Suburban living on the
BY JESSICA BLUMEL
North Shore
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I grew up on the North Shore of
Vancouver and, even though I moved
away for five years, here I find myself
raising my children back on the outskirts
of our beautiful YVR. There’s just something
about the lifestyle that draws me here and
keeps me here!
Although I love ‘city’ life and all that
downtown Vancouver has to offer,
suburban living definitely has its perks.
From the dimly lit side-streets to the quiet
evenings in our backyard, I feel worlds
away from the buzz of the city and, with
that, I feel a certain calm. My husband
and I had a few reasons to choose suburban
life over city life when we were ready to
buy our first home together. In no particular
order, here are some of the things I love
most about the suburban living on the
North Shore.
1) The silence and the star-gazing
In the warmer months, we will sit in our
backyard and not hear a single car go
by. I love the peacefulness of a city that
sleeps. Because of the reduced lighting
on streets and buildings, we can look
up at the night sky and watch the stars
appear one by one.
2) Parks, gardens and greenery
We’re lucky in Vancouver that green-space
is highly valued. On the North Shore we
have the added bonus of hiking trails,
canyons, and rivers to explore. There are
so many great outdoor experiences at our
doorstep, waiting to be enjoyed.
3) Accessibility to local mountains
Another special part of Vancouver is the
fact that we have local mountains begging
us to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, and so
much more. On the North Shore we are
just that much closer to all the fun to be
06 •
had on the slopes and in the snow.
4) Housing costs
Vancouver is one of the most desirable
places to live in the world! Housing costs
reflect this well-known fact and owning
a home in this beautiful city of ours is
definitely not as feasible as it was in the
past. While homes on the North Shore
are not inexpensive, suburban real estate
generally comes with a smaller price tag
and larger square footage.
While I would love the ability to step out
our front door and find a coffee shop a
few steps away, I do love the suburban
quaintness of all the little neighbourhoods
on the North Shore. With two young
children, this lifestyle really suits our
family’s needs and we are grateful for our
home with outdoor space to roam free.
I have to admit though, that it is nice to
know we are only a fifteen-minute drive
away from all the great shopping,
restaurants and excitement of the city.
It is a privilege to live in Greater
Vancouver, whether it is right downtown
or one of the great surrounding cities.
I’d say we’re pretty darn lucky!
Jessica Blumel is an elementary
school teacher and the publisher
of NorthShoreMama.ca. She has two
daughters who are doing their best to
keep her on her toes.