27 replies to this topic

[mat]

I agree with all the of the benefits stated with living here, but there are also some drawbacks obviously

The bottom line is that it is tough for a young couple with kids to create a future for themselves here (unless you have inherited the family home). Even if both parents have a decent (by Victoria standards) job, the gross pay is likely to be around $120K max. Add in child care, a hefty mortgage, and higher prices for about every other good and service and the best they are going to do is tread water. No money to save for the kid's education or to take more than the occassional family vacation. The same job(s) elsewhere would likely earn $10K-$20K more a year and living costs would be a lot less. I have seen countless families move to Vancouver Island only to move away again in a year or two.

No matter how great our environment is, people have to take care of themselves and their families.

Is that any different from Vancouver? Calgary, Edmonton, TO, Montreal? IF you wish to go smaller population - Regina, Saskatoon, Kelowna...Everyone has aspirations and if you tour Victoria the likes of Fairfield, Oak Bay, parts of Gordon Head etc. are extremely appealing - but unaffordable to almost any middle income family starting out.

Where there is a large discrepancy in the CRD region, is post-secondary education opportunities vs local job potential. UVIC, Royal Roads and to some extent Camosun College and other professional schools have far more places for professional degree and diploma courses (MBA is one that is highly advertised by both Uvic and Royal Roads) - than there are local job placements.

We should be grateful for the educational opportunities locally, and acknowledge how much each institution provides economically and socially to the community - but also be realistic as to how many graduates will actually get jobs here in their educational fields (other than nursing - and we also need a full time medical school here).

As put to me by someone in post secondary EdAdmin - for any professional graduate degree offered locally: (masters in any field) - around 1/3rd are through subsidized professional development programs so already in employment, 1/3rd out of province and expected to not seek local employment, and 1/3rd seeking local employment after graduation.

[yodsaker]

Housing prices were quite high relative to similar cities like Halifax (and even Toronto beyond the mega-rich or trendy inner-city areas) when I came here 15 years ago. Someone said to me at the time, "You dont't come to Victoria to make money, you come after you've made your money."

[KublaKhan]

I moved to Toronto in '86 as a 20 year old. It was exciting, bold, and there were still some decent opportunities. I couldn't stand the place after about two years, but I couldn't leave until '92, when I moved to Montreal. Like Toronto, it was either cold or hot. Traffic was a nightmare (note to non-Montrealers: a stop sign offers a suggestion, not a command/similarly, the legal drinking age is merely a suggestion). Three years later, I moved to BC and I managed to migrate to Victoria by '97. I was nursing a pint one February afternoon and I noticed that there were planter baskets hanging from the window. Flowers in February.

I had arrived. I'm never leaving.

[yodsaker]

I moved to Toronto in '86 as a 20 year old. It was exciting, bold, and there were still some decent opportunities. I couldn't stand the place after about two years, but I couldn't leave until '92, when I moved to Montreal. Like Toronto, it was either cold or hot. Traffic was a nightmare (note to non-Montrealers: a stop sign offers a suggestion, not a command/ (and ignore the dorky walk sign, be an adult and walk if its clear) similarly, the legal drinking age is merely a suggestion). Three years later, I moved to BC and I managed to migrate to Victoria by '97. I was nursing a pint one February afternoon and I noticed that there were planter baskets hanging from the window. Flowers in February.

I had arrived. I'm never leaving.

My epiphany was similar - seeing posties and bus drivers wearing shorts in January and thinkng, "It IS true! They weren't shitting me!"

[mat]

my wife's moment came in her 1st summer here in 2005 - while ripping out weeds in the garden she heard a rustle in the bushes; parting the branches she came nose to nose with a fawn. The deer, completely unafraid, jumped through the bush and spent the rest of the afternoon no more than a metre away - quite interested in gardening techniques.

It has since returned every year - now with it's own brood - waits in the garden until we come down, then happily curls up on the grass, or under the deck while we wash the car, play basketball, powerwash the driveway etc.
(our dog thinks humans are utterly pathetic - but even she seems to accept the deer)

When asked by friends and family if she prefers Victoria over Europe, the answer is - 'here obviously - where else can have I my own safari park?'

[victorian fan]

The deer, completely unafraid, jumped through the bush and spent the rest of the afternoon no more than a metre away - quite interested in gardening techniques.

I have my own resident deer as well. They live in the back of my property and watch me through the mesh deer fence behind the flower garden.

[Bernard]

Makes me miss the resident bear in my yard in Lillooet...... OK, maybe not.

[UrbanRail]

I moved here in July 1987 (I was 10) with my family from Edmonton, home of to one of the greatest hockey dynasties ever, The Oilers. Sorry Canuck fans, Vancouver will never win the Stanley Cup.

Anyway, My mom is originally from Victoria and lived in Edmonton for 12 years (moved there in 75). My parents decided to move here to be closer to my Grandparents.

Our first place was near View Royal Elementary (I now live in Gordon Head). It was a thrill for me as our coop was just across the street from the E&N (yes you guessed it, I am a train fan). On several recesses I would watch the freights go by (still a lot trains back then). From the first moment I saw E&N , I was hooked and for the last 15 or so years have collected all I could on it.

On many visits to my Grandparents I would watch my Grandfather (he passed away in October 2007) work on his streetcar models, both in his workshop and outside on the backyard layout. I will honor his memory in continuing my quest to bring back the streetcar, which he so dearly loved.

I have no intention in going back to Alberta. As a vegetarian, this place is heaven, the climate (although when it hits below 0, its frickin cold), food, people, parks, ocean, the layed back atmosphere. Heck I can bike from one end of the city to the other. I do plan on doing a bike trip from Victoria to Lake Cowichan in 2010 on the Goose Trail after it has been completed.

I have been highly active in the transportation scene here, and will continue to do so. There is a lot of potential for improved transit and rail service here and on the island.

There are drawbacks;

The housing market (my god, the homes here are expensive), fortunately I am part owner of a house with members of my family.
The job market (not enough jobs that pay a decent wage to afford a house), unless you are in the health care industry, government, teacher, etc.

Too much catering to the NIMBYs, if one could harness the energy from all the whining, we could power the city forever.


The city and region needs to do more to attract young families, because I doubt this area can survive on just catering to seniors.

Victoria (Canada's Study and Senior Capital)

Cheers

Aaron