Consider the second cities

With Brits taking the obvious route and relocating to Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, Ben Lewis takes a look at some of the country’s second cities

People choose the destination for their new life for all sorts of reasons. Some have family in a certain place, others have particularly enjoyed a holiday somewhere, while some have never visited but once saw their neighbour's holiday snaps and thought it looked pretty! Whatever your reason, it pays not to be too swift with your decision as many have lived to regret it. If you have family somewhere, then it is understandable that you would want to be near them, but is the town they live in the right one for you?

If you have enjoyed a holiday somewhere, how do you know that there isn't a better destination just down the road? If you have just seen a few holiday snaps, then its probably worth doing a bit of first-hand research involving a plane ticket and a full suitcase before you start the ball rolling on the emigration front. Okay, so everybody has heard of Toronto and Vancouver. We all know about Calgary and Montreal but just because you have heard of them does this mean they are bound to be the nicest places for you to start your new life?  Think about it in reverse. If you were a Canadian who was looking to move to the UK you will have heard about London, perhaps you will have been to Manchester or Liverpool but you may have never heard of Bournemouth, Chester or Hove. All of which, depending on your taste, could turn out to be far more preferable than the other, more famous, options. With all this in mind it might just be worth some further investigation and a perhaps even a look some of the country's second city alternatives.

Victoria
If you didn't pay much attention in your geography classes at school you might be forgiven for thinking that Vancouver was the capital of British Columbia. It certainly seems to be the only one that gets any kind of international attention paid to it on a regular basis.  In fact the honour falls to Victoria, which is located at the southern end of Vancouver Island, the largest of British Columbia's 6,500 islands.

With one of the mildest climates in Canada, solid economic opportunities and a stunning setting it is a beautiful spot to consider in your emigration plans. The Greater Victoria area is home to around 325,000 people, a figure that is set to increase by 75,000 in the next 15 years. It has always been a popular place for retirees but the population is getting younger by the day as more and more young Canadians move there to take advantage of its up and coming economy. The city draws more holidaying Canadians than any other city in the country and whilst its British colonial heritage is still very obvious it also has a distinctly Pacific northwest feel. Whether it is running whale watching tours or selling rock on the high street, tourism is one of the main industries in the city and provides many jobs for the locals. Additionally, the fishing industry, energy sector and service industries are particularly strong.

Having the University of Victoria within its city limits brings a real burst of energy to the streets and a typical afternoon in the city centre will see hundreds of people milling around the usual wide variety of high street shops as well as character-filled independently owned stores. Like the rest of Canada the housing market in Victoria has seen some steep price rises in recent years and current estimates suggest the average house price in city is hovering around the CDN$375,000 mark based on the price for a three-bedroom detached family home.

Edmonton
Although Edmonton is hardly languishing in Calgary's wake it is probably fair to say that it would still count as Alberta's second city. Whilst the economy in Edmonton has gone from strength to strength in past few years, more recently a province wide skills shortage has held it back with larger businesses requiring specific skills having problems finding the staff to help them expand. However, the plus side is that there should be no problem finding a job if you have even a slightly decent résumé.

And before those of you who are looking to set up a business go running for the hills, you will be pleased to hear that by moving to Edmonton you will be entering what Edmonton.com calls "one of the healthiest and robust business environments in Canada, offering a wealth of strong and active business communities.
 
When it comes to lifestyle opportunities the fact that the city has one of the lowest overall tax rates in Canada and one of the lowest residential property-selling prices across the country means that you will have that little bit of extra cash to enjoy it. The city has all the services, shops and entertainment spots that you would expect from a major city with the added bonus that it is largely congestion and pollution free – a commute to work should take no more than 20 minutes no matter where you live. In fact, you will find all the clean air you can handle in the city's parks, one of which is 12 times the size of New York's Central Park, making it the largest urban green space in North America.

In addition you will have the choice of over 70 picturesque golf courses, 30 major annual festivals and will be living within 30 minutes drive from the spectacular Rocky Mountains, you couldn't really ask for better lifestyle opportunities anywhere in the country. If the fear of leaving behind the great British education system and our ever popular National Health Service is weighing on your mind, you will be happy to hear that living in Edmonton will give you access to some of the best health and education on offer in the country. The Capital Health Authority, which also happens to be Canada's largest integrated health care system, was ranked at the top of the list of the country's 57 major centres. On top of this the city claims to be leading the world when it comes to quality, choice and flexibility in kindergarten through to grade 12 schooling and a CDN$1.7 billion investment into the university means your children can expect the best learning experiences.

Average property prices in the city are also sure to appeal given that at CDN$220,124 they are below the median Albertan price (CDN$256,125) and over CDN$100,000 lower than the  average price of a home in Calgary.

Ottawa
Sitting comfortably at the junction of three stunning rivers, many people consider Ottawa one of the world's most picturesque capitals. Being situated so close to the province of Quebec has created a society where both French and English cultures merge together to create a European vibe. The result is a genuinely cosmopolitan North American city where charm and flair abound.

The city's racial make up also includes thriving German, Lebanese, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese, and Asian communities to name just some, and throughout the year, they celebrate their roots in many multicultural festivals and events. The nation's capital is a centre of performing arts, but being just a four-hour drive to Toronto and two hours to Montreal does mean that leisure opportunities are not only limited to its own back yard. If you're feeling lazy, though, the city itself has more than a dozen national museums and galleries and a calendar filled to bursting with festivals and other activities.

Unfortunately, being the nation's capital hasn't helped Ottawa escape from the shadow of its sister city, Toronto, but that doesn't mean it has nothing to offer. The very fact that it is home to Canada's federal government creates a world of job opportunities on its own. In fact, those looking for work can count themselves lucky as they really couldn't relocate to a place with much more opportunity in the rest of Canada. Toronto has long been the biggest draw for Brits moving to Canada for this exact reason and Ottawa enjoys much the same economy and employment opportunities as its big sister.

Whether you are an electrician or a waiter the chances are the area in and around Ottawa will have a vacancy for most professions. Just a quick search on one of the capital's many job recruitment websites will throw up a plethora of opportunities. Two thousand and five saw the smallest rise in house prices for five years, indicating a slow down in the market after four years of phenomenal growth. In 2005 the city's average sale prices was CDN$244,000, a rise of just 3.8 per cent on the previous year. Of course, for major profits it could be argued that the best time for investment was a good few years ago but with such a stable economy in the province the truth is any sensible purchase is likely to be a good investment in the long run.

The city's six colleges and universities and its numerous technology institutes and professional schools mean the education system is strong and there is a good number of public and private schools to choose from for children in kindergarten through to grade 12. There is also a highly regarded healthcare system and once you are a resident of Ontario, most healthcare needs will be covered by the province's medical coverage.

Brandon
Brandon comes a close second behind Winnipeg for the title of Manitoba's biggest city. With a population of more than 39,000 residents it has developed into a regional shopping and everyday service locale for communities and shoppers from northern North Dakota to south eastern Saskatchewan.

With its straightforward taxation system the city is a great place for the small business community in particular and remains one of the few places in Canada that has chosen not to invoke a business tax. Its main industries include a strong agricultural sector and as such the city acts as the central trading centre for all of western Manitoba. Significant jobs exist in areas such as farm fertiliser production, manufacturing, pork processing, metal fabrication, trucking, federal, provincial and municipal government as well as higher education and regional retail and major event hosting.

A large number of the city's workers choose to live in smaller communities or in a rural setting and elect to commute to work. The average earnings for full-time employees in the city is CDN$34,190 and according to the 2001 census the average family income totals CDN$56,210.

Housing in Brandon is significantly more affordable than some of the cities mentioned earlier in this article with average house prices starting from as little as CDN$91,000 for a detached bungalow rising to CDN$300,000 a senior executive house.

Quebec City
Quebec City is the second oldest European settlement still existing today in Canada. It lies on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, roughly three hours to the east of Montreal. It is a largely French speaking region of the country and has maintained many of the cultural differences that come with its French connection. According to the 2001 census, the city's population stands at 682,757. Of these 98.5 per cent are white and the remaining 1.5 per cent comes from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Average house prices in Quebec City are relatively low compared to the rest of the country and in 2005 a four-bedroom house could be bought for around CDN$150,000. Quebec City is recognised as being the economic engine of Eastern Quebec and boasts the second-largest economy in the province, behind Montreal, and the seventh-largest throughout the whole of Canada.

Traditionally, the city's job market has long been bolstered by natural resources, service industries – retailers, school and healthcare workers particularly – and a strong manufacturing sector. However, in recent years Quebec City has become the new home to a growing number of high tech businesses as part of the provincial government's plans to diversify the city's economy.

Surely it's time to buck the trend and really give Canada's second cities a fair crack of the whip.

Read other articles about Candian cities:
A trip to Saskatoon
Halifax: Canada's best-kept secret?

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18 December 2006