Beverly Carter
BC NOTARY IN VICTORIA
Oh, That’s Just Capital!
I
love what I do! Plus I have the wonderful opportunity to have a Notary practice in the second-largest urban centre in Beautiful British Columbia. Victoria is one of the most desirable places to live and work in Canada. When I was 8, I travelled from my hometown Summerland in the Okanagan Valley to the Island and fell in love with Victoria and Vancouver Island—Victoria’s quaint historic charm was a big draw. I dreamed of living here and, in a rather circuitous route via Toronto, landed here 20 years ago with newborn and 7-year-old sons in tow. I’ve been fortunate to raise my family and build a successful Notary practice in the heart of Victoria. Many people call the area Victoria, but it is really Greater Victoria Area, home to 13 distinct municipalities.
In Order of Size Saanich Victoria Langford Oak Bay Esquimalt Colwood Central Saanich Sooke Sidney North Saanich View Royal Metchosin Highlands
114,148 85,792 35,342 18,094 17,655 16,859 16,814 13,001 11,672 11,249 10,408 4,708 2,225
In addition, we have the Juan de Fuca electoral area and the Gulf Islands. The diverse range of neighbourhoods and areas include urban core, new urban core (Uptown), historic, active, retirement, new ethnic, university suburban, small-island hippy-chic, rural, and agricultural.
Real estate is quite complex because of all the unique features of the land, municipalities, and districts; they require my team to have strong local knowledge. I’m not sure about the rationale for 13 municipalities today, where efficiencies and government accountability are important to tax-paying citizens. There are strong vocal advocates for keeping things the way they are while others are actively working toward amalgamation. Nonetheless, that is one of the reasons we are unique. Greater Victoria is a world destination for living. It ranks high in categories like walk/bike to work, weather, and culture. The natural beauty, good food, and cool things to do attract intelligent and vibrant students, millennials, civil servants, professionals, retirees, and adventurers. People living in Victoria are employed in diverse backgrounds in business, the emerging technology
sector, provincial and federal government offices, Capital Regional District, Island Health, universities and colleges, three school districts, and CFB Esquimalt Naval base. The area is increasingly developing as a marine, forestry, and agricultural research centre. And of course our fair Capital City of British Columbia has neverending political prose. The 13 municipalities with the very strong institutional background set the stage for my BC Notary practice and the clients we serve daily. The fractured level of local governance has very real effects on the real estate. The financial institutions, both provincially and nationally based, have limited understanding of the diverse local governances. Real estate is quite complex because of all the unique features of the land, municipalities, and districts; they require my team to have strong local knowledge. At Carter Notary, we serve clients and their families, from babies to centenarians. A special feature of my practice is personal planning documents: Wills, Powers of Attorneys, Representation Agreements, and Advance Health Care Directives. We are equidistant to the two main hospitals—the Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital—so a lot of our work takes place out of office. With my background in teaching and caring for two aging parents under difficult circumstances, along with a pragmatic, grassroots nature, I am able to meet with people
Stats Canada 2016 census population statistics https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-csd-eng.cfm?LANG=Eng&GK=CSD&GC=5917021
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia
Volume 27 Number 3 Fall 2018
