Lived there with no car and found the busses good and reasonable with one pass that includes the long ride to the ferry, airport, Langford, butchart gardens. Restaurants lack in some other cultures is all, otherwise they're frikkin amazing! 50% less rain than Vancouver & found some cloudy days were pretty bright even though cloudy. It's +5 or +10 when it's -30 everywhere else, who cares. Of course if you get your groceries at Red Barn Market and whole foods they're expensive, Victoria has walmarts and superstores, thriftys or fairway sales, plus the produce in China town sometimes not bad either. Victoria is spring, summer, fall & that's it! AMAZING ocean views & activities, February daffodils everywhere, Canada's heaven❤
Yes, we know people hate winter, but what people like about Victoria and Vancouver Island is being destroyed at a rapid speed. They are clearcutting entire hills and using up every green space to build for the people who want to come to retire here. it is heartbreaking and even disturbing for the locals who love the nature on the Island.
So sorry to hear. Indeed, heartbreaking. Unfortunately, I think that's happening all over the place. I think there's just too many humans to be in balance on the Earth, maybe.
We don't come here because we love nature, we move here because we don't want it to be so hard to live with nature. If you really loved nature you would live in a less densely populated area, where there's more nature per square KM.
I left Victoria to move to Calgary last year. Best decision ever! Victoria is boring compared to Calgary! I hated being trapped by the expensive ferry system. The cost of living was high. And the gray, rainy weather drove me crazy!
You could go on as a foot passenger, I've done it many times. Living in any big city in Canada is expensive. I'll take the gloomy winters over a deluge of snow anytime. Living near the ocean, can't imagine living anywhere else. Plus, a beautiful natural environment to live in. I would never moooove to cowtown, but hey, each to their own.
I absolutely love it here in Victoria. I'm 33, and don't have a very exciting life, and I can see thrill-seekers getting bored quickly. There's not much to do if you're looking for adrenaline. I love the pace of life. I really wish I could live closer to nature without the isolation. I grew up in Sooke, and now reside in Victoria, and I can say that there's a dramatic difference in the lifestyles comparatively. The gigantic trees, bonfires, silent and pitch black nights, and blankets of morning fog remind me of a haunting but engaging land of enigmatic bliss. I made an album called The Island Of Shadows recently that was a tribute to this place. It's much different being here at midnight, somewhere off the beaten path and under the infinite stars. I miss the smell of campfires mixing with seawater breezes. Primordial rainforests towering above and overcast skies carrying a sense of dark tranquility.
Arriving by ferry, you get the feeling you are in an episode of the old TV show Fantasy Island. Arriving by air, you swoop into Victoria airport skimming over countless little islands below. The seaside and Dutch bakeries downtown. Endless streets of fine English mansions. But ah, those grey winters, got a prairie man down.
The lack of Doctors is the biggest thing next to affordable housing. I am lucky enough to have a family doctor that I have had since high school but she will probably be retiring soon. Even with her it took almost a year for me to get an MRI to be diagnosed with MS.
@@Ferda1964 I don't know specifically but I would imagine cost of living low pay high bureaucracy. I know island health is not the greatest employer, expecting a lot for little.
"x city doesn't have the population to support good transit infrastructure" is a lie we North Americans need to stop telling ourselves. There are places all over the planet with a smaller population than Victoria that sustain at least a decent tram/light rail line. If you give people good transit, more often than not, they will take it. Victoria and it's region seems to take great pride in its natural wonder and green politics, continuing to be wed to car culture is utterly contradictory to that.
You forgot the crime and traffic. Downtown is a combination mental hospital (with no doctors), drug den, amd prison (with no wardens). And the road infrastructure is not keeping up with the population so if there is an accident or construction, you get stuck in gridlock for hours. Some people can't leave their house at rush hour because all the roads are fully blocked. Trying to leave the city on the weekend means waiting for hours for the ferry or on the highway. Victoria is FULL.
@@IraWilley "infrastucture upgrades" of roads in Victoria? They dramatically increase density, and cut the traffic lanes by half!! Used to take me 15 minutes from Saanich to James Bay. Now takes 45, with gridlock and a red light stopping you every 100 metres. Speed limit cuts make it take longer to drive, but has also slowed down buses!
I have lived here for 10 years, and what I've gathered is its great to grow up in, and great for elders. but for teenagers or young adults its definitely a difficult place to live. I understand the beauty of it, and I'm so grateful to have grown up here, but also cant wait to graduate school and move on.
Very true! It's frustrating for those who want to start a career and buy a home as well. We are caught between having big city prices/rents and small city career oppotunities.
Moved here from vancouver in august. The weather is SO much better here! Just love it. One of my favourite places on earth. The GP shortage is a real problem! Wish the government would do something about it Good job on the video
Yes, many don't realise, but the local Køppen Csb (warm Mediterranean) micro climate in Victoria is noticeably different than over in Vancouver. Victoria experiences a true (distinct) wet/dry seasonal weather pattern...and "Moss-Rock" (for example) only receives around 18" of rain per year....which is very low for this region. Victoria gets approx 2,200 sunshine hours per year...which puts it on the same level as many locations in the northern Mediterranean area, such as: Venice, Trieste, Zagreb, etc....and it's rainfall during the April thru October period is actually less than many places on the Mediterranean. The only downside is that Victoria doesn't get very HOT during the summer months and cools off so quickly in the evenings. However, one can remedy that by simply moving up island a bit where the summers are much hotter and the nights are comfortably warm. Just as I did, a few years back...
there are so few doctors. don't come unless you have really good health, waitlists are crazy here. there are much cheaper places in BC, it's getting time for me to leave Vic
I am 5th generation Victorian and some ancestors a lot longer than that, expensive housing, expensive food, high taxes, crime going up, forests being clear cut, mountains being blasted down for housing, traffic, public transit is getting better, most expensive fuel prices on the Island, down town is getting dirty and empty of stores, no Doctors or walk in clinics (all by appointment) long waits for medical treatment at ER, long waits to see a specialist or have surgery. Lots of low paying jobs. (minimum wage to $24) The weather is mild and temperate, it can get very windy in winter, gale force winds and some places can have wind for most of the summer. It does snow, it is a wet and heavy snow, most place shut down when it snows and traffic comes to a standstill. Sometimes in the winter it can rain for a whole month and some people find that gloomy and depressing. Not much for the younger generation to do nightlife wise but lots of outdoor activities. if you can handle all of that, it is beautiful and rugged. You can go swimming, sailing, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing etc. all close to one another.
Top ten list makes sense. Here's my top ten list of things I like most about Victoria. 1. Beacon Hill Park, just gorgeous! 2. Neighborhoods, ripe with history and the eclectic nature of old and new makes for a funky stew of constant discovery. 3. The people, overall Victoria is a very tolerant welcoming place, no matter who you are. 4. Melting pot of ethnicity. You can meet people from all over the world that make Victoria home. 5. Nature, nature, nature. Beyond the waterfront areas, Victoria has an amazing plethora of parks, trails, gardens and cultural sites. 6. Charitable organizations and volunteers, they don't get anywhere near the thanks and accolades they deserve. People in Victoria love to give their time and expertise for free, for those that want and need their help. 7. Arts. There are so many great artists, musicians and artisans that call Victoria home. A super creative and inspiring place to live. 9. The weather. Sure it's wet, soggy and gloomy in winter, but I love the changing seasons in Victoria, and I like walking in the rain and feeling the wind at my back, or front, or sideways. 10. Farms. A big thank you to all the farmers that somehow keep growing flowers, herbs, berries and livestock that keep supplying us with an abundance of home grown love every year.
"Melting pot of ethnicity" not even a little bit. Like less diversity then 95% of cities in the world, it couldn't be more culturally secluded. Actually I can't agree with any of this except beacon hill parc, and farms. The people are cold and clicky in general. When I grew up there people were in gerenal assholes in the teens and 20's
I really wanna move back, I miss it there. Moved to Powell River and I just can't stand it here. It's crazy though, going back to Langford and visiting friends. Everything I go back so much has changed. Langford is changing like crazy.
Would like to point out that seniors 65 & older ride any B.C ferry free from Monday to Thursday.If a holiday falls on one of those days we have to pay like every else. It’s nice being able to travel ferries all day in the summer & when it’s nice in the winter. I go on the ferry just to order a meal so I can enjoy dinner with a view. To eat downtown is more expensive & you don’t have that before view of the islands. When on the ferry I don’t get off I go to the gift shop say returning senior so as others disembark in Vancouver I hold up that piece of paper saying returning senior.. Absolutely love it.
disagree with the restaurant one. Victoria has more restaurants per capita than any other city in Canada and is second per capita in all of North America (second to San Fran)... and there are tons of great places to eat. Who cares really about sharma anyway?
Yeah we have a lot of restaurants, but I find the take out lunches lacking compared to Vancouver where you can always find a quick lunch to go that's not fast food. For example Sushi or Sharma :)
@@IraWilley At least 8 sushi restaurants downtown that I can think of off the top of my head, only a couple options I'm aware of for shawarma though (Bold Butchery and Yalla). Less options for restaurants out of downtown of course but I know you can find Sushi restaurants at Uptown, Shelbourne, Oak Bay.
I agree with everything that has been said, and I would like to add that one of the biggest downsides is the monopolization of car insurance companies (ICBC) and ferries (BC Ferries). If we had more options, prices would go down, and we would not feel trapped or forced to use these services. It's ironic when you ride the ferry, and they say, "Thank you for choosing BC Ferry" when we don't have any other choice!
Like other cities worldwide we do have street street people but it can not be blamed on the city.It’s the Canadian Government that ties the hands of the police force from limiting the amount of street people & drugs. 70 years old and not afraid of walking downtown.
If they only spend 1/10 of the road and bike lane budget on drug treatment and homelessness the absolute mess that is happening right now would be better
You said nobody regrets the move there? I beg to differ. Actually I’m glad I tried it because you never know until you try something. But it’s a beautiful little city but I would not go back to live there again
@@tamhiker1 too expensive. Half my salary went to rent. And it took 6 months to get an apartment. It’s a great place if you have money and a house and a car and a good job. Which brings up another point. Many people just drive everywhere and I hate that lifestyle. I like big cities with subways. Victoria is too small for a subway. And in Victoria and British Columbia it’s fantastic for the wealthy and it sucks if you’re not. I finally got a good apartment in a decent neighborhood but the only store nearby was Jimmy Pattison’s Save on Foods. Not even a little local convenience store! He has a monopoly on half the business in BC. He owns half of the car dealerships. I don’t object to people being millionaires and billionaires but it’s out of control. Meanwhile there’s a serious homeless problem and people dying from overdoses
It's a beautiful place to live....however, the demand being created for this small region that is land locked by ocean and mountains that can not keep up with the demand of the outside investor, has priced many locals who grew up here out. We have a shortage of housing, a lot of "investors" buying up property with cash and no conditions with no intention of living here!!!!! I have lived here for nearly 20 years, make a 6 figure income and still have to consider outside of the city for affordability. Personally, if you move here and contribute to the local economy and support local business and want to bring your family here, we welcome you. If you are an outside real estate investment corporation or snowbird buying up properties with "no conditions" on real estate listings and pushing out families who actually want to stay here long term and FT - shame on you. Go elsewhere!! We can't keep basic service staff here because they can't afford to live here.
Hi Tammy, that's well said! We need both the investment money to build new infrastructure as well as affordable housing for families and a diverse demographics to be healthy. I think the responsibility falls on the government to be foward thinking and not just cater to the wealthy/investments with what is allowed to be built.
@@IraWilley Forward thinking absolutely. I think the challenge Victoria and the island is facing is we struggle to house the people we have here. Affordability should be mandated for every new development. I live in Langford and it’s incredibly sad how rainforest mountainsides are being cleared to cash in. I recently sold my house and 2 offers I did not accept were from companies buying real estate to generate profits for their shareholders as holding / rental income. What happens when this goes unregulated is they buy up all the affordable homes because they pay cash!! I know this because I am currently in it. It’s crazy when you have locals just trying to get a home here who can’t compete. I feel there needs to be some rules around property purchase for homeowners vs corporations.
@@tammylynn5491 One was probably Centurion. They have bought a lot of Langford. There are still opportunities around to live at semi-reasonable prices but one needs to make some sort of sacrifice.... like we are buying 999 year leasehold on First Nations land to cut our housing cost to half of what it is otherwise. Value probably won't double in a few years but it is easily rent-able for more than our mortgage payments.
Well done Ira, while Mill Bay / Shawnigan & Duncan are still somewhat affordable it won’t be long till it’s not, a living wage in Victoria is $25/hr so a min wage worker will never own anything unfortunately that dream is gone for them, no question Victoria needs a light rail system which is in talks right now but still at least 10 years off minimum, but good honest video Cheers
It will always be Mt Doug to me, that's the name I've known all my life, so I'm not changing it now. Just like certain streets that they decided to change the name of, like Trutch street, since the town counsellors are now trying to erase history, they wanted to change it to Truth, so all they needed to do was drop the "C" and they had truth, but no, they had to change it to some unpronouncable word that means the same thing, instead of keeping it simple.
Why complain about the transit system. Buses are everywhere. An all day pass is only $ 5.00 which is good from 6am until 12pm. I’ve never driven in Victoria. Our newer buses have ports under each seat so you can charge your electronics. Yes the older buses don’t have this luxury.Also the newer buses have better leg room.
Your reviews are very well done, well presented and well thought out. I was born here and have been back for 40 years. But, it's not Vancouver, as for nightlife, dining etc. However, I have to cook everyday for anywhere from 3 to 8 people, so we don't dine out much. All my homestay students love it here regardless of the size of their home towns/cities!
Yes it's not Vancouver as far as night life is concerned..just pubs, restaurants. If you're 18-25 and like an active bar and club scene it's not for you.
Thanks for posting info. Just two points to make. Pickleball protests are not part of what is known as nimby. Some moron invented it to make more noise than any other game. Just needs a paddle redesign, and that is all we are asking for. And, comparing taxes while assuming they include garbage in Saanich and others, is not quite right. Garbage and water are completely separate billings, every 4 months, based on water consumption and garbage bin size. Yes, you pay a private co. to do your garbage in langford colwood, but the bills are comparable.
Yeah now, because they've changed it to needing reservations, so all the sailings are full all day. I don't think that should be allowed, they should change it back to first come, first served like it used to be.
I'm second generation, my family moved here a hundred years ago. My grandfather was a foreman on the crews that built the causeway. I was on the youth crews that cut in the Juan de Fuca Trail in the early 90s (which is being destroyed by over use). With the influx of people in the last few years, the prices for everything is absurd, the developers are running rampant with no thought to infrastructure, and the very green spaces people move here to see are being decimated to make way for new houses and condos. The charm and quaintness of the Island, my Island, is gone. The Island used to be fishermen, loggers, and hippies. These days it's every boring yuppie from Alberta or Ontario. I want my Island back.
I lived there from 2016 to 2019. I was so glad to leave. Of course like everywhere it can be good if you have money and a good job etc It took me 6 months to get an apartment. Lucky it was a good location on a bus route but I paid half my salary for rent. I didn’t have a car but using Modo car share was a good thing and I got an electric bike. I would go back to visit but would never live there again
@@THEOvERSiZEDMeATBALL not hard. Do your research. Decide where you want to go and what you will do there. RU-vid is a great resource for research. And then book a hotel or other accommodation and get a ticket.
@@THEOvERSiZEDMeATBALL and of course get a passport and visa if you need one. Be prepared and knowledgeable and things go smoother. However I must warn you that there’s an adjustment. Different culture and language and so on. It takes a while to get used to it but it gets better as you make the transition
Major drug and homelessness problem. Be careful who your kids are hanging out with. Older adults are targets for crime prompted by the need for drug money. The downtown area is a shadow of what it was in the 1980's .. dirty, decrepit, all the good shops gone. I have seen lots of changes in 45 years. Canmore, Alberta is closer to what Victoria, BC used to be.
I make a good wage, but Victoria has out priced me. I cannot keep up with the cost. Campbell River is much more desirable! Way less traffic too. The whole island is expensive though, and us who’ve lived here all our lives can’t seem to keep up with the wealthier folks coming here driving prices up. Bound to happen though, Victoria and the island are gorgeous and I wouldn’t live anywhere else 😊
Very accurate account of what Victoria does to everybody who stays. Its crazy folks, my first was 53,000 in 1985, now the darn thing is nearly a million. The old neighborhood is over run with increased crowding and garbage. Victoria is still one of the best places to live. they aren,t kidding when they say BC means bring cash!!
Victoria is my favourite "small" city in North America and I have travelled this continent (and the world) extensively over the past 5 decades. However, the main negative for me is not the cost of living nor the other things mentioned in this video. Whilst Victoria does indeed enjoy a local Køppen Csb (warm Mediterranean) micro climate with a long dry/sunny season from Mid-April right thru to early October...the summers are simply not warm enough for me, plus the evenings cool off so quickly (even during May thru Sep) and therefore are rather chilly. I'm a Mediterranean climate and lifestyle individual (originally from Europe) so that is MY major disappointment. Therefore, after 12+ years living in Fairfield-Victoria I moved up island to around the Nanaimo area where one experiences "real" HOT summers (and comfortable warm evenings) with temps often 5-8°C (or even higher) than it is down in Victoria. The late spring and summer climate up here often reminds me of the south of France, Northern Italy, or the Balkans region.. We have many 30°C days and lovely 21°C temps during the nighttime. Plus, the fresh local figs are amazing too 😎
@@danieltaylor3396 victoria is a town has zero city culture, it's not a city just because it has a bunch of buildings together, I wouldn't call it a city at all. No energy, no fashion, no business distrcit, no skyscrapers, it's just a bunch of shops and restuarants close to each other def not a real city.
Born and raised in Vic but we left 10 years ago because of affordability (much worse now). I avoid Vic because it’s so insanely busy but the NIMBYs are the main reason though it’s island wide.
Victoria is known as Garden City. As the name says it is an exotic place to live. It's a totally different vibe from the fast paced city life. Not sure if most of the younger people would love it. But the only problem is the lack of affordable housing. A single family home costs a million dollars which is not affordable for an average person.
Moving to just North of Victoria in a month... cannot wait to get out of Vancouver traffic. We are moving a block away from Lochside and I've already picked up some ebikes.
Welcome tourists. Here is the nanny state. We want your money. Here the government works night and day coming up with more rules and regulations. Unless you are homeless. Then you you can do whatever you want to do. Enjoy walking down the street and count all the closed business. If riding a bicycle Enjoy not having to stop for lights ,stop signs. That is before your bike is stolen. And remember tell your friends because we want their money too.
Victoria BC great place for healthy seniors to retire-unless you’re unlucky and become surrounded by rental properties and sleep deprived by partying students
Moved here for the kids in the 90's. They left when they were old enough. The only advantage living here is a decent climate for Canada but bot not worth the effort. With the number of humans moving here, which is a very confined area, it will become a cement coffin packed with humans in no time, unfortunately. The only nature you will find here is cockroaches and rats when all the building contractors are done. Money and greed. We came from a great city in the east to a nice quaint town. But the quaint town is no longer and it will and could never be able to attain that greatness we left. The infrastructure will be overwhelmed long before that. The lineups, traffics jams. souring costs of living and absolute frustration will be the final say. Add that to the list already presented. Nice place to visit, inhospitable place to live. One more downer: the health system has been reported as the WORST in Canada. This has to be one of the worst places to live in Canada,
You lost me at public transportation. This city's public transportation is amazing. Want proof? Tons of people use it. Just that the Greater Vancouver area has a sky train and sea bus, doesn't mean that tiny little Victoria needs it or should have it.
As a Kentuckian who has visited Victoria many time over the years, I think the Transist System is great. We did not have a single problem from using it many times. We were able to travel through the city easily and the low cost was great. Love, Love, Victoria and we found the people kind and helpful. I am older now, but hope to visit again in the future if I am still able.
Since you are in the business of selling houses, you might be interested to know that while the singular is pronounced “houce”, the plural is pronounced “houzes”, and the gerund, “houzing” in the best B.C. tradition.
The only food place I wish we had was an Arby's!!! But if you're visiting here and like burgers...you must check out our local burger joint called "Big Wheel Burger". The double cheese burger is AMAZING!!
amalgamation would certainly help. the mimby's are also highly vocal there.... and really annoying. kudos to mentioning those. there is a rule for everything there.
Agreed, there's a strong argument for amalgamation but perhaps also the separate municipalities are part of Victoria's charm and keep it somewhat unique? I'll leave that decision for someone else!
Victoria might not be suitable for young people , no big tech companies here , mostly govenment jobs or retail sales , unless you have small business , but its amazing if you love island life. im glad we dont get crazy concerts and big events , not a fan of big crowd , it keeps city safe . its expensive to live here , but im glad as 3 rd generation i got wealth passed on to me , own a house its easy life now. i love vancouver island as whole , lots of outdoor activities ,lakes and beaches , love west coast trails , even in winter sking is only 3 hrs away on mt washington . i love it here.
Canada is heaven only for Asian immigrants as an immigrants i would say Canada is far behind from some rich European countries but still lots of Asian blind immigrants crazy to move and settle their life in Canada.
Victoria is the best for drugs , homeless population and if you think you will find a community of like minded people forget it: I have never met more stuck up people in Victoria then anywhere else , but hey there is more commodification of yoga places then anywhere west of Boulder.
Getting a Doc is like that everywhere... so harping on this point is moot. So far this video is not truthfull or based in reaility. ..Ill keep going..... maybe it will change
I applied to a college there and I've been wanting to go. I'm from Ecuador and things are really expensive here as well. Would you recommend me not to go or is it different for foreigners? Thanks!
Apply to their student housing first and hopefully live there, finding a rental is expensive & difficult. Shop in the right places and your food will cost less than other stores.
Rent will be the most expensive. I think it's such a beautiful part of the world I think you should try to make it work, but make sure you have accommodation lined up.
Building denser and UP? That is what is ruining Vancouver Island in my opinion because no consideration is EVER given to the infrastructure.......from water to traffic to lack of doctors and the list goes on! I am one of 5 generations that have lived, loved and called Vancouver Island our home and we are all saddened at what has been done in the name of progress! Our beautiful home is quickly being destroyed and our children and grandchildren can't afford to live here anymore.
"Building denser and UP?" that lowers cost of living actually. it;s becasue the weatehr in canada sucks everywhere by a long shot compared to bc, I mean it really sucks. Stupid hot humid summers and freezing cold long winters in most other places.
The high costs are NOT because we are on an Island. Ask anyone who has lived here more than 50 years as I have. Victoria was a very livable city till we had bad politicians that make bad policy. See the NDP, for those outside of Canada imagine San Francisco communist policies that turned a beautiful, livable city into a dump that you have to pay through the nose to live in. The doctor crisis was started by another politician Campbell who illegally tore up a contract which was proven in court years later when the damage was done. Lost our family doctor at that time 2003. Since then these trudeau loving politicians thought they could decide health care treatments for the doctors and nurses themselves. Imagine you've gone through decades of medical training only to have a politician, who couldn't pass grade 8 biology , tell you to take medicine you don't need that hasn't be properly tested. Flight of even more doctors. If you come to B.C and go to the emergency room you stand a good chance of being told they don't have the staff to help you but phone MAID ( the government self deletion hot line) and I'm sure they can send you a "Children of men" deletion kit. That happened to a woman just 2 weeks ago. Bottom line don't come to Victoria its run as badly as San Francisco, Portland , and New York. Leftists ruin paradise every time. So why am I here? Too old and too poor to move.
LOL MUNICIPALITIES??? THATS REALLY A COMPLAINT? Are you an ex commisionaire like I am? No? well guess what .. your wrong once again bringing up this nonsense... There are multiple municipalities... get this...... E V E R Y W H E R E.. UMMMM so ? you really think that issues not agreed upon by surrounding areas is a problem? Hmmmm doesnt surpirse me at all. Did you go to College............ ..... ?
