Canadian Growth City No. 3: The Riches of Victoria Invite New Residents

Mar 2, 2016

U-Haul Truck Arrivals Spiked 25 Percent in 2015

Victoria is the U-Haul No. 3 Canadian Growth City for 2015

The gardens of Victoria are among Canada’s most beautiful. Credit: Tourism Victoria and Sumeet Wahwa.

Western Canada’s second oldest city, Victoria, remains a new playground for many, according to U-Haul Company’s latest migration trends report.

Victoria claims the No. 3 spot among the U-Haul Top 10 Canadian Growth Cities for 2015.

“People are arriving in Victoria weekly to invest, open businesses and join our entrepreneurial culture,” Mayor Lisa Helps said. “They come to make a life and a living.”

Growth rankings are determined by the net gain of incoming one-way U-Haul truck rentals versus outgoing rentals for the past calendar year. U-Haul locations in this city saw 51.5 percent of truck rental customers coming into the city as opposed leaving.

Tips from the Moving Experts: Living in & Moving to Victoria

Victoria welcomed 25 percent more U-Haul arrivals year-over-year, while its departures were up 12 percent over the same period. The overall spike in U-Haul traffic made one of Canada’s most beautiful destinations a bustling place for do-it-yourself movers.

Quote about Victoria Growth

While U-Haul migration trends don’t correlate directly to population or economic growth, the growth cities data is a strong gauge of how well cities are attracting and keeping residents.

Incorporated in 1862, this city has aged well. Even though it has a lot of old-world charm with its double-decker buses, Victorian architecture, gardens and horse-drawn carriages, it has new-world attractions as well. The city is surrounded by a wealth of stunning ocean views and mountain vistas. More than 3 million people visit Victoria every year to take in all the natural beauty and appealing weather.

As the capital of British Columbia, this city is a centre for business development. It’s anchored by the Inner Harbour and is considered the economic heart of the region. Downtown serves as the employment and entertainment hub for the 360,000 residents of Greater Victoria.

“I am not surprised at the growth for Victoria,” U-Haul Company of Vancouver & Vancouver Island president Michelle Benson said. “We currently have a hot job market with all the new buildings being developed. The word is out that the job market is going to be hot for the next five years with the building permits in place.

“Many people are returning from Alberta as their job market slows. Also, the low dollar value is helping small business in Victoria. We are a tourism destination and with the dollar down, Canadians travel here instead of heading south for the winter.”

This city, which was named the U-Haul No. 9 Canadian Destination City for 2014, is the third of four British Columbia cities to make the Top 10 Growth Cities list for 2015. Continue following the countdown on myuhaulstory.com through March 4 to see the No. 1 city revealed.

Additional photo credits: Parliament Building at Night (thumbnail image) and Horse Drawn Carriage (featured image) by Tourism Victoria and Tyler Ahlgren, respectively.

Victoria growth facts

More on Victoria

  1. Downtown is home to Canada’s oldest Chinatown (and second oldest in North America after San Francisco). It also boasts the world-renowned Inner Harbour, the luxurious Fairmont Empress Hotel and the British Columbia Parliament Buildings.
  2. This city was ranked the No.1 Island in the Continental U.S. and Canada in the 2015 Travel & Leisure World’s Best Awards.
  3. Do-it-yourself movers in Victoria have the convenience to two full-service, U-Haul-owned stores in the city: U-Haul Moving & Storage at Queens Ave. (644 Queens Ave.) and U-Haul Moving & Storage of Victoria (776-790 Topaz Ave.). There also are six Victoria businesses in the U-Haul dealer network ready to meet the customer’s moving needs.

Quotable

  • “Lifestyle and climate keep people coming and staying in Victoria. We have great weather all year long. Victoria is a very picturesque city with lots to do. You can be a tourist in your own town with a small budget. It’s also known as the fittest city in Canada with cycling, walking, hiking and kayaking. It has been ranked among Canada’s best places to retire. The New York Times recently published this area of Canada as a must-see destination in the world.” — Michelle Benson, president of U-Haul Company of Vancouver & Vancouver Island

What was your favorite thing about visiting or living in this city?  Share in the comments!

More articles like this one…

What’s New

Community Spirit: U-Haul Volunteers Help at André House

Community Spirit: U-Haul Volunteers Help at André House

Over half a million people face food insecurity in Maricopa County. Local nonprofits work daily to address this ongoing concern, but could not service those in need with the commitment of community and business members who choose to step up and help. U-Haul...

U-Haul Volunteers Gain Satisfaction from Service at St. Mary’s

U-Haul Volunteers Gain Satisfaction from Service at St. Mary’s

U-Haul® volunteers recently helped St. Mary’s Food Bank put a fresh spin on its mission to provide food for people in need across Arizona. Thanks to St. Mary’s partnership with meal-kit company HelloFresh®, people facing food insecurity can now receive both an...

Texas Panhandle Wildfires: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage

Texas Panhandle Wildfires: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage to residents impacted by the wildfires across the Texas panhandle. The Smokehouse Creek Fire started on Monday and has burned more than 1 million acres. It’s the largest in the state’s...

U-Haul and ACS Join Forces in Climb to Conquer Cancer

U-Haul and ACS Join Forces in Climb to Conquer Cancer

The Climb to Conquer Cancer of Phoenix is the American Cancer Society’s largest single-day climb event in the world. Every February in Arizona, thousands of cancer survivors, family members, caregivers and supporters participate in the Climb to Conquer Cancer. U-Haul...

U-Haul, Tribute Journey Spread Valentine’s Day Love to Veterans

U-Haul, Tribute Journey Spread Valentine’s Day Love to Veterans

February 14 is not just Valentine's Day. It is recognized as a National Salute to Veteran Patients day. During Valentine's Day week each year, U-Haul and the Tribute Journey say “thank you” to veterans of the U.S. Armed Services who are cared for in Department of...

U-Haul International Moves with U-Box Makes Moving Abroad Easy

U-Haul International Moves with U-Box Makes Moving Abroad Easy

Every new year invites new adventures. If your 2024 adventures include moving abroad, U-Haul International Moves® is equipped and licensed to support your exciting transition each step of the way. The U-Haul® brand is known globally for empowering do-it-yourself...

U-Haul Helps Kurt Warner Charity Change Lives of Arizona Family

U-Haul Helps Kurt Warner Charity Change Lives of Arizona Family

When Luz decided to apply for Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona’s Homeownership Program, she had no idea just how much of an impact it would have on her son, Jason. The family met Habitat’s criteria and completed more than 400 hours of “sweat equity” by working...

U-Haul Recognizes Its 2023 Volunteers of the Year

U-Haul Recognizes Its 2023 Volunteers of the Year

TEMPE, Ariz. — Michelle Vukov-Mikel and Michele Ramirez have been honored as the U-Haul® Volunteers of the Year for 2023. At the end of each year, U-Haul recognizes the Team Member(s) who has volunteered the most hours, supported the greatest number of U-Haul charity...