Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

Look

I couldn't care less, where I live at the moment, I'm not saying it's worse here, it just seems the same to me.

I don't care about graphs, violent crime is measured differently in the UK anyway, with certain things included that aren't in Canada. There are similar number of murders in canada but the population is only half the UK's, it doesn't really make it any less safe.

There are posters on every street corner in Montreal desparately trying to find that poor kid who was snatched last week, these evil people are everywhere including Canada

Of course there are places in Canada that are so far away and remote there won't be any crime. I mean what thief is going to travel to Wawa or Thunder bay just to nick a car. In England crime is more evenly spread as no where is really out of reach and it is all well connected together.

As for the gap between rich and poor try tellin the poor sods sleeping under the awning outside my office in Montreal at 5am that it's worse in the UK. Or the families who have to use the local foodbank.

The picture you are trying to paint is that the UK is some sort of hell hole, whereas Canada is almost perfect, I'm just being realistic, most people live a decen life in both places

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

Ok- so for homeless people they are similar. That's great buddy.

For me it's exponentially better here.

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

I work in downtown Toronto. I see a punch thrown at least once a day and I'm only here in daylight. When I lived here I saw very many more. I have to think you aren't going out much. How many times a day do people proposition you on the street? How many times do they ask you for money?

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

I think you hit the nail on the head. For you it is exponentially better, and honestly, I am happy for you. In fact i know someone who feels the same as you, and know someone who is going back to the UK for their own reasons.

So it's all personal, from my point of view it's pretty much a similar daily experience, some things would have been better in the UK and others are better here, thats all I can say.

Have a nice one

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

Recent pictures of downtown Toronto. Lots of homeless people. Lots of drugs. Lots of prostitution. It's not Amsterdam but it's not nice either.

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

Hmmm, you see a punch thrown once a day? Do you happen to work near a Gold's Gym or something similar. You know the ones that have the glass windows?

You're from the burbs so maybe you see what I don't (or just scare easily). I'm out most nights, admittedly away from Richmond / club district. If I do go clubbing it's to an after hours spot.

Yes there's lots of homeless downtown, yes they panhandle. I'm sure you're one of those who supports outlawing the practice? Then we would have a problem. (hint: They would stop asking you and just take it)

My roommate works at a drop in centre and some of the stories are really grim. Just like in any other big urban area. Surprising isn't it?

I clearly live in a bubble.

A city of 2.5 million people has problems downtown with drugs and prostitution! This is unacceptable, and thank you for opening my eyes to this.

I am on the phone to Flight Centre booking a one way ticket back to London.

Peace.

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

No. By Allan Gardens. The park with all the needles on the ground. The beggars working the cars at the light can usually be counted on to hit someone a couple of times an hour.

Eh? Ten years in the Beach, five years before that at Yonge and Esplanade. My kids went to school at College at Jarvis; the school hockey rink was at Moss Park next to the Salvation Army hostel, that's a fine place to be at dawn.

Whereabouts are you? Anyplace within a couple of block or so of Filmores will offer flying fists from mid-afternoon.

I ignore them completely. Often they become abusive, once one pulled a knife. They're street furniture to me I won't acknowledge them as being human.

No surprise to me. I think the place is a bit of a dump.

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

I expect you do live in rather a bubble which is nice for you but it's misleading to suggest that it's representative of the city. And it's flat out silly to describe Toronto as a utopia in comparison to London. Where's the beauty? Where's the history? Where's the culture?

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

Sorry your location said: Fringe of the GTA

I'm in the Annex at the moment. Have also lived Gerrard & Greenwood; Queen's Quay & Bathurst; King & Sherbourne.

Sorry but what you describe is nothing compared to the worst London has to offer. Sink estates run by crack dealers to which the Police won't even go? C'mon.

Let's agree to dis-agree. I certainly respect your opinion though.

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

If you choose you do a search on crime as it crops up here on a regular basis

But in a synopsis

Crime is marginally higher in the UK

But split it out Petty crime, such as car theft, burglary, etc is much higher in the UK

However rates for serious crimes such Murder and Rape are significantly higher in canada

So although you are more likely to be involved in a crime in the UK the follow up is more likely to involve an insurance company than a hospital

And if you’ve not seen drunken violence in a Canadian city on a Friday night in the mainstream areas then I sincerely believe your staying at home
I know it happens in St John, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Lethbridge Whitehorse and Vancouver other cities I have only on hearsay

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

I only moved to the sticks in February. Gerrard and Greenwood has a little bar on the southwest corner, run by an Asian who used to have a place somewhere on Sherbourne. Ever try it? It looks smart from the outside but that place gets quite lively sometimes. I'd go in there for a beer when picking up lifeguard daughter from the Greenwood pool and I always wondered where such a rough crowd lived. The Ball Park diner just down from the southeast corner also had its moments (and an amazing number of roaches) but it's closed now.

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

Fair play. And yes I do believe I know the place you're referring to. Known locally as the Shoot and Stab. I stumbled in there once late on a Sunday and was flirting with the barmaid. BIG MISTAKE.

There were some characters in there for sure- I was advised subtly by a friendly Asian guy to leave (he looked me in the eyes and motioned toward the door). I think he saved me from a beating actualy.

*haha- maybe I forget too quickly.

Anyway it's all good fun isn't it?

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

It is usually. I didn't enjoy being bounced on my head outside Mick E Fynn's when it was at Yonge and Gerrard or hit with the chair in O'Farrell's but I guess I can deal with getting whacked once a year or so.

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

LOL... where do you think America's and Canada's most wanted are hiding? Where do you think all the weirdo white supremacists have their wee forts? Where do you think all the yahoos go to torture creatures just for kicks? Where do you think all the burned out stolen cars end up? Where do you think human remains are often found?

Re: Have you made the right decision????
 

Everything you say say Jonathan is correct. As far as I can tell.

I have read from several posters on BE that they cant wait to come to Canada so that their kids can go outside and play without fear of people attacking them /bullying them etc.

WTF?

i wont let my kids go to the park by themselves either. Not with that bloody pedophile on the loose as you mentioned. Or at any other time as a matter of fact.

Not to forget the poor homeless people at Guy metro or the beggers at Berri.

Send them to Crecent Street at 3 am when the bars are closing and they;ll see that we are indeed no better than London..