Best places to live Off-Grid in Canada

Living off the grid is becoming more and more popular in Canada, in this article I will tell you about some of the best places to live Off-Grid in Canada. Currently, you will find thousands of people looking for independence away from the cities. These locations are ideal for people who love growing food and create a simple lifestyle away from the grid.

Project Canada

Lucky for us Canada is a large country, and there are plenty of options for choosing an off-grid area to live in. There are many rural areas in Canada, ranging from the empty wilderness to rural areas that are still close enough to city centers for people that still need to work in the city.

At the other end of the country Northern Ontario which the say can have some harsh winters, is still an ideal place for crops, and the lakes and streams there are laden with fish throughout the year. Venturing to the nearby forests, you will get plenty of games and the many streams, making it ideal for generating hydroelectric power. Well, below are the top five spots in Canada for off the grid living.

Top Five Off-Grid Locations in Canada

British Columbia

The Cariboo region of BC is a great example of that, we live in a rural area that is not far from smaller towns and only a 5-hour drive from the major city of Vancouver, BC. Our off grid place is just a short 20-minute drive from a rural town that has a gas station, store, liquor store, a couple restaurants and a post office. I work another 15 minutes down the road in a larger city that houses many grocery stores, banks and many other office buildings and department stores.

The Cariboo Region is known for its great fishing lake, during the summer we get many tourists up here and during hunting season, many hunters come for Vancouver, Kelowna and other larger cities to hunt for deer and moose in our area.

The Cariboo Region of BC gets many sunny days, especially in the winter making it an ideal place to capture solar energy.

There is a community not far from Vancouver, BC that has been in existence for quite some time.

Lasqueti Island, British Columbia

Lasqueti is a small island that is disconnected from the populations and the power grid. It is found between the British Columbia coast and Vancouver Island, the population here ranges from 359 to 379 in recent years.

The Island itself is 21 km long and 5 km wide, to get there you would take a ferry from near Parkville, BC on Vancouver Island. This is a foot passenger ferry only, so if you plan on visiting the Island bring a bike or take a taxi once you get onto the Island.

There is no camping on the Island, if you are interested on going off grid to this Island here is a website you will want to check out.

The weather can be nice there, not as cold are the interior or northern BC, but they do get a lot of rain like most coastal communities. Information about Lasqueti Island

Freedom Cove, is another place in BC, situated on Vancouver Island where you will find a unique floating home. The couple in the video made their dream come true. Very inspiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crp81aPhR3Y

Alberta

Well, if you’re looking for the best off the grid location in Canada, then Alberta tops the list.

On the of the best location for living off grid in Alberta would be the area surrounding the Canadian Rockies. This area has some of the best fertile soil to grow your crops. Living close to the mountains also helps to protect your crops from the cold and winds that the prairies are accustomed to during the winter months.

Not all locations around the Canadian Rockies would be suitable for off grid living. Take for instance the Lake Louise and Banff area which is one of the top tourist destinations and the land is not cheap by any means.

The outskirts of Edmonton and Calgary may be suitable for off grid living as well.

The weather is not to inviting in the Canadian Prairies so I would not put that on my list of top places to go off grid in Canada, although if you want to live in grasslands then maybe it would be on your list as it is a good area for farming. Keep in mind the winters get cold with the cold Arctic winds whistling through the area.

Maritime Provinces

East coast living, Scott and I have often thought about packing up and heading to Nova Scotia, Newfound islands, or Prince Edward and living off grid there. The islands are quite large with still a relatively low population yet being close to the mainland. The climates there seem to be pretty favorable and warmer compared to most parts of Canada.

The winter storms could be an issue, but I don’t think anywhere is perfect weather. The maritime would be a good place for farming and the price of land there is quite cheap compared to other parts of Canada. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of employment with many men working out of the area, but if you are going off grid and living off your land. Then that probably won’t be a worry.

Ontario

Just like most provinces and territories, not all the locations in this area are ideal for off-grid living. This is because the area surrounding the Great Lakes has a high population density, which doesn’t give you a chance to get away from the large crowds and the power grid.

But venturing into Northwest Peterborough, you will find favorable land for farming and settlement. A person could enjoy living off-grid in this location as a few people have ventured into this secluded location.

There are many small communities in Ontario where a person could live off grid and farm, but the more north you go the more remote and colder the climate.

Yellowknife, NWT

Yellowknife is the Northwest territories headquarters, and gold prospectors first colonized this area during the 1930s. Here, the Slave Lake residences are occupied by off the grid residents, and you’ll now find musicians, artists, lawyers, etc. in this location.

Here is an excellent article showcasing people living off grid in Yellowknife. I’m not sure this would be for me. The weather is cold, but it is known to be one of the best places to view the Northern Lights. Imagine living among this beautiful show of lights.

Blachford Lake Lodge

Well, if you don’t want to live in the off-grid woods, then try the Blachford Lake lodge for some fully-featured entertainment. Here, you will enjoy the amenities in this lodge and get a chance to watch the spectacular aurora borealis.

Well, whether it has been a long time since you ventured off the grid and if you have never had such an experience, then these locations in Canada will give you the peace and serenity you need. Besides, you will be away from the noisy urban cities, and the remote location will enable you to spend time with your spouse or family.

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