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Listen to the audio of this session:
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The summary below was generated by AI. It may contain errors. Listen to the audio version for the most accurate information.
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Tod and Jocelyn welcomed participants to an informal Q&A about life on Vancouver Island, particularly Nanaimo. They explained they’re not immigration consultants or healthcare workers but longtime residents who can share lived experience about daily life, housing, weather, and community. They encouraged people to use the “raise hand” feature or submit questions by chat. The session was audio recorded and would be summarized later for public sharing.
They also clarified they moved from Metro Vancouver to Nanaimo in 2018, discovering the city as newcomers and choosing to stay because they loved it.
Answer (Jocelyn and Tod):
They grew up in Metro Vancouver and were condo dwellers during the 2018 housing boom, when prices were unsustainable. They explored cities such as Squamish, Kamloops, Comox, and Victoria but found Nanaimo the best mix of affordability and city amenities.
Victoria had Vancouver-level housing prices and bad traffic, while Nanaimo had:
It felt like a real city, not a small town, but without the stress of a major metro area.
Answer (Jocelyn):