Thanks for checking out the video! :) Reach out if you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Vancouver! And let me know which Vancouver culture shock you found most surprising. Call/Text Direct - 604-831-4837 email: sebastian@albrechtgroup.ca Book a call: www.calendly.com/albrechtgroup
Vancouver is the most expensive place in North America. Don't move here; you'll regret it. You'll pay more for gas than any place in the world. You'll pay more rent here than anywhere in North America. You'll pay far more property taxes in Vancouver as they take your taxes and heat their fire places with them. In Surrey, they fund 2 police forces, don't plow their roads during winter but will still issue parking tickets in such environments.
@briansmith5239 Not sure if you live here and if you do what neighborhood you are in…but this has never been my experience living in Vancouver and even less now. My neighborhood is full of life and community. I couldn’t disagree with you more.
You should visit United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) to see how the diverse ethnic. UAE is the true melting pot of cultures. I found Vancouver has ethnic diversity but they are not infuse with each other. Like Vancouver splits to many areas and each dominant led by a certain ethnicity.
@mapleleaf81True. I've never been to the UAE. I've also never heard someone suggest the UAE as a leading example of diversity...I mean, they are known for massive human rights violations and giving very few rights to foreign nationals living in their country. In Vancouver we actually celebrate a diversity of cultures...so people are free to maintain their home cultures while living in their new country. You are right, Vancouver does have areas dominated by certain ethnicities (eg Greek, Italian, Chinese, Iranian, etc). The pattern we've seen in Vancouver over the last hundred years or so is that new immigrants settle in areas they feel connected to (areas people from their own culture have already settled in). But their children and their children's children adapt more fully. Personally, I see the Canadian/Vancouver model as being a much more respectful and interesting model.
Sorry, but your narrative is way too pretentious and does not reflect reality in Vancouver. Maybe it used to be like that, to some degree, but not anymore. Lot of poverty in Vancouver, that is called unaffordability, corruption, gangs, not to mention homelessness and no future whatsoever for most of people unless they move out.
@milodanilovic185 LOL. Pretentious? That's a new insult. Have you travelled and seen what other cities similar in size or bigger than Vancouver are like around the world? We are relatively safe, free, have economic opportunity, excellent healthcare and education and are surrounded by natural beauty. Yes, there are issues with homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness...but as I've said elsewhere, Vancouver is dealing with these issues much better than most places in the world.
@milodanilovic185 Fair enough, but I've been around a long time and seen a lot too. I don't disagree that some of what you've observed are issues in Vancouver....just that we are a city that's part of a dynamic world. We can't develop in isolation...and we are handling the changes in the world far better than most (which is why so many people want to come here...and stay). I'm not sure what to say to you...other than your experience isn't mine.
@Malaya880 I believe the diversity of Vancouver (and the corresponding acceptance of difference) is part of what makes this such a wonderful place to live.
@dangrather1280 I’m sure Indigenous people felt the same after white colonialism and the stealing of their land. So weird that white people think they own the land and have no concept that THEY are immigrants.
All the people I know who came here from elsewhere realize this place is not a “real city” and head right back to Europe etc. the only ones who stay do so because they are refugees from wartorn places. Even those have popped back to accessible places like Dubai versus Lebanon Syria and Iraq. Think about that. The Middle East ranks higher than here. You will pay the highest taxes on everything for the least amount of services. Canadians aim low and think small and backwards. Vancouver used to be nice but that all got destroyed in the past 20-30 yr. Hamstrung by special Interest groups there is so little modern developments here. The road system is from the 1930s and the train is a commuter train. No real transit and the subway has three stops in the core. They are expanding the “subway” to 6 more blocks. Thinking small again
Well, that's a massive over-generalization @VancouverVortex. Sure, some people come here and decide to move on elsewhere. Perhaps because it's not what they imagined, they didn't find the work they wanted, too expensive, too cold or too hot, or whatever reason. That's what happens in a big city...people come and go all the time. But the real tell is the overall growth of the city and the region. If it were as you described we wouldn't be one of the fastest growing cities/regions in Canada...for decades. Our taxes are not the "highest". We rank roughly in the middle of the pack internationally. The skytrain has 3 stops in the downtown core because it's tiny. Downtown is 4 sq km. The new skytrain extension is 5 km (covering a considerable distance in a city that's essentially 10km x 10km) with 6 new stations...not 6 city blocks.
Great video, I am an immigrant now ready to retire. I am quite disheartened how so many became homeless and then addiction took over. I think unable to afford a roof over your head created lot of the addiction and mental illness. The government should have provided affordable housing. People should have the option, a chance to buy a house under the special affordable program, where house is for living not like a stack market. Every Canadian should be provided a place or a house where prices remains the same meaning low, owner can live it but can’t sell it for profit. The second system exists already where market sets the price but there should be second and more reasonable option. We need to provide affordable housing to our people. Thanks
@askronqvist668 bit of a cup half empty kind of guy, eh? My channel isn’t all positive, but it IS my view of the city. Going negative is easy and pulls in plenty of views but I’m an optimistic person by nature. ;)
I remember visiting Vancouver and driving during rush hour. I was confused and stressed 😅 because the drivers were so chill and laid back. I say this as a compliment. I had to adjust my driving to blend in and not out myself as from the Greater Toronto Area.
@fancynancy2888 100%. As I was saying in another comment, I think our view of Vancouver's drivers really depends on what we are used to. If you come from Toronto or Montreal (or just about any city outside North America) Vancouver's drivers will appear to be quite chill and rule-abiding...but if you come from a smaller city in North America, or a small town, it'll feel like Mad Max. I had the same experience as you when I had an extended stay in Victoria about a decade ago. It took me about a month to realize that I didn't have to drive as I did in Vancouver. I was the only one on the road driving that way. It was an epiphany and made my days much better. ;) Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@Lena-rz3yp Welcome to Vancouver! I hope that you are enjoying things in your new city...and I'm sure it'll feel like home very quickly. Have you found meeting people here to be a challenge?
Ah yeah. People often mention something along those lines. I think it’ll often depend on the types of activities you are meeting people over and the specific neighborhood you are spending time in. But yeah, being new can be a challenge.
crazy that you did not include indigenous people in your 'slew' of other ethnic minorities... especially when you consider you are living on native land
@journeytomyspirit You are right. My mistake. The source I took the data from didn't mention the indigenous population (I assumed it wasn't large enough to be in the top groups)....but in looking into it now, it's certainly sizeable at 2.25% of Vancouver's population.
@journeytomytrauma Native land? Thousands of years doing what on the land? Mostly being shroomers, pillaging, and bumping each other out. You peoples have been real quiet since the other "natives" started claiming special entitlements to land in Pal less tine and You Crane.
Growing up in Vancouver, I was taught quite a bit about the indigenous people of this area…and with that learning comes respect and (ideally) a degree of understanding. Our indigenous population is certainly worthy of recognition.
Hmm. I found the claim that Vancouver drivers are friendly to be contrary to my experiences. Perhaps on a global scale Vancouver drivers are friendly but I’ve found them to be the least considerate and most aggressive in Western Canada. Note: I’ve not been to Manitoba so perhaps Winnipeg drivers deserve that title, not Vancouverites. Overall though Vancouver is a great city to visit. If you’re very highly paid or otherwise wealthy it would be a great place to live. For people with more normal Canadian incomes, you can get better value elsewhere.
@dougpatterson7494 I thought I'd actually get more blowback on this than there's been. My personal opinion is that our view on Vancouver drivers really has a lot to do with where we come from. If you come from a small town in Canada then Vancouver's drivers are the worst. If you come from a city pretty much anywhere else in the world (or a larger North American one) then you are more likely to see my perspective. And no disagreement that you can get better "value" in other parts of Canada. But I guess that depends on how you define value and what your priorities are. There's no doubt that you can get more house living in Leduc, AB...but I personally think the value is still better here in Vancouver. That's a calculation that all of us have to make for ourselves though...and many come out on both sides of that equation. Thanks for watching the channel and sharing your insights! I appreciate it. :)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC I am comparing Vancouver drivers more to those in Calgary and Edmonton. While both cities are larger than Vancouver their metros are not so I may be comparing “entry level big cities” to a bigger-city. Los Angelous has more aggressive drivers, I will certainly agree with that. How does Vancouver compare to Seattle in terms of driving? I didn’t notice when I was there by bus. I’m not arguing with you for the sake of being difficult I’m just noting it hasn’t been my experience when compared to other big cities in western Canada. Are there studies to show that Vancouver deserves more praise in terms of traffic than I give it? I was just in Ireland and was shocked at how bad traffic congestion in a small city was. In fairness the majority of it had been built before cars were invented. On a global scale traffic isn’t bad in Vancouver but on a Canadian scale it doesn’t seem to be a selling point. I appreciate what you’ve said on value. Vancouver is a great city. For one who values not having to travel far for see and experience things Vancouver is a great option. For someone who prefers to have more money for travelling there are better choices. ex. If I was stuck within 50 km of home I’d much rather live in Vancouver than Leduc but, with the ability to travel further, I’d rather have my “home base” be Leduc.
I’ve never actually visited Leduc so maybe I shouldn’t say this… Edmonton is an alright city and Leduc is practically a suburb so I’ll stick my preference of “more affordable city and more ability to afford travel”
Aww @aprilmajgaard130. Thanks! That is really nice to hear! I'm happy that I was able to bring you a little reminder of Vancouver. Where did you move on the East Coast?
www.youtube.com/@vancouversworstdrivers We have some of the worst driver's in the world. "...Vancouver's drivers are incredibly courteous and law abiding..."? You must be smoking that weed we're so famous for.
Interesting. I never hear anyone talking about architecture when they talk about Vancouver. To me, it was very noticeable couple months in and was kind of a deal-breaker for me. I understand the appeal of nature as the priority for people living in Vancouver, however I'd just rather move to smaller town with nature around because if I choose a big city for living, I really need to be able to like the city visually. And I just had a hard time in Vancouver, coming from Europe. And I'm not a snob, I actually love classic North American architecture, but you won't find it in Vancouver, or as you said, in the East side, where you can't really enjoy walking around.. What I found really frustrating was the downtown area, with mostly generic high rises, even Soviet style buildings that looked something like I grew up in, in former communist country. I just didn't expect that in modern North American city. Ironically, one of the few buildings I enjoyed looking at was Trump tower. It's not like I enjoy being a Vancouver hater here, I think Canada should have a real beautiful west coast city. I love San Francisco visually, it has its own distinct architecture and it's visually pleasing. And I just didn't have this experience in Vancouver. It felt like nobody cared about what kind of buildings were approved in the very core of the city. It felt very socialist-minded approach to me. It made it more welcoming to all classes of people (not anymore though, because it's not affordable to live downtown as lower class), but I guess the idea before was to make downtown for everyone. But the sacrifice was a beauty of the city and personally I think it was a big sacrifice. You can't make a real beautiful city with so many uninspiring buildings in the very core. That's just logical. I hope people will eventually demand better from what is built in downtown. Maybe it's already happening, I don't know, I haven't been there since 2018.
@jbc22112 I guess it comes down to the era that a city developed in. And how long it's been around. Obviously, West Coast NA cities don't have the length of history that can be seen in Europe...or even East Coast NA (like Montreal for example). But also, we didn't have the size or money that San Francisco had in it's early years. So there are actually a few buildings from the similar area but just not to the same extent. And then, we have a significant amount of development downtown in particular through the 90s and 2000s which is relatively unique to us (a la "The City of Glass") but ends up feeling a bit generic. It's only been through the 2010s where the city started prioritizing the aesthetics of buildings again. Unfortunately, it's actually resulted in these buildings being far less livable (Vancouver House for example is notorious for very awkward floorplans)...but I do have to disagree with you (and this is obviously subjective) despite not having a lot of beautiful historical architecture Vancouver IS a stunningly beautiful city. There aren't many places in the world that look as good...an interesting and varied skyline, surrounded by water with a back drop of snowcapped mountains. But I get what you are saying if you are looking more closely at the buildings. ;)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC You know, I can’t tell you that you’re wrong, if it’s stunningly beautiful for you. It’s actually great that you see it that way. If people who spend their lives in Vancouver didn’t find it beautiful, that would be weird. And I know people who genuinely love Vancouver and also people who feel the similar way like I do. So it’s subjective for sure.
Well…actually many people live in places that are objectively unappealing…but the aesthetics of a place isn’t the only way to judge it. Few would argue that the city of Vancouver is objectively aesthetically ugly, though. It’s quite frequently recognized as one of the more beautiful cities. While in my opinion it’s fair to say the city’s architecture is largely boring and uninspired…there’s more to the city’s aesthetic appeal than that…but sure, you can find it ugly and i won’t be offended. ;)
This IMHO is one of the most insightful narratives about Vancouver I've seen. After close to seven years of looking at hundreds of videos, pretty much all of your commentary is reflected in the various videos I've seen depicting Vancouver life. (mostly in the numerous walk-through-the-city RU-vid format). Of course, when dealing with these topics, one has to speak in what my Senior Comp teacher called, "Glittering Generalities." That is to be expected, I think. But from the videos I've seen, I've drawn many of the same conclusions that you've highlighted. Then again, I've never lived in Vancouver, so what do I know. Still, you deserve credit for covering these topics, and IMHO covering them accurately. One of the topics I'd take issue with is the lack of architectural history. You just have to walk downtown to be amazed by the quality, artistry, and engineering skill of the various high-rise structures, not to mention the Skytrain projects. One could do a book just covering those. Sure, the native structures of the past are perhaps under-represented, but that seems to be the case in many metropolitan cities. My wife always says that I'm one of those folks who think the grass is always greener elsewhere, and perhaps I am. Yet, I live in L.A., and the driving, congestion, crime, and political upheaval seem always to be right in your face all the time. In fact, the political circus that is American Politics is the main reason I started considering a move to Vancouver. Congratulations. This is one of your best.
Thanks @marcberrenson570! I really appreciate that perspective...in regard to architectural history, I suppose that (as so much else) is relative. If you come from a new, modern city then Vancouver may seem like it has an abundance of interesting architecture. However, if you come from cities such as Montreal, London or Munich then what we have pales in comparison. But I do think you are right, Vancouver does have some interesting architecture from a variety of eras...just none of them more than about 130 years old. :) And yes, if that's your perspective on American politics then I can completely understand why Vancouver appeals...we've seen quite a few "political refugees" from the US since at least the time of the Vietnam War.
I used the term "visible minority" in contrast to the overall Canadian population which is still predominantly of European descent. But you are right @GGTanguera, in Vancouver there is no visible majority at this point.
The video was interesting because it talked about aspects that I didn't know yet, such as politics, driving and healthy living. But there is a specific topic that I still don't know much about. Speaking of healthy living, is it common for people to do martial arts? I'm a Capoeira teacher and I do karate too.
Hi @PauloBristofen...glad to hear that you found the video insightful! Martial Arts are definitely on people's radar. I wouldn't say that they are incredibly popular, but there are plenty of studios/clubs/teachers around...jiu jitsu is probably the most popular these days? Capoeira probably isn't the most common, but I know of at least one studio and I'm sure that there are more.
@@LivingInVancouver-BC When I started studying English here in Brazil I learned idioms, but always from countries like the United States and England and never about Canada. For istance "it's raining cats and dog". Does it work in Canada? Have you ever made a video talking about this?
Hi @PauloBristofen most of the idioms common in the US and the UK will be understood here. They may not be used as often but most people will get your drift. I was tinkering with the idea of a video about “vancouverisms” but not quite there with the idea yet. As for “raining cats and dogs” that’s definitely a phrase we’d understand here!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Joke aside, Your video truly makes me rethink about moving to Vancouver from Montreal , Montreal is a great city yet I feel Vancouver is the only place I feel I love all the pros and cons 😜
@orangesoda641 It's a tough call. Very different cities that each have a lot going for them...my parents first moved to Montreal when they immigrated in the late 60s, but found it wasn't the right fit and quickly moved to Vancouver and never left.
One of the most shocking things about moving from Vancouver to Salt Spring Island was the lack of diversity. If. Were to guess I’d say the island is 85% Caucasian not to mention the fact that is primarily retirees
@@LivingInVancouver-BCit really was. Definitely one of the things on the list of reasons why we are moving back. Having spent my entire life in Vancouver I guess I never realized how much always having other cultures around me felt normal
@ivorytelecaster Yeah. It's something that I've missed when I've lived elsewhere too...the lack of diversity and the related opportunities (exposure to other backgrounds, ideas, cuisines and cultures).
@KaseyRiot I think you misunderstood my point. Vancouver isn't known for it's nightlife, so it's not commonly a reason that people move or visit Vancouver...unlike, say Berlin or NYC. If you come to Vancouver for nightlife, well...that's on you. ;)
@davehickey2293 I'm sure it happens (and how ridiculous that it would)...but that wasn't my personal experience. Interestingly, Vancouver actually has the highest percentage of interracial couples (9.6% - of married or common-law couples) of any large Canadian city.
Yep, the laid back lifestyle really appealed to me. Looking forward to retirement where I just work 3-4 hours every morning and then have the day to relax, walk by the seawall, go to the shops or even the local camera store. That appeals to me a lot. I don't need stores open at 8 or 9AM. Three weeks and we will be having a chat. My only question this week, should we sell our car out here or drive it out there when we move? I hope it's a moot point: I'd rather not have a car. The more I look at places, the more I prefer a detached home. It's not that I hate condos, but they are just too small - two bedrooms just isn't enough. I find myself going back and forth. One question, you say that Vancouver is very open minded. Are people open to Canon shooters or do you get stink eye when walking down the street with a Canon ;) I jest, but you'd be surprised at how people align with camera brands out here ;)
@OrdinaryFilmmaker I'd probably keep the car if it's reliable and has value. Settle into Vancouver and then decide whether you want to keep it or not. Used cars are too expensive these days...plus the drive across the country is something we should all do at least once in our lifetimes (if you haven't already). I know that there are strong brand affiliations amongst photographers...Canon vs Nikon...and these days Sony, too. So long as you aren't in the wrong neighborhood, even Canon shooters will be safe in Vancouver. ;)
Not sure why you are even bringing this up. We have a large cosmopolitan city. It’s open and usually very tolerant. I’d be shocked if people haven’t researched that when coming here. Many places in the world are like this! Open minded, open to people of different sexual orientations, diverse. Everyone I know in Vancouver work very hard and manage families and such. I never see the city as being like no one is working. Hmm sounds like we are in different Vancouvers. Culture shock? Seems like an odd way to describe it here. Scrambling is happening everywhere.
Why? Exactly as you say...because people that are thinking of moving to Vancouver are doing research about what living in Vancouver is like. And yes, while there are other places in the world that are similar in different aspects, Vancouver has a unique combination...just as other cities have their own unique combination. But as for tolerance and open-mindedness, I think it's less common than you might imagine. We aren't the only city (and yes, many cities are liberal) but few are as open as Vancouver.
I’ve lived in and been to many cities worldwide, and Vancouver is one of the most welcoming cities to immigrants. Not everywhere is like this. The biggest reason is probably that very few people are actually from here. When more than half of the city are immigrants, you can’t really be xenophobic.
100% @nicktankard1244. I feel like it's not JUST the diversity of backgrounds (although I think you are right that it's probably one of the biggest factors involved)...because honestly, some of the most xenophobic people I've met in Vancouver are actually new immigrants...but there's something in the attitude of the city that wins people over. Perhaps something related to the chill, laid-back vibe. Somehow, it's a unique combination of openness (while I also recognize that we aren't perfect of course).
Transit here in Vancouver, IMO, is pretty good. Overcrowded at times, but convenient with bus and Skytrain's frequent service. A vehicle is not really required to get around and Skytrain in particular is a a faster means of travel.
Hi @nathanng! The answer is...it depends. It depends on where you plan on living and what you do for work. But, in terms of North American cities Vancouver is one of the best places NOT to have a car. We have an incredible transit system, fantastic car alternatives (uber, car share, bike share, bike route network) and our city is relatively small and walkable. BUT, if you live in a distant suburb then you are more likely to need a car as the alternatives are less convenient. I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions...and thanks @markhernden9472 for helping out with an answer!
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