LIFE ON AN ISLAND

"What about life on the island, isn't it a bit constricting?" Well, only if you consider living on the twentieth (or so) largest island in the world to be constricting. From Victoria to Port Hardy is some 500 kilometers of Trans-Canada-standard highway. An illustration of the mass of the island is the central spine of mountains with peaks as high as 7,000 feet, expansive alpine meadows and several excellent ski hills. Close to 3/4 of a million people in over a dozen cities and towns call Vancouver Island their home.

Every year, thousands of people move here from other parts of Canada. It is not hard to see why. The average January temperature is 10 degrees Celsius, one of every six families owns a boat, and reflecting a less stressed lifestyle, Victorians spend considerably more than the national average on recreation, books and other leisure activities.

The Island unemployment rate is consistently below the national average and business confidence remains high.

And as far as Victoria being a "pretty little town" ... well, it is indeed pretty, but the adjective little seems somewhat out of place when talking about a population which exceeds 300,000 - and one that will certainly top a third of million by the end of the decade.

Is it paradise? Not really. Victoria has its problems like the rest of Canada. Petty crime, while relatively low, is always a concern. Rain, while half of Vancouver's measure, is a bit depressing in January and tends to interfere with playing golf. And, of course, people worry about the same personal problems that they would have in any city. The only substantial difference is that in Victoria, it seems a little easier to manage when surrounded by mountains, the sea, a beautiful urban environment, mild winters and pleasant summers, and a growing, rather than receding economy.

Source: Island Enterprise