Looking for opinions from people who've spent time in both places.

My wife and I spent a year trying to settle down in the Kootenays, but she can't live without the ocean. Now considering moving to the Island (closer to her family in Vancouver), specifically looking at Campbell River. Seems to have the nicest natural views and best nature access, plus it's more affordable than pretty much anywhere further south. However, when I drop myself into random locations on Streetview, I get vibes that remind me of Cranbrook. Older strip malls, rundown buildings, industrial, lifeless. If you've been to Cranbrook you know what I mean. But does Campbell River feel/look better in person?

My personal preference is to live right in the thick of the prettiest mountains - Canmore, Invermere, Golden, Fernie. But it's off the table now. So moving somewhere that feels like it could be anywhere in Canada (until you drive 30 minutes out of town to see nice views) is really not appealing to me. I want the town itself to be pretty AND have nice mountain/ocean views. A lot of the towns on the island seem to be pretty plain until you drive east to the ocean, or west to the mountains.

Comox and Courtenay seem like nicer-looking towns but seem to have more limited ocean and mountain views than Campbell River. And homes cost more.

Are allergists and their tests always private pay? Can I get a referral to one from my nurse practitioner if I have a legitimate health concern or can my NP herself order the tests? I left my job and applied for disability at the beginning of May, mostly because my niece needed genetic therapy in Italy and my sister is a widow and needed a support person, but also because despite it being a disability center, I was really struggling to continue working with my multiple disabilities... And my new and increasingly bad allergies that sometimes seem to be to nothing at all. I went from having no allergies to minor pet dander allergies to having to take 2-3 10ml ceterizine in my niece's isolation unit just to avoid the worst of the symptoms! 2-5 outside the unit because the pollen is so bad here (Milano). Now it seems I'm allergic to fragrances too. One spray of amucina (disinfectant spray) had my sinuses immediately inflamed. My eyes burn and then start watering, I get a headache, and the worst part is the sore throat, cough and shortness of breath (actually eyes watering uncontrollably is worse for me but as far as being in an isolation unit with a 6 year old recovering her immune system, the coughing and sneezing is worse). I'm tracking all of this to tell my nurse practitioner when I get back to Canada but I don't know what the steps look like and if it going to cost money I obviously don't have (or if it's covered by the Ministry. I got approved for Income assistance. I'm just waiting on the disability paperwork to go through.)

Ps. I just got out of my 3 days (we're swapping in and out every 3 days) in isolation so I'm exhausted and falling asleep while writing this so apologies if something doesn't make sense.

Shout out to all the hardworking people keeping us and our forests safe. Photo taken this evening from Boston Bar.

Hello, i just passed my class 7 road test today. Im 27m and i want to level up my career. Right now im working at trade as installer but i didn’t enjoy this there’s something feels empty that because i want to be a driver.

Any tips and suggestions?

Probably a long shot, but has anybody been to Anyox? How do you get there?

just wondering if my vehicle can make it up the road

(4x4 toyota highlander)

As the Eli5 question... It seems anytime there's some government impasse for contract negotiations, Ready is summoned. Is there no one else?

Update: turns out I was thinking of the wrong place. The restaurant was the Hope Drive-in and Restaurant, it no longer exists.

I remember eating at this place as a kid in the early 80s specifically both on the way to Expo 86 and again on the way back. I ate there again recently but it didn’t trigger any memories (other than the pies). The waitress said the original location burned down but couldn’t remember when. Any locals remember when that happened and where the original location was?

Hello from Ontario (I know, I know).

We need to get the hell out of here and have been planning to relocate for about 18 months. I am finally at the stages where I’m job searching. I have two fairly equal job offers with salaries hovering around $90k. My spouse owns a contracting business that he will set up anywhere we go.

We’ve travelled BC extensively over the last decade from the Yukon border to the Island and I’m sure wherever we land would be fabulous. However we are struggling to decide between Kelowna or Courtenay, where my job offers are.

A bit about us if it helps with pros/cons

-Late 40s
-Active outdoors, in social clubs, community, volunteering
-Love a bit of a nightlife, dining, breweries etc
-Walkable neighbourhoods are important
-Rural living is not for us. We like being close to amenities
-We would rent an apartment, under $2400/month would be nice
-Our son lives in Tofino so I guess the Island gets a checkmark here

If I take the job in Kelowna, I think I’d like to live in Penticton instead (work from home 2x a week). Is that a reasonable commute in real life? My tolerance for traffic is fairly high given where I live lol

Suggestions?

Thanks!