I should think this first needs a question ... What would you be doing here??? Each area seems to have a local specialty & your location should reflect your interests, whether it's dirt riding, arts & galleries, farming & farmer's markets, skiing, kayaking, fishing, travel, etc. Where do you stand? We can narrow down a town after that's answered. As for getting off the island, I have a sweet deal with my eye doctor in Vancouver ... he gives me a "Pink Slip' ... a voucher to get 2 driver & escort passes for BC Ferries, 4 trips per year. I haven't paid for a ferry ride since 1998. PM me for details
Are you concerned about value? Prices are going down in Victoria and contrary to what real-estate agents say, they're probably on a long-term and slow downward trend. So if you plan on buying-to-stay, then it's not a problem. But if your'e buying for an investment it's likely a bad idea. If you're attracted by the weather, IMO south-west Oregon or NW California would be a far smarter place to buy. For the price of a home in Victoria you could get 5 or more places there, plus you've got better weather, more interesting scenery, stronger infrastructure, and so on and so on. Culturally Victoria is kind of bland.
I've been here four years and I still don't understand why Victoria has the reputation it has in Canada. I tell people it's Red Deer on the Juan De Fuca Straight, but with fewer and less-interesting jobs, plus everything is overpriced.
So free commuting means being near an airport. Well, that fits just about every place between VCTA & CBRV. Narrowed down to retirement communities, Courtenay would be your northern limit. There are a few places in CBRV, just not as organized. Not that I want to diss my town, but let's tell the truth here. Weather & traffic are other points to consider. Victoria has been cut off numerous time with closures to the Malahat Pass. I would choose the Cowichan Valley if I had another choice. Maybe Chemainus to Mill Bay, 1/2 way between Pat Bay airport & Cassidy. Since I was 7 years old, I haven't lived less than 3 miles from the ocean, so that would be a selling point for me. Airports, less so. What are your priorities? As you might surmise, I'm more into lifestyle that property values. As for riding the GS, I'm sure you would be welcomed anywhere big trailies go.
Why not consider renting for 1/2 a year or so if you feel the housing costs are dropping? Maybe a small condo with your main luggage in a storage compound. Leaves you free to move on if not the right choice. I was lucky enough to work throughout V.I. for 3 years before deciding to move to CBRV (actually, Victoria to Bella Coola)
I have been living here since about 1993-4 and I can't wait to get off the Island. Too expensive for me to retire here. The drivers and traffic is getting worse (especially here in Victoria). They fix poor highway/road design by installing another fucking traffic light. Tired of taking half a day to grab a ferry, ride through the Fraser Valley/cross border to get to the good riding. We are looking at moving to the Cranbrook/eastern B.C. area. Great riding, 4 seasons weather, close to border etc. A couple more years and we're out of here
Deuce makes some very good points about island living. The traffic is getting bad in Victoria, although not as bad as Vancouver, here when when you drive, you go fast slowly. I think between Langford and Duncan there are 20 or so traffic lights on Hwy 1 with an accident occuring every week or so shutting down the highway. Up island could be different but I do know driving through Duncan on Hwy 1 is a real pain. Also besides all the traffic light issues they are making two lane roads into one lane in order to slow people down. For me the fast way to get around is by cycling my bike and utiziing the network of bike routes. Unless you are utilizing what the main draw the island has to offer, that is access to the ocean, there are defintely other options in British Columbia.
I have to laugh when people talk about how bad Vancouver traffic is. 'Vancouver' traffic sucks if you're living in Langley, although isn't that much of an issue if you're in the city. The Colwood Crawl, commuting from West Kelowna to Kelowna, Comox to Courtenay, Ladysmith to Nanaimo- it's all the same crap unless you head to the bush. We have poor community planning, due to everyone 'needing' a 3000ft2 home and three Walmarts. BC has got some amazing country and even more remarkable urban sprawl, and although I get pissed at all the 'other people', at the end of the day, I'm part of the problem too. If and when I ever leave, I think the South Okanagan would be the place to be. Ultimately, if you can live close to where you work, it doesn't matter all that much as BC is pretty cool.
Very true, but he is looking for a place to retire when he quits working. If I was staying to retire on the Island I would be heading over the Malahat looking for a small home (1000 sq.ft) with a big shop/garage in the Cowichan Valley.
Is there any truth to my assumption that there is a bit of a 'weather umbrella' around there, less rain, more sun??
The whole lower Island has a bunch of 'micro climates'. The Cow Valley is one of them hence the proliferation of wineries and farms raising exotic animals and growing great fresh produce. Victoria gets 50% less rain the Vancouver. With the Olympics just across the water helping to push the weather over and around us we have it pretty good moisture wise. The drivers on the other hand are from another world . That topic has been beaten to death on an old thread so we won't go there.
Cumberland is my next move. Mountain biking is amazing, lake is nice, close to a good airport and the wife can go to Costco without driving four hours. Cranbrook is AB cold, less snow than the west Kootenays, higher crime, housing is getting more expensive (but still cheaper than Nelson). But at least it has an airport that works.
Parksville or Nanoose might be another place to poke around. More retirement people & facilities. Close to Qualicum airport. Any travel agreements with KD Air? Still not too close/far from Cassidy. Services seem adequate, close to Nanaimo, Pt Alberni & lots of backroads. Close enough to get together with us in CR for a coffee & ride. Weather is definitely better there than here.
Victoria gets much less rain in the summer months, although pretty close to Vancouver in the winter. My first year at UVic I think I saw more rain in two weeks than I had seen in my entire life combined. While there are some drier areas on the leeward side of the island (rainshadow effect) and from the Olympic range in the US, ultimately the climate is dictated by the Pacific and Salish Sea... wet. That said, the Port Alberni valley is the anomaly and gets stinking hot in the summer.
I read somewhere once, the warmest annual average temperature in Canada is Honeymoon Bay, Lake Cowichan. Wish I could remember the reference to add some credibility to that statement.
http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/auth/english/learningresources/facts/superweather.html http://www.livingin-canada.com/canadian-climates.html Osoyoos weather, The climate, according to the Köppen climate classification, is semi-arid (BSk)<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-World_Map_of_the_K.C3.B6ppen-Geiger_climate_classification_updated_11-0>[12]</SUP> with summers that are generally hot and dry. The result is one of the longest growing seasons in Canada and the highest annual average maximum temperature anywhere in the country.<SUP class=Template-Fact style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[citation needed]</SUP> Daily temperatures in July and August average above 30°C (86°F), with overnight lows of around 14°C (57°F) with low humidity. September and October are usually dry and sunny with cool mornings. Winters are short and mild, but can be cold for brief periods during arctic outflow conditions. Spring arrives earlier than other parts of the Okanagan. The table below includes temperature records for the "Osoyoos CS" station (with records from 19902011), and precipitation values from the "Osoyoos West" station (with records from 19712001). It is important to note that these temperature records are only go back as far as 1990, meaning that higher and lower extremes have likely occurred. Of note, the town of Oliver just over 20 km north of Osoyoos reached 43.9°C on July 16, 1941 the same day that Lytton and Lillooet hit the highest temperature ever recorded in British Columbia of 44.4°C.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-Environment_Canada_12-0>[13]</SUP> It is quite possible that on this day that Osoyoos met or surpassed this record as Osoyoos tends to be warmer than Oliver.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-Environment_Canada_12-1>[13]</SUP> Numerous websites peg annual sunshine at 2039 hours, however no site sources this fact, it is relatively consistent with other Okanagan communities.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-Environment_Canada_12-2>[13]</SUP> It is important to note that the area's climate is variable depending on elevation, for instance, a climate station 25 km northeast of the town in the mountains, records an annual average snowfall of 650 cm.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-13>[14]</SUP> During the summer months, the southern Okanagan Valley is among the hottest areas in Canada, and Osoyoos often reaches the highest daytime temperature of any location in Canada.<SUP class=Template-Fact style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[citation needed]</SUP> Temperatures typically reach the upper 30s (Celsius) (95-104°F) in the summer for short periods of time.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca_14-0>[15]</SUP> Although it is hot, the humidity is low and nights are generally pleasant. Winters are generally dry and cool, but are usually mild compared to directly adjacent regions. <TABLE class="wikitable collapsible" id=collapsibleTable0 style="FONT-SIZE: 90%; MARGIN: auto; WIDTH: 90%; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.1em; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><TBODY><TR><TH colSpan=14>[hide]Climate data for Osoyoos</TH></TR><TR><TH>Month</TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=January>Jan</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=February>Feb</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=March>Mar</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=April>Apr</ABBR></TH><TH>May</TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=June>Jun</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=July>Jul</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=August>Aug</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=September>Sep</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=October>Oct</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=November>Nov</ABBR></TH><TH><ABBR class=abbr title=December>Dec</ABBR></TH><TH style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: medium">Year</TH></TR><TR><TH height=16>Record high °C (°F)</TH><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffa54b; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">17.5 (63.5)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffa852; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">17 (63)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff6e00; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">25.4 (77.7)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff3b00; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">32.8 (91.0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff2500; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">36.1 (97.0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff0b00; COLOR: #ffffff; TEXT-ALIGN: center">39.9 (103.8)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ed0000; COLOR: #ffffff; TEXT-ALIGN: center">42.8 (109.0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #fc0000; COLOR: #ffffff; TEXT-ALIGN: center">41.7 (107.1)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff1b00; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">37.5 (99.5)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff5600; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">28.9 (84.0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff8c1a; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">21.1 (70.0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffb76f; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">14.9 (58.8)</TD><TD style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: medium; FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ed0000; COLOR: #ffffff; TEXT-ALIGN: center">42.8 (109.0)</TD></TR><TR><TH height=16>Average high °C (°F)</TH><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #f1f1ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">1.9 (35.4)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #fff3e7; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">6.2 (43.2)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffc993; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">12.3 (54.1)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffa349; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">17.7 (63.9)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff8001; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">22.9 (73.2)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff6700; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">26.5 (79.7)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff4400; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">31.5 (88.7)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff4900; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">30.9 (87.6)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ff6e00; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">25.5 (77.9)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffae5d; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">16.2 (61.2)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffead6; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">7.4 (45.3)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #f0f0ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">1.8 (35.2)</TD><TD style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: medium; FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffaa55; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">16.8 (62.2)</TD></TR><TR><TH height=16>Average low °C (°F)</TH><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #d0d0ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−4.1 (24.6)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #d7d7ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−2.8 (27.0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e6e6ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−0.1 (31.8)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #f9f9ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">3.4 (38.1)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffe6ce; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">8.0 (46.4)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffcd9b; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">11.7 (53.1)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffba75; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">14.5 (58.1)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffbf80; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">13.7 (56.7)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffdfbf; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">9.1 (48.4)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #fafaff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">3.7 (38.7)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e3e3ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−0.6 (30.9)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #d2d2ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−3.7 (25.3)</TD><TD style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: medium; FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #fefeff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">4.4 (39.9)</TD></TR><TR><TH height=16>Record low °C (°F)</TH><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #7272ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−21.5 (−6.7)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #7575ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−20.9 (−5.6)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #a8a8ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−11.5 (11.3)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #bfbfff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−7.3 (18.9)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #c4c4ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−6.3 (20.7)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #f3f3ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">2.3 (36.1)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #fff3e8; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">6.1 (43.0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #fcfcff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">4.0 (39.2)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #dfdfff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−1.3 (29.7)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #b1b1ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−9.8 (14.4)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #8b8bff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−16.9 (1.6)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #7171ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−21.7 (−7.1)</TD><TD style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: medium; FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #7171ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">−21.7 (−7.1)</TD></TR><TR><TH height=16>Precipitation mm (inches)</TH><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #d5d5ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">27.8 (1.094)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #d5d5ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">25.5 (1.004)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ddddff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">22.5 (0.886)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #dadaff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">23.5 (0.925)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #c7c7ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">37.4 (1.472)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #c7c7ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">35.9 (1.413)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #dadaff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">24.3 (0.957)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #dfdfff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">21.2 (0.835)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e6e6ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">16.1 (0.634)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e5e5ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">17.1 (0.673)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #cdcdff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">32.1 (1.264)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ccccff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">34.2 (1.346)</TD><TD style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: medium; FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #d6d6ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">317.6 (12.504)</TD></TR><TR><TH height=16>Rainfall mm (inches)</TH><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ededff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">11.9 (0.469)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e1e1ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">17.9 (0.705)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e0e0ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">20.3 (0.799)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #dadaff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">23.4 (0.921)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #c7c7ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">37.4 (1.472)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #c7c7ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">35.9 (1.413)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #dadaff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">24.3 (0.957)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #dfdfff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">21.2 (0.835)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e6e6ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">16.1 (0.634)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e5e5ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">16.8 (0.661)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #d7d7ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">25.8 (1.016)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #e5e5ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">17 (0.67)</TD><TD style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: medium; FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ddddff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">267.9 (10.547)</TD></TR><TR><TH height=16>Snowfall cm (inches)</TH><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #1212ff; COLOR: #ffffff; TEXT-ALIGN: center">15.9 (6.26)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #8181ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">7.7 (3.03)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #dedeff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">2.2 (0.87)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">0 (0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">0 (0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">0 (0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">0 (0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">0 (0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">0 (0)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #fafaff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">0.3 (0.12)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #9e9eff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">6.3 (2.48)</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #0000fc; COLOR: #ffffff; TEXT-ALIGN: center">17.3 (6.81)</TD><TD style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: medium; FONT-SIZE: 85%; BACKGROUND: #c0c0ff; COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center">49.6 (19.53)</TD></TR><TR><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; TEXT-ALIGN: center" colSpan=14>Source: Environment Canada<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-climate_15-0>[16]</SUP></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Average number of days:<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca_14-1>[15]</SUP> above 20°C (68°F): 154.8 (Max number of days, 1994: 174) Compared to averages 74.6 in Vancouver,<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-ReferenceA_16-0>[17]</SUP> 85.5 in Calgary<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-ReferenceB_17-0>[18]</SUP> and 118 in Toronto.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-ReferenceC_18-0>[19]</SUP> above 30°C (86°F): 53.7 (Max number of days, 1994: 78) Compared to averages 0.44 in Vancouver,<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-ReferenceA_16-1>[17]</SUP> 4.5 in Calgary<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-ReferenceB_17-1>[18]</SUP> and 12.6 in Toronto.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-ReferenceC_18-1>[19]</SUP> Oliver,,,,,that's where I'm going to retire!!!!! Steve