Victoria ranked best small city in Canada in new report
B.C.'s capital has been named the best small city in Canada, according to a new report by bestcities.org.
The report highlighted Victoria's natural amenities, like parks and viewpoints, economic opportunities for remote workers, and food and beverage industries as main reasons why the city topped the list.
Victoria beat out Kelowna, in second place, and Kingston, Ont., in third place to claim the top spot.
Two other Vancouver Island communities made the top 25 list for 2022, including Nanaimo in 20th place and Saanich in 23rd.
METHODOLOGY
The report used Resonance Consultancy to rank the top 25 small cities in Canada.
The ranking used six different metrics, with Victoria ranking first place in the "product" and "programming" categories.
Product refers to a city's infrastructure and attractions, with Resonance citing Victoria's relatively robust airport, growing bike network, and local universities as enticing reasons to visit the city.
In fact, Victoria was considered the second-most educated small city in the country, according to Resonance.
Downtown Victoria is pictured. (CTV News)
Meanwhile, Victoria scored high in the programming category with its reputation for having the most restaurants per capita in Canada, and "one of the highest number of breweries per capita," according to the report.
"This is where craft brewing in Canada was born," says the website.
The City of Gardens also ranked second highest in the "Place" category for its ample parks and scenic views of the coast and nearby mountains.
LOCAL SHORTFALLS
While Victoria scored relatively low for its overall weather, due to its high number of rainy days per year, Resonance pointed out that the city has one of the mildest climates in Canada, with temperatures rarely dipping below freezing in the winters and generally remaining in the 20s during the summer.
What was of greater concern, however, was cost of living in the city. Rent and overall affordability for young people was a notable low point for the city's ranking.
"Average house prices of well over a million dollars—combined with skyrocketing rents and resistance to rezoning—are kryptonite to sustainable population and talent growth," reads the report.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
Man accused of killing two children at Quebec daycare to stand trial in April 2025
The man accused of murdering two children and injuring six others after a city bus crashed into a Montreal-area daycare is scheduled to stand trial over five weeks beginning in April 2025.