Living in Victoria

About living in Victoria

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, Victoria (population 326,000) is nicknamed "The City of Gardens." Flowers bloom year round here.

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and known for its old-world charm, with narrow streets lined with 19th-century stone buildings. Victoria has a history as a stronghold of British traditions.

Weather

Victoria and the Gulf Islands boast the mildest climate in Canada. Summertime is reliably warm and sunny, with frequent ocean breezes. Temperatures reach average highs in the mid 20's Celsius (70 to 80 Fahrenheit).

In winter, Victoria is the most temperate of all British Columbia (and Canada), with temperatures that rarely dip below 0 Celsius (32 Fahrenheit). It's an odd sight to ever see snow.

Outdoor activities

Victoria has earned a reputation as a mecca for adventurers drawn by the limitless outdoor activities available in the city and throughout the islands. Because of the temperate climate, outdoor activities take place year round, and many people sail, kayak, fish or play golf in January. Beaches are open to the public and even residential areas have public access.

Because Vancouver Island's topography is so varied, you can actually choose your climate. In four hours you can enjoy skiing in the Mount Washington region or make a weekend trip to the world-renowned Whistler ski resort.

For those interested in the bright lights/night life of a big city (and professional sporting events), Vancouver (population over 2 million) and Seattle (in the United States) are both a ferry ride away.

For those of you who may be concerned about the reputation for rainfall that Vancouver gets, don't worry! Victoria is in the "rain shadow" of the U.S. Olympic mountains and receives half the annual rainfall of Vancouver.

Links:

Dr. Rhodes' graduate students have also created a guidebook for new graduate students:
"Top 5 tips for grad students from grad students"