Life in Victoria, Canada: A Walkable Island Paradise

For years, Maria Polansky dreamed of living in a bustling metropolis. Having grown up in Vancouver, Canada, she craved the endless energy and cultural hubs of a big city. Her journey eventually led her to Birmingham, England, the UK's second-largest city, where she lived for five years.

However, after experiencing the constant hustle of a major urban center, she found herself longing for the ocean, mountains, and laid-back vibe of her home province. This desire prompted a return to Canada, where she and her partner settled in a place she never expected to call home: Victoria, the provincial capital on Vancouver Island.

Despite initial reservations about the city's smaller population of less than 100,000, Polansky has now lived there for two years. She has discovered that a slower pace and compact infrastructure can offer a quality of life that feels close to perfect.

One of the most immediate benefits of life in Victoria is its compact size. Living in a super walkable, central neighborhood, Polansky found that every essential amenity is within easy reach. The frustration of crowded public transport and long commutes has been replaced by the convenience of walking.

Essential services are remarkably close to her apartment. Residents can access the following within a 15-minute walk:

• Grocery stores for daily needs
• A hospital and medical clinics
• A local drugstore
• The post office

Beyond daily necessities, the city's layout makes leisure accessible. Beautiful beaches, parks, and the downtown area are reachable within 30 minutes. Even when driving is necessary, trips across town rarely take longer than an hour. This eliminates the need to push through massive crowds on busy boulevards or in packed shops, offering a sense of space and calm.

Victoria's population of under 100,000 means the city rarely feels crowded. Surrounded by peaceful shorelines and beaches, the overall atmosphere is distinctly chill. After years in the dense urban environments of Birmingham and Vancouver, Polansky found herself appreciating this calm pace even more than she anticipated.

The city's cultural scene, while smaller, remains vibrant. Polansky notes that she is still discovering new gems two years after moving, from cozy cafés to unique shops and cultural establishments. The scenery adds to the daily experience, with free-roaming deer and colorful heritage houses creating an atmosphere that feels like a fairy tale or a quaint romantic comedy.

Here, I feel like I always have room to breathe.

This sense of breathing room extends to social interactions as well. Without the pressure of massive crowds, daily life feels more manageable and less stressful, allowing for a focus on the simple pleasures of the island environment.

While life in Victoria is largely positive, it comes with specific trade-offs. The most significant is travel convenience. Having grown up in a city with a major international airport, Polansky finds that traveling from Victoria is more challenging. The local airport's international offerings are generally limited to a few US cities and Mexican resort towns.

For frequent travel to Asia and Europe, she must depart from Vancouver. This adds significant time to the journey, often requiring an overnight stay if flights are early or late. The logistics of getting to the mainland can add anywhere from a few hours to an extra day to total travel time.

Entertainment options also require more planning. While Victoria hosts intimate concerts and comedy shows, major touring artists often skip the city. Attending a big show in Vancouver involves debating whether the event is worth the added expenses of ferry tickets and hotel rooms. Consequently, she and her husband typically select only one or two major gigs per year to attend.

Another aspect of larger cities that Polansky misses is their diversity. While Victoria is fairly diverse for its size, she notes it does not compare to larger hubs like Vancouver or Birmingham, let alone global metropolises like Paris and London.

As an immigrant with a mixed ethnic background, she found it easier to connect with people from similar backgrounds in larger cultural communities. Vancouver, in particular, offered a network that was more readily accessible. This remains one of the few areas where Victoria falls short of her previous experiences.

However, this drawback is balanced by the city's other attributes. The ability to find a sense of community in a smaller, less overwhelming environment is a unique benefit that continues to grow on her.

After two years, the verdict is clear: the drawbacks do not outweigh the positives of living in Victoria. Polansky is happy in this smaller city, a surprising outcome for someone who dreamed of big-city life for so long. The combination of walkability, lack of crowds, and fresh ocean air creates a daily reality that feels deeply satisfying.

Her husband and she can see themselves staying for a long while. The option to travel to Vancouver for bigger city vibes remains a valuable outlet, even if it strains the wallet. Ultimately, Victoria offers a unique blend of peace and accessibility that has won them over.

For those considering a move from a major city, this story illustrates that perfection isn't always found in size or scale. Sometimes, it's found in the quiet beauty of a walkable island community where life moves at a gentler, more breathable pace.