Vancouver is 'best place to live'
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Vancouver is the world's best place to live, a survey by the Economist
Intelligence Unit (EIU) has found.
Why Vancouver is the best place to live in Canada
According to the London based Economist Group of Economist magazine fame,
Vancouver is not only the best place to live in Canada but is actually the best
city in the world to live in. There are many organizations that rate the best
place to live, but the Economist ranks high on both the internet and through its
internationally distributed print media.
Interestingly, though the Economist ranked Vancouver as the top city worldwide,
they only ranked Canada in the top 15 of nations. If this seems questionable,
you might find the United Nations 175-country Quality Of Life survey more
accurate. Under this measure Canada has held an incredible decade-long position
as the undisputed best place to live.
The majority of “best place to live” ratings are based on factors such as
political stability, healthcare, income, culture, environment, education,
infrastructure, housing, climate and recreational activities. This list
fluctuates slightly from year to year as top cities in Switzerland and Australia
jockey with Vancouver.
Vancouver is green—not in a severe social or political vein, but quite literally
and naturally green. If you love trees, from most points in the city you are
only a few minutes from several huge, regional parks that are densely forested
and environmentally protected. Most days people can cycle or walk for an hour or
more into these vast and peaceful refuges. The residential neighbourhood's also
have boulevards lined with magnificent, old trees.
Vancouver has water—tons of water, pouring from the skies, surging in from the
ocean, and running by in rivers and streams from surrounding mountains and
lakes. The summers are mostly warm and sunny yet foliage stays green from the
cool precipitation that falls with abandon in the winter and intermittently the
rest of the year. Streets and surroundings are regularly washed clean by our
area’s fresh rains. The salt water that splashes Vancouver shores is temperate
and teaming with sea life while providing a sparkling playground to marine
enthusiasts.
Vancouver also has incredible community; the high standard of living here has
attracted people of all nationalities for decades. The Canadian ideal of a
multicultural society has blossomed on the west coast with colourful cultures
from all over the globe thriving in harmony; there ethnic mix is an example to
the world that peaceful coexistence is possible.
While English is the predominant language, the wide-ranging tongues spoken are
astounding. Just one of the many benefits of this diversity is the incredibly
varied foods available in both restaurants and markets. I’ve probably eaten and
socialized in most of the 175 countries the United Nations trudges
through—without ever leaving this city!
Here it is possible to choose from such dissimilar outdoor activities as skiing,
golfing, hiking, tennis, cycling or sailing, sometimes all on the same day, and
all within the metropolitan area. Theatre, sport, music, art, the list of
entertainment is diverse, endless and even overwhelming. The economy, while
often buoyant, is currently booming.
TOP TEN Source: EIU
Vancouver
Melbourne
Vienna
Geneva
Perth
Adelaide
Sydney
Zurich
Toronto
Calgary
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