Of course, you will choose Victoria the capital of British Columbia where the climate is temperate, the scenery is stunning, the quality of life in general is superior and the people are polite – to name a few reasons for selecting the Garden City.
Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada so if you are seeking winter white, you will not find it in Victoria. Generally, it is lush and green year-round. Daily temperatures rarely rise above 30 deg. C (86 deg. F) or fall below 0 deg. C (32 deg. F). In summer, air conditioning is not a necessity as the fresh ocean breezes cool the evenings after a hot summers day. In winter a snow shovel is seldom required but a waterproof jacket is a necessity. Compared to Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia, Victoria gets twice the sunshine and half the rainfall.
www.tourismvictoria.com
Downtown Victoria
Located on the Southern-most tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria enjoys ocean and mountain views from most of its suburbs. Marinas abound in every cove or sheltered mooring site. Boaters enjoy fabulous waters for boating and Victoria and Sidney provide a launching point for the many islands to explore both north and south of the 49th parallel.
http://vancouverisland.com/things-to-do-and-see/recreation/vancouver-island-bc-islands/boating-sailing-cruising/
The greater Victoria area has a population of almost 350,000. While it is a naval city with the Pacific fleet based here as well as the provincial government, it has traditionally been the retirement capital of Canada. This is seeing a change now as we see more and more hi-tech companies relocating here due to the affordability of our housing and lifestyle, compared to Vancouver.
http://vitp.ca/ http://www.viatec.ca/cpages/home
Canadians in general are reserved and very polite and take huge pride in their universal healthcare system. You will find them welcoming of all cultures with an official multicultural policy and they like to view themselves as non-racist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism_in_Canada
In Victoria you will find a very healthy population – amongst the most healthy in Canada. Outdoor pursuits are common with many parks and walking and cycling trails which are accessible from the downtown core.
http://www.tourismvictoria.com/things-to-do/outdoors/hiking-walking/
If education is a priority for you, the government schools are of a high standard and Victoria has a number of highly rated private schools – Glenlynon Norfolk School, St. Michaels University School, St. Margaret’s School & Shawnigan Lake School. Check out the Fraser Institute for the latest standings. The University of Victoria with a student body of just over 21,000 has an excellent reputation too.
University of Victoria
With so much going for it, house prices in and around Victoria have seen a steady increase. If you are looking for oceanfront, these homes do demand a premium and start at about C$2 million going up to approximately C$15 million. The Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core in September 2015 was $607,100. The benchmark value for the same home in September 2016 has increased by 22.8 per cent to $745,700.
Oak Bay
So, if you are thinking of making the move to Canada there is no time like the present especially when you can discount prices by approximately 25% with the current exchange rate.