Q: I'm moving my family to BC, Canada very soon. I prefer to settle outside Vancouver City (Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, etc.). What's the best place in terms of job availability, living costs, schools, and quality of life? Please advise. Thank you.
A: Honestly I would suggest moving well outside of the Vancouver core - Surrey or Langley - until you get a job that you are comfortable in and pays enough to move in (if you decide that you want to). There are jobs outside of the city of Vancouver - Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, etc all have economies of their own and if you can get a job in one of these communities, not only will you be paying less in rent/mortgage, but you won't have to deal with commutting over a bridge. If you plan to move close to transit, my advice is to keep a distance between your home and a skytrain station. The skytrain is wonderful, however each station has a circle of crime around it. that's true for major bus loops as well.. even moving two or three blocks away will eliviate the crime that seems to follow our transit system. Schools are variable throughout the region. My suggestion would be to find the area you like and can afford, and check out the local schools. If you are interested in getting your kids into French Immersion, there are plenty of FI schools around and that could be also a consideration. If your children need extra help - English as a Second Language (ESL), learning disabilities, etc., contact the local school districts and find out what sort of services they have and what type of documents you will need to supply. I would also suggest to contact the local police agencies (not all are RCMP) about the crime statistics in different areas. They can give you good information about steering clear of the trouble areas. Good luck in your move!!