After helping people relocate to the Okanagan for more than 40 years, Lisa Salt has learned that everyone has a different reason for making a move. For some, it is the climate. For others, it is family. And for many, it is simply the desire to slow down and enjoy a different pace of life.

In this conversation, Lisa is joined by Christie King, one of the REALTORS® at RE/MAX Vernon Salt Fowler, to talk about her own move from Fort McMurray to Vernon, what surprised her about life in the Okanagan, what she misses about northern Alberta, and whether she would make the move again.

Christie's connection to the Okanagan goes back much further than her move to Vernon. Born in Penticton, she spent summers visiting her grandparents on their acreage in Oliver and developed a lifelong connection to the region. She eventually grew up in Fort McMurray and later joined her mother in the family real estate business there.

Before returning to real estate, Christie had also spent time living in Vernon in the late 1990s and early 2000s, helping her older brother with his restaurant and even working on the shrimp boat on Okanagan Lake. After travelling and spending 11 years selling real estate in Fort McMurray, the 2016 wildfire and resulting evacuation ultimately brought her back to Vernon.

One of the first things Christie noticed after making Vernon her home was the scenery. She describes the views as being everywhere, whether it is an unobstructed lake view, a valley view, or simply another beautiful perspective while driving around the community.

She also appreciates what she describes as the Okanagan playground. With mountains, lakes, golf courses and activities available throughout the seasons, Christie says there is always something to enjoy outdoors. The lifestyle can feel like being on vacation every day.

Weather is another major difference between Vernon and Fort McMurray. Christie enjoys the four seasons in the Okanagan, while remembering the extremely cold but sunny winters of northern Alberta. One thing she does miss is that winter sunshine. In Vernon, winter inversions can leave the valley socked in, although SilverStar offers an opportunity to get above the clouds and enjoy a bluebird day.

The two communities also offer very different real estate environments. Christie describes Fort McMurray as having more standard-style real estate transactions, while her work in the Okanagan introduced her to more acreages, lakeshore properties, resort-style homes and different forms of ownership.

She also remembers Fort McMurray as a very strong working community, where long shifts could mean showing homes later in the evening. In Vernon, the lifestyle is different, with people often looking forward to finishing the workday and getting outside to enjoy everything the Okanagan has to offer.

When it comes to real estate values, Christie notes that the markets have experienced different cycles. Fort McMurray had periods when strong economic activity and employment created significant demand for housing, with some companies offering signing bonuses and housing incentives. Today, she says real estate values are higher in the Vernon area.

One of the things Christie misses most about Fort McMurray is the community. She remembers having lots of community events, summer galas and outdoor concerts, along with a strong multicultural environment created by people from around the world who had moved there with their families.

What she does not miss is the winter cold.

Lisa and Christie also discuss who might be drawn to Vernon from Fort McMurray. Christie says they continue to see people from Fort McMurray looking for second homes or planning for retirement, while people of all ages and generations can be drawn to the Okanagan. At the same time, Fort McMurray has evolved, with more families choosing to stay long term and multiple generations remaining in the community.

For Christie, the biggest distinction comes down to lifestyle and weather. Fort McMurray has historically been a place where people went for work, while Vernon offers the opportunity to focus more on lifestyle, recreation and the outdoors.

Would Christie make the move again? Her answer is immediate: she would not hesitate.

She says she would have liked to make the move sooner, but leaving behind a life you have built is difficult. Fort McMurray will always be home and will always have a place in her heart. She still has lifelong friends there and will always love the community, but her family is now in Vernon, making the Okanagan her home.

For Lisa, conversations like this are valuable because statistics, home prices and population numbers only tell part of the story. Hearing directly from someone who has made the move provides a different perspective on what everyday life is actually like.

If you are from Fort McMurray or anywhere in Alberta and are considering a move to the Okanagan, Christie can provide a firsthand perspective on life in both places.

If you're considering a move to Vernon, the North Okanagan, the Okanagan or the Shuswap, download the free Vernon Relocation Guide at vernonrelocation.com for more information about the area.

And if you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to subscribe to the channel and like the video for more videos about relocating to and living in the Okanagan.

Whether you're moving in nine days or ninety days, or simply curious about the area we call home, be sure to call, text or email.

And JUST ADD SALT!