We’re Moving to Vancouver
Sylvie and I decided that, in one year from now, we’re moving to beautiful Vancouver, British-Columbia. For a variety of reasons, the most important of which is that we hate the cold. No more winters! No more snow! (Well, Vancouver does have mountains with snow. But the beauty is that we can rollerblade down the streets and go to Whistler to ski, all in the same January day.)
We are originally from Ottawa. In fact, Sylvie and I are both of French Canadian descent. I was born right across the river, in a small town of Aylmer, Québec (now “Gatineau”).
I grew up there, and moved to Ottawa in my mid-20’s during my last marriage. The reason? Well, Québec had French-only language laws. My ex-wife, at the time, couldn’t speak any French. So we moved to Ontario where English is predominant.
I fell in love with Ottawa ever since.
It’s a beautiful city, and a lot to do here. But I also hate the cold. I remember when I used to write copy for Corey Rudl, I was loving in Vancouver for a while to work with his company. And I had a beautiful apartment near English Bay.
My favorite pub was The Lamp Lighters in Gas Town. Why? Because, being a musician, I love watching live bands. (Still do.) And right across the road is The Blarney Stone, one of my favorite Irish Pubs.
Sylvie, on the other hand, was born in Montreal but moved and was raised in Florida. She doesn’t speak any French, although she understands me quite clearly when I speak in French to her. (She only responds in English.) And yes, Sylvie also did live in Vancouver (actually, just outside Vancouver) for a few months, too.
So we both were bitten by the Vancouver bug.
We need to wait another year so that our eldest can finish high school (she’s 16). So in another year, we’ll move to Vancouver. I’m hoping to move in the same area. That is, the west-end (English Bay area). It’s beautiful. On one side, you see beaches and the Pacific ocean, and on the other side, the Rocky Mountains. Absolutely stunning site!
A lot of our friends and great Internet marketers still live and work there, including Randy Charach, Corey (his company), Derek Gehl, Alice Seba, Michael Ruge, Michael Campbell, and many others.
A lot of great musicians and bands come from Vancouver, too. Plus, Vancouver is Host City of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and also one of its most livable cities. As their website says:
It is renowned for being innovative and on leading edge of ideas. And it is recognized as a leader in the areas of sustainability and accessibility/inclusivity.
If you live in Vancouver, drop us a line! We need help to find a place and get around. Although we both have a solid knowledge of Vancouver, we’d love to have friends help us out and find an apartment. The whole family is moving there, and so we’ll need 4 bedrooms, including office space.
If you know of any place or can keep an eye out for rentals opening up in the west-end, please let us know!
Comment by Sheila & Bob Martin on April 18th, 2006
Hi Sylvie and Michel,
Great decision! We will be happy to welcome you to LotusLand.
Greater Vancouver is a hot bed of Infopreneurs. As well as the folks you’ve mentioned, there are many others, including our friends James & Arlene Martell (in South Surrey), Sherman Hu (in Abbotsford), Jack Hughes (White Rock), and more.
I keep saying I’m going to organize a BC Internet Marketers Picnic at the Beach. If I do, I’ll be sure to let you both know.
Cheers,
Sheila
Comment by Michel on April 20th, 2006
Thanks, Sheila. Ya, it’s going to be great moving there. I have hayfever, and springtime is atrocious for me. When I was in Vancouver, it was so liberating. We can’t wait! And a picnic is a dandy idea.
Comment by Kelly McCausey on April 24th, 2006
I’m jealous you two!
I asked my son yesterday where he wants to live when he is grown and he said wherever he can snowboard everyday. LOL! Would Vancouver work?
Comment by Michel Fortin on April 24th, 2006
That’s funny, Kelly. Sylvie’s son is a skateboard/snowboard fanatic. And precisely for this reason (among others) we’re moving there. He can skateboard one day and snowboard the next. Whenever he feels like it. His blog is on the links list on this site. (He’s a big Tony Hawk fan, whoever that is LOL!)
Comment by Andrew Cavanagh on April 30th, 2006
Hi Michael,
One of my friends, Robin Elliot, lives in Vancouver and is possibly the best connected businessman alive.
He has a group called the JV forum which includes quite a few very successful business people (including Dan Lok) in Canada.
I’m sure he would know someone out there.
Also one of my clients and friends there, Donna Willon, runs the well known focused networking groups.
This group has plenty of real estate agents.
I’m sure I can put you in touch with someone who’ll go out of their way to help you out in Vancouver.
Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh
Comment by Alice Seba on May 2nd, 2006
WOOHOO! This better make it official. I’m so excited. Sylvie will have to come to some of mine and Sheila’s girl afternoon out lunches…and maybe we’ll invite Michel sometimes too.
Kelly…nope you can’t snowboard all year-round right in Vancouver, but it wouldn’t be too far to take a helicopter for year-round heliboarding. Tell your son to start saving his money now!
Comment by Carolyn Phillips on May 11th, 2006
Congratulation!
For your wedding gift for you and Sylvie, I would like to give you a free website where you can upload all of your precious memories, then make them into albums and other fun things. Your pictures will be backed up and archived and saved forever in a granite vault. Send me an e-mail address that you want associated with this FREE for life storage website. It costs you nothing. I would like to correspond personally with you. Do you have a site that I could write to?
Thanks,
Carolyn Phillips
Comment by Dennis Gerik on July 14th, 2006
This is GREAT news… Michel & Sylvie, The Pacific Northwest will be better for you guys being here.
Tracey and I made the move back to Seattle two years ago (I’m a native Texan) and we have never looked back… We love it up here.
So, now we will just have to get some events organized up here in either Seattle and/or Vancouver and get people to come check our beautiful corner of the world
Dennis
Comment by John on August 3rd, 2006
Good news… Michel & Sylvie. I currently live in Vancouver you’ll love it here. Good things to see and do.
I’m familiar with some of the marketers you mentioned above and have a lot of friends at IMC (Derek G) company.
Good luck and have fun.
John U
Comment by Michael Ruge on August 22nd, 2006
give Elly a ring or email Elly@LakeBB.com and she have all the BC baised internet marketers over for a party on us.
sometimes she has cooking competitions … with 2 chef similar to the iron chef on TV
when you see the place you will know why gurus like Mark Victor Hansen , Alex Mandosian , Matt Bacak , warren Whitlock , Randy gilbert and Martin Whales
love the place and plan there VIP meetings AND their vacations here
see you soon
Comment by Elaine on October 12th, 2006
Trés bien!
This is great because I’m probably going to be up in Vancouver in a years time. I’ve had it with being in New York-in the winters, and being near what I feel is a giant target.
Later neighbours!
Elaine