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Best city overall in Canada?

Best city overall in Canada?

  • Ottawa

    Votes: 3 9.1%
  • Quebec City

    Votes: 2 6.1%
  • Halifax

    Votes: 1 3.0%
  • Montreal

    Votes: 4 12.1%
  • Vancouver

    Votes: 1 3.0%
  • Toronto

    Votes: 20 60.6%
  • Calgary

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Winnipeg

    Votes: 1 3.0%
  • Victoria, BC

    Votes: 1 3.0%
  • St. Johns, NFL

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    33

jcpro

Well-known member
Jan 31, 2014
24,571
6,768
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Pfff, not even a contest, it's Toronto without a question. While not perfect, it's clean, friendly, diverse, shit ton of things to do even at the last moment, plenty of ladies- regular and professional and "other" to satisfy every appetite and taste, and even has a decent continental climate with wonderful summers, glorious winters and picturesque fall. My kind of place.
 
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bazokajoe

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2010
10,629
9,299
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Considering most people on this board are from or living in the GTA, it's not surprising Toronto is leading in the polls.
 
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Insidious Von

My head is my home
Sep 12, 2007
41,098
8,127
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The once Living Legend: Howie Meeker lived longer than The Queen. Some of that has to do with his choice of retirement, Parksville BC on Vancouver Island coasting the Strait of Georgia. His obituary said Nanaimo which is due south.


Nelson would be grand, except for the forest fires and the ticks.
 

stinkynuts

Super
Jan 4, 2005
8,418
2,770
113
Considering most people on this board are from or living in the GTA, it's not surprising Toronto is leading in the polls.
Surprised almost no one said Vancouver, widely regarded as the best city in Canada, if not the world. A lot people also say it sucks compared to Toronto, but that's another debate. I would argue that the weather in Toronto is actually better than Vancouver. It doesn't even snow in Vancouver most years (maybe one or two days). It's nice to have four distinct seasons, rather than mild weather througout the whole year. If you have kids, it's good for them as they can play in the snow. Also, I was surpised at how many better and more variety of restaurants there were in Toronto vs Vancouver. I couldn't even find one good dim sum restaurant in Vancouver. Chinatown in Vancouver is a joke. Toronto has an amazing Chinatown. And also Vancouver is 90% Chinese in terms of immigrants. Richmond, for example, is literally all Chinese. Toronto is differnt, you have a beautiful mix of people from every country/continent in the world.

To sum it up, Toronto is a clean, safe, diverse city with lots of great restaurants and things to do, good jobs and great location. However, it will be not be a perfect fit for some who are seeking a smaller city with less traffic, and a more laid back vibe.
 
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bazokajoe

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2010
10,629
9,299
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Surprised almost no one said Vancouver, widely regarded as the best city in Canada, if not the world. A lot people also say it sucks compared to Toronto, but that's another debate.
Vancouver is nice, but I choose Victoria. Basically I would choose anywhere in B.C.
Heard Osoyoos is very nice. Small population, great weather.
 
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stinkynuts

Super
Jan 4, 2005
8,418
2,770
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Vancouver is nice, but I choose Victoria. Basically I would choose anywhere in B.C.
Heard Osoyoos is very nice. Small population, great weather.
Yes, also Kelowna is stunning. The mountains and lakes are breathatakingly gorgeous. But it's all white, and very expensive. Not a place for minorities and immigrants. Also very isolated.
 
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bazokajoe

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2010
10,629
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Yes, also Kelowna is stunning. The mountains and lakes are breathatakingly gorgeous. But it's all white, and very expensive. Not a place for minorities and immigrants. Also very isolated.
I'm sure I'll be called a racist prick, but diversity is over rated. Can do more harm than good.
 

Robert Mugabe

Well-known member
Nov 5, 2017
10,080
7,168
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There is something very peaceful about rain. The pitter patter as it hits the roof, very soothing. The grey skies are actually very warm and comforting. Then there's that lovely earthy smell. Lovely to take a walk in the rain and enjoy the sensation as the rain hits you, and you breath in the cool, moist air. Sunshine is jarring and harsh. Grey skies and rain are gentle and soothing. I love cold winters with snow, so refreshing, it makes me feel alive. Coudn't stand the constant 20 weather in Vancouver. One day in early summer is literally the same weather as a day in winter.
You sound exactly like me up until this...
Coudn't stand the constant 20 weather in Vancouver. One day in early summer is literally the same weather as a day in winter.

Too much sun and I go home, draw the curtains and start drinking.

Don't know what winter you are referring to. Maybe 2010 when they had the winter Olympics. Had to manufacture snow because of the summer weather in February.
Climate change has definitely changed the weather in Vancouver. However last winter was pretty much back to the old days. Dark sky. Cool. Record breaking rainfall. (y)
 

K Douglas

Half Man Half Amazing
Jan 5, 2005
28,350
9,432
113
Room 112
Only lived in Toronto and Ottawa
Visited Montreal, Quebec City, Haifax, St. John's, Winnipeg
Have not visited Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton or Calgary

Therefore cannot make an informed choice. I will say that I loved Quebec City and Halifax the most.
 

kyleb899

Well-known member
Sep 9, 2011
1,322
664
113
Lol downtown Toronto should be last , very expensive to live, mississauga and Brampton are the worst, just trashy
 

stinkynuts

Super
Jan 4, 2005
8,418
2,770
113
You sound exactly like me up until this...
Coudn't stand the constant 20 weather in Vancouver. One day in early summer is literally the same weather as a day in winter.

Too much sun and I go home, draw the curtains and start drinking.

Don't know what winter you are referring to. Maybe 2010 when they had the winter Olympics. Had to manufacture snow because of the summer weather in February.
Climate change has definitely changed the weather in Vancouver. However last winter was pretty much back to the old days. Dark sky. Cool. Record breaking rainfall. (y)
I live there for three years, and it must have been a fluke, but I think the last two winters were extremely mild. Like, unusually so. There were only two mildly snowy days, and only one or two cold months.
 

stinkynuts

Super
Jan 4, 2005
8,418
2,770
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Only lived in Toronto and Ottawa
Visited Montreal, Quebec City, Haifax, St. John's, Winnipeg
Have not visited Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton or Calgary

Therefore cannot make an informed choice. I will say that I loved Quebec City and Halifax the most.
I think Halifax doesn't get the attention it deserves. Beautiful city on the ocean, mild winters, friendly people, not too big or small. Affordable. Underrated for sure.
 
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Robert Mugabe

Well-known member
Nov 5, 2017
10,080
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I live there for three years, and it must have been a fluke, but I think the last two winters were extremely mild. Like, unusually so. There were only two mildly snowy days, and only one or two cold months.
I concur. I was getting worried. There were a couple of years when it didn't rain from July to October it seemed. Desert conditions. Hated it. Last winter was like the old days. What period are you talking about?
 

stinkynuts

Super
Jan 4, 2005
8,418
2,770
113
I'm sure I'll be called a racist prick, but diversity is over rated. Can do more harm than good.
I wouldn't say its overrated. Part of what I think makes Toronto great is its diversity. Being able to meet and work with people from all around the world is enriching, as being to experience different cusines.

Where it can go wrong is when too many immigrants come in too quickly, and from only one or two countries. That is the problem with Richmond, BC. You basically have to speak Mandarin to work there now because it's 90% Chinese, and mostly new arrivals. That's when Canadian culture can be erased. This also goes for religions as well, in my opinion.
 
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stinkynuts

Super
Jan 4, 2005
8,418
2,770
113
I concur. I was getting worried. There were a couple of years when it didn't rain from July to October it seemed. Desert conditions. Hated it. Last winter was like the old days. What period are you talking about?
I can't remember, but I lived in Vancouver from 2017-2020. I think 2019 was very dry, and 2018 was wet. Also remember one of those years as having a very mild winter (maybe 2017 and 2018), followed by a proper winter with quite a bit of snow.
 

Frankfooter

dangling member
Apr 10, 2015
96,392
24,837
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Montreal and St John's are the most fun, except for the weather.
Winnipeg is the cheapest and there are some good neighbourhoods but its surprisingly sketchy and buggy in the summer and -40º fall to spring.
Ottawa, clean safe and boring, kind of like Halifax.
Calgary is better than Edmonton if you have to go west.
Vancouver great, there is good dim sum and amazing sushi, but so expensive and so wet. No culture but mountains...
Victoria if you're retiring.
 
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Damnthealiens

Senior member
Feb 29, 2020
174
230
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I've lived in the following cities:

Toronto
Vancouver
Edmonton
Calgary
Moncton

Each of the cities has it's pros and cons.

What city is the best overall?

Please conisder the following:
1)Jobs
2)traffic
3)diversity
4)how friendly are people/easy to make friends
5)natural beauty (oceans/rivers/mountains/lakes/forests/etc.)
6)access to other cities/USA (driving distnance)
7)health care
8)restaurants/events/culture
9)housing costs
10)public transporation
11)climate
12)beauty of the city
13)taxes (income/sales/property)
14)crime


Ideal city: Located on the coast with stunning ocean views, not too big or small (500,000 to 1 million pop.), lots of jobs, a diverse population group from around the world, no too cold winters, and warm summers (but four distinct seasons), lots of beautiful forests and autumn foliage, driving distance to other major cities, airport has flights to cities worldwide, health care is excellent, with short waiting list to have a doctor, excellent hospitals, houses are aoffordable, and great public transportation.

None of the cities I lived in meet all critieria. Each has a major drawback.

Toronto I love for its diversity, jobs, locaton on lake, tons of great restaurants, proximity to Montreal, the USA, international flights are cheap and to every city, health care is good, and the city is beautiful (the CN tower, skyscrapers, etc.) However, it's very cold, hard to make friends (people are stressed and busy), too big of a city house prices are astronomical, public transportation is not great, and traffic is horrible.

I know that it's impossible to have everything, so compromises have to be made.

This list will include the top cities regarded as the best.

I recently visited Halifax, and think it may be the best city. It was gorgeous, next to the ocean, and therefore had mild weather. People were very friendly. Not too big of a city, but at half a million, a good sized city with lots of great restaurants. Housing is still very affordable (probably less than half the cost of Toronto). Only drawback I heard was healthcare was not easily accessible, and waiting list for doctor was too long. Oh, also, it's on the very east coast, isolated from all other cities, and internatonal flights from Halifax are not robust, so you have to fly to Montreal or Toronto first.

Has anyone thought of selling their home and moving to Halifax to have extra money to invest? I really think Halifax may be the best city in Canada overall. But Ottawa is close. A lot of people say it's a toss up between Halifax and Ottawa. Both are great cities.
You posted this on Terb without considering hobbling as a criteria!!!!
 
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