and friendly. I loved it. I'd hate tons of rain and high cost of living though. We will be outside Toronto because my family is here. I was born in Alberta but that is too cold for me.

 

[missmymexi]

I live in Vancouver, its a love hate, you do have almost 6 months of grey skies and rain, which gets most of the city down by spring time but the summers are gorgeous. I like it because the tempatures are mild, it rarely goes below -5, infact that might be the coldest it gets, most of the winter we do not go below zero.

Vancouver itself is hard city to start in, the rents are unbelievably high, cost of living in general is high. We have the highest gas prices in Canada (due to transit taxes added on the gas). Food on the other hand is very reasonable, especially from markets that sell produce and goods made locally.

The job market is also a hard one, its a very popular city and can be quite the task to get employed here, the big secret is it has less to do with what you know then who you know, if make some good contacts then your golden.

Vancouver Island is alot more reasonable regarding housing, much cheaper, there is no real city there, Victoria is a just a big small town, everything closes at 6pm, very much a retirement community. But there are lots of great artisan communities all up and down the island. Again employment is limited as most people use to work in the Natural resource sector which has run dry in BC with Mills and mines closing all over the place.

So basically, its such a beautiful place to live, the ocean at your feel, huge mountains right there to explore, rain forests and wilderness, lakes, great fresh produce, mild tempetures but make sure you try and established a job or some finances before settling or you may be in for some hard months.