There is a high probability that my wife will get a transfer to Canada in the short to medium term future.. the options of where we could live are looking like Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

so I know that there are some people on this forum who have lived, or are currently living, in Canada and I wonder if you have any vies on where is the best all year round place to live.. we have a 13yo daughter who will need to go to school, probably to do the International Bacclaureate. I will be able to transfer with my work.

We are not only skiers, but also boating enthusiasts, so Vancouver is where we are leaning towards, but not ruleing out Calgary, her companies major center in Canada, or Edmonton.

Any advise, information you may have most welcome.

I would have said West Edmonton Mall because it had more submarines than the Canadian Navy. But they got rid of them so Edmonton is rubbish now.

Calgary is the closest to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, the best dinosaur museum in the world so I'd suggest Calgary. And it smells like cow shit in downtown for extra win. And it is closest to Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump.

Vancouver has better boating and skiing, but its over rated so don't go there.

Telemark... WHAT?

Best year round...unless you don't mind -30 temps Vancouver would be the choice over the other two by a mile, oops Canada.. 1.609 Kms.

Ask Ivan

Vancouver by a country mile, beautiful lush (if wet!) city and easy access to Whistler, cant beat it.

Vancouver

Van, but it is the most expensive city to live in Canada. Real estate is pricey

I was holding a seance and TC took over the keyboard. I didn't even know he was dead?!?

Calgary has more resort choices for skiers, but Vancouver is close to Whistler which probably offers more skiable acres than all those Kootenay/Rockies placdes put together. Plus Mt Baker and the three North Shore ski hills. And the Salish Sea is without question one of the two or three best destinations on the planet for the recreational boater.

FWIW, Alberta is a lot cheaper to live in than BC, not just Vancouver either. Housing costs in Van are the highest in Canada, but BC also has a steep tax regime. There's an additional 7% sales tax over and above the federal 5% GST, whereas in Alberta you pay just the GST. And provincial income tax rates are much lower in AB. There are some compensatiuons for living amongst the rednecks!

Finally, Vancouver has a better hockey team than anything from Alberty.

Thanks everyone for the inputs, kind of reinforced our initial thoughts that Vancouver is the better place from a livability all year around point of view, not just the skiing side of things.

The housing prices won't be a real big issue as this will be a company expat assignment, so they cover the costs.

As we are also boating people the waterways around Vancouver offer some great place to explore, plus proximity to Whistler for skiing in winter.

Going to have to nitpick that one, Whistler/Blackcomb adds up to only marginally more than just Lake Louise and Sunshine combined in skiable area... Not even starting to include Revy, Kicking Horse etc etc...

Vancouver for sure if you have to be in the city. Any chance of a more regional gig? Cheaper houses, and easier access to recreation with a lot less people. Kelowna would be a good one. Victoria could be a very nice option too.

Nope there are only the options of Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton .. or possibly Sao Paulo or Santiago.. but prefer the Canada options.

OK, I got nuthin. But Whistler is still massive. It could take a couple of seasons to understand all its nuances and find all the nooks and crannies.

The BC coast is boater paradise, I wasnt exaggerating on that. And if you like scuba... OMFG. Incredible.

At least they had a win today sly, been a rough patch of late!

If company is paying expat conditions...Vancouver hands down

Vancouver for me. Enjoy the best mix of city, real nature and access to Whistler

Thanks one and all, all of this reinforces what we thought.. for all year living on a company expat assignment Vancouver wins.

Now to figure out where.. wifes work will be in Burnaby.. so looking along the Kitsilano, Westside areas me thinks...

heh heh... West End vs Kits. Reminds me of the old joke - what separates the fruits from the veges? The Burrard St bridge.

?????? pardon my ignorance but what are you talking about? I am sure it is some in joke for locals, but if there is a hidden message the as Pauline once said "Please explain?"

Kits is more the Latte set mixed with new/old money..... west end is just weird.

If the +1 is working in Burnaby, resist the temptation to live anywhere near Hastings St (East Hastings to be specific),..... Not for the faint hearted .

A nice downtown condo could be the go though if you want inner city living.

It's nice enough where I am in East Van (King Edward Village) & not too far from Burnaby.

West End was well known for large gay population, Kits had the hippies. Those distinctions have blurred over the past decade or two, but they are still linked by the Burrard St bridge over False Creek. These days Kits is trendy and expensive.

Got it thanks .. we will probably be looking for a free standing house as we have 2 german shepherd dogs, so need a bit of room, plus I will be working from a home office, so not keen on a condo.

I am thinking the Kits, West Point Grey, Shaughnessy sort of areas (I know up market but when on company expenses) .. and also the St Johns or Stratford Hall schools for our 13yo daughter .. want her to do the International Bacclaureate because if we need to move again it will make it easier.

Point Grey is closer to Wreck Beach than the others. Daughter will love it.

Google is a parent's friend

Google certainly is ... been able ot find out all sort of info about school, housing etc .. now to see if this comes off or not, will know in about 2 months I think, and if it does would need to be there before the start of the next school year in early Sept. .. so I would say our skiing would be in Canada next Jan.

Check rules on bringing the dogs back to Aus.... I think you will find it costs a bucket load. Expat contract will pay transport and shots but proabably not the boarding fees when they hit back in Aus for the 3 months (or what ever it is). This can be very expensive.

Thanks Crystal, yep it will be expensive but not likely to get to leave them behind, we expect we would be away for 4 years, so by that time the older dog may not be with us, she will be 8 by the time we leave here.

also no gurantee that the next step would be back to Aust. ... who know where they would send us next.