Richard Chevrier moved from Ottawa to Lethbridge, Alta., in 2009. He says affordability is an upside, but that his new city is “pretty isolated.” Photo: Tanya Plonka
Reasons abound for retirees to abandon the big city for smaller environs. Weariness with hectic urban pace, an urge to be closer to family, a hunger for a simpler lifestyle: All can make a smaller centre appear alluring.
The internet can encourage that allure with its many suggestions of small Canadian centres that sound ideal for retirees.
For instance, the Vancouver Island beach town of Parksville (population 14,500) has been dubbed “Canada’s retirement capital” thanks to its year-round mild weather, golfing, boating and more.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., a couple of hours south of Toronto and home to about 20,000 people, often gets the nod for its historic buildings, proximity to wine country and the acclaimed Shaw theatre festival.
But whether you’re tempted by a rural hamlet or just a scaled-down city, before hiring the moving van it’s wise to explore thoroughly the pros and cons of living smaller.
Richard Chevrier, a retired lieutenant-colonel with the Canadian military and a member of Federal Retirees’ national board since June, made the jump from an Ottawa suburb to Lethbridge, Alta., in 2009 because his partner lived there. At the time, Ottawa had a population of about 900,000 compared to Lethbridge’s less than 86,000 (they have since grown to one million-plus and more than 107,000, respectively).
The outcome has been “yin and yang,” says Chevrier, who also lived in Montreal and Toronto during his career.
One of the upsides is affordability. “I was able to join a private golf club that I couldn’t have afforded if I’d been in Edmonton or Calgary.”
The flip side is Lethbridge, more than 200 kilometres south of Calgary, is “pretty isolated” and lacks many options found in a large urban centre. Bemoaning the fact that he’s never seen his beloved band Blue Rodeo play in Lethbridge, he says, “When you’re in a (big city), there’s so much to do and so much choice.”
What else should you consider if you’re thinking of decamping to a smaller spot?
Housing and taxes
Although it varies from place to place, buying or renting a home is generally cheaper in a smaller centre. For example, according to WOWA.ca, an online personal finance encyclopedia, the average price for a single detached resale home in Medicine Hat, Alta., is
$385,119 compared to $804,811 in Calgary.
Rentals.ca and realtor Urbanation both report the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in St. Catharines, Ont. is $1,677, but $2,428 in Toronto.
When association member Claude Bourget and his wife sold their home in downtown Ottawa and moved back to their hometown of Cornwall, Ont., in 2014, “It wasn’t winning the lottery, but almost,” he says. A retired director-general with the Canada Revenue Agency, Bourget and his wife moved to Cornwall (now about 50,000 souls) to be closer to aging parents.
Cornwall, he adds, is “a friendly town... We wouldn’t go back to Ottawa. This was a very good move.”
On the property tax front, larger urban centres tend to have a lower rate than smaller spots, according to real estate brokerage Zoocasa. The reason? More taxpayers and higher housing prices compared to the more limited tax base in smaller locales. That said, there are exceptions to this rule, so do your research.
Arts, culture and education
A resident symphony orchestra or high-end theatre productions are less likely in a smaller centre, Bourget notes, but, “It’s all relative to your lifestyle. If curling once a week with the gals or the boys is your thing or you like to meet with your friends at Tim Hortons, that’s fine. We have a lot of Tim Hortons here.”
Besides, during the summer Cornwall residents can always drop by the bandshell at Lamoureux Park to enjoy free evening concerts by local musicians.
The smaller the city or town, the fewer options there generally are for fine dining or sampling diverse menus. Even shopping for less common cooking ingredients could be a challenge, so stocking up during a visit to the big city is smart.
If you’re looking for university or college continuing education opportunities, you might be limited to online options if you leave the big city. Even if a town has a post-secondary institution, its continuing education offerings will be more limited compared with those in a large centre.
Shopping, amenities and services
While local businesses frequently say they’re suffering as a result, many smaller centres now boast big box stores on their periphery. Depending on the population, you’ll find a grocery store or two as well (Bourget uses a backpack for his regular grocery outings, getting exercise in the process).
However, finding specialty items like non-standard clothing sizes and a wide selection of original art can be tricky, says Bourget, who relies on occasional visits to Ottawa for special purchases.
An online visit to city hall or a community Facebook or business association page should inform you about amenities, from recreation facilities and hiking trails to golf courses.
For instance, the Town of Lunenburg, N.S. — touted as a desirable spot for retirees and home to a UNESCO World Heritage area — has a comprehensive guide to its recreational offerings, including pickleball, fitness for seniors and wheelchair basketball programs.
Services we take for granted in large cities could be minimal in smaller centres. For instance, how far is your potential town of choice from a major airport? And what about public transit? Collingwood, Ont. has a transit system, but its cross-town service runs only every hour during the week and “on demand” on weekends, so a reliable car would likely be in order.
Health care and security
While your blood pressure will appreciate the slower pace of life in a smaller centre, medical services, including hospitals, specialists and assisted living programs, should be checked out thoroughly. Lethbridge, for example, has a regional hospital, but, Chevrier says,
“If something happens that requires major surgery, we have to get airlifted to Calgary. If you need hip or knee surgery, it’s Calgary where you go.”
If you think a smaller centre is always a safer centre, think twice. According to Statistics Canada, in 2023 Lethbridge ranked fourth highest in the country on the Crime Severity Index (CSI), which looks at the number and the relative severity of crimes.
Other considerations
Moving to a new town often means moving away from long-time friends and even family.
Bourget and Chevrier have both built new social networks by volunteering at food banks, participating in sports and engaging in other activities. Chevrier, however, notes that newbies never really become part of the inner circle of those who have lived their entire lives in a community.
There are many other considerations, pro and con, from less pollution and more available and cheaper parking because of fewer cars to the possibility of slower Wi-Fi (fibre-optic technology isn’t universal).
Anyone considering going smaller should think seriously about it, according to Chevrier.
“[They should] look at their lifestyle now — what they love about it, not just what they dislike," he says. "If you were to move to a smaller environment, are there enough other variables to offset
[what you lose]?
"It’s not just, ‘Oh boy, small town living is just wonderful!’”