Living in Vancouver: Dubliner Deborah Flood

Q 2- How does your normal day begin?

Typically rise around 7 a.m. with a coffee. Then either do spinning or yoga class. I either cycle my electric bike or get the Skytrain to travel to my office in downtown Vancouver. In the evening, I go night-time snowshoeing or meet friends for drinks on Commercial Drive, a hip neighbourhood in East Vancouver.

Q 3- What are your biggest daily challenges?

Too little time! There are so many activities, mostly outdoors, to do in Vancouver. You could spend your evenings skiing or snowshoeing in the winter or kayaking and hiking in the summer.

Q 4- What do you love most about your job?

dinner in one of the many delicious restaurants in downtown Vancouver.

Q 8-Favourite staycation destination in British Columbia? Hop the short ferry from Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast. Travel halfway along the coast to Halfmoon Bay to go kayaking and paddleboarding. Catch a short water taxi from Secret Cove to the tranquil Thormanby Island to spend the day swimming and snorkelling. Barbeque on the beach.

Q 9-Favourite Business motto?

“Just do it” and “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart”, are two that I repeatedly tell myself. My favourite affirmations are “Panic in Neutral” and “Never let anyway dull your sparkle”.

Deborah moved to Vancouver in 2010 after becoming a newly qualified solicitor in Ireland. She initially worked as a paralegal until she re-qualified as a lawyer in British Columbia in 2015. After spending four years defending professionals in civil court, she joined the British Columbia Securities Commission as litigation counsel. Since moving to Vancouver, she’s taken up kayaking, paddle boarding, spinning, surfing and hiking. She lives in east Vancouver with her Canadian fiancé Derrick and their two dogs, Cali and Willow.

Q1. Why did you choose Vancouver and where are you from in Ireland?

I’m from Dublin. I feel Vancouver choose me as I instantly felt at home here. I moved because I was sick of the wind and sideways rain in Ireland! Also, the long commutes and being stuck on the M50. I wanted to live a life with less alcohol and spend my time in the outdoors doing activities.

I prosecute contraventions of the B.C. Securities Act. This can include people who commit multimillion-dollar fraud, Ponzi schemes and manipulate companies on the stock market. My job is very satisfying as I work to protect the investing public and the integrity of the capital markets.

Q 5- What do you do to relax? Ever since moving to Vancouver, I have been addicted to acupuncture, massage and cupping. I also relax with meditation and yoga.

Q 6-Favourite staycation destination in Ireland and why? I love spending time in Powerscourt in County Wicklow or in Galway City. Galway for the music and the craic and Powerscourt for the food and epic rolling hills.

Q 7 Describe a great Vancouver weekend?

A morning snowshoe on Cypress Mountain to see the sunrise. Bailey’s coffee at the top with cinnamon buns for breakfast. Walk along Kitsilano beach in the afternoon. Cocktails at the Pacific Rim Hotel and then

Q 10. Advice for young business entrepreneurs starting out?

Starting a new business or starting in a new city requires a lot of energy and perseverance. Allow yourself some downtime. Quality networking is better than quantity. Offer to help someone instead of always seeking something. Time is precious; if someone gives you theirs, follow up with a thank you email or card.