Advice about BC?!

Paprikat · Apr 25, 2006

This is just my personal opinion....

I moved to Vancouver with my ex., no family and did not know a soul. I foung Vancouver very cold and impersonal. I also came from a small town, and Vancouver is huge. People are not friendly here. I found people are busy, and do not really go out of their way to be friendly, they just do their own things... I work in a place with different ethnic backgrounds and found that most were very cold, in the beginning. MOST (not all) really did not make me feel welcome (ie: speaking a different language in the staff room, despite a "Please respect your co workers and speak English sign posted!).

I also happen to be a shy person, by nature and maybe I came across wrong. It took me a long time to meet some friends here, but after 9 years here, I really do like it. It is beautiful here.

danigirl58 · Apr 25, 2006

this is just my personal opinion....
i moved to vancouver with my ex., no family and did not know a soul. i foung vancouver very cold and impersonal. i also came from a small town, and vancouver is huge. people are not friendly here. i found people are busy, and do not really go out of their way to be friendly, they just do their own things... i work in a place with different ethnic backgrounds and found that most were very cold, in the beginning. most (not all) really did not make me feel welcome (ie: speaking a different language in the staff room, despite a "please respect your co workers and speak english sign posted!).
i also happen to be a shy person, by nature and maybe i came across wrong. it took me a long time to meet some friends here, but after 9 years here, i really do like it. it is beautiful here.

i'm sorry i would have to disagree with you on the idea that vancouver is a cold and impersonal place. vancouver is a big city if you count all the suburbs. i have always thought of vancouver as having a very relaxed type atmosphere where people are friendly. yes with all the different cultures there is a lot of cliquing and i think no matter where you work those of the same ethnic background/language do tend to stay together.... sometimes i think its more so because its easy for them to talk or because they are understood with in there own cliques.

i personally love vancouver theres always something to do.

beehive8 · Apr 25, 2006

I worked with Vancouver Coastal Health and was recently hired by VGH. I'm moving from Toronto to Vancouver and had a really good experience with them. They're very helpful. I was also in contact with Health Match BC and didn't have such a great experience. You can PM me if you want more details. I don't have any family in Vancouver but friends who have moved there tell me that there's no place like it and they would never consider moving back to Ontario.

Good luck to you.

Betty

fergus51 · Apr 25, 2006

I used to live in Vancouver and love it there. It's probably where I'll return when I leave the US. I didn't find people cold at all. I have friends who used healthmatch and they were very helpful.

bubbles30 · Apr 26, 2006

Hi Everybody,

Thanks to everyone that made a comment:thankya: I appreciate hearing all your views and experiences. Am glad to hear that they seem pretty positive all in all. might get back to some of you if you dont mind! Also was wondering where the best place to live in VanCouver is if you dont drive (will prob learn when I am out there)? I tend to walk everywhere but is the public transport pretty good? Thanks again

All the Best

Fiona

Paprikat · Apr 27, 2006

The transit system is awesome here and going to get even better. I live out in the suburbs, but with the SkyTrain, I can be in downtown Van in 45 minutes. Alot of nice places to live that are near (as long as you can walk to a Skytrain, you are fine) to Skytrain stations, ie: Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Coquitlam. Richmond is hard to get to, as is Langleyand White Rock, if you don't drive. They are possible to get to, but involves alot of busses. North Vancouver is accessible to Vancouver via a ferry. They are building a light rail transit to the airport and light rail to Coquitlam. Don't quote me, but I think they are supposed to be done by the 2010 Olympics. Busses in downtown run every 2-3-4 minutes during rush hour and the skytrain rush hour is efficient, also. There is also the West Coast Express, which runs during rush hour (am and pm only) and takes you from Mission (far) to downtown Van in 50 minutes. Housing is brutally expensive here and to purchase a house is really hard in downtown Van, Burnaby and New West...most houses are in the 400,000+ dollar range and the houses are not even new. We moved way out to afford a place. People are really buying condos out here like crazy and lots of buildings are popping up, especially around Skytrain stations.....

pugmum · Apr 27, 2006

If you decide not to go with the Vancouver Costal Health Authority, try Fraser Health. It covers 12 hospitals from Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, to Surrey, Delta, White Rock, and Langley, and further east into the Fraser Valley - Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack and Hope. You would be welcome at any of theses hospitals I am sure, travelling time would be less and housing less expensive, too! But then I am a little prejudiced as I work in Fraser Health! The website if you are interested is http://www.fraserhealth.ca

lizzie1 · May 1, 2006

Hi, I'm a UK nurse (District Nurse in Wigan) I've recently been in contact with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and have just had a telephone interview for home nursing, based in a clinic in Vancouver. I've found them pretty good to deal with so far and am now trying to arrange to visit their office and the clinic when we go on holiday at the end of May. As far as i can tell healthmatchbc are a recruitment agency whereas VCH are actually the health authority and will be recruiting specifically for themselves - they cover both community and hospital services. If you are really interested in working in canada i would get in touch with the college of registraion and get your application in - I submitted my application for registration last August and am still waiting for my registration application to be completed!! I'd be interested to know how you get on and would chat by private e mail if you want.

liz

GLAD2BNURSE · May 15, 2006

Hi there,
I am a scottish nurse looking into seriously working in Canada. At one time was swithering between US and Canada,but there has been more active recruiting from Canada recently and that has won out. There is a lot about BC in particular Vancouver. It looks like an amazing place with a lot to see and do. I am looking for some opinions and advice about living and working in Vancouver. I am in contact with Vancouver Coastal Health and wondered if any one has any experience with them and any preference between them and Health Match bc? I'm sure they are prob both good but would be helpful to know others thoughts. Also any tips for the best prep to buy for the CRNE exam? I have been reading a few of the threads on this and am not looking forward to the experience although I understand the need.
Is Vancouver a friendly place as I will be on my own and have no family or friends there?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Fiona

Hi, Fiona

It'a a tough decision to make but keep in mind that lots of Canadian nurses are leaving for work in States. Why? Better pay, better medical benefits, chance for advance in your carrier. I'm sure Vancouver it's a nice city, with lots of rain. When I came to Canada,(Toronto) like yourself alone, it did not help me in any way that Toronto was a nice city, beautiful when you look at pictures and all, but....what good made me, when you coudn't find a job because you I had not canadian experience or, network(relations to bring you in). iN CANDA DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, BUT WHO YOU KNOW. ( IN YOUR CASE IS DIFFERENT)

And..... Canadian friendly???? Think twice...

Depeds who you ask. If you are asking a canadian ofcourse, everything is beautiful. If you are asking a foreigner, I'm telling you the anwer will be different.(because we've been throuh a lot). Make sure that you find something to make you happy. Good luck in your career.

Fiona59 · May 16, 2006

I grew up in the lower mainland and yes it does rain a lot. It can be a very beautiful and a very lonely city. People who don't live there think it is laid back and relaxed but for those who live there it isnt.

Any city can be lonely, even your home town. It all depends on how outgoing you are.

I have to disagree with the poster who said "its who you know". Most nurses are unionized and in the end seniority and the union agreement wins out.

It is a very expensive city to live and work in. Housing that you want (not what you can afford) can be hard. It is really a very small area of land occupied by an ever expanding number of people.

Yes, you can ski, golf, and sail all in the same day, but how many people do all three or can afford to do all three??

Nurses leave Canada for the same reasons that nurses leave the UK or the US. The grass always appears greener over the fence. At the end of the day its the same job, just a different unit with different accents and different terminology.

So, if you are looking for an adventure try it out. If you think moving there will give you the lifestyle advertised in the brochures, think again -- marketing types are very skilled at their jobs.

Only you can decide where you want to live and work. I always thought I'd go home when I was older, but I find the lower mainland crowded and honestly I'd rather deal with prairie winter than rain from October to March, at least the skies are blue and everything isn't grey and closed in. I thought I'd love Vancouver Island but the area we were in was greyer than the lower mainland and my family discovered that they weren't small town people. We need a city and open skies, that's why the prairies work for us. Part of me will always regard BC as my home but I think that will end when my parents die.

bubbles30 · May 16, 2006

Hi there,

Thanks again to everyone for their different comments! It has certainly given me something to think about. part of my need to move is a hankering for a bit of adventure but with a bit of stability of working in my field of nursing. however, as has been previously commented, any city can be lonely, even your home town, and i am not particulalry keen to exchange one lonely city for another one! of course you cannot predict these things and i have been lucky to have met some fantastic people during my travels in the past.

it seems that vancouver has a lot to see and do. i see that some of the main past times are golf, skiing and sailing - all expensive pastimes and none of which i do! i was hoping that there would be other types of hobbies too!? there has been a running comment about rain which has made me smile - coming from glasgow (the west of scotland is known for its rain) would not actually bother me too much. as i like all weathers(within reason). i must admit though, although looking for a bit of adventure i am also looking for a place to make a home. when i say that, i mean in the sense that whereever i have travelled and lived in the world, i try to make myself at home. i am wondering from some of the comments, from locals and foreigners, if that is possible?

This has been a very thought provoking thread of replies.

all the best

fiona

och aye the noo