Anyone live in Castlegar?

[HeavyD111]

Just got an email saying the Celgar mill in Castlegar is hiring and also Teck in Trail, although I have applied before so Im not getting hopes up.
Anyway, anyone know what city is like? It looks pretty good in pics and on paper, but so did Cranbrook before I googled it...and wow not very positive lol.
Couldnt find much about Castlegar so thought I would ask here. Danka!

 

[ferniesnow]

Takethebounce, Team pigeon, and Modman know the area well. There are others as well, so you should get some solid info.

I ride there occasionally and otherwise drive through for further destinations. The riding (road bikes, two wheelers, and sledding) is awesome. Lots of boating and of course fishing. I don't know about the infrastructure or social aspects.

 

[takethebounce]

How random, I never look in the "anything goes" section and I see my name!

I spend a lot of time in and around Castlegar, both winter and summer as I have extended family all through there. I was there just last week! Castlegar is quite a bit smaller than Cranbrook which you mentioned. I am not sure what you saw when you googled Cranbrook that made you not like it but many of the attributes between the two are similar. There are a few things I look at when considering moving to a new city. I have lived in several Canadian cities, everywhere from Halifax to Vancouver and spent large portions of time on temporary duty assignments in most of the cities between.

I could go on all day what I look for, like there is a Tim Horton's, a Canadian Tire, Lordco of course, a Health Center, a small and expensive airport as well as other amenities. I personally like small town's in the mountains. The West Kootenay's is one of my favorite places. You can still find affordable housing there, but some stuff right in Castlegar is pricey. Further back towards Nelson, Slocan Valley and such is only a short commute to work and some of the property there is nice. Same goes with Pass Creek. There were a few SnowadMudders who had moved out that way in recent years.

As far as things to do, the list is endless. Arrow lakes, Kootenay Lake, for fishing, boating, hunting all around, biking, sledding, camping, you never have to go far. When you are out that way it is almost like many of the people are living 20 years behind the average person. Its not a bad thing. Everything happens on Kootenay time. Its a slower pace, rush hour traffic is almost laughable other than the line up at Tim's! I prefer Castlegar over Neslon as there are not as many hippy wannabe's. Trail I find is a little more industrial.

I could move there tomorrow and have a job if I wanted. The problem is the pay just wouldn't support my lifestyle. If you can land a decent paying job there that is the biggest hurdle.

 

[pano-dude]

Cranbrook used to be a real dump but there has been lots of money spend on infrastructure.
Lots of outdoor activities, and possibly the most sunny days anywhere.
Fairly cheap living, Compared to Invermere or Fernie.
easy access to the USA, 2hrs to whitefish, 4 to coure de lane

I don't think i've ever heard anything positive about trail....

 

[LUCKY 7]

I grew up in Trail. When I go back I think it's a stinky hole. I would never live there due to Cominco(Teck)

 

[pipes]

I grew up in Trail. When I go back I think it's a stinky hole. I would never live there due to Cominco(Teck)

Mother-in-law lives just across the River from Cominco. Kind of an eyesore. If it weren't for Cominco it would be a really nice place to live. But then again if it weren't for Cominco would it even exist?

 

[brent n]

lived just out of trail great quadding/sledding nice lakes lots of smaller towns outside of trail to live

 

[2dawgsfawkin]

yes. 7259

 

[LUCKY 7]

I grew up across the river from Cominco. my dad worked there his whole working life . if cominco was ever gone trail would be gone too

Mother-in-law lives just across the River from Cominco. Kind of an eyesore. If it weren't for Cominco it would be a really nice place to live. But then again if it weren't for Cominco would it even exist?