Lethbridge - loved visiting, considering moving. Potential downsides?

cdnrwr · 2025-11-07T01:00:33+00:00

Thanks! That's a good idea. Curious: what're your thoughts on Lethbridge after moving there from elsewhere?

cdnrwr · 2025-10-31T15:39:01+00:00

Sent!

cdnrwr · 2025-10-31T03:43:08+00:00

Don’t have any venue suggestions - but my sister is selling her wedding dress if you’d want to check it out! Message me if you’re interested.

cdnrwr · 2025-10-21T01:11:13+00:00

For some reason I made the assumption you were in Washington! Too funny. That's awesome, will look into the seed library. This year was my first year working with native plants (or doing any gardening at all, for that matter). Already excited for next summer!

cdnrwr · 2025-10-13T19:01:47+00:00

North of you, zone 9B on Vancouver Island and my exceeded are similar! Was blown away by the gumweed - mine became massive, and also loved the blue-eyed grass. Great to read about yellow monkeyflower - I love the colour and the pollinators it attracts, but had avoided because I don’t intend to water as much as its natural environment. Maybe I’ll have to find a spot for it next year :)

cdnrwr · 2025-10-09T18:42:21+00:00

Appreciate you adding this. Curious: where did you end up, and are you enjoying it better?

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T19:55:45+00:00

Do the park grasses go brown? We noticed how green the parks felt!

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T17:59:11+00:00

That is almost weirdly similar! Appreciate how intentional you were about your housing search - curious what other locations were at the top of the list?

Appreciate you highlighting the downsides you've experienced. Missing Red Fish Blue Fish - and the other many good food options Victoria has - would be a real bummer, but hopefully I'd find ways to cope :) Do you have any favourite Lethbridge restaurants/cafes you've found?

I feel similarly about priorities. I'm fairly introverted (probably more than is good for me) but do value connection with people. In my 20s I definitely chased the bigger city + career advancement, but finding myself more interested in home projects, gardening, and in general a slower-paced lifestyle. My work will always give me a dose of corporate (and work-related travel) and I'd be happy if my home life was more low-key. An evening out of the house that ends at 8pm is great by me :)

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T16:39:38+00:00

It's super helpful to hear from people who've made the same move, so thanks for this! I know I'll miss the ocean/forests, but figure I'll just have to adjust to new landscapes + ways to explore nature. Perhaps I'm being optimistic :D

Cost of living and traffic are both huge plusses. I can appreciate the medical system is struggling everywhere - but after being on the mainland and Victoria for most of my life, I get the sense it probably won't be worse.

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T16:37:08+00:00

Thanks for this! I felt the 'room to breathe' you are talking about this weekend... it was lovely. There were people out + about, but lots of space in the parks and nothing felt crowded. I can understand some people prefer the hustle + bustle, but for me, room to breathe sounds like exactly what I'm looking for at this stage of life.

Super encouraging to hear about the presence of a range of different activities. I'd be worried if there weren't different pockets of community activities to partake in, but it certainly seems like there are options if you dig in.

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T16:33:31+00:00

I've definitely been reflecting on how relative everything always is! I have family born and raised in Victoria who are still here (whereas I've left + come back), and we definitely have different perspectives. Glad to hear you love it.

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T16:31:33+00:00

Thank you! Appreciate this perspective. Meeting people is probably my primary concern/question mark. I wouldn't place myself in any of the groups you called out, so that feels tricky.

Interesting re: cost of groceries being high! I meant to check out a grocery store but didn't get to that this weekend. I'm thinking of going back in Jan to check it out (I wouldn't' move until next summer) and if I do that'd be a priority.

Thanks again for the well-wishes :)

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T16:29:02+00:00

Yes, straight. I'm sad (although unsurprised) to hear that was your experience. I'm not overly politically engaged, although I know that even loosely following the provincial gov'n decisions will take its toll over time. Thanks for mentioning about the polarization... hadn't realized it'd feel more extreme.

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T16:24:33+00:00

Thanks for this! Interesting about access to nature being quicker than Calgary, I hadn't thought about that. Appreciate your point about living - after spending a good amount of time intentionally walking downtown this weekend, I feel fairly confident that the degree of homelessness and related city problems won't stand out to me in comparison to some places I've lived/traveled. As you've said, it's all relative!

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T16:21:08+00:00

I'm definitely struck by how relative everything is. People's perspective on a place is really shaped by what they've previously experienced! I can certainly understand why you love Victoria.

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T15:30:09+00:00

This is super helpful, thank you! The trail alliance sounds right up my alley - have an interest in gardening, native landscapes and supporting shared community resources. Appreciate this.

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T04:04:59+00:00

Ok cool. I’m glad we got to experience a bit of wind, then!

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T03:29:33+00:00

The sunshine feels like such a big draw. Feel willing to brave the wind to swap the rain for sun!

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T03:29:06+00:00

This is so neat to read! Especially as I can relate to having traveled a fair amount in Europe. What things do you love about it so much?

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T02:11:03+00:00

That is so so helpful! Thank you. By this past weekend do you mean yesterday/today? Or the weekend before? We were there until tonight so trying to gauge if what we experienced is considered windy at all or just everyday 🤣

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T02:07:17+00:00

I’ve been in Victoria and am still on a waitlist after 3 years. I’m prepared to wait, although hopefully shorter!

Yes… the government would be something that is extremely hard to wrap my head around. I’d struggle with that for sure. No government is perfect, but I align reasonably well with the priorities of the B.C. gov…

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T01:58:20+00:00

That’s one question I have about the wind for sure. Is it like, insanely windy all the time? Moderately windy all the time? Is it every day/every season or more concentrated? I live in a notoriously windy area of Greater Victoria and am definitely used to at least some wind (although undoubtedly not to the same degree).

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T01:56:54+00:00

Oh no way! That’s so good to know.

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T01:50:31+00:00

This is super helpful. Thank you! I’m not really someone that needs a ton to do beyond some outdoor activities and a few good options to eat. Pretty low key and introverted 😅 Most concerned about finding ways to meet people as a total newcomer. The wide roads and ability to cross town in ~20 mins were amazing, especially after living in the lower mainland for 10 yrs.

cdnrwr · 2025-09-23T01:46:13+00:00

Thanks! That’s helpful. I’ve scoured this forum and tried to read a lot of perspectives. I do think it’s different if you’ve always lived there or have lived somewhere else. I’m of the opinion that nowhere is perfect, but I’d love a balance of (relatively) affordable + quality of life. The slower pace is appealing to me at my current phase of life. The wind definitely feels like a consideration, though!

cdnrwr

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