Explain Canada

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

As a southerner I'd say I feel much more that way about New York than Atlanta.

I grew up in Florida and we *hated* Atlanata's attitude that it was the cultural and intellectual center of the South. And I was in south Florida -- my friends in the Panhandle were rabid. "Atlanta -- Southern efficiency, Northern charm'

 

[Sequoia2]

just one thing to remember...when up there, just refer to the country of Canady as America Junior when talking to locals

 

[Joël of the FoS]

just one thing to remember...when up there, just refer to the country of Canady as America Junior when talking to locals

*lol* sure !

 

[Khayman]

just one thing to remember...when up there, just refer to the country of Canady as America Junior when talking to locals

Careful. We'll sic that guy from the Keiths ads on ya.

 

[Three_Haligonians]

What kind of programme are you looking for? If it's just a generic undergrad you want, you may want to choose your university by the city like some people have been suggesting. Montreal is a great city, easily the cultural capital of Canada. I went to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (and although the acronym is pronounced NASCAD, Wild Gazebo, it is in fact spelled NSCAD. The university actually had a sign misprinted this way for a couple years, though ) There are a number of universities here in Halifax, if you're interested in an east coast small city.

If you're looking for something completely different, though, I would suggest Newfoundland. I spent a semester at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, NF, and it was the best three months of my university experience. Newfoundland is an island (clearly) and because of that the people who live there have a culture quite distinct from mainland Canada. I think the only university there is Memorial University of Newfoundland (of which SWG was an off-shoot), but there are plenty of other schools as well. Newfoundlanders are known for their politeness and warmth, so if you're looking for a place to make many friends, it is the place to go. The winters are absolutely horrible, but you gotta take the bad with the good.

Also, you probably already know this, but remember that your tuition is listed under International Students, and is significantly more expensive than it is for Canadian students.

Oh, and despite what Fusangite says, U of T is not the only school known outside of Canada. NSCAD itself has quite a reputation, as do many other schools across the country I'm sure.

Yes, b'y, we'll see you north of the border,

R from Three Haligonians

 

[Borlon]

Toronto is one of the great cities of the world. At least downtown, around the U of T. I don't know about the other parts.

As for the rest of the country's attitude towards Toronto; well, Albertans lump Ontario, Quebec and the maritimes together as "the East" and lament their majority in Parliament. ("The West wants in!") Folks in northern Ontario think that southern Ontario runs the show. People in southern Ontario agree that Toronto has way too much influence. Residents of Toronto blame Bay Street (the Canadian equivalent to Wall Street). I don't know what the financial movers and shakers on Bay Street think.

I wouldn't make decisions about University on the weather. First, winters are warmer than they used to be. Second, it is easy to get winter boots and a coat. And we do have internal heating and everything.

One thing- Canadians know far more about the US than Americans know about Canada. I think that is because the US is 10 times the size of Canada (population wise- more by economy) and so there is a strong incentive to be informed; however since Canada is 1/10th the size of the US (from the US point of view- economically and demographically, not geographically) there is little incentive to be informed. The disparity in knowledge is not, I don't think, 100:1, but it is pretty big.

 

[KRT]

Newfoundlanders are known for their politeness and warmth, so if you're looking for a place to make many friends, it is the place to go. The winters are absolutely horrible, but you gotta take the bad with the good.

I spent 4 years at Memorial. I agree the winters are nasty, and the people although friendly, are no more so than I have found anywhere else in Canada, Toronto included. One feature to note though is that the number of single women outnumber the men approximately 3 to 1 (no exaggeration). However this is not neccesarily a factor to base your University choice on.

Oh, and despite what Fusangite says, U of T is not the only school known outside of Canada.

He didn't quite say that. I think the words "worth anything" were in there. I would agree that UofT has a good all round reputation, but to be fair Waterloo has won the MacClean's award many times in the past few years. Most Universities however achieve renown through specific programs (i.e Neuroscience and Genetics studies garner Memorial a lot of International attention).

 

[Wild Gazebo]

I went to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (and although the acronym is pronounced NASCAD, Wild Gazebo, it is in fact spelled NSCAD.

I assure you it was quite on purpose. I'm a big fan of Garry Neil Kennedy...and if I've learned anything from his work...it's that you can never trust signs. Did one of my undergrads there.

And it's great to see other artsy-fartsies haunting the boards.

 

[Three_Haligonians]

I assure you it was quite on purpose. I'm a big fan of Garry Neil Kennedy...and if I've learned anything from his work...it's that you can never trust signs. Did one of my undergrads there.

And it's great to see other artsy-fartsies haunting the boards.

My mistake!

I'm not such a fan of Mr. Kennedy, but it is nice to see another NSCAD grad on the boards! I'm not sure if I count as artsy-farsty, I took Film. I did go through Foundation, though! Do colour wheels count as artistic?

R from Three Haligonians

 

[fusangite]

Toronto is one of the great cities of the world. At least downtown, around the U of T. I don't know about the other parts.

As for the rest of the country's attitude towards Toronto; well, Albertans lump Ontario, Quebec and the maritimes together as "the East" and lament their majority in Parliament. ("The West wants in!") Folks in northern Ontario think that southern Ontario runs the show. People in southern Ontario agree that Toronto has way too much influence. Residents of Toronto blame Bay Street (the Canadian equivalent to Wall Street). I don't know what the financial movers and shakers on Bay Street think.

Actually, I think, as of late, the Torontonian attitude has become more like that of Alberta. I find that people in this city tend to see us as a source of the nation's wealth (and Liberal MPs) and that the rest of the country is politely plundering us and then providing inferior services (e.g. less unemployment insurance) in return. I don't really buy this but that's more and more often what people seem to say.