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Anyone lived in Vancouver

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CoffeeGal29358
205
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 October 2011 - 09:19
MaryCatherine, I worked for the local government (City Hall) as a Project Manager for large development projects (I worked on the Vancouver Olympic Athletes Village and other such things). I was with them for about 8 years so I accumulated extra weeks off with all those years of service. I think the first few years it is the standard 4 weeks and then an additional 2 weeks after 3 years of service for a total of 6 weeks and then we all worked longer days which added up to another 10 working days off per year which is equal to another two weeks :) Even from the start you'd get 4 weeks standard vacation plus the longer working days 8:30am to 5:30pm with a 45 minute lunch gives you an accumulation for the extra 10 working days off so you'd still end up with 6 weeks from the beginning.
marycatherine
1759
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 30 October 2011 - 22:03
Coffegal can you tell us the industry you were employed in that gave you 8 weeks vacation/year? Only education provides that in my experience but maybe BC is different? I'd like to look into it when I leave here.
Appletiser1646
3220
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 October 2011 - 17:10
I stayed there for a month. Things Ive noticed was that Vancouverites are quite health conscious and you always see someone jogging or cycling. Very outdoorsy. They are very nice people too. I almost fainted when a car stopped so that I can cross the pedestrian crossing! So used to Dubai where you hope no one will drive over you and you must run over the street as people dont stop. I found food affordable but clothing was kind of expensive (except at the Factory outlets). Property there is extremely expensive.
Irooni
2392
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 30 October 2011 - 17:05
Definitely one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Just breathtaking. It comes with a very high price tag. High price, high taxes. It is extremely expensive to live in Vancouver. An average family home in a good area in Vancouver is easily a million dollars now. The last time I visited in summer 2009, tomatoes were $2.99lb!!!! Good private schools are very very expensive and public schools are nothing to write home about. Violence rates are climbing but still low compared to Toronto and Montreal. I never minded the grey and rainy Vancouver, I am no fan of the heat and sun. But of you enjoy the sun, be warned that you could have 10 days of continous rain in July. Oh how I miss that. What else can I say? Oh its gorgeous, its beautiful, its magnificent:(((
dlt375
49
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 October 2011 - 15:42
Reading these posts is making me very homesick! Vancouver is beautiful, lots to see and do, though the cost of living is high, as others have said. If you google MLS Canada you'll find the Multiple Listings Service website, which allows you to look at houses for sale across Canada. Will give you an idea of current prices....
dogcatcher44047
461
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 October 2011 - 09:20
Agree, Vancouver is beautiful and a great place to visit or live. Depending where you live and how active you are will determine what kind of life you have. Vancouverites are pretty fit health conscious people. If you like outdoor activities there is a lot to do. I don't ski, but snow shoeing, tubing, hiking, running are great in the winter. After being in the sun for 10 years we enjoy the rain and clouds. The summer is always unpredictable but again if you like the outdoors and exploring there is a lot to do. Living in the Valley is cheaper which includes gas and houses! As said before education is good to great. This, just like here depends on where you live and what teachers you have. Although health care is subsidized it is mediocre. I might take flack for that but waiting in emergency could take 6hours. Getting the scans you need could take months. I find it pitiful! With the CAD dollar being strong many canucks travel to the US to grocery shop, buy gas and clothes. There is duty to pay over a certain amount but the gas, milk, eggs and variety are usually worth the trip. Depending on your income your taxes could be quite high. We were taxed at almost 50%. And people wonder why we're here!!! Housing tax is also high (depending where you live and what you own) Crime in Vancouver has gone up and there seems to be a lot of gang violence with the Indo Canadian crowd. Drugs, guns and gangs. They seem to target eachother but there have been shootings in nice neighborhoods and in front of a hotel in Kelowna. I'm not sure if we'll move back to Vancouver, maybe winter there or something? Canada is great and Vancouver is great but we really feel like it's too expensive at least out west for us to go back to.
Bellaroonie32318
54
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 19:30
Thank you - really do want to check the city out (even if we don't move there as have always wanted to visit!) so will let you know - recommendations are always valuable.
CoffeeGal29358
205
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 19:27
I'm also born and raised in Vancouver and used to refer to the rain as "liquid sunshine". You can participate in outdoor activities all year round. I used to race sailboats all year and run outside in rain or shine, winter was snowshoeing, skiing, more sailing. It's a lovely city and we're planning to move back next year, inshalla! CABear is right, the prices are similar to Dubai for rents. To buy a house is very expensive. Groceries can cost less but petrol is much higher. It's a give and take. Quality education is "free" but you pay taxes on your income so that's really paying for it. Great health care, many jobs will offer you good benefits with dental. My old job used to pay for one massage a month too and 8 weeks paid vacation per year. Traffic is not such a headache as it is in Dubai since many people in Vancouver are environmentally conscious so they are commuting via bicycle or carpool or public transport. I found it easier to get together with people after work for dinner etc during the week than it is here due to traffic in Dubai. Again, as CABear pointed out, Canadians are generally polite and well mannered folks so if you go to the movies people actually turn their mobiles off and wait their turns in line etc. If you plan any trips ahead of time to scope it out let me know as I can recommend two great places to stay in the City.
Bellaroonie32318
54
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 19:20
Thank you for the candid reply - guess the natural beauty comes at a price....will make sure any job offer is high enough!
CABear
138
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 19:01
I was born and raised in Vancouver. It is a beautiful city but can also be a lonely city. It is easy to get lost in the crowd. Standard of living is good but it is expensive. We find the prices similar to Dubai as far as rent, etc. goes. The economy is suffering in BC currently so we found it depressing - no one is spending money, lots of complaining, etc. Education is good. The climate is comfortable - cold by Dubai standards, often rainy and grey, especially in the winter. It rarely snows, although it seems like it has more in the last few years, usually a couple of snow falls a year. The summer is beautiful, although this year was apparently very cold and quite rainy. One of the main differences I have noticed to Dubai is how polite Canadians are, everyone is treated equally (it's a very PC country). Vancouver is a big city with lots to do, especially outdoors. I, personally, wouldn't want to move back there without securing a really good job in advance. It's difficult to make money there!
Aleta32809
130
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 17:30
Lived there for 2 months in the summer. Loved it! Lots to do nature wise, it's very green and we had lots of beautiful sunny days, but it was pleasantly warm not blistering hot. Nearby is Banf National Park, which is BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL. My overall impression was very positive. (But it wasn't winter ;)
Bellaroonie32318
54
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 17:27
Thank you for the info....don't mind if it is not as sunny as Dubai - after 5 years here I'm all sunned out!!
simpleasabc
5400
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 17:03
I've never lived there but have visited bro' and his family, who emigrated there from London a few years ago. They have become Canadian citizens, they are so happy there. They feel the quality of life is much better for their sons now than it was in London. They find the cost of living quite high, but at least they don't have to pay to be guaranteed good schooling, which is their main concern. They have also bought in a very expensive area (because the best schools are on their doorstep, they say). They are quite happy with the climate, though I found it quite cold and grey even in July, when we were there. Schools were quite often closed because of snow last winter. It rains more than it does in Dubai ;) It's a lovely, lively city, with a lot to offer, particularly if you like the wildlife, sea and outdoor/snow activities.
Bellaroonie32318
54
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 16:38
Hello ladies, we are thinking of maybe relocating to Vancouver....can anyone give me some info on what it's like, standard of living, is it expensive, education, climate etc etc..All info gratefully received! TIA
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