I miss Vancouver

So true, I miss the skytrain, Jericho Beach, Robson shopping and Commercial Drive ecclecticness (if that's even a word). Toronto is just great on the nightlife scene.

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On 10/19/2005 5:19:37 PM, kloche wrote:
... ecclecticness (if that's even a word).
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It's not in the dictionary... but it SHOULD be, I like it!

And besides, if diverseness is in there:

1) Differing one from another.
2) Made up of distinct characteristics, qualities, or elements

eclecticness should be too!

Eclectic == Diverse

The english language is so inconsistant. [8)]

Cheers,
Jen

I love Vancouver and the lower mainland.

I love the scenery. I love the diversity. I love the atmosphere.

The only thing I don't like about Vancouver is the bad habit some people have... of smoking in the bus lineup.

If you smoke, please don't smoke in the lineup. The people behind you might not appreciate smoking with you as it might be completely against their religion or rational judgement. Please stay to the side until you're done, or just do yourself and your lungs a favour and don't smoke!

I hate smoke. The smell of pot is even worse.

I don't know how people can do it. I guess it is a free world and their choice - which is good. I look at it like prohibition. Prohibit it, people will go after it illegally. Make it legal and make people have a choice - like alcohol. Then tax it. Freedom - what a great thing!

But I got off topic.

B.C. is great. Nice people. Plenty of activities for networking and making new friends.

I say B.C. because I'm back and forth between Victoria and Vancouver - for life and work.

I miss the Vancouver of twenty years ago when you could still afford to buy a house. And even if it was in Coquitlam, you could still get downtown in twenty minutes.

Remember rush hour when it really was only an hour?

However, I cannot complain... I now live a short ferry ride away and can look out over the ocean every day. The air is clean, the schools are good (when they are in session) and life is way calmer.

Had I not moved out of Vancouver, I may not have connected with this group. I still do work for Vancouver clients and have to come in once a week or so, but I don't really miss it.

—pd—

Here ... some pictures for you:

Vancouver

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On 10/19/2005 5:09:13 PM, KINGLIFER wrote:

Toronto can be so cold and heartless.
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hmmm, I like Toronto. You could try to go to Montreal for some kicks. Charter bus is like $70.

Heartless??

Here is Montreal:

Montreal Trip

Nice pics - both cities.

You're good at that Rastin.

—pd—

thank you pd, it is a great hobby [:)]

Rastin

Rastin:

I must admit i was very pleased when i read your blog about Montreal.

By the way, if you liked Montreal, i suggest you check out Quebec city, it is even more 'féérique' and french style. In quebec city, you will feel in paris, 400 years ago [:0] and its only 2h30 from montreal. I include some pictures found on google.. (in fact, many popular american movies which are said to happen in paris are filmed in Quebec city and Montreal, due to the abundant old french/european style).

Quebec at night
Quebec in snow at night
Quebec
Wide view of Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec City
Grande Allée
Quebec City
Quebec City
Market
Château

OH yes my visit has certainly been a positive and memorable one. Thank you for your wonderful post, and links [:)]

Rastin

I love Vancouver too. This is my first and only Canadian city in which I've been living for 15 years. I especially feel attached to its West side - UBC area. Most of my most memorable moments were spent while living on UBC res. Now that I am looking for a place to live, my first choice is Vancouver's West side, even though the rent pricing is a bit higher here, I just can't let go of this area, much less moving to another city.

Vic.

Kits and Point Grey are awesome places to live if you can afford it.
I lived in 4 places between 4th ave and 16th ave, MacDonald and Alma. Was great when I was younger.

Go have some ginger fried beef at Wokmans' on Yew for me.

—pd—

Hi fractal,

I moved in this area a few times too already and looks like I'll be doing some more moving. If you want, I can bring a "doggie bag" from this restaurant for the next TechVibes event [:)]

Vic.

That's the only thing I'm finding here so far (I've been in Vancouver about 9 weeks)...the rent is pretty high in all the places I'd want to live [:0]

I've been living in North Van pretty close to the bridge, and while it's pretty darn boring here it's calm enough for me heh. If this job offer comes through I'm going to be looking for a new place before spring, so I'm trying to figure out where I could both afford and not go crazy from the urban density. The student loan payments aren't going to make that easy heh.

So far its looking like North / West Van, or West End. Kits really reminds me of back east but somehow doubt I'll be able to find a place there that I can afford [::)]

Hello, I am Menko from the Netherlands. I'm a Engineer III/IV (Microsoft, Migrations, Exchange, Consulting) and after 11 years experience in the Netherlands with small and big projects I am wondering if there are possibbilities to work in Vancouver or area. What would be the best way to approach and what kind of things would I have to care about when relocating?

Regards,

Menko

Hi Menko,

I dont know much about vancouver, so i will leave this part to the others, but i may be able to help for the overall canadian approach.

First, you will obviously need a Canadian work visa. You can either try to find a company to sponsor your visa, which will make it a lot easier to get. If you cant, you will need to apply to the usual channels, this one is not guarantied and may take a few months to recieve. If you do choose this venue, you may want to apply via a immigration firms that specialize in visa paperwork. They may make your life much easier. (try google with words like "canadian work visa")

Once you have a visa, there aint much more left to do but move.

As for the city, may i ask why vancouver especially? Here are someinfo that may help:

For an european, moving to Montreal might be easier as the culture is closer and the city has more of a european feel and way of life. If you happen to speak french, that might help also. If you have ties to france or familly that has french blood (your wife perhaps), then quebec has special programs that you can apply for which may make your visa acquisition a breeze.

Toronto is THE big american type city in canada with the biggest IT market. IF you try to find a business to sponsor you, you might want to try Toronto first, your odds of success will be higher.

As for vancouver, i never went there, but ive seen many classifications of world's best cities to live to and vancouver almost always makes the top 3 spot. Its gotta be an awesome city, but i dont know its IT market very well.

All in all, being european will make it easier for you than average, as canada has an excellent relationship with european governments.

I hope this can help and i wish you good luck.

Allright JDBN, many thanks,

I will also look at this side of Canada too. My wife is French and my children and I speak french too.

Do you know if price levels are a bit the same in Vancouver, Toronto and Quebec?

Regards,

Menko

Hi Menko,

Wow, if your wife is french and you can speak french, then your comming to canada will surely be much easier. I would suggest you try calling a canadian embassy or consulate to ask what they can offer you and what are the programms available at the moment for french citizens and famillies. Since your wife has french blood, she may benefit from the special Quebec/France programs that unit them (sine Quebec is an ex colony of france, the two lands have special laws that simplify their mutual immigration, that other canadian provinces may not bennefit from).

In any case, speaking both french and english is a big advantage when immigrating to canada, as the inspectors will insist on these qualities.

as for the price of living, Toronto has the highest cost of living. Vancouver is slighly behind toronto, but still expensive. Out of the big cities, Montreal is the cheapest. But, being european from the neathelands, you will find all canadian citie's average cost of life to be a joke...

here is a ranking of world's cities by cost of life:

cost of life ranking 2004-2005

and candian citi's ranks for 2005:

Toronto: 82
Vancouver: 87
Calgary: 98
Montreal: 107
Ottawa: 122

(Amsterdam was 24)

Personnaly, i lived in Madrid, Spain a few years back and practically, the cost of life was more than tripple compared to Montreal, and Madrid is only ranked 46...


If you consider quality of life, you can check this ranking:

Rankings Best Cities Ranking

If you look at this ranking, Vancouver is 3rd, toronto 14th and montreal 22nd. Vancouver sure sounds like a great place to live [:)]


Hope this can help,

good luck


N.B: I am no immigration professional and the informaiton is provided 'as is' as a mean of help. For the facts, i suggest you contact immigration specialists, embassies/consulates and proper governmental institutions.