Every September, new students flock to beautiful British Columbia. I moved to Vancouver two years ago from Saskatoon, SK. At first, Vancouver felt nothing like home, making my transition nerve-wracking. I was fearful of living away from home as well as excited for the next chapter. It took me some time to find a new community here and settle in. Whether moving from another province or a different country, here are my tips for moving to BC to make your transition as easy as possible!
Transportation:
During my first bus ride in Vancouver, I was so scared I would miss my stop! Thankfully, using transit is super easy and convenient in Vancouver. UBC connects to almost all parts of the city by bus, with a large bus depot on campus. UPass is included in our student fees, and allows you to ride any bus, Skytrain, or Seabus around Metro Vancouver.
Car-share programs like Evo and Modo are great if I am in a hurry. Having a Saskatchewan driver’s license, I did not have to get a new one at ICBC (the office that handles driver’s licenses, car insurance, and Provincial Health Cards) when I moved, since I’m a student. This also holds true for international students while their study permit is valid, although international students will need to get a Provincial Health Card while students from other provinces do not.
There are even more ways to get around the city, like biking, rollerskating, e-scooters etc. Vancouver has a ton of protected bike lanes (meaning you don’t have to cross paths with any cars!) and they often connect with transportation hubs, like Skytrain stations, for longer trips too.
Employment Opportunities:
One of the first things I did when I moved to BC was find a part-time job. UBC has a plethora of opportunities in a variety of fields. The AMS job site is particularly useful, since most of the jobs are located right on campus. WorkLearn positions also provide excellent opportunities for on-campus jobs in research, library services and much more. Fun fact: the Chapman Learning Commons Help Desk is staffed by fellow students in WorkLearn positions!
It can be hard to land a first job, I know! I found it helpful to go to job fairs on campus to connect with recruiters and fast-tracking the hiring process. There are also lots of resources and workshops on everything from writing effective cover letters to how to prep for an interview.
I hope these tips help with any upcoming moves to BC! I would love to hear about your experience moving to BC in the comments below.
