Places in Paradise: Where to Retire in BC
After 26 years in the military, Eric, a vibrant and articulate 81 year old, chose Victoria as his retirement destination. Formerly stationed in Ottawa, the impetus for his move to Vancouver Island was the weather. “You can do things in the winter that you couldn’t do in the east. It’s very nice in Ottawa, but terrifically cold.” Year round activity has earned Victoria the designation as the fittest city in the nation. Where those who retire in the east are often subjected to several months of hibernation, in Victoria, Eric claims that “winter doesn’t have any effect” on your ability to keep moving and stay fit all year round.
Choosing a world class Olympic city, Jackie, a well seasoned retiree and a lover of fine theatre, settled in Vancouver after living in some of the most desirable places in the world, including California. With a chic downtown address--Terraces on 7th--and a view of west end skyscrapers from the dining room window, a temperate climate means that “everyday of the year you can walk” to your favourite places, whether it be Granville Island Market or Stanley Theatre. On this particular summer day, she is taking advantage of her proximity to The Vancouver International Airport to attend the Shaw festival in Niagara, Ontario—“everything here is within minutes!”
In the heart of BC’s wine country, on the shore of Okanagan Lake, rests the aptly named town of Summerland, where Andy, the former president of the local seniors drop-in centre, prefers his retirement away from urban chaos. “Being smaller” allows one to enjoy nature’s treasures, “the orchards and the lakes” untainted by steel, concrete and vehicle emissions.
As the rivalry between three of BC’s major regions continues, choosing a place to retire is not an easy decision. Many factors have to be taken into consideration including health care, climate and geography, cost of living, and lifestyle amenities.
Health Care
You don’t get too far in your quest for the ultimate retirement destination in BC before hearing of the idea of “campuses of care” pioneered by Retirement Concepts, one of the only retirement providers to have a presence in all three regions. Sparked by Azim Jamal, a family doctor, this initiative aims to meet the changing needs of seniors, housing everything from spry and active retirees to those requiring full care. Built on the concept of resort living, it is not uncommon to see everyone from young seniors enjoying veritable chalets to older seniors benefiting from full care facilities. Such campuses make health care accessible which might otherwise appear daunting to the independently settled senior.
For instance, Eric, who formerly owned a condo in Victoria, admits it is “quite difficult to find a doctor” if you are relocating from somewhere outside the city. When moving to the Wellesley Retirement Community, the biggest, and in his opinion “the best retirement centre in the city”, the staff were able to use their connections to help him access rapid and continued treatment.
Of course, being in a major city makes access to services that much easier. Helen, who lived most of her life in Manitoba, relocated up-island to Courtenay after being robbed in North Vancouver. Leaving behind some of the best hospitals in the country, it took her two years to find a doctor, and with only one cab company in town, it can take up to 90 minutes to access service. She says they “would never have the facilities here” that they have in Vancouver, like the Vancouver General Hospital, the Vancouver Cancer Centre, or even the cutting edge UBC Urgent Care Centre. However, being part of a retirement community like Casa Loma Seniors Village, “who you know” makes receiving care easier, even if you still have to wait for the taxi.
As small towns go, Andy, a resident of the Okanagan for over 25 years, admits “you can get a doctor, but getting that certain person” is very difficult. You often have to settle for walk-in centres or drive to major sprawls like the bustling city of Kelowna or even Vancouver to see a specialist.
Climate and Geography
Jack, a retired professor from the University of Manitoba, loves the fact that Vancouver Island boasts “gardening all year round and no snow to shovel.” The most temperate climate in Canada, BC’s capital city of Victoria is famous for its lush gardens which receive about half the amount of rain as Vancouver, enabling it to cash in on over 2,000 hours of sunlight annually. The temperature rarely drops below freezing or surges above 20 degrees Celsius, and for terrain, Jack claims that he “can’t believe the variety of walking areas” that exist on the island. Indeed, the mountainous spine through the island is paralleled by a coastline measuring over 3, 400 kms, accompanied by a host of rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. Primarily populated along the eastern coast, the island contains both rain forests and family friendly mountain peaks for skiing.
While Vancouver is the second warmest of Canada’s major cities, many people, like Dorie, a retiree who relocated from Edmonton, claim that “Vancouver actually has many microclimates.” Nestled, between the 5,000 foot high Coastal Mountains and bounded on three sides by water, meteorologists claim a tough time predicting the weather. North Vancouver receives the most rain, while the entire area bears the misconception that there is little if any snow. In fact, Environment Canada has rated Vancouver as 59th among 100 major Canadian cities for “most huge snowfall days” ahead of presumably “snowier” cities like Calgary (74) and Toronto (99).
The Okanagan boasts the only true desert climate in Canada containing the Black Sage Bench which, according to Roger Gillespie, manager at the Sumac Ridge winery, “has more light intensity than anywhere on the planet.” On the day Andy, a retiree at the Summerland Seniors Village, told me about the outstanding trout fishing in the majestic Okanagan Lake, the temperature was surging past 35 degrees Celsius. But don’t let the desert fool you. The Okanagan often reaches below zero temperatures in the winter.
Cost of Living
If you’re thinking of retiring in BC, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the price of houses. The average price for a single family dwelling in Victoria is now over $520,000.00. Downsizing? The average townhouse will cost you over $360,000.00 while a condominium in seniors’ friendly Oak Bay could cost you over $370,000.00. If you still want Island living without the price tag, consider Nanaimo with an average home costing just over $280,000.00. And when you’re living on the Island, don’t forget to factor the slight increase in the cost of gas as well as the approximately $150.00 round trip ferry charge if you feel like catching a Canucks game on the mainland.
In Vancouver, you better have some good investments or a decent pension. One of the most expensive places in the country, the benchmark price for a detached home is now over $700,000.00, while an average condo could run you over $360,000.00. But if you’re thinking that buying in the interior will save you a lot of money, the average price for a house in Kelowna is now well over $400,000.00.
Lifestyle Amenities
When today’s seniors think of retiring, they want to stay active and seize the day. As a tourist mecca, Vancouver Island is widely recognized for its diversity of activities---and don’t forget that you can often do them all year round. From water sports like kayaking and canoeing, to major tourist draws like the world famous Butchart Gardens, the Island really does have something for everyone. And since of particular concern is retiring in a place grandkids love to visit, Victoria has many elements to engage the young, from the Butterfly Gardens and the Victoria Bug Zoo, to other such no-cost fun like feeding the wild seals in the Oak Bay Marina. For those who like to hike, cycle, in-line skate, or even go horseback riding, the Galloping Goose Trail winds its way up Island for about 60kms.
Of course, in Vancouver, the major attraction is skiing, skiing, skiing! In fact, Skiing Magazine rated Whistler as the best ski resort in North America seven years in a row. And being the biggest city in BC, there are a host of attractions for grandkids and seniors alike, including the Vancouver Aquarium featuring over 70,000 animals, the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre, the Science World of British Columbia, and several “hot spots” for kids including the Granville Island KidsZone and Playland at the PNE. For those wanting sophisticated adult fair, The Bard on the Beach Shakespeare festival usually offers a crowd pleaser like Romeo and Juliet and even some rarely performed works like Timon of Athens.
The ethos of the Okanagan speaks to the refined. Indeed, in the local 7-Eleven you can pick up a package of cheese and grapes to go with that morning coffee. At last count, the Okanagan Valley is home to over 80 wineries, including Sumac Ridge, a pioneer in Canadian wine recently winning “best of class” for their 2006 Gewurztraminer at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition. But other than the expected plethora of wine festivals, there are many biking and hiking trails through the pine-scented forests, as well as the expected lake community water sports that are produced by the over 200 lakes. And with a winter temperature often below zero, the Okanagan is home to the Monashee Mountains which provide plenty of winter sun for full family skiing.
When thinking of retiring in BC, there are many factors to consider. For convenience, you probably can’t beat Vancouver. For Canada’s ultimate climate and year round activities for your grandkids, you might just choose Victoria. And if desiring a slightly lower price and a change of the seasons, you could settle in the Okanagan. However, no matter which area you choose in BC, with forests and mountains and fresh ocean air, you will surely find your place in paradise.
Added 2008/07/07 @ 22:58:06
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