WATCH: Two Vancouver Island cities ranked in the top 10 millennial hot spots in Canada. Ceilidh Millar reports.
Five months ago, Crystal Boyd moved to Victoria for a job opportunity after completing business school in Montreal.
“In researching availability in Montreal versus here, there’s a lot more for someone starting out,” said Boyd.
When it comes to attracting people like Boyd to the city, Victoria seems to have the ‘it’ factor for the millennial generation.
“I think it just affords a really good work-life balance for people to live,” explained Jonathan Perkins, owner of DAK Rotisserie in Victoria.
According to a new ranking released by real-estate portal Point2 Homes, Victoria is the second best city in Canada for millennials to live.
The survey compared 85 of Canada?s most populous cities by looking at nine factors which include criteria like unemployment, healthcare, and a low crime rate.
B.C.’s capital ranked number one in both life satisfaction and climate.
Quebec City was ranked first overall on the list, beating out major centres like Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
Saanich came in at sixth place on the list.
“We’ve always attracted people,” said Catherine Holt from the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. “The thing that’s different now is that we also have jobs.”
From a booming tech sector to attractions like a growing craft beer scene, Holt says the Capital City has it all ? except for one major setback. ”
Employers are looking for employees, but whether employees can relocate here is the challenge because they are faced with high housing costs,” Holt explained.
However, some people, like Boyd, feel it’s a small price to pay to be able to call Victoria home.
“For the number of things that are irritants, there is so much more that’s a better quality of life here for us,” Boyd said.
Ceilidh Millar
