Canada... where to move?

[AIM-54]

I can't believe no one has yet mentioned the educational mecca that is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan!

Okay, I'm kidding, but I had to give a shout out to my hometown...although S'toon has a surprising variety of things to do, but really, you're probably better off in Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal and their respective environs...but if you really want to prove you're tough, you'll want to experience a real Canadian prairie winter...everything else pales in comparison (though the east coast gets way more snow...don't think the east coast gets 6+ weeks straight of temperatures no higher than -30C the way we did 6-7 years ago). We are, however, one of the sunniest places in North America...about the only thing we have over the Pacific Northwest, which is known for its rain.

Personally, I like Toronto.

 

[Algolei]

I'd just like to add one warning: Don't go anywhere between Ontario and British Columbia. Every place in between can be described by at least one of the following:

- incredibly boring
- full of xenophobic rednecks (I'm especially lookin' at you, Alberta! )
- stupidly cold
- in the middle of a hayfield in the middle of no where in the middle of hell
- a dumb place to put two 7-Elevens on the same corner--but they did it anyway.

And I say that as someone who loves the place.

Hey, that's not true!

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

Okay, now I know for an absolute certainty you're from here too: That's exactly what I would have said if the roles were reversed.

 

[Jesus_marley]

Geez..... does Canada somehow end at Quebec or something?
Having been born and raised on the East coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia to be precise) I can say that it is one of the nicest places to live. Friendly people, rich history, 4 universities within 10 kilometres of each other...

Having lived in Victoria as well for a couple of years, I can attest that it is a place for newlyweds and nearlydeads.... oh and tourists.

 

[Malovech]

Do not go to the Maritimes, unless you like crippling unemployment, the highest obesity rate in all of Canada and the most boring urban centres this side of Winnipeg. Only simpletons live in the Maritimes, sorry Jesus_marley but you are so far off it ain't even funny.

 

[Del]

Not Abbotsford

Don't move to Abbotsford, the farm type city south-east of Vancouver.

http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=79251364-06c4-4180-b920-330a74c86fb8

I can see Yale highschool from my window here in my studio. I swear the bus stops here you worry when these little thugs and thugettes wander around in their gangs.

 

[Algolei]

Geez..... does Canada somehow end at Quebec or something?
Having been born and raised on the East coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia to be precise)....

Well, he said no french, so I assumed he wanted to live someplace that actually spoke english.

Don't move to Abbotsford, the farm type city south-east of Vancouver.

Heh heh, my brother lives near there. It's where I stayed when I visited Vancouver.

(Sorry if I frightened you with my black leathers....)

 

[fusangite]

Don't move to Abbotsford, the farm type city south-east of Vancouver.

http://www.canada.com/search/story.html?id=79251364-06c4-4180-b920-330a74c86fb8

I can see Yale highschool from my window here in my studio. I swear the bus stops here you worry when these little thugs and thugettes wander around in their gangs.

Abbotsford is a special city. It's positioned just right so that its downtown gets giant opaque urban smog inversions that send the elderly and disabled scurrying into their homes while, at the same time, there is still the omnipresent smell of chicken and pig manure.

When I was born (in 1972), Abbotsford had a population of 8000; when I left BC last year, it had a population of 108000.

 

[Mod_Bod]

You forgot about Ottawa!

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.

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You forgot to mention Ottawa before Edmonton and Calgary. We're the 4th largest population in Canada (with Ottawa - Gatineau over one million people now). We have four universities (one is a religious institution, though) and a pretty good growth rate (jobs and population). As the capital of the country, we have all the national museums and important cultural institutions too. Good mass transit and lots of outdoor activities for any season. I really like living here. (we are less than two hours from Montréal too... if you like that sort of thing for the week-end )

 

[fusangite]

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You forgot to mention Ottawa before Edmonton and Calgary. We're the 4th largest population in Canada (with Ottawa - Gatineau over one million people now). We have four universities (one is a religious institution, though) and a pretty good growth rate (jobs and population). As the capital of the country, we have all the national museums and important cultural institutions too. Good mass transit and lots of outdoor activities for any season. I really like living here. (we are less than two hours from Montréal too... if you like that sort of thing for the week-end )

Oops. My bad. I was just in Ottawa; I can't believe I forgot it in my post.

 

[Shag]

Don't move to St. Catharines, its like a white trash training facility here.