Author Topic: Where is the best place to live in Canada?  (Read 9235 times)

pinky

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Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« on: May 08, 2008, 06:33:54 AM »
I figure Fot's would be better to ask then just getting a feel for the cities from Craigslist.  Would be looking at gigs, things to do, interesting climate (I am from Aus) and jobs etc.

Any advice?

chrisfoll577

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2008, 06:44:44 AM »
there are a few canadian fots who know for real, but as an american with family in canada, my favorite major cities in canada are toronto and vancouver.  i've been to both cities a few times and think they're both great.  toronto's cosmopolitan, diverse, clean and friendly, and also has one of the better music scenes going in north america right now.  vancouver is beautiful, surprisingly warm for canada, and also clean and friendly.

as for the worst place to live in canada... probably fort mcmurray, alberta.

Fig Neutron

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2008, 07:08:48 AM »
I speak mostly of ignorance, but, in line with ChrisF, I can't imagine there is a better city than Toronto.

Windsor might also be a good choice.  Having lived in the Ann Arbor area (and soon to be again), I always loved Windsor.  But that's only if you don't mind crossing the border sometimes to catch what might be going on in the Detroit area.

I haven't been in the area since the nineties, so I don't know if border patrol has gone all ape-sh*t.

Just throwing Windsor out as a side note.  I can't imagine a better city than Toronto, though (including in the US).

Now you're making ME consider one of them...seriously.
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Julie

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2008, 07:41:41 AM »
The best place to live in Canada is in Moncton. The second best place to live is in Saskatoon. Next, you might think of living in Ontario near the border of Quebec. Also, who wouldn't love Vancouver? Did I spell that right? The Canadians I've liked best have been from those places, but I've never met a Canadian I didn't like.
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Bryan

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2008, 10:28:47 AM »
Toronto or Montreal, with Vancouver a distant third. Van has nice weather, but unless you're rich (or a heroin addict) there's not much there.

Montreal is cold as hell, but beautiful, great food, bars and music, and affordable rent. One (possible) downside is that the anglo community is pretty small, so can start to feel pretty claustrophobic and incestuous. Work is a problem there - even if you speak French fluently, anglos are still not terribly employable.

Toronto is ugly, but has everything. Real estate is expensive to buy, but still pretty affordable to rent. There's kind of an uptight, striving quality to the place, but I was always able to maintain my slackerish ways without too much trouble.

Halifax is pretty, but has all the same downsides of the U.K. (alcoholism, too many white people, bad food) with none of the cultural life that the U.K. has.

And unfortunately, that's about it. I'm in Kingston now, which is OK for it's size (~100,000) but is a little too country for me to stay here on a long term basis. Plus, the university students this place attracts are totally loathesome.

emma

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2008, 10:51:35 AM »
I agree with Bryan on some things. What exactly are you looking for? Vancouver is better for visiting than it is for living; cost of living is really high, and while there are lots of fun neighbourhoods and punk rock goings on, it's not the best city for Fun Things To Do. The weather there is weird--not a lot of snow, but the winters are long and dark and cool but not cold, and the summers are short and bright and warm but not hot. There's also lots of drugs.

Toronto pretty big, which gives it an advantage in a lot of ways--there's a pretty great arts scene here if that's what you're into, lots of theatre and galleries and whatnot. Lotsa music, too, whatever you're into; we've got big little scenes (indie "rock", ska, punk, etc.) as well as numerous giant arenas. I don't know what line of work you're in but it's usually pretty easy to get a part-time job close to home (unless you live in, like, missasauga or something). Not the cheapest place to live, but not as expensive as Vancouver. Bryan is right, though; it is probably one of the ugliest cities ever. Winter is depressingly long, but not too cold.

Montreal is fantastic if you can handle the absolutely freezing winters. Rent is super cheap and most laws favour tenants, so you're pretty much covered, housing-wise. It's lovely and artsy and there's basically nothing bad I can say about it. It can seem intimidating if you don't know French, but I disagree a little with what Bryan said--I've always found that there's a pretty big anglo community, and it's not so hard to get a job if you look in English-speaking neighbourhoods. It does help if you at least make an effort to learn some French, though. People appreciate it and will treat you a lot nicer.

Halifax is really lovely and actually has a great music scene (plus there's more art than you would think; NSCAD turns out a whole lot of talent), but yeah, the university students on near-constant drinking binges can start to grate on your nerves after a while. Also, it's super expensive to get to or from, even by train. Also: horribly cold in the wintertime.

Ignore Julie (sorry Julie!). Please don't move to Saskatoon.

scsiduck

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2008, 10:56:04 AM »
...Windsor might also be a good choice.  Having lived in the Ann Arbor area (and soon to be again), I always loved Windsor.  But that's only if you don't mind crossing the border sometimes to catch what might be going on in the Detroit area...

Windsor: The most polluted city in North America, according to RFK Jr.!
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=cc4a6f91-63ea-4c88-9768-3b14d4342fe8&k=55531

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theericcarr

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2008, 11:48:05 AM »
I believe Windsor is also known for having more strip clubs per square foot than anywhere else in the world.

A good choice, for you pre-vert types.



SJK

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2008, 12:08:24 PM »
Saskatoon?!?!  Don't judge.

Steve from Saskatoon

Fig Neutron

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2008, 12:15:23 PM »
I believe Windsor is also known for having more strip clubs per square foot than anywhere else in the world.

A good choice, for you pre-vert types.




Guess I let personal bias influence my suggestion  ::)
Fresh fruit enriches everyone.  Takes the thirst out of everyday time.  A pure whiff of oxygen, painting over a monochrome world in primary colors.  We all know that.  It's why everyone loves fruit.


pinky

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2008, 12:20:08 PM »
Wow, thanks for the info everyone.  Toronto seems to be shaping as the place to go.  Am in London (UK) at the moment so can handle the high cost of living, and ugliness but the constant hassle and lack of humanity is getting a bit old.  I have heard great things about Montreal but only really know High School french so would be nervous about being able to go there and support myself.  Are there any Montreal FOT's?  Are there many expats in Montreal? 

Ps.  Sorry Saskatoon, am from Aus and left there because I was in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do.

Mason

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2008, 01:27:28 PM »
I'm no Toronto booster, but I don't see it as an ugly city at all. Sure it's bland when compared to Montreal or Vancouver. But compared to most American cities, I find it moderately attractive. There's a certain quintessential Ontario city planning in Toronto that I'm weirdly fond of. Even the run-down areas are kind of endearing. Since you're from Ingaland I'll put it this way. Compared to Birmingham, it's like paradise.

I love living in Ottawa, but I wouldn't recommend it to outsiders. It's an acquired taste. It's a nice sized, uncluttered city but the people can be a bit standoff-ish and fickle until you get to know them.

If I had to move anywhere else in this country, it would probably be Montreal which is a unique looking city with one of the best cultural scenes in North America. The french thing isn't that much of a barrier. If anything it makes life more interesting.

Everybody I know loves Vancouver, but I've never been there so I can't say much other than second hand experience.

I would try to live in Kingston if wanted somewhere quiet to retire to. In my mind it's the heart and soul of Canada, but it's pretty small and isolated from the big cities.

I like Nova Scotia, but it's hard to say if I like Halifax. Every time I've been there it's been really rainy, so I've never got a good look at it in the sunlight.

cutout

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #12 on: May 08, 2008, 01:38:37 PM »
Last I was there, Vancouver's homelessy/hookery underside was becoming a bit more evident on the surface, but it (and Montreal and Toronto) still beats the hell out of most US cities I've visited, minus Portland, Seattle, SF and Austin ;)

theericcarr

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2008, 01:47:58 PM »
Vancouver is fantastic if you really enjoy having zero nightlife, extreme roller-blading, 360 days of rain a year and literally watching people die in the street from drug addictions while you sip your cruelty-free chai latte.

Thumbs down, Vancouver.

A.M. Thomas

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Re: Where is the best place to live in Canada?
« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2008, 03:09:50 PM »
Montreal.

(Not that I've ever lived there).

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