Month: July 2016

Location, location, location!

July 31, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Jim & Wanda

Our lot location is in one of the newer subdivision, about 1 km north of the town of Chemainus (known as the “City of Murals”). The thing that attracted us to the Chemainus location is that it’s a small seaside town (with a population of approximately 3000) and it offers both rural and suburban living. It’s built around a working wharf but has few industries so commercial traffic in the area is minimal. A coastal town, it provides its own interesting attributes such as ocean views, a public beach, and a ferry port. Stuart Channel runs along side the town and its wharf accommodates a working harbor. Because of it’s depth, larger freighters from around the world can dock, load and unload their products. We always stop by the Chemainus viewpoint in front of the museum to see who’s in port as it’s so interesting to watch.

 Chemainus

In the 1980’s Chemainus reinvented itself from a working mill town to it’s present status as a well-recognized arts community, which supports a healthy tourism trade. Chemainus is also well known for its building’s murals (click here to read more) depicting the town and area’s history along with its Aboriginal heritage. It is a strong artistic community and has many art shops and unique eating establishments that make for a quaint, easy-going atmosphere, all within easy walking distance. The artistic aspect of Chemainus is very exciting for Wanda and she looks forward to becoming a part of it.

What we really like is Chemainus’ location in relation to other centres. While it is small, it provides all the basic amenities: There is a new shopping mall with a modern grocery store, pharmacy, liquor store, and bank. It also includes a new tap house, and the Riot Brewhouse is currently under construction (it reminds me of Regina’s Rebellion brewery). There is a fire hall with ambulance service, and an urgent care Health Centre/Hospital. There are a couple of vehicle service stations, and gas stations nearby. And of particular interest to me, is the Brentwood Golf Course and Fuller ice arena.

But even with all this, the jewel of Chemainus is beyond a doubt it’s professional theatre, which was opened in 1992. The Chemainus Theatre is an astonishingly big and beautiful complex (for such a small community) and its busy year around lineup attracts audiences from around the island and beyond.

Duncan & Ladysmith

About 15 minutes south of Chemainus is Duncan (The City of Totems) with a population of just under 5000. Despite its smaller population it has more services than Chemainus, but is still small enough to call it a rural community. It’s a town that serves the larger surrounding population of Cowichan Valley with a population of approximately 80,000. It has a full service hospital, bigger shopping centres and malls, several new car dealerships, an Island University Campus and a cool downtown area filled with heritage buildings. Duncan also has a well-attended farmers’ market, which runs every Saturday. Upon arriving in Duncan, the first hint of it being a larger centre is the Tim Horton’s and a mall complex that includes a Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Mark’s, Home Depot, Best Buy and a large BC Liquor Store – I call it the Man-Mall!

About 10 minutes north located on the 49th parallel is Ladysmith with a population just under 8000. A pretty seaside town with many beautiful views because of the hilly terrain. While the hills create the amazing views they also make it difficult for walking in most neighbourhoods, in Ladysmith a car is your best friend! Most things can be purchased in Ladysmith. They have large food stores, drugstores, a Motorcycle and Sports centre, restaurants and even a Tim Horton’s. In 2016 we came to visit the island during the first week in January. Ladysmith had an amazing Christmas light display in which most of the downtown vendors were participating. We even had a bit of snow when we arrived which added to the festive glow.

Nanaimo 

Known as the “Harbour City” has a population of just over 83,000 (2011) and is a city about 30 minutes north of Chemainus. You can drive the entire way on the Island Highway which takes you north to Nanaimo, or spend the first 10 minutes on the Seaside Route – Chemainus Road.  The recently revitalized wharf area is beautifully done and is enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.

Nanaimo has a strong arts and music culture which put on many festivals throughout the year such as the Summertime Blues Festival and the world renowned Nanaimo Marine Festival with it’s Bathtub races, and these are no ordinary bathtubs !

There are many larger malls and shopping centres in Nanaimo where you can buy many of the things that you cannot find in the smaller centres. A lovely downtown area with plenty of restaurants and fun quirky shops to enjoy!

Naniamo has an airport with flights from Regina (via Calgary) and two Ferry terminals to get you across to the mainland (Vancouver City). The cost to cross one way in a car with two passengers is approximately $80.00.

Fares – BC Ferries 

BC Ferries

We always visit Nanaimo when we are on the island and a walk on the wharf just as the sun is setting is the perfect end to the day!

Victoria

Victoria “The Garden City” is in the top twenty cities of the world for quality-of-life. It’s located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and has a population of about 80,017. The metropolitan area of Greater Victoria has a population of 344,615. A trip south to Victoria from Chemainus is about a 1-hour drive (during normal traffic times, it can be considerably longer if you’re in high traffic). The city has a large population of non-local students attending the many universities and colleges and art programs in the community. Victoria bustles with tourists during the high season, as it is a popular tourist destination. There is so much to see in Victoria with an amazing array of places to shop! They even have a haunted walk you can check out. If your not into scary they also have historical walks which are a popular and entertaining way to learn about Victoria’s past. Here there is an international airport and ferries to get you over to the mainland.

Vancouver

Totem pole / Stanley Park

The city of Vancouver has a population of 603,502 with 2.4 million in the Greater Vancouver area (2011 census). A trip from Chemainus would take around three and a half hours including a ferry crossing from Duke Point BC to Tsawwassen BC.

Duke Point to Tsawwassen BC

Duke Point to Tsawwassen BC

The city of Vancouver is consistently listed in the top five worldwide cities for livability and quality of life.

Vancouver is one of the youngest cities in British Columbia only incorporating as a city in 1886. Today the city of Vancouver truly has something for everyone and is a great get away with so much to see. It also has an international airport for easy access to international flights worldwide.

A great place to go for a weekend get away as there is so much to see and do.

Tourism Vancouver

Location, location, location!

So as you can see we’ve put a lot of thought (and research) into this and we are pretty confident that setting up our home in Chemainus gives us the best of all worlds; living in a lovely slow paced seaside community within 2 minutes to three hours from shopping or sight seeing…perfect!

“One step closer”

July 29, 2016 — 3 Comments

Posted by Wanda and Jim

We finalized the Offer to Purchase on the lot in Chemainus today. It’s a done deal, now we just need to finish the paperwork which is a little more challenging as we are completing this transaction out-of-province. While we are looking at a year or more time line we are still one step closer to making Vancouver Island our home. Exciting and scary at the same time!

Now to get to work on getting our house ready for sale in Regina. Besides a general clean up we have a few more big jobs: windows, painting and flooring upstairs. We are also continuing the purge, it’s amazing how much stuff one accumulates over the years!

Comparison: Living in Sask. vs. Vancouver Island – Driving

July 27, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Jim

Driving on the Island

Speeding – A speeding infraction of more that 40 kph over the limit results in fines, charges, and vehicle impoundment totaling more that $1000. So we have to be on our best behaviour on the Island!

Even though the Island Highway (Hwy 1) is mostly double-lane, the speed limit on much of the south island is 90 kph which adds to the laid back style here, and feels somewhat safer. This makes sense for the busier tourist season too. The speed is well monitored as we’ve seen cars pulled over a few times by un-marked police cars. There is an inland section of the Hwy 1 north of Nanaimo where the limit is 120 kph.

The old highway, Chemainus Road, runs behind our lot, with a 60 kph speed limit. Although road noise is sometimes noticeable, because of a forested natural berm, it is mostly quiet.

The highway around Victoria gets quite busy at rush hours, so it’s advisable to avoid traveling there during those times. Tourist season also makes for busier traffic, particularly around Victoria.

The temperate climate reduces the damage to paved roads caused by the freeze-thaw cycle. All highways we’ve driven on were in very good shape and the lines highly visible. Since winter sanding is not required, roads are clean all year long. This helps keep vehicles cleaner, too, especially during the wetter season, which is like having a regular free car wash.

Prairie winter driving – Saskatchewan 2016
Vancouver Island BC – January 2016

Vehicle Registration and Insurance

For comparison we are using the licensing of Wanda’s car which is a 2007 Subaru Impreza Limited Edition

Wanda currently pays $1130 per year in Saskatchewan, which includes a $266 discount for no accidents

We also pay $185 per year for a Package Policy providing liability insurance of $1M and collision deductible of $350, comprehensive deductible of $100 (including windshields)

In BC, Wanda would receive a 40% discount for no accidents which would cost $1223 per year, providing $1M liability and $300 deductible for both collision and comprehensive coverage (except windshield deductible is $200).

Sask

$1130+$185 = $1408

BC

$1223  (cost is $185 less for comparable coverage)

Notes on BC Coverage:

British Columbia has a one-time charge of $36 when a vehicle is first registered in the province

Insurance works on a sliding scale premium for accidents and is not  a “no fault accident” system. This adds about $500 per year to the premium, but is reduced by an annual accident-free discount of 5%, culminating in a 40% discount over 8 years.
Example: the Impreza would cost $1704 with a 15% discount (3 yrs accident-free) – difference of $481

Links:

Registering a vehicle in BC

Driver Licensing

Moving to BC

Everything you need to know about transferring, licensing and registering your vehicle when moving to BC from another province.

IMG_0786

 

“Beautiful Victoria” – Haunted Walk

July 26, 2016 — Leave a comment

2

Posted by Wanda

They say that Victoria is the most “haunted” city in British Columbia!  Ghostly Walks have become one of the most popular evening activities in Victoria and has been offered to tourists year around for about fifteen years now. During the summer there is a Ghostly tour offered every evening and each night of the week offers a different tour. They also offer private tours and tours in French. No reservations are necessary, just meet outside the Visitor Information Centre on Government and Wharf Street at 7:30 PM, in the summer months there is also an extra tour at 9:30 PM. Tours on Halloween night are very popular so reservations are required. If you love storytelling and a bit of horror you’ll love the Ghostly Tours in Victoria!  They have since added other historical tours to the ticket which we haven’t yet checked out.

 

We took in the walk a few years back and it was not too scary but enjoyable (a little humour is always thrown in amongst the story telling). A great way to explore the city after dark while learning about some of the its more sordid historical events.

No reservations are needed for Ghostly Walks. Except for the tours around Halloween, all Ghostly Walks start outside the Visitor Information Centre, corner of Government and Wharf Street. Adults $14, students and seniors $12. Private tours by request.

https://discoverthepast.com

AnimatedGhost1

Boo!

 

“Winters on the island”

July 25, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Jim

We spent January 2016 on the Island enjoying the hospitality of our good friends Carl and Janine and their lovely suite. Although we were greeted by a wet snowfall on arrival, it was minor in volume and only lasted a day or two before the green grass became fully visible again. It was unusual to see Palm trees (which grow here) weighted down with the wet snow. This was the only snowfall we experienced during our stay here.

The climate is quite temperate here with the temperature range quite narrow in the winter. We experienced high temperatures of 5-10 degrees C in January, but the lows rarely went below 0.

While many days were cloudy and drizzly, the scenery was so different than what we are used to at this time of year. I have a simple saying to describe it: green and clean, vibrant and alive! With the wetter conditions, the flora and fauna always looks its best, giving everything an effervescence that’s a joy to experience over the winter season. The roads and vehicles are always clean, and with the mild weather people are out and about, compared to the hibernation effect provided by a Prairie winter. In Sask. I don’t see my neighbours for 4 months!

As we mentioned earlier snowfall is rare in the low coastal areas of the island, so driving is seldom inhibited by road conditions, or visibility concerns, except for, at times, some foggy conditions. Winter travelling in most of Canada usually requires caution and pre-planning, along with a winter survival kit on the Prairies. On the island we found that we were able to enjoy the outdoors or travel in the dead of winter without the typical concerns of driving on dangerous roads, or being subjected to freezing conditions. “Bundling up” on VI is simply putting on a sweater or rain jacket.

IMG_0778

Winter activities are much easier in the mild climate. Walking and hiking are possible every day, and on sunny days we saw people golfing in shorts. Cycling, motorcycling, sailing and boating are year-round pleasures.

Cycling is especially prevalent on the island as in can be done year around. This also applies to motorcycling too so Wanda and I really look forward to an extended season of riding.

IMG_0728

If I could only use one word to describe winters in VI, it would be “gentle”. While we may get nostalgic and miss the beauty of a fresh snowfall, an enjoyable Christmas trip back to the prairies or a short trek to the mountains will remedy that.

Chemainus – Summer Time (Part One)

July 23, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda

Most of our time on the island we found ourselves touring, trying to find that perfect place to spend our retirement years. There are so many beautiful places on VI, but the more we explored the more our thoughts kept coming back to Chemainus. We found ourselves always comparing the places we explored across the island to Chemainus. Once we realized this, the decision was made. I would like to share with you the first in a series of posts featuring just a few of the highlights attracting us to the area and this wonderful community .

The Summer season and Canada Day!

In the summer this town is abuzz with tourists and Chemainus welcomes them with open arms. The season is full of events attended by both locals and their tourist guests. On our last visit we were lucky enough to be here to participate in the July 1st Canada Day celebrations. It was well attended by young and old alike!

Chemainus Events 2016

Interesting VI Facts: “A Divers Dream”

July 22, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda

January 14th, 2006 a retired Canadian Airlines Boeing 737 200 was sunk in Stuart Channel just off the coast of Chemainus, British Columbia. It is now an artificial reef for marine life and in use for divers to enjoy. Rescue teams are also seen practicing at the site.

Links:

Boeing 737 Artificial Reef

Artificial Reef Society of BC

Divemaster.ca

 

Video Links:

You tube 2006 News story

2010 Dive showing the marine life inhabiting the plane

 

 

 

“The Island” – Links to learn more

July 21, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda

There is so much more to Vancouver Island than most people realize. The majority of the population live on a relatively small “slice” on the island’s east coast that stretches from Sooke and Victoria in the south to Comox in the Nanaimo region.

Screen Shot 2016-07-20 at 10.38.22 AM

Population Density Map. This map does not represent the current population which is over 765,000 people but it illustrates the approximate distribution.

 

Map of VI

Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast

 

While visiting VI we have ventured out of this “slice” only a few times and what we didn’t know is the amazing geographic diversity on this island that’s just waiting to be explored.  As we did our research we began to learn how much there actually is to see here and we have added quite a few more travel items to our “bucket lists” in the process!

To learn more, here are a few of our favourite links!

 

Travel Vancouver Island

This webpage is chock full with information on Island events, things to see, beautiful rides (car or motorcycle), day trips, and links to other VI travel organizations.

There’s even a section on Pet friendly accommodations !

IMG_1532

Our Jax

Take a Hike Vancouver Island (FaceBook Page)

This group page on FaceBook has been set up for people who enjoying hiking in VI. So many of them upload beautiful pictures and there is always discussions about the places they have discovered. Anyone can join and it’s certainly worth checking it out. We have learned so much about the island from this page alone!

 

I Love Vancouver Island (FaceBook Page)

This page highlights many of the events and places to visit during a stay on the island. The picture below is an example of some of the things you will find on the page. The photo is taken in Chemainus, behind the Hansel and Gretel Candy Co in a beautiful little court-yard that you could easily miss if you are not one to explore a bit off the beaten path. It’s filled with greenery, birds and plenty of places to sit and take it all in!  You can sneak in a bit of ice cream too as one of the best ice cream vendors around can also be found there! Cute place to take your little ones!

Screen Shot 2016-07-20 at 11.43.29 AM

Photo credit:  Toad Hollow Photography

If you have a favourite link with info on the Island please share as we would love to explore it too!

 

Comparison: Living in Sask vs Vancouver Island – Health Care

July 20, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda

MSP Premium Changes

MSP Premium Rate Changes effective Jan. 1, 2018

In January 2018, MSP premium rates and the Regular Premium Assistance program are changing.

Click here for more info.

Health Care

Overview

One of the main health care plan differences between Sask and Vancouver Island is BC’s requirement to pay a monthly premium by those eligible for the services.

The cost is 2016 $136.00/couple but it is going up to$156.00/couple in 2017. If the age of you or your spouse is over 65 you can claim a $3000.00 yearly tax exemption.

The second difference is the overall health care “Report card ranking” which ranks BC an “A”.  This makes it the top ranking province in Canada and in the top three ranking globally (on par with Sweden and Switzerland).

Saskatchewan ranks a “D” which puts it second from the bottom (along with Manitoba and just one above the US).

IMG_0815

BC/Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island Health Authority is responsible for health care on the island. Unlike Regina, those we talked to had no trouble finding a family doctor, and dentists are plentiful (13 in Duncan alone). There are modern urgent care centres in Ladysmith (10 km away), Chemainus and a regional hospital in Duncan (18 km away).

There is an extensive system of laboratories in BC and a province wide electronic system to deliver lab results to doctors directly. In most cases results are available the same or next day.

 

MSP Medical Services Plan

MSP has a website that does an excellent job linking residents to the most current information regarding the plan.

MSP Medical Services Plan – Click here to view

Overview PDF of BC MSP – Click to view

Waiting period – Click to view

How to Apply (online link to application) – Click to view

 

eHealth

eHealth – BC has been transitioning since 2009 toward an online record administration system, which will allow authorized health professional access to an online lifetime personal electronic health record of every individual in BC.

 

PharmaCare

PharmaCare Assistance (extra coverage for catastrophic drug costs, no premiums are paid for this) and all eligible British Columbians are encouraged to register for the plan.

BC’s Fair PharmaCare plan provides B.C. families with coverage for eligible prescription drugs and designated medical supplies, based on their net income. Fair PharmaCare also ensures that B.C. residents, regardless of income, are protected from catastrophic drug costs.

 

IMG_1641

Saskatchewan

Sask Health Services

Saskatchewan offers residents universal health service with no premiums, however wait times for surgery and tests in this province are notoriously long. It is more difficult to keep doctors and nurses in this province so hospitals and health centers are quite often short staffed. Finding a new physician is challenging as many Sask doctors are no longer accepting new patients.

Sask Health Benefits – Click here to view

 

Saskatchewan eHealth (Sask’s online record administration system) is in the works but the province has only been transitioning to this system since 2011.

For more Saskatchewan eHealth information – Click here

 

Other Comparison Links

Provincial and Territorial Ranking – Source The Conference Board of Canada

“B.C. is the top-placing province, scoring an “A” on the health report card and ranking third overall, after Switzerland and Sweden.”

“Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia do poorly and get overall “D” grades on health.”

“Saskatchewan ranks second-to-last among the provinces, 24th overall, and like Manitoba, better than only one peer country, the United States.”

Global News Article

“B.C. is the healthiest province in Canada; Ranked 3rd in the world”

 

 

“Renos”

July 19, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda

A year or more out from our anticipated move and we are working on getting the house ready for sale. Started with the kitchen.

Before and after

…

The work begins

…

Building a kitchenette in the basement.

(Six to eight weeks without a kitchen is a long time!)

…

Gettin’ er done!

…

The finished kitchen

…

Thanks to Andre Longtin and of course Jim for getting this massive job done. It looks amazing! (Nikki likes it too)

Enlight1

Vancouver Island Little Qualicum Cheeseworks near Rathtrevor http://www.cheeseworks.ca/where-to-buy/the-farmgate-store/

Comparison: Living in Sask vs Vancouver Island – Weather

July 18, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda

This post is the first in a series to explore our observations regarding the differences between Saskatchewan, Regina area and Southern Vancouver Island (VI, Victoria/Chemainus).

We have been not been on “the Island” for long (collectively over the years maybe three or four months so some of our impressions may be based on unusual or one time factors (e.g. anomalous weather, specific location). There is however a saying we’ve heard around the island that sums up the biggest difference  between VI  and SK, “Relax: You’re on the Island”…

Weather

Conventional thinking holds that Vancouver Island is warmer (but wetter) in the winter and cooler in the summer than Saskatchewan.

During our visit to the Island in January (2016) we arrived to a wet snowfall, which virtually disappeared in a few days. When going out we usually dressed in a light coat or sweater, and sometimes gloves and scarf when it’s a bit chiller. On most days there was some rain (or a kind of mist, accompanied by a distant fog horn which I thought sounded hauntingly beautiful) but on most days there was far more sun than we expected. There were also a few days of full sun along with many days with periods of both sun and overcast. Only a few days during our month stay in January was a total rainout. The rain on the island comes in the forms of a gentle but steady rainfall to a wet mist type rain. Nothing like the straight sideways wind, rain and snow, found in Saskatchewan. For the most part when it rained on the island it never hampered our plans, we just dressed accordingly and grabbed an umbrella!

As for wind the eastern side of VI is much less windy than SK. It’s unusual to experience onshore winds over 5-10 kph.

Fun note: On the Island they were selling annual flowers on racks outside the stores on Jan 4th! The same day we also saw people golfing, sailing and motorcycling too.

IMG_0737

 

Regina

Regina Intl. Airport – Click here to view weather stats for Jan 2016

 

Regina Intl. Airport – Climate Normals Graph

Click on the graphic below or the above hypertext to view interactive version of this graph.

Screen Shot 2016-07-18 at 10.48.42 AM

 

Vancouver Island/Victoria

Victoria University – Click here to view weather stats for Jan 2016

 

Victoria Intl. Airport – Climate Normals Graph

Click on the graphic below or the above hypertext to view interactive version of this graph.

Screen Shot 2016-07-18 at 10.47.09 AM

 

IMG_1185

 

National Comparisons: (from Environment Canada)

Average number of hours of bright sunshine a year in major Canadian cities.

City Hours
Calgary, Alberta 2405
Winnipeg, Manitoba 2372
Regina, Saskatchewan 2338
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2329
Edmonton, Alberta 2299
Victoria, British Columbia 2193
Hamilton, Ontario 2088
Ottawa, Ontario 2061
Barrie, Ontario 2055
Toronto, Ontario 2038

 

Average number of days annually with some bright sunshine.

City Days
Calgary, Alberta 333
Edmonton, Alberta 321
Regina, Saskatchewan 321
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 320
Winnipeg, Manitoba 318
Victoria, British Columbia 317
Windsor, Ontario 307
Kelowna, British Columbia 306
Montréal, Quebec 304
Barrie, Ontario 303
Ottawa, Ontario 303
Toronto, Ontario 303

 

Percentage of daylight hours that are sunny

City % Sunshine
Calgary, Alberta 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba 51
Regina, Saskatchewan 50
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 50
Edmonton, Alberta 49
Victoria, British Columbia 46
Hamilton, Ontario 45
Ottawa, Ontario 45
Montréal, Quebec 44
Toronto, Ontario 44

“Going Coastal”

July 17, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda

Buying a new home is the first step, making it your home is the second. As a result of spending quite a bit of time on the coast I have fallen in love with its easy-going lifestyle. I enjoy seeing the coastal beauty of everyday life here, and of course in a breezy coastal seaside town that means nautical!

I love the laid-back Beachhouse coastal look with its crisp clean whites punctuated with the colour of sand, ocean blues and beachcomber accessories but I am also drawn to the Classic Coastal look. This look also starts with a clean white pallet, then is accessorized with nautical navy and reds. The key to decorating Classic Coastal is adopting a less is more attitude and a more formal look, mixing stripes with a few well-chosen nautical prints. I believe we will likely use elements of each as both successfully borrow the beautiful ocean views and blend them into a coastal inspired living space that brings the outside in like a breath of fresh ocean air.

I will be posting our decorating ideas in an “Idea Book” as we go along. I am sure they will continually change as we get closer to the actual finishing of the home but it’s always fun to dream!

Click on the picture below to open the book.

Screen Shot 2016-07-17 at 1.23.53 PM

“The House”

July 16, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda and Jim

We just spent a considerable amount of time looking into the type of house we would like to build on a lot on Vancouver Island. We came up with a very high level plan which would probably work well on this property. We are hoping to keep the square footage down to below 2500 square ft. and we would like to have a main floor level entry from the garage on the upper level of the lot. Here’s what we came up with.

Coming from “flat land” Saskatchewan we do however worry about living on a sloped lot, but having a sweeping view of the ocean (Stuart Channel) makes it a compromise I believe we could probably live with.

IMG_2263

We also would like to build a suite with kitchenette in the lower level to accommodate all the visitors we hope to be getting from Saskatchewan, Alberta and beyond. 🙂 Yes, and what a great holiday for our family and friends! We will supply the accommodations and a car for you to explore the Island, what a great deal! (More about that later, you might notice it becoming a bit of a reoccurring theme in our future postings!)

“The Markets”

July 15, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda

We love the Markets on the Island! The first thing we do when arriving here is pick up our fresh produce from the farmers market. Our favourite market to shop is “The Old Farm Market” on the Trans Canada Highway between Duncan and Cobble Hill. The smells, colours and the friendly people add so much to the shopping experience. I always love shopping there but it’s truly special during the Autumn season when great piles of orange pumpkins and multicoloured corn are found amongst the leafy fall decorating and colourful seasonal produce. This market is just one of many that can be found locally and has to be experienced to be fully appreciated. If you ever get the chance to stop by, don’t forget to treat yourself to an ice cream before you head back home with your bags of farm fresh goodness!

There are so many markets on the Island to check out, but every Wednesday the town of Chemainus has one you’ll really want to check out. A busy place as many tourists along with the local community stop by to purchase not only the fresh food, but to browse and chat with the many artisans selling their wares. A great place to shop for unique and locally made gifts!

Saturday is the big market in Duncan; held in the pretty downtown area and it’s well attended by both vendors and local shoppers. Come early though as they sell out!

The Old Farm Market

 

“The bump”

July 14, 2016 — Leave a comment

Posted by Wanda/Jim

We just came back from the island after spending 12 days in and around the Chemainus and Nanaimo area. We were shocked by how real estate sales on the island seem to be booming. The real estate agents are calling it a “bump” As we drove around the island all the “For Sale” signs we saw during our last visit had little sold signs attached to them! Before we left Regina I thought something was going on as I noticed some of the prices rising but had no idea how quickly both land and houses were selling. After much discussion we decided to buy a piece of land to get a foothold into the market. The window was closing fast on the availability of properties so we decided to act. We are now negotiating on a property in Chemainus on Orca View Terrace. The last ocean view in our price range!

Home