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Love Where You Live: The Sweet Life in the Vancouver Suburbs

Love Where You Live: The Sweet Life in the Vancouver Suburbs

I’m the Content Manager for VancouverMom.ca. This mean’s I’m responsible for ensuring that there’s top-quality content on our website, that our newsletter is written each week, and that we keep the conversation going on Facebook and Twitter. I keep urban moms in the know about what’s happening in their city, and help you love where you live. I have a confession to make, though: I am not an urban mom. The truth is, I live in Coquitlam.

Like many suburbanites, I chose to live here because my husband and I could afford to buy a house. To my great happiness, I’ve discovered that the suburbs actually have a whole lot to offer. Today, I’m sharing what I love about life in my part of Metro Vancouver. I hope it will get you thinking about why you love where you live, too.

Love Where You Live: Raising a Family in the Suburbs

Love where you live Scenic view of Shoreline Trail boardwalk

  1. Nature’s all around. Greater Vancouver is surrounded by mountains and water, and my house in Coquitlam is just that much closer to the wilderness that’s all around us. I’m within easy driving distance of Belcarra Park, White Pine Beach, Buntzen Lake and Minnekhada Park, and I’m within walking distance of Port Moody’s Shoreline Trail, which extends along Burrard Inlet. The natural beauty of this region is simply amazing.
  2. IKEA. Both of Metro Vancouver’s IKEA stores are located in the suburbs, and one of them is right here in Coquitlam. When I’m having a hard day, I take the kids to IKEA where they can play in Smaland for an hour while I wander the store, and then we all have some meatballs for lunch, or stop off for an ice cream cone. It’s cheap, and fun for everyone.
  3. Love where you live Outside the Place des ArtsCulture. No, really. Many people have a preconceived notion that there’s no such thing as culture in the suburbs. Not so. Place des Arts offers a variety of art, music and dance classes for all ages. They also have amazing Spring Break and Summer Camps, and Pro-D Day activities for children. And Evergreen Cultural Centre’s Family Series offers a number of great theatre experiences for all ages, plus concerts and shows for grown-ups, too.
  4. Festivals and events. While Vancouver offers a greater variety of festivals and events, there are some great options in the suburbs. The annual Golden Spike Days Festival at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody is a local favourite, and with good reason. The BC Highland Games are held each June at Coquitlam’s Percy Perry Stadium, and the Festival du Bois is the place to celebrate Francophone culture in March at Coquitlam’s Mackin Park. Community celebrations all across Metro Vancouver make it easy to love where you live, whether city or suburb.
  5. My back yard. As I explained, I moved to the suburbs because I could afford to buy a house here. With a house, I also got a fenced back yard. That yard provides a safe play space, room for a garden and wading pool in the summer, and a sunny patio where I can sit and read a book. We don’t need to pack for a trip to the park to get in a little outside time, which is a major perk for me.
  6. The city’s nearby. Let’s face it, suburbs only exist because there’s a city nearby. In my case, within 30 or 40 minutes – or less if I take the West Coast Express – I can be in Vancouver, enjoying the great things a city has to offer. It’s an easy enough drive that we can head into the Vancouver Aquarium or Science World on a whim, or while away a Saturday on Granville Island. Living in the suburbs is about having access to what the city has to offer, while enjoying a quieter lifestyle at home.

Of course, there are downsides to living in the suburbs. The transit isn’t as good, and most neighbourhoods aren’t as walkable. You have to search a little harder to find gluten-free baked goods or a great vintage clothing shop. They’re here, though, if you’re willing to look. In the eight years since we moved here I’ve learned that it’s possible to really love where you live, whether you’re in the city or you’re rocking out in Coquitlam with your family.

See Also

Why do you love where you live? Leave a comment and share your own love letter to your neighbourhood.

View Comments (2)
  • I love to live in my neighbourhood, West Vancouver. It is within 10 minutes to downtown and far enough away to give you the small town feel that I love so much. The schools are some of the best in the province, there’s a great shopping district, and the best part is having our own seawall to enjoy with our canine friends in tow. Yes, it is pricey to buy a house here (the most expensive in the country), but there’s a reason for that. It simply is “Pleasantville”!

  • We are moving in Vancouver next year and until now I don’t know where to look for a place to stay. I have 2 children both playing violin and drum. My daughter loves basketball and my son loves football. Same like you, we can’t afford to live in metro Vancouver. I just want my family especially for my kids to have a smooth transition…..thanks for this article.

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