to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC

Canada Immigration Forum (discussion group)


 
       
Subject: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC
  HI....I am a Canadian citizen sponsoring my wife to come to Canada.We are both in Poland now but I will be in Canada in June and hopefully she will follow shortly after.

I am from Ontario but my wife and I have been thinking about perhaps living in BC...particularly Vancouver but not only. I have been exploring the Internet and have found many sites with a lot of info. I would like some first hand knowledge and advice, though.
I am a certified high school teacher and my wife has a Master´s degree in International Trade......are there employment opportunites for us in BC? We both have 7 years experience in our fields.
She would also like to go back to school and study International Trade with a focus on Canadian Trade.
Which colleges are good? I do not know any colleges in BC, as I am from Ontario.
What is the housing market like? We have checked sites for REMAX and CENTURY 21 and so on. Any recommendations? Better places to live than others?
What is the cost of living like? Groceries? Other necessities?

Sorry for all the questions but sometimes first hand info is the best.

Have a great day!
Good luck to everyone! I am praying for a straight forward and painless and relatively quick process. We will see what happens.

THANKS

RACHUNEK

[13-03-2005,18:21]
[**.22.148.150]
Rachunek
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
Which colleges are good? I do not know any colleges in BC, as I am from Ontario.
Public institutions are" Simon Fraser, Unviersity of British Columbia, North U of B.C, U of Victoria.
There are lots of university-college too, have cheaper tuition fee.

What is the housing market like? We have checked sites for REMAX and CENTURY 21 and so on. Any recommendations?
You can check www.mls.ca
They have whole lists.
Average house over Nanaimo, Duncan, Mid Vancouver Island you are looking at somewhere between $250,000---300,000.
Victoria and Lower Mainland will be more expensive.
Interest rate is still low, mortgage still better option.



Better places to live than others?
West Coast, not too bad, I like small town, well, Vancouver is nice too, house too expensive.
Actually the whole Vancouver Island and West Coast have booming population right now.

What is the cost of living like? Groceries? Other necessities

a little expensive than Ontario.
91.5/L for 89 gas, 2.56/2L 3% milk.
if you wonder about grocery, just check superstore.ca


hopefully my information has a little bid help to you


[13-03-2005,19:27]
[**.66.78.235]
Yijie
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
By the way, I have tons of friends from Ontario moving to here. they are from London, Hamilton,Napanee(sorry, not Avril Lavigne),same stories. just came to college and then don´t wanna leave island. stick here and bring parents to here for retirement.

I mean you enjoy probably only 3--4 times snow a year, can you go back and have 3--4 month snow a year.




[13-03-2005,19:36]
[**.66.78.235]
Yijie
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
Ok Yijie what do u think about Simon Fraser university? is it considered one of the best or its just a normal university? cause i am planning to prepare for my MBA and i am still dunno where to applay? but Simon Fraser has nice MBS programs and they offer the online system,i mean that u can prepare and the get the degree without going to vancouver! but i just wanna make sure that Simon Fraser university is a good university comparing to university of BC and university of vectoria?
[13-03-2005,19:47]
[**.131.196.143]
ed
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
UBC. UVIC, SFU, to myself, they are all good reputation public institution. I actually saw quite a lot of commercial over Global and mail and Vancouver Sun about MBA in SFU. I think they are all fine
[13-03-2005,19:50]
[**.66.78.235]
Yijie
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
my friend is just finishing his MBA at Simon Fraser. Is very satisfied. Also consider the Sauder School of Business at UBC.
as a teacher you likely already know you have to obtain a BC license. Not sure if Ontario is a straight trade or not. check out www.bctf.bc.ca. they should have more info.

Yes, Vancouver is expensive, but if you are wanting university with business reputation... you are pretty much confined.

[13-03-2005,20:00]
[***.81.114.40]
sharon
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
usually the universities that offer an online programs are not that good,and that´s why they turn to offer the online programs,but hopefully Simon Fraser university is not one of them.I really wish to study in U of BC but its very hard to get accepted,they have a strick admission,especially that i have an international bachelor degree from amman-jordan,at the same time i am about to get my diploma from CDI college-montreal..but i dont think that my diploma could help me get accepted in U of BC(MBA)...but my plan now is to finish my stuff in montreal and start working on vancouver moving.the winter in montreal is very tough and i cant take it anymore and i cant live with the sea but at the same time the summer here in montreal is unbelivable...
[13-03-2005,21:57]
[**.131.196.143]
ed
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
correction: i cant live WITHOUT the sea
[13-03-2005,21:59]
[**.131.196.143]
ed
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
investigate the SFU program. My friend researched and researched. He is very picky. SFU was more money but he felt it was better value.

I must admit, Vancouver is paradise today. it is 20 celcius and the sun is shining in a clear blue sky. The cherry trees are blooming, magnolias are ready to pop. daffodils are out, and most folks have already mowed their lawns this spring. I know the rest of the country is still a little frozen...sorry. I really do not want to gloat too much but damn... it is a spectacular day. Watch... it will piss rain all week just to spite me.

[13-03-2005,23:08]
[***.81.114.40]
sharon
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
its completely frozen over here..i am not trying to offend montreal city.noooo montreal as i said in summer is a very beautiful city and the night life here is awesome and i think its the best city in summer all people come to montreal from everywhere just to have fun and to enjoy our festivels but in winter holy shit.. u spend 5 or 6 months indoors.and the universities here r not the beautiful like what u have in BC or Ontario.So i think i am gonna go for Simon Fraser university.but now i am confused with my stuffs that i bought for my appartment in montreal.so i dunno if its worth it to ship them to vancouver or just sale them and buy new stuffs from there..and i will visit vancouver next month may be,just to make sure that this is the city that i wanna complete my life in it...
and to make my post useful :) i just wanna include something: that whether u got ur permenent resident thru quebec it doesnt mean that u have to stick in it.nop u can go where ever u want..

[14-03-2005,01:03]
[**.131.196.143]
ed
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
there is nothing more lovely than Vancouver in April and May.
[14-03-2005,01:47]
[***.81.114.40]
sharon
(in reply to: to Yijie or Sharon or anyone in BC)
Thanks for the help......I will check those sites that you gave me, Yijie and we will investigate the colleges and universities more. Hey Yijie, I am from Hamilton....did your friends go to school in Hamilton? McMaster University?

I am also checking the the transfer of my Ontario certificate to BC. Lots of paperwork to do. Thanks Sharon...I hope your man gets to Canada soon...you must be so anxious for him to arrive. I am lucky since I am with my wife in Poland now....I will be with her as long as I can.

Good luck Ed, and Sharon and Yijie....thanks for the help!
We appreciate everything you do for people here.
My wife thinks it is great that you have no TV, Yijie.

CHEERS
RACHUNEK


[14-03-2005,04:35]
[**.22.153.11]
Rachunek