Searching for the Best Place on Earth: British Columbia vs. the World

For years, Vancouver has topped global rankings as one of the world’s most livable cities, while British Columbia has marketed itself as a paradise of mountains, rainforests and ocean—a destination unlike any other. But as affordability concerns mount and debates over crime and safety intensify, that vision is increasingly under scrutiny.

In World Class Journey, journalist Justin McElroy embarks on an ambitious year-long trip to fifty-two countries in fifty-two weeks, visiting nearly every so-called “world-class” city on the planet.

Having never travelled outside of Canada or the US as an adult, his personal mission was to see the world, to learn about travel and to rank as many things as he could, from foods to national train systems. His professional mission was to see how Vancouver and BC truly compare. Can the province’s celebrated identity hold up to the realities of other global destinations—or is it a well-packaged myth?

Blending sharp analysis with personal reflection, World Class Journey is both a travel memoir and an investigation into the power of place and identity. With McElroy’s signature wit and deep knowledge of his home province, this book offers a fresh, compelling perspective on what makes a place truly exceptional—and whether British Columbia still deserves its reputation as the “best place on earth.”