Canada... where to move?

[Y.O.Morales]

Hello Canadians (and non-canadians if they want to chime in):

I'm planning to study a master's degree in some Canadian university in about two years (I'm planning for something likle Simon Fraser's Interactive Arts and Technology program). So I basically want to know which is the best district to live. I know that everybody will claim that their area is the best for living and studying, so please, give me reasons too for why it is.

And one last note: no franÇais

Thank you a lot!

 

[mojo1701]

What, like, Province?

 

[Y.O.Morales]

Aye

 

[mojo1701]

Well, I'm in southern Ontario. Majority of the population is here, as well as major cities.

 

[fusangite]

Depends on your priorities. If you are looking for real urban life, however, you're limited to 3-5 cities. The only cities with more than 1 million residents are Toronto (4 million), Montreal (3 million) and Vancouver (2 million). Edmonton and Calgary verge on 1 million.

Another issue is your weather tolerance. How long can you tolerate snow being on the ground. How about temperatures less than -10 degrees?

Finally, there is the question of the quality and type of degree you want.

So, some information on those fronts could be helpful.

Now, if you're seriously considering SFU, I can make a few comments as I lived in Vancouver for 30 of the first 32 years of my life. But I would still appreciate knowing what your criteria are for a place to live.

 

[Algolei]

I'm in Winnipeg, and for someone from a warm place on earth, I recommend anywhere but Winnipeg. Sure, it gets hot in the summer, but only for a day or two and then *wham!* you're neck-deep in snow.

Toronto seems like a nice place if you want to be near the main population zones. Lots of tourists like it. But Vancouver is even better because it's way over on the left-hand side of the continent--nearest to California and...uh...Washington (not that you'll be able to cross the border, of course). Plus the tourists seem to like it.

I honestly can't recommend anywhere else.

 

[kmdietri]

I would suggest you have a look at the University of Waterloo. It's a very good Technology school with very well recognized engineering and computer science departments. It also has a very culturally diverse student body.

Plus it's in a nice city close to Toronto, but importantly not in Toronto.

 

[Malovech]

Toronto

Toronto, hands down.

 

[Khayman]

If you're looking at a major urban centre, I'd recommend Vancouver --- less pollution than Toronto, more tolerant than Calgary, better weather (despite the annoying winter rain), good transit, great scenery (mountains, forests, ocean), and some unbelievable restaurants.

Either that or Montreal --- despite being in Quebec, I barely needed to speak French while I was there. It helps a lot, but its not essential.

I always judge a city by how easy it is to get out of it (in the event of a meltdown, either personal or nuclear). Vancouver is still pretty high on that list.

 

[Khayman]

I'm in Winnipeg, and for someone from a warm place on earth, I recommend anywhere but Winnipeg. Sure, it gets hot in the summer, but only for a day or two and then *wham!* you're neck-deep in snow.

Hey, that's not true!

Hold on, I'm having problems typing with my mitts on...