Location Transport

Vancouver Island?

Well...what's it like, not necessarily how touristy is it, but how is it to get around, work, shop? Is it an interesting place for young people to live? Are there much students? International folk? Christian groups/churches? Do you need a car to get around or is public transport good? Please answer if you live there or have visited there and give any info cos I'm finding it hard to find information! Thanks Woah...6 hours that's only nearly as long as driving top to bottom of Ireland! Honestly, I don't know where exactly I just want general info on the place. Is Victoria the only city? What about travelling to the "mainland", is it necessary or worth it? Oh yeah and I'm talking non-denominational Christian...

Public Comments

1. Uh it's a pretty big island...if you take the quick highway and drive full speed it would take you 6+ hours to drive from top to bottom... I assume you mean Victoria. Within Victoria public transportation is fine, but to get out it's nice to have a car. Victoria isn't nearly as international as, say, Vancouver, but it's pretty chilled out and I've *never* heard of any racial tensions. Church-wise, well you'd have to check your particular church. In general, Canada isn't really a flagrantly churchy kind of country, but there are certainly pockets of it. In any city setting it's always a lot less, and Victoria's no different. What church do you belong to? There are beautiful Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic, etc. churches in the city. Tons of students, definitely, though I don't know that there are that many right in the city. There's a lot to do there, it's a student's dream, museums, fantastic weather, beautiful city, very friendly, unbelievably relaxed. I love it there! :)
2. Vancouver Island has everything you mentioned and more. You need a car to get around properly unless you're going to live and work in Victoria or Nanaimo or one of the other main towns but you need to be able to get out and explore to really appreciate what the Island has to offer. A must see is Long Beach on the West coast of the Island. There are churches and groups of all kinds to join but you need to pick a place to settle. There is a young student culture in Victoria and Nanaimo but there are loads of tourists around all the time so you need to appreciate that. People come from all over the world to live on Vancouver Island and there is a certain retirement contingent too. It's nature at its best so make sure you do get around and see some of the great small towns and the parks and campsites. Shopping is great - you can get almost anything you need, although many people still go over to Vancouver Mainland to shop. You'll find some great seafood restaurants, so check them out.
3. Victoria is the main city. There are quite a few colleges and universities on the island. Yes it is worth going to the Mainland, but you will be very well entertained in Victoria if that's where you plan to stay. Very international city. Has the oldest china town in Canada, maybe even North America. Public Transportation is great from what I've been told and bicycling is even better.
4. I live in Nanaimo; that is about a 2 hour drive north of Victoria. Getting around is pretty easy; public transport or your own car or walking, depending on where you live. There are a lot of students at Malaspina College, and there are a lot of international students there, some to learn English and some just because it has programs they are interested in. There is a Christian church here, which I can't remember the name of, possibly Nanaimo Christian church, don't know for sure, but there are a variety of churches. It can be a bit touristsy in the summer, but it's not like we're overrun or anything. The cruise ship season can be quite busy in the downtown area. The downtown area is great for interesting shopping,and you can go further north for the malls. You might try www.nanaimo.ca or www.nanaimoinformation.com
5. yeah its great. Gabriola island is the best definatly visit if u got the chance its great tons of kids very small town people are sooo friendly. yeah there is tons of students theres UVIC (university of british columbia) and malaspino collage i think.... my dad and step mom have a house on gabriola and we used to go every second weekend but now we arent cuz the are saving money to move there permanitly. the island is great nanaimo and victoria are most populated and ladysmith is really beautiful. there is great transportation with busses and ferrys there is even a fast ferry that gets u to vancouver in 1hr
6. I LOVE the person who answered that Gabriola is worth the visit... because it absolutely is. I lived there, and wish I didnt have to migrate to Nanaimo. There are plenty of people, of all ages. Lots of great Colleges, which means tons of Students. Plenty of Churches, Public Transportation is fine... lots of people use Bicycles as their main transportation. Please feel free to msg me with any specific questions Check out www.viportal.ca to connect with local Vancouver Islanders!
7. Vancouver Island is a great place. The capital city of BC is Victoria which is at the southern end of the Island. As you go north you will go through the cities of Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, The Comox Valley with the communities of Cumberland, Comox and Courtenay where I live. North of here is Campbell River, the Salmon fishing capital of the world. North of Campbell are Port McNeil and towards the north end of the Island is Port Hardy. On the Pacific side of the Island is Port Alberni and Tofino and Euchulet. Public transportation is available in all the major cities and there are busses conicting the cities as well as a train from Victoria to Comox Valley but a car would make things much easier. The University of Victoria is world class and there are community colleges in many of the Up Island cities. There are also hundreds of churches and Christian groups so you will have plenty of new people to associate with. Hope you enjoy your visit as it is a great place.