Harv's Air is one of the top-rated flight schools in Canada and routinely features near or at the top of the list when current and former students are asked about them. I didn't do my training at Harv's, but I've yet to meet many pilots who did that had any disparaging remarks. The one or two pilots who did say something against them were the type of pilot who wanted everything handed to them on a silver platter, so no flight school would have been good for them as they didn't want to put in the work.
One doesn't say "nothing very good nothing bad" and then launch into having "connections" without also having ulterior motives. The Vancouver area does have some very fine schools, and some reach the quality that I've heard about Harv's. But to suggest that Harv's is nothing good or nothing bad without providing specific details belies any actual experience.
Their website shows they have a good, large fleet, and save for the colder temperatures, both their Steinbach and St. Andrews locations are ideally located for flight training. Sure, their locations may be slightly out of the way, but that's not a bad thing. It means you spend more time in the air rather than sitting on the ground waiting for takeoff. Winnipeg International is close by for any controlled airspace work you need to do, and there are hundreds of locations to go to for your cross-country work.
The best thing you can do is give them, or any other school you're interested in, a call or e-mail and organize a time where you can sit down with some and chat. That'll give you an indication of whether you like the feel of the place. Remember though that you don't always have 15 minutes to sit on the phone this very second, but you can make 60 minutes for one with a bit of notice, so if they ask to call you back, don't take that as a bad thing - it's actually a good thing because it means they're making time for you. Also, make sure you have a list of questions you want to ask them before you call and make sure you understand and communicate what your limitations (time and money) are. At the same time, remember that any call is like a first date, in that everyone is putting their best foot forward, so be very wary of over-the-top promises and don't offer to sign anything sight unseen.