Is BC's Sunshine Coast too small?
What you give up and what you get in return
We recently received an email with some frequently asked questions.
Q: My husband and I want to move to the Sunshine Coast. Our adult daughter and her partner won’t even consider it as they think it’s too small. They love the outdoors but are concerned about giving up things like restaurants and live music. They’re also worried there aren’t any young people on the Sunshine Coast.
A: When we moved to Gibsons, we traded the unlimited choices of a big city for easy access to the beach and the ocean and waterfalls and hiking. Really, the main draws of the Sunshine Coast are the proximity to the outdoors, and the beautifully mild winters. I like the smallness because there's not really any traffic and what's considered busy or crowded in Gibsons is light years away from busy and crowded in Edmonton.
What we gave up when we moved
There were endless options in Edmonton but we rarely took advantage of them. We found ourselves driving on the same roads to shop at the same stores and eat at the same restaurants. Even though we lived in a big city, we only used the small town-sized portion of it that was closest to home.
There's no Boston Pizza or Best Buy or Costco or Superstore on the Sunshine Coast. There aren't any nightclubs or trendy bars. There are no professional sports teams. Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift are never going to do a concert here.
What we got in return
But the Sunshine Coast does have Domino's Pizza and London Drugs and a Your Independent Grocer. Amazon delivers here. There are local pubs and craft breweries and Mexican restaurants and sushi and food trucks. The local Legions host live music and events like Name That Tune and Bob Ross painting parties. There's a movie theatre in Gibsons and another in Sechelt.
The Sunshine Coast has local sporting events like Keats Chop, drag racing three times each summer at Sechelt Airport, Attack of Danger Bay, and this will be the first season of Gibsons' new PJHL hockey team. The Sleepy Hollow Rod Run is each August. There are badminton clubs and paddling clubs and hiking clubs. Lots of clubs. So many clubs.
You can't throw a rock on the Sunshine Coast without hitting a musician. Gibsons has a jazz festival and Pender Harbour has its Blues Festival. Each summer, Gibsons has Music in the Landing which is free music in the park performed by local artists.
Proximity to Vancouver
If big concerts and top tier pro sports and outlet malls are important, Vancouver's a ferry ride away. When we moved here, we thought we'd regularly spend time in Vancouver. I think we've had two "hang out" days in the city since we moved here 10 years ago. Most of our trips to Vancouver are to run a specific errand and we can't wait to drive onto the ferry and get back to the slower paced Sunshine Coast.
What about “young people?”
You'll find people of all ages on the Sunshine Coast but there are more middle-aged and retirees than "young" people. My friend group is 40 to 60+ years old. Val's more social and outgoing and has friends in their 20s up to 80+. People here want to be friendly and make connections so a little effort goes a long way. If you want to meet people around your own age, you’ll find them, but you have to take it upon yourself to join clubs or groups. If you have kids, you’ll quickly make friends with other parents.
Test drive the Sunshine Coast
Take a one week holiday to the Sunshine Coast. Start by checking out hikes and beaches and then use the weekend to check out our version of local nightlife. Strike up conversations at restaurants and at hiking trails and on the ferry. Ask people how hard it is to make friends and where young people hang out and what they like and don't like about the Sunshine Coast. You'll quickly find out if the Sunshine Coast is for you.
The (unsolicited) piece of advice I'd offer anyone considering moving to the Sunshine Coast is that wherever you live now isn't going anywhere. If you visit and think, "Well, MAYBE the Sunshine Coast would be OK," you should try it. Rent a place and escape winter for a year. If you don't like it, you can always go back home.
When you’re ready to make the move
If you spend some time here and decide it's the answer to your relocation prayers, Val's a REALTOR® and would be happy to answer any of your questions about housing on BC's Sunshine Coast. 👉 https://vallabrecque.ca
Connect with Val & Paul
We're Val and Paul and we're a married couple who live on BC's Sunshine Coast! We moved from Alberta to Gibsons in 2014 and love our life on Canada's West Coast! Subscribe to our YouTube channel and email newsletter and you'll learn what it's like to live in the most beautiful place in Canada.
Val Labrecque is a REALTOR® with RE/MAX City Realty Gibsons.
