Vancouver is a Welcoming Home for Immigrants
Between low living costs, job opportunities, and a vibrant downtown, Vancouver has a lot to offer. The city is expanding integration programs to ensure newcomers enjoy the lifestyle here.
Vancouver is one of the few super-diverse cities in the world. This means on a typical morning, anyone walking around Vancouver is more likely to meet someone from a different ethnic background than their own. It means that there is an international feeling hard to find anywhere outside a mega-city like Paris or Los Angeles. Living in Vancouver feels like living in a much bigger city while maintaining the green spaces and low prices of a smaller community. Vancouver is welcoming to all newcomers.
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The housing market is cooling, the best time to become a homeowner in Vancouver!
Vancouver residents enjoy complaining about sky-high housing prices because there has been a real estate boom in recent years. However, living expenses are much more manageable than for instance San Francisco right across the border in the United States. Rising wages and an economic boom make up for the growing cost of purchasing a home as a first-time home buyer and there have been indications in 2019 that the housing market might be cooling. This makes 2019 the best time to move to Vancouver and take advantage of housing market trends.
British Columbia has one of the largest immigration programs, with thousands of visas issued each year under its Provincial Nomination Program. The program receives support from integration programs, where the government partners with local non-profit organizations. Everything from language courses to 1-on-1 sessions help new arrivals find work. There are even greeters at the airport offering a quick orientation and introduction upon arrival.
Immigrants get employment support from the Vancouver community.
Like many other Canadian cities, Vancouver attracts more immigrants than smaller country communities. This is why so many resources for new arrivals are concentrated in the greater Vancouver area. Neighborhood houses across Metro Vancouver have daily activities for newcomers and act as a community centre available to everyone. Vancouver invests in these programs so that the super-diversity mentioned above translates into social inclusion.
The government services and low barriers of entry make it easy for new arrivals to integrate to life in Vancouver. Beyond that, the economy, schools, and safety make Vancouver a great city to settle in.
Vancouver’s economy is as diverse as its population, with international commerce, television and finance driving growth. With a major Pacific port, Vancouver has always been the West Coast access point to greater Canada. In recent years, the television and movie industry have grown. Hollywood production companies enjoy lower taxes and laxer regulations, not to mention a lovely climate and good lighting, in Vancouver. Many Netflix shows like Riverdale and blockbuster movies like Deadpool were actually filmed in Vancouver!
Financial institutions support all this commerce and the tech industry is growing in Vancouver. Mineral exploration companies and medical research laboratories enjoy a favorable tax environment in Vancouver. In a diverse economy it is easier to find a good, well-paid job. Plus, employers are forced to compete and provide better pay or more benefits to snag new arrivals.
A diversified economy is a stable economy and Vancouver residents can be confident their career prospects will continue to improve.
Vancouver’s downtown is a hub of international commerce.
The best thing about Vancouver, though, is the weather. With an average of 304 sunny days every year, Vancouver is the warmest major city in Canada. Winters are cool and rainy. Snow is a very rare treat in Vancouver, where the city might get one or two snowy days per year. Summers are dry and sunny, with many residents traveling to lakes and islands for hiking or swimming adventures. Surrounded by water and parks, sailing and biking are some of residents’ favorite activities. It is a green city where locals enjoy spending their free time outdoors.
Between the ideal climate and the booming economy, Vancouver is a popular destination. The city’s diversity and the abundance of services make Vancouver the perfect destination for professionals and families relocating to Canada.