I am in my sixties been living in Victoria my whole life. Even before the bike lines Victoria been a great city to ride in. I think the bike lines have made it worse the are confusing and ugly.
One of the things I've heard -- and something that gives me considerable pause as I approach retirement -- is the lack of primary care physicians accepting new patients in the Victoria area. Having to take a ferry just to see a doctor would be a pain, more because of the added time rather than the expense. My wife and I currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and reducing the time (and variability in travel time) to get to the doctor, dentist, etc. is one of our main motivations for considering retiring elsewhere.
This is definitely a concern for Victorians as it is for Canadians. With an aging population here demand for physicians is near all time highs and there simply aren’t enough GPs that pursue being family doctor.
I’ve lived in Victoria 46 years and my best advice is search and do what you can to find a GP before you move here. Older Drs are retiring and there aren’t enough taking the practices over. If you have chronic conditions especially.
Victoria having one of the highest crime rates in all of BC and a drug epidemic was me trying to allude to this. But I hear your point that it could have been more directed. (Not trying to link un housed populations to crime either)
If it was only parking cost but I have to worry about break ins, pee smell everywhere and the elements issue. We cannot deny that downtown Victoria is nothing like it was. I wish I was wrong. 🤷🤷
If you want my business or for me to shop downtown, then give me free parking. Or I will get what I need at hillside, uptown or Mayfair malls which also,have free parking and everything you need to live
I'm planning to move to Victoria in about 2 years. All the problems you highlighted are manageable. From what I know so far Victoria seens to be a wonderful place to be!
Me coming for a visit from Seattle soon: Oh... sounds like home... I love it already! I don't have a car here and will be staying in the Inner Harbour... getting everywhere on foot or by bus (or Uber if I have data on my phone). I have only been once about 23 years ago... can't wait!
Inclined to agree with you. We will only see more volumes of traffic through greater Victoria in the years to come. Hopefully more density, Amenities, jobs, in the westshore will mean less have to come all the way into the downtown core for work/shopping/nightlife.
You missed the Tourist Attractions such as the IMAX Theatre (biggest in all of BC) and the World Famous Butchart Gardens where most Most Travellers only see it Once, but we can see it over and over as the cycles of plants and flowers change. Spring is the Best with So many kinds of Tulips.
I remember going to the Tapa Bar 20 years ago. Back then Victoria had an extraordinary nightlife. I worked at some nightclubs. I am actually going back to visit Victoria in June. I am looking forward to it. Thanks for the video. Could you talk about some of the parks and beaches in Victoria? Thanks
Very cool! The city has changed a lot but it's always awesome to hear about how some of the pillars have remained largely unchanged. I'm not sure if you've seen my Top 8 beaches video? I'm thinking I will do a parks video in a similar vein. Thanks again for the feedback!
Brandon, I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time! (Although I can't really speak to the nightlife.) For a few years after 9/11, Canada did not require a passport from U.S. citizens, so we continued to visit Victoria as we had most years since 1983. We eventually got passports to end our long drought...and then the pandemic hit. We finally got back in December 2021, and it was just as special as we remembered it. We've already made plans to return at the end of this year to celebrate our 40th anniversary.
A lot of urban centres in North America are facing challenges with drug addiction and mental health that are forcing citizens into the streets. It’s clear that better solutions are required
Well actually, 25% of homeless drug addicts in Vancouver, BC for example are from Alberta, 8% from Saskatchewan, 4% from Ontario, 26% are from other cities in BC. So that leaves around 30% from other places.
They are certainly trying to decrease downtown parking in an effort for other transport options. Agree with you on street parking but the parkades are usually a safe bet
@@PhilipChoi820 my pleasure! It’s a great place to visit in low season. A few weeks ago there was a large tanker ship receiving maintenance down there.
I hate that I am so jelly that Victoria is soooooooo spectacular! This Ontario guy misses spending part of the winter in this wonderful part of the world. Btw, an impressive sales video by a Real Estate Agent! NOT. Yikes.
Thanks for the feedback Peter. I can't overstate that the good outshines the bad massively. Many of these on the list aren't even things I have issue with. In any event, my clients are certainly happy that I'm transparent and honest and not just selling Victoria.
Because there are too many in a given direction, expensive to build / no means of revenue generation, no licenses / lability insurance, cause traffic, pedestrian, and car parking issues, to name a few. And to top it off, most cyclists have a sense of entitlement.
It's a beautiful place to live....however, the demand being created for this small region that is land locked by ocean and mountains, has priced many locals who grew up here out. We have a shortage of housing, a lot of outside "investors" buying up property with cash and no conditions on offers and renting at high rates pushing local families out. If you are an outside real estate investment corporation buying up properties with "no conditions" on real estate listings and pushing out families who actually want to stay here long term - shame on you. Go elsewhere!!
Exactly all the so-called investors plundered their own wonderful Asian country and then come over here and just get the free health care and other benefits without putting dime one into the system. Cockroaches and parasites and Victoria and Vancouver well infested with them. All good for the Real Estate Agent types though
highlighting the cost of living and all the luxuries we have access to is just a sign of how entitled and comfortable many of us are. keeping people out of here who dive up the cost of living is more important. there should be more enfaces on expanding a reliable transit network and developing more social housing, I live here and am bothered by nothing on this review
Yes I just became aware of Kabu as I was putting this video together. Thanks for the feedback. For the time being it doesn't seem to have the reach or impact as household names like Uber and Lyft, but we'll see where it goes! I liked other similar companies like Current Taxi where you could track taxi status but they have since come and gone.
What about the people? This is the home of the radical left and the majority are far left of center ideologically. They block traffic and protest at random. They block infrastructure development and support unviable transportation plans, based on bicycles and busses/walking. They support high taxes and wonder why they can't afford anything with gas going over $2.00/L during peak seasons. They allowed the downtown of Victoria to become a mess with crime originating out of the Tent Cities that are allowed to form by the municipalities and even supplying the tents to build them with tax dollars. That's why I bought outside of the city and never go downtown unless I have no other option.
I wouldn't necessarily call Victoria distinctly more progressive than the average city in the PNW but I hear you! Luckily you still are able to call a part of this city home and find that it suits your needs!
Yes you're right about the protests, my husband called me one day cause he needed to get to a customer, and he couldn't get anywhere cause he was stuck in traffic big time, so he asked if I'd heard of any accidents, but no, it was because people were blocking the road to protest whatever, which really ticked my husband off, cause he said they shouldn't be allowed to stop people from getting to their jobs and whatnot, and God forbid someone had an emergency and needed to get through.
Yeah. Its like all the lefties flow down the drain and get stuck in the grease trap that is Victoria. You'll see more Tilley hat leftie ex teachers and government pension plan refugees in Victoria than anyplace else in Canada other than maybe Ottawa. Mao looked like a right wing extremism compared to the average Victoria resident. If your politics are anywhere near common sense in the middle, you won't like Victoria.
The realtors and developers own the politicians in Victoria and have sold it online for their own wealth. Victoria has been degraded by the greed of these money first Aholes. We don’t need a higher population density here. The reasons Victoria was so wonderful have been marketed and sold until those reasons no longer exist. Greed is the new religion of these types.
Well it used to be great. As someone born in Victoria in the 1940's it ain't anywhere near as nice as it used to be before all you folks moved here and over ran the place with your big city urban think.
@@lostmoose9994 totally agree! Not everyone is as optimistic as us. So I thought these would be things that “might” bother people thinking of moving here
@poda patti Great points! I actually am becoming a fan as well. For the purposes of this video I tried to include things I hear locals talk about as negatives. Not everyone is on board with the lanes
@poda patti lmao, yea ok. Lets compromise the small businesses in downtown Victoria by not having places to park for tourist seasons because having less ugly cars is a priority and looks less European? I will agree lets keep it more European and less of the illegal immigrants out.
Not everyone can stay healthy enough to ride a bike but maybe you're one of those people that think the elderly should be offered MAID since their not healthy enough.
@@AlexCarroll Yea sure see a lot of cyclists in winter....What I do see is a lot of traffic and people still needing to grocery shop with a trunk not a bike basket.
Rain is better than minus anything Suck it up or leave. Crime in Victoria becoz the government do t give a crap about… the last mayor of Victoria seemed to encourage it. Apparently. Lots of traffic becoz Victoria is the Hawaii of Canada ( warmer) But yea. The rain sucks so stay away 😁
Sorry - it's a bit clickbaity - I know. I'm just trying to promote some information about the city that I know some appreciate and I don't genuinely hate anything about Victoria.
Do you think I missed anything on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
Rain? Victoria has half of the rainfall of Vancouver.
I am in my sixties been living in Victoria my whole life. Even before the bike lines Victoria been a great city to ride in. I think the bike lines have made it worse the are confusing and ugly.
One of the things I've heard -- and something that gives me considerable pause as I approach retirement -- is the lack of primary care physicians accepting new patients in the Victoria area. Having to take a ferry just to see a doctor would be a pain, more because of the added time rather than the expense. My wife and I currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and reducing the time (and variability in travel time) to get to the doctor, dentist, etc. is one of our main motivations for considering retiring elsewhere.
This is definitely a concern for Victorians as it is for Canadians. With an aging population here demand for physicians is near all time highs and there simply aren’t enough GPs that pursue being family doctor.
I’ve lived in Victoria 46 years and my best advice is search and do what you can to find a GP before you move here. Older Drs are retiring and there aren’t enough taking the practices over. If you have chronic conditions especially.
@@pamelaliegh Good luck with that. You won’t find a single one accepting new patients. I’ve been on the waiting list for over two years now.
You forgot about the walking dead problem in the downtown core.
Victoria having one of the highest crime rates in all of BC and a drug epidemic was me trying to allude to this. But I hear your point that it could have been more directed. (Not trying to link un housed populations to crime either)
The cost of parking downtown is way too high. This stops us from even going downtown. Too bad for all the small business'
Yeah that’s totally fair! I wouldn’t say the transit options are strong enough for most to make it downtown with alternative transport to cars
I find the transit system in Victoria to be excellent. I live here, I don’t own a car, and am very happy taking the bus.
Sundays used to be free
If it was only parking cost but I have to worry about break ins, pee smell everywhere and the elements issue. We cannot deny that downtown Victoria is nothing like it was. I wish I was wrong. 🤷🤷
If you want my business or for me to shop downtown, then give me free parking. Or I will get what I need at hillside, uptown or Mayfair malls which also,have free parking and everything you need to live
I'm planning to move to Victoria in about 2 years. All the problems you highlighted are manageable. From what I know so far Victoria seens to be a wonderful place to be!
It absolutely is! Pros definitely outweigh the cons
Me coming for a visit from Seattle soon: Oh... sounds like home... I love it already! I don't have a car here and will be staying in the Inner Harbour... getting everywhere on foot or by bus (or Uber if I have data on my phone). I have only been once about 23 years ago... can't wait!
Haha! In all seriousness I do believe it’s the best city in Canada. Enjoy your visit!
they really blew it by not upgrading rail service to north island, the future is only worse traffic, period
Inclined to agree with you. We will only see more volumes of traffic through greater Victoria in the years to come. Hopefully more density,
Amenities, jobs, in the westshore will mean less have to come all the way into the downtown core for work/shopping/nightlife.
Don’t forget the dying downtown core with the sad Bay and withering variety of shops.
Great Video! All things to consider before moving! 😄
Thanks for the feedback Adam!
If your homeless please come to Victoria it’s the best place in Canada to be.
Duncan is actually
the malahat is a nightmare
Agreed
Not if you know how to drive.
You missed the Tourist Attractions such as the IMAX Theatre (biggest in all of BC) and the World Famous Butchart Gardens where most Most Travellers only see it Once, but we can see it over and over as the cycles of plants and flowers change. Spring is the Best with So many kinds of Tulips.
I remember going to the Tapa Bar 20 years ago. Back then Victoria had an extraordinary nightlife. I worked at some nightclubs. I am actually going back to visit Victoria in June. I am looking forward to it. Thanks for the video. Could you talk about some of the parks and beaches in Victoria? Thanks
Very cool! The city has changed a lot but it's always awesome to hear about how some of the pillars have remained largely unchanged.
I'm not sure if you've seen my Top 8 beaches video? I'm thinking I will do a parks video in a similar vein. Thanks again for the feedback!
Moved to Victoria a year and a half ago from Calgary and have enjoyed all your content
@@willarcher9865 Thanks Will. Appreciate the feedback. Will keep it coming
Brandon, I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time! (Although I can't really speak to the nightlife.)
For a few years after 9/11, Canada did not require a passport from U.S. citizens, so we continued to visit Victoria as we had most years since 1983. We eventually got passports to end our long drought...and then the pandemic hit. We finally got back in December 2021, and it was just as special as we remembered it. We've already made plans to return at the end of this year to celebrate our 40th anniversary.
@@davecomstock9544 congrats in advance on the upcoming anniversary Dave! Hope you enjoy you’re time here then!
I agree!
Thanks for the informative video!
Why isn't there rideshare there, I want to ask?
If actually just arrived late last year. It still isn’t very popular or widespread but it’s growing!
@@AlexCarroll Thanks!
The drug and homeless population is terrible here in WA so it must be overflowing into Canada...
A lot of urban centres in North America are facing challenges with drug addiction and mental health that are forcing citizens into the streets. It’s clear that better solutions are required
Well actually, 25% of homeless drug addicts in Vancouver, BC for example are from Alberta, 8% from Saskatchewan, 4% from Ontario, 26% are from other cities in BC. So that leaves around 30% from other places.
Finding a parking space is a nightmare.
They are certainly trying to decrease downtown parking in an effort for other transport options. Agree with you on street parking but the parkades are usually a safe bet
I've never seen a city that just shuts down when it snows. Even the transit system shuts down. Most bizarre thing.
Haha it is quite funny but also frustrating!
Well it’s because we rarely get snow, so when we do people are caught off guard
May I know where the spot is at 5:00?
Yes! It's near the cruise ship terminal at Ogden Point in James Bay
Thank you so much!
@@PhilipChoi820 my pleasure! It’s a great place to visit in low season. A few weeks ago there was a large tanker ship receiving maintenance down there.
Is there Uber service yet?
@@dannil9878 yes there is! List is down to 10
I hate that I am so jelly that Victoria is soooooooo spectacular! This Ontario guy misses spending part of the winter in this wonderful part of the world. Btw, an impressive sales video by a Real Estate Agent! NOT. Yikes.
Thanks for the feedback Peter. I can't overstate that the good outshines the bad massively. Many of these on the list aren't even things I have issue with. In any event, my clients are certainly happy that I'm transparent and honest and not just selling Victoria.
Your jelly? Maybe some peanut butter as well 😂😂
I just saw this on my view list this morning. I don't understand what you 'hate' about bike lanes?
@@EBikes420 just something I hear from locals on occasion. I don’t hate them myself
Because there are too many in a given direction, expensive to build / no means of revenue generation, no licenses / lability insurance, cause traffic, pedestrian, and car parking issues, to name a few. And to top it off, most cyclists have a sense of entitlement.
@@lolahunter8851 What a dumb comment
We do have snow tires!
I don’t believe 100% of us do. Based on the madness that ensues when a few flakes start dropping
You have to have at least tires with the snow and mud symbols to go up the Malahat by October.
Let's see if this video will persuade the riff raff not to move to Victoria.
Doubt it! It’s a great place to live
Wow That is a huge umbrella
You need it when it rains out here!
@@AlexCarroll
It's a beautiful place to live....however, the demand being created for this small region that is land locked by ocean and mountains, has priced many locals who grew up here out. We have a shortage of housing, a lot of outside "investors" buying up property with cash and no conditions on offers and renting at high rates pushing local families out. If you are an outside real estate investment corporation buying up properties with "no conditions" on real estate listings and pushing out families who actually want to stay here long term - shame on you. Go elsewhere!!
Do you feel there should be more restrictions placed on who can buy residential property in Canada?
I think it's pretty obvious she wants the investors to fuck off.
Exactly all the so-called investors plundered their own wonderful Asian country and then come over here and just get the free health care and other benefits without putting dime one into the system. Cockroaches and parasites and Victoria and Vancouver well infested with them. All good for the Real Estate Agent types though
highlighting the cost of living and all the luxuries we have access to is just a sign of how entitled and comfortable many of us are. keeping people out of here who dive up the cost of living is more important. there should be more enfaces on expanding a reliable transit network and developing more social housing, I live here and am bothered by nothing on this review
What bothers you?
There is ridesharing now - Kabu.
Yes I just became aware of Kabu as I was putting this video together. Thanks for the feedback. For the time being it doesn't seem to have the reach or impact as household names like Uber and Lyft, but we'll see where it goes! I liked other similar companies like Current Taxi where you could track taxi status but they have since come and gone.
Ungodly far to a ski hill!
Fair point! Little worse if you live in Saskatchewan though!
@@AlexCarroll By BC Standards I should say 😅
The ndp.👩🏿🎤🥊🥊🥊🥊
What about the people? This is the home of the radical left and the majority are far left of center ideologically. They block traffic and protest at random. They block infrastructure development and support unviable transportation plans, based on bicycles and busses/walking. They support high taxes and wonder why they can't afford anything with gas going over $2.00/L during peak seasons. They allowed the downtown of Victoria to become a mess with crime originating out of the Tent Cities that are allowed to form by the municipalities and even supplying the tents to build them with tax dollars. That's why I bought outside of the city and never go downtown unless I have no other option.
I wouldn't necessarily call Victoria distinctly more progressive than the average city in the PNW but I hear you! Luckily you still are able to call a part of this city home and find that it suits your needs!
Yes you're right about the protests, my husband called me one day cause he needed to get to a customer, and he couldn't get anywhere cause he was stuck in traffic big time, so he asked if I'd heard of any accidents, but no, it was because people were blocking the road to protest whatever, which really ticked my husband off, cause he said they shouldn't be allowed to stop people from getting to their jobs and whatnot, and God forbid someone had an emergency and needed to get through.
Yeah. Its like all the lefties flow down the drain and get stuck in the grease trap that is Victoria. You'll see more Tilley hat leftie ex teachers and government pension plan refugees in Victoria than anyplace else in Canada other than maybe Ottawa. Mao looked like a right wing extremism compared to the average Victoria resident. If your politics are anywhere near common sense in the middle, you won't like Victoria.
The realtors and developers own the politicians in Victoria and have sold it online for their own wealth. Victoria has been degraded by the greed of these money first Aholes. We don’t need a higher population density here. The reasons Victoria was so wonderful have been marketed and sold until those reasons no longer exist. Greed is the new religion of these types.
Well it used to be great. As someone born in Victoria in the 1940's it ain't anywhere near as nice as it used to be before all you folks moved here and over ran the place with your big city urban think.
What was nicer about it then in your opinion?
@@AlexCarrollhow about no tent cities and the associated joy that brings.
If you hate it, then move. You're in a position to do so, unlike a lot of the working poor and low income and seniors who can't afford to move.
I don’t hate it I love it! The verbiage used is a little melodramatic. I just posted another video on all the reasons I love it 😀
Don't take it too seriously...
He is simply pointing out the challenges one might find here in this lovely city. I applaud his honesty and helpfulness.
All complaints from/for spoiled cityslickers.
For what it’s worth I think this is the best city in Canada and wouldn’t usually complain about anything..
Ok, were on the same page.
And rain is beautiful...green gardens, produce and only minor wildfires
@@lostmoose9994 totally agree! Not everyone is as optimistic as us. So I thought these would be things that “might” bother people thinking of moving here
Also lots of NIMBYism
Would you say there are more nimby’s here than in other parts of Canada?
@@AlexCarroll its the growing pains of transitioning from a quite small city to a medium sized city.
Hate is a strong word
Kill is another strong word
Power another strong word
When used often i guess it doesn't mean so much
It's just clickbait. I don't really hate Victoria..
That's good
You don't need hate
Be what the creator is looking for
Enjoy life
Number one thing to hate about Victoria is the Mayor and her useless bike lanes.
The cyclists love them though! I think diverse opportunities for transport is important as the city densities
@poda patti Great points! I actually am becoming a fan as well. For the purposes of this video I tried to include things I hear locals talk about as negatives. Not everyone is on board with the lanes
@poda patti lmao, yea ok. Lets compromise the small businesses in downtown Victoria by not having places to park for tourist seasons because having less ugly cars is a priority and looks less European?
I will agree lets keep it more European and less of the illegal immigrants out.
Not everyone can stay healthy enough to ride a bike but maybe you're one of those people that think the elderly should be offered MAID since their not healthy enough.
@@AlexCarroll Yea sure see a lot of cyclists in winter....What I do see is a lot of traffic and people still needing to grocery shop with a trunk not a bike basket.
Premier Eby's NDP government says it all.
Rain is better than minus anything Suck it up or leave. Crime in Victoria becoz the government do t give a crap about… the last mayor of Victoria seemed to encourage it. Apparently. Lots of traffic becoz Victoria is the Hawaii of Canada ( warmer) But yea. The rain sucks so stay away 😁
Most expensive city in Canada - Victoria BC
That's inaccurate, but ok!
@@AlexCarroll then which city is?
@@at6446 it depends what metrics you consider. But both Vancouver and Toronto have higher shelter costs (rent and purchase).
@@AlexCarroll Victoria BC average home price?
stop these hate mongering titles.
Sorry - it's a bit clickbaity - I know. I'm just trying to promote some information about the city that I know some appreciate and I don't genuinely hate anything about Victoria.
Victoria is a joke. Your mayor hasn't helped matters. He's brutal.
@@deandunn-q1o Our mayor is a woman…..
it’s hard to tell if mayor is man or woman, so i understand where the confusion comes from.
Vote for leftist woke mayor and city council and your city becomes a joke and your downtown an overpriced dump
Please move to Calgary
Victoria is better than
No Cowichan and Nanaimo is better
@@LeoButchaiwang-nb5wo There’s 6 max things you can do in Cowichan