Re: uk rn asking about maple ridge...
So strange to see Maple Ridge mentioned! I grew up there, and am reluctantly looking at moving back.
As far as commuting, everyone commutes, further than the hospitals you mentioned, but having also lived in Britain, I think you will find the distances shocking at first(as was mentioned above). Shift work means that you can often avoid commuting though!
The hospital is a little podunk from what I can remember, and the last three friends of my mom who were admitted died, but I don't think that was the staff's fault.
Maple Ridge is beautiful, but a little....YAWN! And housing is not as cheap as it should be, because they will only build these GIANT houses.
Anyhow, my reluctance has more to do with personal reasons than any problem with Maple Ridge. It IS getting a rough edge I noticed on my last visit, something to do with the Salvation Army and the gentrification of downtown (my parents are sort of incomprihensible on the topic). I'd recommend the Interior too, except I've never lived there myself, and may have romanticized notions.
Kamloops is nice though! And I have a friend that vouches for Kelowna (I'm looking there, they seem to have tonnes of jobs, probably due to becoming a retirement town.)
I guess this isn't that helpful. Upshot is, Maple Ridge is definitely ok, nothing tres fabulous though.
You can PM me for more specific points if you want.
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