Location Transport

LIfe in Vernon, BC and Canada?? Thank you.?

Hello People! I will be coming to Canada in January to work as a Caregiver for 2 years. I am really looking forward to it, although I have tons of questions (naturally). I would love for someone to give me info on the following. I will be reliant on public transport for a while. What is the public transport system like in Vernon, BC specifically? Are they good cycle routes? Is it a cycle-friendly town? Can one walk in the winter (maybe not?) What are some of the things that young people can get involved in and do in Vernon, BC? Are they options to study French in Vernon or nearby? After all deductions/housing/and some meals I would be left with 1090CAD. is this enough to live on? do nice things maybe, like trips to other places in CA? hobbies and entertainment? (thanks) lastly, what are the people like in BC and Canada in general? :) Thank you very much!!!

Public Comments

1. Vernon, BC? Isn't that kind of...in the middle of no where? Why Vernon?? Vernon is a small city of about 30 000 people. There is public transportation, but it is a small bus system and the buses don't run that often. Most people drive cars. The summers can get extremely hot and humid, so I don't think cycling will be very much fun. It is a small town so if you really want to cycle you can. People living in small towns are generally very friendly, they wont give you trouble for cycling. That said, you probably wont be cycling in the winter. Cycling in the middle winter in Canada is nearly impossible. There are lots of outdoor activities in and around Vernon. BC is great for that sort of thing. Also, you'll be close to Kamloops and Kelowna, and they have fun stuff. But vernon itself is a small city, don't expect much as far as fine arts or fine dining goes. Can you study French? Yes of course, this is Canada! All across Canada students must take French classes though elementary school and the first year of secondary school. This means that in every school you will find at least one French teacher. There are also usually other people around who speak French. You have to find and contact these people, offering to hire them to teach you French. Is $1090 enough to live on? For how long? You've got $1090 spending money for the entire two years?? Definitely not enough. If it's $1090 a month, that's plenty for trips, hobbies, entertainment...whatever you like. The people in BC are special. They're generally laid back and very proud of being from BC. Very friendly. Not Saskatchewanian friendly, but definitely more friendly than Torontonians. It's hard to generalize Canadians because so many are immigrants or the children of immigrants. Generally, we value politeness, friendliness, a live and let live attitude towards people who are different, inclusiveness, humour, beer, hockey and b!tching about America. I know you didn't ask, but some great cities to visit are Quebec City, Moosejaw (I'm dead serious, one of the coolest and most under-appreciated cities in Canada. Check the tunnels and the haunted houses. And the people are so nice it gets freaky.) St. John's, and Montreal. Going to Quebec City in the winter is a grand idea.
2. I grew up at the other end of the Okanagan Valley, but have been to Vernon numerous times, albeit some time ago! I know very little about public transport there, but, as a very small city, it will not be extensive. You can easily cycle though. There is a nasty hill going south out of town, but much of the rest of the city is fairly flat. As it is rather warm there, you could cycle most, if not all of the year. It does snow in Vernon, but the Okanagan is one of the warmest places in Canada, so it isn't bad at all. French will be difficult. BC is a very English speaking area - where they aren't speaking Asian languages! Not much French around at all, although you might be able to take at a community college. There will be little chance to practice it - hearing French in the street is rare in that part of Canada. If ~$1100 is your take-home after all expenses, that isn't bad. You will not be rich by any means, but you would be able to head for Vancouver once in a while after some month's savings, and you could eat out and maybe even go skiing or curling. Canada is a huge, and very diverse country. People in BC tend to be a bit more laid back than in the rest of the country. Life is easier there than elsewhere (due mostly to the climate). So, people do not hurry, and they take life pretty easily. That is why the Okanagan is becoming a major retirement area - great weather, and laid back lifestyle.
3. Vernon is located at the north end of the Okanagan Valley region of BC and, as such, generally has nice warm summers and generally cold winters. Activities in the summer include a variety of water based activities from swimming to boating, mountain biking, and golf. I have included a link to the Vernon Tourism site below. Vernon is built partially on flat terrain however a portion of it goes up a hillside (East Hill) although the incline, from what I remember, is not too bad. Certainly you could bike around the Vernon area and possibly to several of the smaller towns around it. There is a fairly comprehensive bus system however whether the hours of operation would suit all your needs depends on what you find to do in the area. There is presently no bus service on public holidays. The bus serves most of central Vernon although some of the outlying areas are not presently served (the back region of the East Hill area). The Vernon Transit system site has maps and other information, I have included the link below. If you are stating that you will have $1,090 per month after accommodation and some meals you should be able to live reasonably comfortably and can probably afford trips around the area and possibly to the coast. The Okanagan Valley region is fairly large with several decent sized cities and smaller towns within an hour or so drive. There are still many orchards located in the Vernon region and south of there. In addition heading south you will find a number of wineries and many other activities both during the summer and winter. People in BC, like people everywhere, are a mixed group. You will find that in general people are more laid back however there are always a few who will stand out, and not necessarily in a positive way. Canada is a multi-cultural society and you will find people of various heritages located across the country.
4. A friend uses the transit system in Vernon and said that she has no problem getting around. I personally wouldn't cycle on Highway 97 because of the congestion, but can't give you any further feedback about it. I've mentioned it here before, but do an internet search for Okanagan forums and you'll find a site that has locals exchanging information with people moving there. It certainly helped me when I moved to the valley from the UK.
5. I live in Vernon, and have for the past 18 years. I don't really consider it in the middle of nowhere. I moved from Vancouver and this town (population 38,000) is a little piece of heaven compared to some big cities. Public buses run all over the city. Most bus routes end around 7-9 p.m. Vernon is very cycle friendly. The city is putting in bike lanes everywhere. I can easily ride my bike from Okanagan Lake to downtown, or even to the Village Green Mall. Most people clean the sidewalks of snow (it's the law) and most business's, so walking in the winter is not usually a big problem unless we get a huge dump of snow. 1090.00 a month? Plenty for entertainment etc. You might try skiing or snowboarding if you don't already. Alot of the young people will be up Silver Star during the winter months. There is also tubing and outdoor ice skating. You will find the people here in Vernon are very friendly Edit...so I see someone didn't like getting a thumbs down.