Q: I am moving from Toronto to Vancouver soon. I have a degree in accounting. Can anyone tell me what it's like over there? What will be the differences? The job market? Lifestyle?
A: Vancouver is a hot job market. There are many jobs available here. Vancouver is very multicultural. Asians probably make up over 50% of the population here living in places like Vancouver East, Vancouver West and Richmond. The East Indians are a close second living in Surrey, Delta and Vancouver South. Burnaby and New Westminster are predominantly Caucasian with a few Colored people mixed in of various ethnicity. Langley and White Rock are predominantly caucasian. North Vancouver and West Vancouver are mixed Asian affluent, Iranian affluent and Caucasian Affluent people. Property here is very expensive. A million dollar home will likely get you a split 4 bedroom 2 bathroom at the most. Rents are in the $900-1200 for a 2 bedroom. The weather here rains alot. Sometimes we get snow in the winter, but wait 2 hours and it's gone replaced with rain. Temperatures are really mild. In the winter ranging from -2 to +15 and in the summer from +10-+30. Lifestyle here ranges as everywhere else does from chic and trendy expensive Robson street where Chanel purses cost $5000 to Low income, drug ridden Hastings street where petty crime is a constant and you have to sleep with one eye open. The attitudes here are much different than out East. There is a lot of ignorance and hiddden anger here because of the growing Asian influence into the money market driving up prices. There is a joke amongst people who are moving back East from here that they are moving back to Canada. Anyways, I hope this helps, but you will have to form your own opinion when you get here. I have been trying to get my wife to go back East for 5 years now with no success. Largely due to family all being there.