I am SO CONFUSED?!?!?

Question

*sigh*

Alright, so let me explain my situation: I have asked many questions on YA on Vancouver and Quebec City. You see, I am drawn to move to Quebec city in 5 years, for some reason. I currently do not know french but plan to study it for the next 5 years. But when I ask people about Quebec, I get mixed answers. Some saying that Quebec City sucks, is full of rude people, boring, horrible weather. And some say it's wonderful and full of culture.

But I also becamed interested in Vancouver, as people say it is the best place in Canada to live. But they also say finding an apartment is terrible and high priced.

I want to live in a nice town that's not full of tourists but has beautiful scenery and is a joy to live in that won't run down all of my money.

I'd like to move to Quebec City, but I'm just not sure now, because some people say if I learn to speak french it will be TOTALLY different from Quebecois.

PLEASE HELP ME! :'(

Answer 1

If I was planning a big move such as the one you are talking about, I think I would find out more about the place, and definitely try to take at least one trip to see it for myself.

Since I live in Montreal, three hours away from Quebec City, I can offer a bit of insight to the city as well as the province of Quebec.

First, tourism is a big industry in Quebec City. There is much to see in the area, many historic and interesting sites. It can be expensive to live close to downtown Quebec City, but many people choose to commute from Charny, Levis, Lorreteville and other outer communities.

I have heard the statements that Quebec in general "sucks" and is full of rude people, etc. I have never seen that myself. Montreal does have a few rude people, but Quebec City prides itself on being a tourist city and is friendly and accomodating in general.

Just remember...You will always have a few "rotten apples" in the barrel, whether it is someone trolling on Yahoo! Answers to say bad things or someone in that town who had a bad day.

As for Vancouver, I have heard the weather is great, but parts of the city are developing high crime rates and drug use, especially around Mount Pleasant or East Hastings area. Of course, many cities have that problem (example: Montreal around Cote-Des-Neiges and Lachine are a little worn down or have high crime)

So your decision (if Vancouver vs Quebec City are the only choices) would probably come down to:

Language:

- Vancouver is mostly English with asian languages quite common

- Quebec is mainly French, but English is understood by many residents

Climate:

- Vancouver will have a much more agreeable temperature all year round with very little snow, but cooler summers.

- Quebec gets lots of snow (Dec-Feb) and cold, and summers get hot and muggy (Jul-Aug)

Employment:

- Both cities have businesses that are hiring, but you may have more opportunities in Vancouver.

Costs:

- Rent would probably be lower in Quebec City suburbs than in Vancouver area.

Crime:

- Quebec City was ranked one of the safest cities in Canada, with only 640 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2006.

- Vancouver averaged 1089 violent crimes per 100,000 people in that same period.

- Quebec City also had less than half the amount of property crimes (vandalism, car theft, burglaries) than Vancouver in 2006.

Hope this information helps. And as for your French being different than the one spoken in Quebec, if you are learning the version they use in France, you will still be understood here in Quebec. You will just have an accent that makes it sound like you are originally from Europe.

Answer 2

Maybe plan a trip sometime prior to your move to both Quebec City and Vancouver?  Fly into QC and from there fly to Van and back home.  A week in a place can tell you an awful lot.  

Quebec City is the place to learn French no doubt.  In that city it is the first language and english the second.   Granted Quebecoise is an "accent" and they use different idioms from Parisian french but I've never heard of someone from france not understanding the speech or writing of someone who learned French in quebec!  Face it, some Parisians look down on the way they others speak within France speak too!?  

Quebec has a long history, 400 years this week so much older type stable small type city and yes more culture and more fixed in tradition than the west coast.  They have a definate winter (Nov-Apr)  cold. Montreal is more cosmopolitan and more bi-lingual as an alternate in Quebec.

Vancouver consistently ranks the one best places in the world to live.  The oceans and mountains make an outdoor paradise and the climate is reasonable. Its a real multiculture mix here but if French is your main desire to learn you won't do it here.  Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi yes but French is like 3% or less.  It rains all winter but it rarely goes below freezing so snows once or twice and hangs for a couple days at worst.

Economically,  BC has a very strong economies and Quebec well...not so much.

Cost wise... Quebec City downtown would be cheaper rent wise than Vancouver but it depends where you want to live.  Downtown Vancouver are very pricey as are North Shore and West Van.   But if you don't have to work downtown the Fraser Valley area..about 30-60 minutes from Vancouver like Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack areas are much more reasonable rents and still easy access to all west coast offers outdoors wise.  Tourists are limited pretty much to downtown too. More like suburban/small towns

try looking apt./house rents in the various areas at

http://www.vancouversun.ca

Answer 3

Alright.

I adore Quebec City! It's a fully bilingual city, and it is gorgeous, with very hospitable people and it's packed with culture!

Vancouver is also beautiful, but you're right, that real estate is crazy expensive there.

A few other absolutely beautiful cities in Canada are:

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island - Beautiful beaches and hills, lots of history.

Kingston, Ontario - Lots of history and culture.

St. Johns, Newfoundland - Right by the ocean, smaller, but still a lovely city.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - You see for miles around on the outskirts. Really friendly, decent job and real estate markets.

Jasper, Alberta - Very beautiful, and less tourist-y than Banff

Victoria, BC - Near Vancouver, very temperate weather, history, and gorgeous city altogether.

French is quite different from the Quebecois style. It's easier to understand if you speak French, but there are many difference, especially in terminology.

Hope I helped and good luck!