11 Best Places To Live In British Columbia
Mountains to sea and everything in between, British Columbia offers a wide range of outdoor opportunities no matter the season. Visitors come to play and often decide to stay. Big city life is easy to find and there are ample diverse small communities so there truly is something for everyone. Known simply as "Beautiful British Columbia," the motto is an understatement of the natural beauty and rich cultures that await.
Ambleside
Located in West Vancouver, the neighbourhood of Ambleside shines as a home base for a world of British Columbia adventures. The community has hillside neighbourhoods and beachfront Ambleside Park, a haven for sailing or just enjoying the view of the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park. Public transportation is easily accessible but biking is encouraged, with access via the Spirit Trail.
The Ambleside Farmers Market is held Sundays, May through October. This area has easy access to healthcare options, dining, and shopping. Each August, the waterfront hosts the Harmony Arts Festival, featuring visual arts, foods, live music, and more.
Dundarave
The seawalk connecting Ambleside and Dundarave runs through another classification within West Vancouver. Dundarave is a walkable community where residents can easily stay active. Dining is king here, with well-known spots like Beach House, whose location has been a fixture for more than 100 years. The community ranks highly for livability, with especially strong marks for employment, schools, and health and safety. The sunset view brings out residents and visitors for memorable evenings all year, even in winter, when the Dundarave Festival of Lights celebrates "the ultimate Canadian Christmas."
Vancouver
For those who love city life, Vancouver has it all. Art, history, culture, food, and shopping are on every corner of this metropolitan rainforest. Find in-town high-rise living, as well as vintage craftsman-style homes nearby. The multicultural city boasts all the amenities of most major centres its size, with healthcare offerings, including BC Children's Hospital, and a robust public transportation system, including the SkyTrain. Vancouver Art Gallery is a centerpiece of downtown, and the city's Stanley Park, a 400-hectare urban park with a seawall trail, offers the best of both worlds. A green oasis just steps away from the city. The Metro Vancouver region, which includes area suburbs, surpassed 3 million people in 2024 according to Statistics Canada.
Squamish
For true outdoor adventurers, Squamish offers the chance to live where you play. Located on the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and ski-haven Whistler, Squamish embraces its rich First Nations history and offers an artsy, fun, small town vibe that invites residents and visitors to stay active and engaged, whether hiking, paddling, or climbing the Stawamus Chief. The community invites residents to connect deeply to the environment, with outdoor activities spanning the seasons. A general hospital offers acute, community, and primary care, and thriving, inclusive educational opportunities support the youngest Squamish residents. The site is also home to more than 1,300 bald eagles that spend the winter along the Squamish River, according to Explore Squamish.
Whistler
About two hours north of Vancouver, Whistler is widely known for its snow skiing opportunities, but this spot in the Coast Mountains spans environments and seasons. Peak views give way to valley forests.
According to Tourism Whistler, the city has about 14,000 permanent residents and welcomes around 3 million visitors each year, with more actually visiting in summer than in the winter months. When the abundant snow melts, people take to the forest, either on foot or, for the past 25-plus years, on the trails of Whistler Mountain Bike Park, which first opened in 1999.
Summer brings the Nourish Whistler Wellness Series, a boon to tourists and residents, with the month of June offering wellness programs focused on art, nature, mindfulness, and nutrition.
North Vancouver
On the north shore of the Burrard Inlet, east of West Vancouver, also near Stanley Park, North Vancouver is a place to call home for people who want easy access to every amenity, while still keeping close to the great outdoors.
The city's population grew by nearly 10% from 2016 to 2021, according to Statistics Canada. Highlights of this area include The Shipyards, a waterfront district that includes dining and arts, like The Polygon Gallery, as well as the 20,000-square-foot Shipyard Commons, a covered space where the community gathers for a wealth of inclusive events. MONOVA, the Museum of North Vancouver, offers programming and exhibits for all ages, and especially welcomes neurodivergent residents at monthly Sensory Friendly Sundays.
Colwood
Colwood is a growing community of 18,961 according to the 2021 census. It is a suburb of Victoria, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
A recent municipal survey showed that 75% of residents use local parks and trails weekly. Construction is underway on a new pedestrian and cycling bridge that will be part of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, a multi-use 55-kilometre trail that runs through Colwood, making the connection even easier for residents. The city has a municipally run healthcare centre, and its residents have access to an abundance of natural beauty. Visitors and residents alike enjoy the view of historic Fisgard Lighthouse, the first lighthouse on Canada's west coast, as well as Hatley Gardens and Hatley Castle, known to movie buffs from "X-Men."
Lynn Valley
A neighbourhood within the district of North Vancouver, Lynn Valley feels like a world all its own, but shopping and dining are just around the corner or at least down the trail.
The overall livability score is excellent, with exceptional marks for amenities, employment, health and safety. Wilderness abounds in this region, with rainforest parks so striking that they are often the settings for movies and TV productions.
Lynn Canyon Park's suspension bridge over Lynn Creek is free to cross and the views run for miles. Hiking here is a must, and trails are busy with locals who know all the best paths. Thoughtful construction, like the community's LEED-certified public library, creates a sustainable community for all.
Bowen Island
Bowen Island, an island municipality within Metro Vancouver, is a ferry ride away from Horseshoe Bay off the Sea to Sky Highway. It offers access and seclusion in equal measure, in a space where the environment is treasured and protected.
A motto quoted by the island's municipality sums up the area's beautiful views and the shared purpose of residents. "Come for the nature. Stay for the community."
According to a 2015 study cited by the Bowen Island Municipality in its community profile, an extraordinary 82% of residents report feeling a sense of belonging. Ferries arrive at Snug Cove, called "the doorway to the island" according to the Bowen Island Museum & Archives, and locals and visitors can find art, local food, and shopping at Artisan Square before heading out for hiking, kayaking, or just a lazy day by the water.
Richmond
Visitors to Vancouver have likely already passed through Richmond. The city is home to Vancouver International Airport and the many businesses that support its operation. But it is much more than a stop on the way to somewhere else.
Richmond is home to diverse cultures and more than 230,000 residents, according to the City of Richmond. It includes islands and a postcard-perfect coastal atmosphere.
The city boasts the longest life expectancy in Canada, citing a report by Statistics Canada, which might be due in no small measure to its outdoor recreation opportunities and parks system.
Richmond is home to Steveston Village, a scenic coastal retreat and working fishing village, and the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, the oldest shipyard community in British Columbia.
Kelowna
The sixth largest city in British Columbia, Kelowna is home to more than 165,000 residents in the Okanagan Valley, according to the City of Kelowna. The city touts an extensive biking network and a community focus on sustainable transportation.
It is home to Kelowna General Hospital, a teaching hospital that is the largest and, according to the city, the most comprehensive hospital in the southern interior of British Columbia.
With the Kelowna International Airport, the city offers easy access for visitors who come, and maybe stay, for the natural beauty and outdoor recreation, the focus on Indigenous culture and local arts, and even the local food and wine.
More than 40 wineries are located in the area, and there are multiple wine trails available, including Sip South East Kelowna, so residents can visit a different spot almost every weekend of the year.
Where The Coast Meets Community
Local flavour in BC is unique to each of its many diverse areas, from seaside villages to rainforest havens. Locals love, respect, and treasure the land and the water and all that they offer, and arts, culture, and education are celebrated. British Columbia is growing for good reason. While the population is most densely concentrated in the southern part of the province, there is a whole region to explore and a lifetime of adventures to find.
