Moving from the UK next spring, in Vancouver end of Jan. Looking for advice.

[u/sp_ventures]

Hey all, I’m moving over from the UK next spring. Before that I’m out for a couple of weeks at the end of January.

About me, mid 30s, work in tech and now doing my own thing, building software and consulting, which is going well. Just hoping not to turn up in spring knowing no one.

So two things really if you'd like to help. Any founder/business meetups or groups worth going to around the end of January? And more generally, where do people in their 30s actually make friends there? I’m a huge fan of hiking (and running from imaginary bears/moose), plus an avid heel slide hero on greens.

I’ve had some great times coming out to Canada the last few years, usually Alberta and the Okanagan, so it’d be good to chat to anyone who’s actually made the move too.

Thanks all!

P.S. keeping tim bits from the world is just mean.

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[u/MyHeadIsFullOfFuck]

urbanrec is a good way to meet other sporty people

[u/sp_ventures → u/MyHeadIsFullOfFuck]

Appreciate it, I'd probably limit my sporty-ness to Hiking and snowboarding, plus gyms currently. I assume lifting a drink also counts too.

[u/Usual_Permission_841 → u/sp_ventures]

Just popping on to also recommend UrbanRec. Vancouver is less social at the pub and more social with organized activities. Think of it as a social club, join something you haven’t done before like spike ball or dodgeball.

[u/MyHeadIsFullOfFuck → u/sp_ventures]

there are a few facebook groups also for expats from the UK and ireland living in vancouver

[u/dineissauro]

How people make friends? Once a month there is a post about this and how to date in Vancouver

Regarding founder business meetups, check Vancouver Tech Journal and Luna

[u/Accomplished_Job_778 → u/dineissauro]

Once a month? More like once a day (minimum)

[u/sp_ventures → u/Accomplished_Job_778]

I'm glad I could keep the statistic going. I'll scroll for the other posts too! Thanks

[u/slapbumpnroll]

If you like hiking you’re coming to the right place! I’d say LinkedIn and X are good places to look up YVR side meetings, tech groups, there’s definitely some around.

Enjoy the good pubs while you have em that’s something you won’t really get here easily.

Good luck!

[u/sp_ventures → u/slapbumpnroll]

Appreciate this, I'll have search for them. Also, I think a £800 flight is reasonable for a quick pint...

[u/BoneyTaloney]

Welcome to Canada mate!

Vancouver is not a social city. I'd actually say it's the rudest city I've lived in. This is coming from someone whose lived in every major city in Canada, and my experience is that Vancouver is the most challenging for a newcomer to make friends by far.

When my GF and I moved here, we had some friends already around, so we've made some of our connections through them.

Vancouver is not at all comparable to the Okanagan, Alberta, or even to a different city like Toronto, where people are, in a general sense much more pleasant and easygoing.

You might consider joining some clubs or signing yourself up for classes and simply being the one to go first with people.

Good luck!

[u/powered_by_eurobeat → u/BoneyTaloney]

I was just in Toronto and agree Vancouver is a hard place to meet or even talk to people. But I don't think there's anything wrong with that. People here are happy enough and don't need newcomers to move here for friends that will likely just move away in a few years anyway. The type of people that move here are also hard to talk to as well, unless you just want to talk about hiking or mountain biking, or your job, or the same old stories about the British word for this or that.

[u/sp_ventures → u/BoneyTaloney]

Thanks for the heads up - I'm sure I can win a few people round! I'm hoping to make some connections before I go too so I'm a little less out on a limb. BC having the mountains and sea, with the large city is a main draw.

[u/BoneyTaloney → u/sp_ventures]

the large city is a main draw.

Vancouver really isn't that large. The "big city" feel is more of an Urban crawl. Not sure where you're coming from in the UK, but London for e.g. would make Vancouver feel like a village. So would Toronto.

But yes, the nature we have here is world class, when the weather cooperates!