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Post by Scott on May 1, 2008 20:28:56 GMT -8
www.nationalpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=480539www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/story.html?id=b78dd0ab-2aec-45e4-b5f0-2153811719adDid anyone else read this (or similar) article about MoneySense Magazine's ranking of 154 Canadian cities by "best place to live"? It's caused quite a ruckus on the Island apparently... not because Victoria (understandably) came in at number 2, but because Port Alberni came in dead last, followed by Campbell River at 153, Parksville at 135, Duncan at 134, and Courtenay at 107. All beaten out by such lovely places as Grand Prairie AB (100), Cornerbrook NL (80), Moose Jaw SK (79), Sudbury ON(76), Thunder Bay ON(58), North Bay ON(42), Yellowknife (32), Edmonton AB (29), Fort St. John BC (24), Regina SK(23), Winnipeg MB(7), and to top it all off, Ottawa ON (1). - and don't say I've never been there because I've been to all those but one;) What a joke! And how does Vancouver rank number 10 and Burnaby 106? I didn't notice that much difference when I moved;) I think the results come from number/stat crunching rather than common sense.
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jennh
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Post by jennh on May 1, 2008 20:58:26 GMT -8
Parksville's not _that_ bad to live in ... I survived it just fine  How many ferries are in Yellowknife? |
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Post by WettCoast on May 1, 2008 21:16:29 GMT -8
This ranking thing is a fools' game, I think.
On the other hand it really gets smug west coasters agitated when these ranking place 'waste land' cities in such places as Ontario, as being superior to places like Vancouver. This can be somewhat funny.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on May 1, 2008 21:50:30 GMT -8
This ranking thing is a fools' game, I think. It sure is. What on earth is the point in comparing Parksville to Montreal? On the other hand it really gets smug west coasters agitated when these ranking place 'waste land' cities in such places as Ontario, as being superior to places like Vancouver. This can be somewhat funny. My sister in law is one of about 700,000 people who live in Winnipeg, and it might amaze a lot of Vancouverites to know that a lot of those people actually like living there. Vancouver's a pretty conceited place, and it's good for us to be taken down a peg once in a while. |
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Post by Northern Exploration on May 2, 2008 7:42:42 GMT -8
I find most of these rankings are all down to who does it and how they rank the various factors. It all comes down to personal preference and peoples opinions. One person values peace and quiet and solitude while another values the variety of options in a large urban centre. One values a milder climate and another loves the seasons. Ottawa is a nice place with tons of bike trails, parks, winter sports possibilities, Gatineau Park very close etc. I find it a bit sleepy at times. And don't get caught on the streets at 12 noon or 5 pm. You could literally get trampled by the civil servant clock watchers fleeing work  . Great place to raise a family though with good schools. The city is very insular though not quite as much as Vancouver. It just doesn'y turn my crank but very nice to visit. I would find the winters a bit much I think. Again all down to personal preference but Winnipeg and Regina aren't anywhere on my list. One winter in Regina and visiting the Peg frequently finalized that for me. Saskatoon is not bad. But the only two Prairie cities I would consider are Edmonton and Calgary. Both have their pluses. Despite the nonsense my relatives spew about which city is better , I see both as relatively equal. |
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Post by WettCoast on May 2, 2008 17:28:32 GMT -8
Vancouver's a pretty conceited place, and it's good for us to be taken down a peg once in a while. Neil, It is not just Vancouver that is "a pretty conceited place". It is, if you go by BC Govt slogans, the whole danged province...  |
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Post by ruddernut on May 2, 2008 19:46:33 GMT -8
This ranking thing is a fools' game, I think. On the other hand it really gets smug west coasters agitated when these ranking place 'waste land' cities in such places as Ontario, as being superior to places like Vancouver. This can be somewhat funny. If it pursuades Ontarians to stay in Ontario, I'm all for it. |
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Post by Northern Exploration on May 3, 2008 9:26:35 GMT -8
If it pursuades Ontarians to stay in Ontario, I'm all for it. Thanks for that, it adds a lot to the substance of the discussion. I presume you don't work in a tourist based industry or are in the application process for a role as an ambassador for BC. As tempting as it is to respond further all I will say is your statement is exactly an illustration of his point. ;D |
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Post by ruddernut on May 3, 2008 9:30:32 GMT -8
If it pursuades Ontarians to stay in Ontario, I'm all for it. Thanks for that, it adds a lot to the substance of the discussion. I presume you don't work in a tourist based industry or are in the application process for a role as an ambassador for BC. As tempting as it is to respond further all I will say is your statement is exactly an illustration of his point. ;D Sorry. It wasn't about them travelling here. You're always welcome and even encouraged to visit. It was about them moving here that I had in mind when I made the comment. |
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Post by Northern Exploration on May 3, 2008 9:39:59 GMT -8
Why is moving different than visiting, other than visitors go home? They are still the same people . I presume you mean the overheated housing market. Does your comments apply to all provinces or just Ontarians?  |
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Post by ruddernut on May 3, 2008 10:04:36 GMT -8
Why is moving different than visiting, other than visitors go home? They are still the same people . I presume you mean the overheated housing market. Does your comments apply to all provinces or just Ontarians? All provinces. It's great to have good young minds and muscle coming this way to contribute to our society, but our mild climate and idyllic conditions tend to attract an inordinate number of retirees from the rest of the country, not to mention the homeless. |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on May 3, 2008 11:31:34 GMT -8
It's great to have good young minds and muscle coming this way to contribute to our society, but our mild climate and idyllic conditions tend to attract an inordinate number of retirees from the rest of the country, not to mention the homeless. As long as we don't start attracting the retired homeless. Put those two groups of undesireables together, and it's pretty much curtains for lotusland. |
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Post by Northern Exploration on May 3, 2008 11:56:24 GMT -8
I presume you are thinking that older Canadians who settle in BC don't contribute to the economy as much as "younger muscle", and aren't just against people of age ? No offense taken but I was just pushing your buttons and teasing a bit. My grandparents moved to Duncan from Alberta about 1970 or so. Except for aboriginal peoples who lived in BC everyone has come to BC and most a lot more recently than some of the other older provinces. My grandparents lived pretty self sufficiently. Replaced some furniture and appliances and bought groceries but didn't contribute much to the local economy. My grandfather had one camper van during most of that period. After my grandfather died my grandmother lived comfortably on her old age benefits and didn't touch any of her nest egg until she passed in 2001 on her 91st birthday. Compare that to a retiree I know who has moved to to Qualicum. She runs a vacation home/B&B there. She buys all her supplies from local suppliers. I would guess she followed the 100 mile diet before it became fashionable just because she wanted to embrace the local community. She serves wine from the Cherry Point area, local cheeses, buys her meats and sausages from the place across from the Coombs Goat Market etc. Because she cooks breakfast for her guests and often serves wine and cheese in the afternoon, she eats out as often as she eats at home. She volunteers for two local charities. When she travels she rents out the home or a friend takes over the B & B while she is gone. She has talked about adding a wind generator and solar assistance. And follows organic gardening and apparently has quite the display. I think she is quite a plus to the local community and while she is "so called retired" still may be an extreme example but one that is becoming more common. I think that there are some retirees like my grandparents who were very frugal, lived simply but well. Certainly more and more elderly in Canada are doing better than they have and the numbers of elderly below the poverty line has dropped significantly in the past 25 years. That isn't to say that there still isn't too many below that level than there should be, but that is a different discussion. I would venture to say that retirees who come to BC are more affluent than not, just to afford the housing. Unless you are talking the more remote towns in the province that are still affordable. I would think they are more mobile, eat out more, may not buy a lot of luxury items like sound systems and TV's, and fewer cars, but probably make a net contribution to the local bottom line of the community. Now the homelessness issue is a different thing. Ironically one of the things I dislike most about Ottawa is the skinhead, young punk types who are pretty aggressive in their panhandling around the Byward Market area (I am in that area a lot). Also the older more typical street person is in very high numbers in that area as well. One of my clients works with these same people and I am very versed in the situation, and the mental health and substance abuse connection involved. I find the same thing in Montreal. Both have much colder and snowier winters than Toronto. |
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Post by ruddernut on May 3, 2008 12:36:05 GMT -8
I would venture to say that retirees who come to BC are more affluent than not, just to afford the housing. Unless you are talking the more remote towns in the province that are still affordable. I would think they are more mobile, eat out more, may not buy a lot of luxury items like sound systems and TV's, and fewer cars, but probably make a net contribution to the local bottom line of the community. I just hope these old folks are not the NIMBYs that oppose development to protect their view and tranquil environment, nor ruin the nightlife and the urban vibe by getting all the restaurants, bars and clubs shut down by 10 pm. |
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on May 5, 2008 5:02:19 GMT -8
I would venture to say that retirees who come to BC are more affluent than not, just to afford the housing. Unless you are talking the more remote towns in the province that are still affordable. I would think they are more mobile, eat out more, may not buy a lot of luxury items like sound systems and TV's, and fewer cars, but probably make a net contribution to the local bottom line of the community. I just hope these old folks are not the NIMBYs that oppose development to protect their view and tranquil environment, nor ruin the nightlife and the urban vibe by getting all the restaurants, bars and clubs shut down by 10 pm. Damn, by the sounds of it, if things go your way, I will have to give up my retirement plans...I was so looking forward to giving all my worldly possessions away, moving back to Vancouver, and living in an abandoned building in East Van I heard had a great view; I also heard it was near an excellent soup kitchen. Then, I was going to write into the paper every day to complain how all the young people were taking all the best corners for washing car windows, and getting the best blankets down at the shelter. I figured I would make a big stink about using the retired ferries as homeless shelters in the harbour...I think I would push for them to be used somewhere up the coast...then I could use them for vacations! |
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. Great place to raise a family though with good schools. The city is very insular though not quite as much as Vancouver. It just doesn'y turn my crank but very nice to visit. I would find the winters a bit much I think.
