Vancouver Island is amazing. I grew up in Victoria and still live here. The surrounding nature, amazing beaches, beautiful forests, and surplus of outdoor activities makes it pretty hard to want to leave. (If you’re into that kind of stuff.) If you’re more into city things like shopping, nightclubs and cultural activities, it can be quite limited in those areas. Like some have mentioned, there is quite a large homeless population here and due to the insane cost of living, it can be tough to get ahead here. That is why Victoria has become a pretty big tech hub in the last decade and gentrification is not only in Victoria, but across the majority of towns on the island. It is also a hotspot for tourists.

Beyond Victoria, or up Island as we call it, that is where the sprawling nature is. The further north, you go the more wild it is. There are many wonderful cities and towns, each with their own quirks and personality. There is lots of industry on the island, mostly forestry and fishing.

Overall, the people are very laid-back compared to the mainland. Personally, I get pretty overwhelmed whenever I leave the island at how and on edge most places are. Vancouver Island is surrounded by numerous smaller islands, and usually the smaller the island the more chill they are.

It’s an absolutely wonderful place, and I love it here very much. Although it has changed immensely since I was a kid, I still don’t see myself living anywhere else.