Moving to Victoria BC for Family
While perhaps not the most common reason for moving, moving to Victoria BC for family unity is certainly motivation for some. Or at least it can be cause to consider moving here, along with the desire to live in this beautiful city which provides so many other incentives for relocation.
The story often goes something like this…While on holiday, George and Mabel from Regina fall in love with Victoria (of course they would, they came in February to escape winter and spent their time playing golf and enjoying the flowers) and decide to move here after retirement.
So they move to Victoria and settle down to enjoy their new home. When the children come to visit, grandkids in tow, they realize how much they miss living near Mom and Dad (free babysitting services, Sunday family dinners and all) so they begin a conversation about moving to Victoria themselves.
A little research shows them that it’s certainly feasible; there are job opportunities, plenty of options in housing, all the amenities a busy family could possibly want, and of course the climate is lovely!
A slow family exodus begins, and several siblings end up moving to Victoria BC for family unity, among other reasons. This is not just a tale I’ve spun, I actually know people with stories very similar to this (names have been changed to protect the innocent). What are your reasons for moving to Victoria?
Hello, I am a 40-yr old soon-to-be-psychologist currently living in Edmonton, AB. I plan to move to Victoria in approx. 2 yrs, when I finish licensing. Part of my motivation is also to establish my business right from the start. At this point, I am asking friends, who live on the island, and doing web surfing (LUV your site!)…but am at a loss. I know a few trips are in order to drive around and see for myself the different areas.. I also hope to live close to where I establish my business. Do you have any advice on scoping in on certain locations? Muchas gracias! Mimi~
Welcome to Victoria Mimi, I’m sure you’ll love living here! Check out our CRD page to learn more about the flavour of each municipality within the Greater Victoria area.
I am looking to move my family (2 adults and 3 kids) to Victoria next year.
We have bacground in french. My wife and i speak english, but not our kids.
How long will take to get a job (an income ) ? we have both MBA (Marketing & operations) with 12 years experience.
I appreciate your advice !
Thank you !
Hi David, I really don’t know how long it might take for you to find a job here. I would suggest you initiate your job search before you come! If your children only speak French, enroll them in one of our francophone schools at first, I’m sure they’ll learn English pretty quickly.
Hello,
my family is considering a job offer in Victoria. The place seems very nice, just small enough for a family w/kids, but big enough to offer plenty of things to do and explore. Though this might sound a bit funny, I’m still going to ask… I’m a little worried about the bears and cougars in the island (now you must be laughing :)
Vancouver Island could be a great place for hiking etc., but is it safe to go to the national parks, forests and beaches with kids? I know that dangerous encounters are very unlikely, but it still worries me. And now I’ve read that sometimes cougars even wander to the city and hang in residential areas. I’m afraid that we might not be able to enjoy our stay there if we need to worry about the safety matters.
Thank you for any advice!
Hi Fiona,
As a parent myself, I would never laugh at someone’s concern for their child’s safety. Yes, bear and cougar live on Vancouver Island, and occasionally venture into the Greater Victoria area, but these incidents are rare. As for enjoying the wilderness, it’s generally safe, but there are precautions you can take; wearing a ‘bear bell’, carrying bear spray and keeping small children close. Watch for posted warning notices, often if a bear or cougar has been sighted on a hiking trail someone will leave a notice to warn other hikers. Don’t let the fear of wildlife encounters deter you from moving to Victoria, the chance of ever experiencing a dangerous incident are pretty remote!