Fernie #two on most liveable city

Vancouver and Toronto may be Canada’s two highest priced cities, but there are other places to live that rank high in livability. They might not be the most obvious choices, but when it comes to raising kids, breathing relatively fresh air, buying a home, and walking happily around the streets, there are small cities and towns across the country that would rank high if you conducted your own informal survey.

University of British Columbia business professor Michael Goldberg has determined that Canadians, in general, value environment, physical livability, commuting costs, and travel times. Unlike American cities, crime is not a big worry. With those criteria in mind, we have come up with our own very unscientific list of places that are generally decent places to live, outside the big three of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

Here is the list:

8. Quebec City
7. Fredericton NB
6. St. John’s Nfld
5. Winnipeg MN
4. Gibson’s BC
3. Saskatoon Sask.
2. Fernie BC
There’s a micro beer company, a great ski hill, snow-cat skiing, rivers and small lakes with cutthroat and bull trout, and Rocky Mountain views that draw people to this small coal mining town of around 4,000 people. The town, situated between Cranbrook, B.C., and Lethbridge, Alta., is a vacation destination these days — however it’s history and main industry remains coal mining. The air is fresh, the town people friendly, and there are nice old heritage buildings that give the town character. For ski buffs, mountain bikers or fly fishermen who want small town life without the backwater feel, Fernie is perfect.

Skiing Lizard Bowl in Fernie

1. Guelph, Ont.

I’m sure Guelph would be a nice place to live if work is a priority. Did I mention that all of Fernie’s recreational amenities are a five minute drive and there are only three traffic lights.