Advice from Vancouverites/People from BC

[BloodKnight7]

Hy Guys!

 

I would just like to ask for advice on Fraser Valley, specifically Abbotsford, because of my job I am moving to BC from Ontario (Toronto) in the last week of April. I will be mainly traveling outside of the province to do my job but I will have 3 or 4 projects a month (hopefully) in Vancouver. Would it be doable to live in Abbotsford and not spend lots of hours in traffic? 

 

Any other advice would be highly appreciated like what to do when getting there, specific customs or things I should look out, etc...

 

Best regards! Thank you for your time.

[dizmo]

Abbotsford is quite a ways from Vancouver, and traffic is atrocious; if you plan to do work in the city, leave real early.

You're just moving provinces, not countries The customs and such are the same. Just be a decent human being.

[BloodKnight7]

1 minute ago, dizmo said:

Abbotsford is quite a ways from Vancouver, and traffic is atrocious; if you plan to do work in the city, leave real early.

You're just moving provinces, not countries The customs and such are the same. Just be a decent human being.

Lmao, decency was not programmed into this unit  LoL! Thanks for the advice! bad traffic means like Toronto traffic? I just picked Abbotsford because its a small town and I guess my daughters will have a better quality of life there. going to Vancouver once every 2 weeks shouldnt be that bad right? how much time are we talking between Abbotsford and Vancouver? 2 hours?

[dizmo]

7 minutes ago, BloodKnight7 said:

Lmao, decency was not programmed into this unit  LoL! Thanks for the advice! bad traffic means like Toronto traffic? I just picked Abbotsford because its a small town and I guess my daughters will have a better quality of life there. going to Vancouver once every 2 weeks shouldnt be that bad right? how much time are we talking between Abbotsford and Vancouver? 2 hours?

It really depends a lot on the day. On really bad days, some of my friends would spend 2.5 to 3 hours getting from Vancouver to Langley. Abbotsford is about another 45 minutes or so depending on how you drive  and how traffic is from there.

 

Abbotsford isn't that small of a town, and honestly isn't the best for crime. It's not terrible, but I'd maybe check out Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge. Your commute will be better, and your kids will be closer to the city should they want to venture in. If you're flying out of YXX a lot then living in Abbotsford definitely makes more sense. Check out Aldergrove, Cloverdale, and Langley as well. If you don't need to carry a lot of stuff in with you, sometimes it's quicker to transit into downtown.

[BloodKnight7]

1 hour ago, dizmo said:

It really depends a lot on the day. On really bad days, some of my friends would spend 2.5 to 3 hours getting from Vancouver to Langley. Abbotsford is about another 45 minutes or so depending on how you drive  and how traffic is from there.

 

Abbotsford isn't that small of a town, and honestly isn't the best for crime. It's not terrible, but I'd maybe check out Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge. Your commute will be better, and your kids will be closer to the city should they want to venture in. If you're flying out of YXX a lot then living in Abbotsford definitely makes more sense. Check out Aldergrove, Cloverdale, and Langley as well. If you don't need to carry a lot of stuff in with you, sometimes it's quicker to transit into downtown.

Wow, great advice, thank you so much for your time brother! 

[dizmo]

39 minutes ago, BloodKnight7 said:

Wow, great advice, thank you so much for your time brother! 

No worries, if you have any other questions feel free to post.

I can't wait until I move back to the coast You'll love it. Other than the expense.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

If you have questions about transit in the Vancouver area, just tag either myself or @JDE. Though JDE will probably have better answers as he has connections with some employees and I just ride the bus every day to and from uni. 

[LienusLateTips]

If you drive, park at Carvolth Exchange along Hwy 1 (200 St exit), where parking is like $3 or something a day, and ride the FIVEFIVEFIVE (555) to Lougheed, where you can ride the train. The 555 bus is a express service, with only one intermediary stop, running in a dedicated bus lane along the trans Canada for the whole route.

[Majinhoju]

My advice, gas up in Abbotsford and not in Vancouver.  You'll cry when you see the gas prices here.

[Canada EH]

3 hours ago, Majinhoju said:

My advice, gas up in Abbotsford and not in Vancouver.  You'll cry when you see the gas prices here.

I hear ya, here its 1.28 yesterday it was 1.08. GasBuddy App is your friend, same is Costco Gas. Electric you wouldnt have to worry about gas prices.

[BloodKnight7]

On 4/13/2018 at 10:03 PM, Canada EH said:

I hear ya, here its 1.28 yesterday it was 1.08. GasBuddy App is your friend, same is Costco Gas. Electric you wouldnt have to worry about gas prices.

Yeah...not happening, lol... I am new to the country so that means no loans for me, I got a crappy old used car..... for now! 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

On ‎2018‎-‎04‎-‎13 at 7:03 PM, Canada EH said:

I hear ya, here its 1.28 yesterday it was 1.08. GasBuddy App is your friend, same is Costco Gas. Electric you wouldnt have to worry about gas prices.

Though you will be worrying about depreciation and replacement costs of the battery possibly totaling out the vehicle after a few years of ownership. Not a problem if you are leasing. By the time the lease is over, the vehicle is probably worth more in parts and that's the dealership's problem. 

[BloodKnight7]

Whats the best internet company you can get in Abbotsford? Any recommendations for Internet+phone+tv deals? I was living in toronto so I had rogers...but im gonna have to drop them as there is no coverage in BC

[Majinhoju]

If available, Telus fibre.  It's 150/150.

I'm in Surrey.  I use Fido for mobile and Telus for TV and Internet.  I sadly do not have fibre as they are unable to install in my old townhouse complex so i'm settling for 90/30 speeds (which is still pretty decent).

[BloodKnight7]

2 hours ago, Majinhoju said:

If available, Telus fibre.  It's 150/150.

I'm in Surrey.  I use Fido for mobile and Telus for TV and Internet.  I sadly do not have fibre as they are unable to install in my old townhouse complex so i'm settling for 90/30 speeds (which is still pretty decent).

Woot! Its available! Telus 150 here I go!

[Majinhoju]

Your other option would be Shaw 150 but you'd have to settle with 15 upload.  Screw that I say, lol

[BloodKnight7]

Any good restaurants in Abbotsford? where are the places to go for a good meal?

[BloodKnight7]

oh... also...anyone knows a honest car mechanic in Abbotsford or nearby? Those are hard to come by.

[Canada EH]

2 hours ago, BloodKnight7 said:

honest car mechanic

Very rare breed

Better to have friends that are mechanics, I know a handful.

 

Food is food, best to find places that are reasonably priced and have an open concept so you can visually see the cleanliness of the kitchen. You can also tell the cleanliness by the condition of the bathroom and the eating area.

 

Also remember that BC is provicincial liquor stores and private, and they close early so you gotta plan ahead. Midnight if you are lucky, here they are 2am and 100% private! Also the prov liquor stores do not have cold beverages, and they have lots and lots of cider in 2L bottles.

[BloodKnight7]

I am now living in Abbotsford! woot! Nice town  Im liking it so far.

[dizmo]

6 minutes ago, BloodKnight7 said:

I am now living in Abbotsford! woot! Nice town  Im liking it so far.

Now you can enjoy the better part of Canada

I can't wait to move back, very jealous.

 

If you like swimming, check out Cultus Lake in the summer. Great place, and they have this amazing ice cream shack on the way up (or back....or both).

[Canada EH]

If you ride a bicycle, its law that adults over 18 have to wear a helmet in BC and theres an east coast province with the same silly law.

Just so you are 100% legal.

I know its a stupid law.

 

I remember riding my bicycle the wrong way on a path at the beach going around Stanley park and the fuzzies didnt do nothing.

Rode my bike in Kelowna and they didnt do nothing neither.

 

 

 

[BloodKnight7]

Thanks guys!  Hey.... kinda stupid question, but what would be good stores (cheap) for groceries? vegetable and fruits? And... you know if there is a mexican store around?

 

 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

2 hours ago, BloodKnight7 said:

Thanks guys!  Hey.... kinda stupid question, but what would be good stores (cheap) for groceries? vegetable and fruits? And... you know if there is a mexican store around?

Probably Superstore or Walmart to be honest. I usually got to T&T cause I'm Chinese, though the closest location from Abbotsford is all the way in Surrey so clearly not a solution. 

[LienusLateTips]

2 hours ago, BloodKnight7 said:

Thanks guys!  Hey.... kinda stupid question, but what would be good stores (cheap) for groceries? vegetable and fruits? And... you know if there is a mexican store around?

 

 

In Abbotsford? Walmart, Superstore and NoFrills.
 

If you want Asian products - T&T.

 

I believe Superstore has a whole aisle of Mexican products in my local store, check the Abbostford one.