[Coach]

I spent my first year (2007) in university at UVic and girlfriend at the time was going to UBC at the same time so I spent a lot of time at both places.

I have to lean to UVic. The difference in reputable education is going to be very minor (depending on your program). Once you get into the work force where you got your degree is not going to matter compared to your personal skills and work ethic.

UVic is quite a bit smaller and if you're living in residence getting to class is a breeze (my furthest class was on the other end of campus and was a 10 min walk from my dorm). UBC is MASSIVE. It's pretty much its own city. Walking from one end to the other is not going to be fun (ie, you can't wake up 10 min before class and still make it on time). But they do have busses and shuttles that go around campus. Also UBC has Rec Beach, which is a nude beach. Although like most nude beaches, the people who are nude are generally those who probably shouldnt be. UVic is only a few minute walk from the beach too (you can actually see Washington State from the cove).

It definitely doesn't rain as much in Vic as it does in Van. I found the weather to generally be quite a bit nicer in Vic (I was wearing shorts until I went home for Christmas). And it seemed to be raining almost everytime I went to Van. I don't think there's any difference between flying from Van to Calgary or Vic to Calgary except that there may be more flights out of Van.

I loved going to UVic and would recommend it over UBC if your program isnt specific to UBC. If you want to go to Van for the weekend for concerts or hockey or something, the transportation from UVic to the ferry is very good, and if you have the patience the public transit system between the two cities is MILES ahead of anything here.

PS: Watch out for Canucks fans. I had a mild dislike for that team before moving there. Now, after moving back, there is nothing I loathe more.