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THE GREAT EXODUS FROM VANCOUVER! — Young Families Are Leaving the City to Start a Better Life!

600 views · Published 23 April 2017 · 5:28 · Indexed 30 October 2026

Channel: Mike Martins · 2017 · News & Politics

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Hey YouTubers! Mike Martins here with the Mike Martins Channel, coming to you from beautiful Merritt, British Columbia!

It's a gorgeous Sunday afternoon here in the mountains, and I've got something really important I want to share with you guys.

I THINK SOMETHING BIG IS HAPPENING. YOUNG FAMILIES ARE LEAVING THE BIG CITIES AND REBUILDING THEIR LIVES IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES!

And today I discovered something that really opened my eyes.

I was at church this morning, and after Mass we gathered in the community hall for our usual Sunday coffee, cookies, and conversation.

I started talking with several young couples, some in their mid-to-late twenties, and discovered something incredible.

Almost everybody I was speaking with had moved here from Vancouver!

I'm talking about young couples who left the big city within the last one, two, or three years. People who were looking for exactly the same things I was looking for when I decided to leave Vancouver.

A place to raise a family.

A home they could actually afford.

A community where people know each other.

And most importantly, a chance to LIVE instead of just working to survive!

Something Is Happening Outside the Big Cities!

I thought I was one of the few people making this decision.

But apparently, I'm not alone!

These young couples are moving to Merritt, finding work, buying homes, raising children, and getting their lives together.

One young couple I spoke with is only 25 and 26 years old. The husband works at the local mill, his wife stays home with their child, and they're making a life for themselves.

Think about that for a second!

How many young couples living in Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, or London can afford to have one parent stay home while the other supports the household?

For many families, that's becoming increasingly difficult.

And that's what I keep trying to explain on this channel.

THERE IS LIFE OUTSIDE THE BIG CITY!

The Big-City Illusion

I spent years living in major cities, believing that being part of a massive metropolitan economy was the key to getting ahead.

More jobs, more opportunities, more shopping, more restaurants, more everything!

But here's something I've started to realize.

You can be surrounded by millions of people and still feel completely isolated.

You can have hundreds of stores around you and not have enough money to shop in them.

You can have thousands of job opportunities and still struggle to afford a place to sleep!

What good is being part of a massive economy if you're spending almost everything you earn just trying to stay there?

“You're surrounded by more people, but you're more isolated. There's more stores to shop at and more options, but you're broke.” — Mike Martins

I'm not attacking Vancouver. I'm simply explaining why leaving was one of the best decisions I've made for my family.

Living the Dream in Merritt, British Columbia

Since moving here, I've been able to do things I spent years dreaming about.

I've got my own home, my garage, my garden, my projects, and a place where my children can grow up.

I'm working on renovations, fixing up the property, enjoying the mountains, and getting into new hobbies like RC airplanes!

And you know what?

I can actually afford to enjoy some of these things because my cost of living is so much lower than it was in Vancouver.

That's what I call disposable income!

It's not about being rich. It's about having enough money left over after paying your bills to enjoy your life.

My son Antonio is here with me today, and these are the moments I want to remember.

I want my children to have roots. I want them to have somewhere they can come home to, even if they decide to travel, work overseas, or explore the world.

Is a Mass Exodus Beginning?

I'm starting to wonder how many other families are doing exactly what we're doing.

How many people are leaving Sydney for smaller Australian towns?

How many are leaving Auckland?

How many are getting out of Melbourne, London, Toronto, and Vancouver?

Are we witnessing the beginning of a major movement away from expensive metropolitan areas?

I think this is something we need to start talking about.

And the housing crisis is a major reason why.

Housing Crisis Coverage Is Growing!

I'm now receiving approximately 70 to 85 articles every single day from viewers around the world!

Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and beyond.

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