Province guide
Retiring in British Columbia
Start with the 7 places we’ve profiled so far. Each guide covers everyday life, what to consider and retirement residences to explore.

Southern Vancouver Island
Victoria
Gardens, ocean air and a walkable city centre give Victoria plenty of everyday appeal. Choose your neighbourhood carefully and budget beyond the view.

Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island
Sidney
Sidney combines a compact, largely flat centre with waterfront walks and bookshop browsing. It is a small town where the everyday route is part of the attraction.

Eastern Vancouver Island
Nanaimo
A working harbour, waterfront paths and inland lakes give Nanaimo several versions of retirement living. The right address matters more than the postcard.

Oceanside, Vancouver Island
Parksville
Big beaches and a smaller town make Parksville an appealing place to slow the day down. Check transport, medical journeys and the details of each care option.

Northeastern Vancouver Island
Campbell River
Discovery Pier, ocean views and nearby forest outings give Campbell River its appeal. Investigate the everyday routes as carefully as the scenery.

South Okanagan
Penticton
Lake walks, the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and South Okanagan outings give Penticton a generous activity list. Plan for summer conditions and everyday transport.

Elk Valley, East Kootenay
Fernie
Fernie’s historic downtown, the Elk River and Fernie Alpine Resort sit inside a ring of Rocky Mountain peaks. Plan for a snowy winter and a drive to the nearest airport.
Photo credits
- Victoria: Victoria harbour - Victoria, British Columbia - 2014.jpg by Blake Handley, CC BY 2.0, 2014. Cropped.
- Sidney: Sidney banner waterfront pier.jpg by Shaundd, CC BY-SA 4.0, 2017. Cropped.
- Nanaimo: Nanaimo Waterfront.jpg by Masterhatch, Public domain. Cropped.
- Parksville: Parksville beach (33075496886).jpg by terri_bateman, CC0 1.0, 2017. Cropped.
- Campbell River: PanoramicCampbellRiver.jpg by Wikioogle=world take over, Public domain. Cropped.
- Penticton: Penticton - Okanagan Lake pano 01.jpg by Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0, 2023. Cropped.
- Fernie: Fernie downtown.jpg by Holger Steinhaus, CC BY-SA 3.0, 2005. Cropped.