[ChazYEG]

All I know is he'll be facing astronomical property values if he's thinking about moving to the west coast or the Okanagan. IMO there are far better usages of that $30M.

Can confirm. I am currently living in the Okanagan (not by choice) temporarily, and real estate here is insane, even in the smaller cities. Kelowna's prices are not far off Vancouver's.
But it's kinda funny, he won $30M and wants to come to BC, if I won a fraction of that I would come back running to Edmonton faster than you can type "home". Leaving Edmonton for an extended period of time for the first time in 6 years has definitely solidified how much of a great city Edmonton is, and how under appreciated it is by so many people.

 

[yeggator]

Can confirm. I am currently living in the Okanagan (not by choice) temporarily, and real estate here is insane, even in the smaller cities. Kelowna's prices are not far off Vancouver's.
But it's kinda funny, he won $30M and wants to come to BC, if I won a fraction of that I would come back running to Edmonton faster than you can type "home". Leaving Edmonton for an extended period of time for the first time in 6 years has definitely solidified how much of a great city Edmonton is, and how under appreciated it is by so many people.

We’ve gotta hit up Panini’s whenever you’re back in town.

 

[ChazYEG]

We’ve gotta hit up Panini’s whenever you’re back in town.

Probably early May, unless you guys can find me a job in Edmonton lol

 

[David A]

Can confirm. I am currently living in the Okanagan (not by choice) temporarily, and real estate here is insane, even in the smaller cities. Kelowna's prices are not far off Vancouver's.
But it's kinda funny, he won $30M and wants to come to BC, if I won a fraction of that I would come back running to Edmonton faster than you can type "home". Leaving Edmonton for an extended period of time for the first time in 6 years has definitely solidified how much of a great city Edmonton is, and how under appreciated it is by so many people.

Sometimes it takes going elsewhere to appreciate what we have more. Although I have never lived in BC, when I traveled to Vancouver in the past I have noticed how many spaces are much more cramped than here. I can handle it for a while, but I feel it could become claustrophobic after too long.

It may be different in the Okanagan, but I have noticed some places in BC are not very tourist friendly or really that friendly at all. Perhaps having to pay most of your income for rent does not put some of the locals in a good frame of mind.

 

[ChazYEG]

I have noticed some places in BC are not very tourist friendly or really that friendly at all

BC is not very friendly at all. People are very polite, but not very friendly. Forget making conversation with strangers, making friends organically...

when I traveled to Vancouver in the past I have noticed how many spaces are much more cramped than here. I can handle it for a while, but I feel it could become claustrophobic after too long.

That part I don't mind, I actually like the dense urban fabric and I loathe sprawl. The Okanagan is the most annoyingly sprawled place I've ever lived in. I'm in Vernon, a 40k people city which occupies about 60% the physical size of Edmonton, and it's hell.

 

[ADob]

BC is not very friendly at all. People are very polite, but not very friendly. Forget making conversation with strangers, making friends organically...


That part I don't mind, I actually like the dense urban fabric and I loathe sprawl. The Okanagan is the most annoyingly sprawled place I've ever lived in. I'm in Vernon, a 40k people city which occupies about 60% the physical size of Edmonton, and it's hell.

That's interesting. When I lived on Vancouver Island, I found the people far friendlier than in Edmonton. And the smaller the island, the friendlier the folk. But even on the mainland, in Vancouver, people seemed friendlier than here... then again, the cost of living was still reasonable (this was a bit over a decade ago) so they likely weren't being pummeled by their rents, mortgages, and bills. That'll wipe the smile off your face pretty damn quick.

As far as Kelowna area goes, I'll just blame all the Fort Mac escapees for the crap attitude. They were miserable in Fort Mac (because who wouldn't be...yep, also lived there...shudder) and they took their misery to their new homes.

 

[ChazYEG]

That's interesting. When I lived on Vancouver Island, I found the people far friendlier than in Edmonton. And the smaller the island, the friendlier the folk. But even on the mainland, in Vancouver, people seemed friendlier than here... then again, the cost of living was still reasonable (this was a bit over a decade ago) so they likely weren't being pummeled by their rents, mortgages, and bills. That'll wipe the smile off your face pretty damn quick.

As far as Kelowna area goes, I'll just blame all the Fort Mac escapees for the crap attitude. They were miserable in Fort Mac (because who wouldn't be...yep, also lived there...shudder) and they took their misery to their new homes.

That's far from my experience in BC, granted I never lived in the Island, but Vancouverites are the most unfriendly Canadians I've ever seen, and I don't know about Kelowna (don't go there much), but the few friendly people I've met here in Vernon were all Albertans. Maybe it's the big Oilers' decal on my car or something, but that's been my experience.

 

[SarcasticMarmot]

Controversial opinion: I loved how rude Vancouverites were when I lived there. Other than the transit system I hated almost everything else about the city (Weather, work culture, recreation, cost of everything) but my autistic self loved that no one would try to force me into small talk in the store, coffee shop, uber, etc. It felt very big city. My least favorite part of Alberta is that I have to pretend to be chummy to strangers or else I am judged as "rude".

 

[ChazYEG]

Controversial opinion: I loved how rude Vancouverites were when I lived there. Other than the transit system I hated almost everything else about the city (Weather, work culture, recreation, cost of everything) but my autistic self loved that no one would try to force me into small talk in the store, coffee shop, uber, etc. It felt very big city. My least favorite part of Alberta is that I have to pretend to be chummy to strangers or else I am judged as "rude".

I don't disagree with that aspect, as an introvert myself, but even in spaces where I'd go to intentionally try and make friends, it was incredibly hard.
Also, I don't equate big city with rudeness and stoicism. Some of the biggest and more urban cities I've been to, and lived in, have very warm and welcoming people: São Paulo, Barcelona, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, even Toronto can be a lot less sterile and devoid of human emotion than Vancouver.

 

[David A]

That's interesting. When I lived on Vancouver Island, I found the people far friendlier than in Edmonton. And the smaller the island, the friendlier the folk. But even on the mainland, in Vancouver, people seemed friendlier than here... then again, the cost of living was still reasonable (this was a bit over a decade ago) so they likely weren't being pummeled by their rents, mortgages, and bills. That'll wipe the smile off your face pretty damn quick.

As far as Kelowna area goes, I'll just blame all the Fort Mac escapees for the crap attitude. They were miserable in Fort Mac (because who wouldn't be...yep, also lived there...shudder) and they took their misery to their new homes.

The one thing I will totally agree with is that people who are miserable in one location often are in another.

I feel there is that segment of people who believe they will be happier if they move to a beautiful place with a mild climate. Nope!

They weren't miserable in Fort Mac because it was terrible. They were miserable because that is their character. They just took their bad attitude to a different location.

 

[ADob]

The one thing I will totally agree with is that people who are miserable in one location often are in another.

I feel there is that segment of people who believe they will be happier if they move to a beautiful place with a mild climate. Nope!

They weren't miserable in Fort Mac because it was terrible. They were miserable because that is their character. They just took their bad attitude to a different location.

While I agree with you for the most part (let's say 98%), I was utterly miserable in Fort Mac and was easily able to make the best of all the other places I'd lived. Alas, my good attitude was no match for that place. Granted, we also had very little choice about living there and that will make a big difference. Agency matters.

 

[The_Cat]

I remember a story about an Air Force couple that was stationed at Cold Lake. After about three weeks in the local bar they became depressed. Their supervisor told them to join at least two clubs on the base. Later on, they enjoyed their new hobbies.

 

[ADob]

I remember a story about an Air Force couple that was stationed at Cold Lake. After about three weeks in the local bar they became depressed. Their supervisor told them to join at least two clubs on the base. Later on, they enjoyed their new hobbies.

Truth: I hated Whitecourt until I joined the local community theatre. Fort Mac I gave up on early.

 

[archited]

CFB Cold Lake has loads of facilities for personnel stationed there -- a swimming pool with two diving boards, a gymnasium, an ice-skating/hockey rink, a Movie theatre, tennis courts, a ski hill with T-bar, 2 athletic fields, a garden club and not to mention the City of Cold has a full-blown Marina, and a ton of other sport and entertainment facilities. I lived on the base in Cold Lake for one entire year attending the 9th grade at Athabasca Junior High School before moving to Zweibrucken, Germany for 4 years.

 

[MacLac]

“Hamlet” of SP is the top searched Air BnB location?