Interestingly tonight some one compared Toronto to Barcelona....architecturally!

How was it bro? So sorry I missed it. Someone came and painted a red cross on my door earlier...
Hope to see you soon man.
Ps on the point someone made, not much Gaudi touch in TO.

Don't forget Tim Hortons, the coffee is Cr*p but at least it is cheap.

To the OP, I see you haven't posted here much, so I will cut much more slack than the rest of the posters so far. This forum can be overtaken with banter at times, and it can be frustrating when you are looking for straight forward answers. It is best for you to provide as much info as possible when seeking advice, otherwise, you will be on the receiving end of sarcastic comments and threads slipping so far from where they started that they end up bearing no resemblance to the original question, and YES I know I joined in, but I really couldn't help it.

As others have stated Ontario is huge, if you can narrow down the area geographically, you will get a better indication of what it is like from those that live there or who have visited or researched the areas.

In my opinion (and it is only my opinion), I found Toronto to be much like any other major city in the western world. It seems to be over populated, with a broad mix of people. Traffic is a nightmare, property prices in nicer areas are expensive and the roads seem to be in a permanent state of grid lock. However, as the largest city in Canada, it also has the most opportunities for employment.

Niagara! (as in the falls) is a place to visit to see one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, it is transfixing both summer and winter (although very cold in the winter), but I really wouldnt want to live there. The city itself is like a mix between Las Vegas and Blackpool, read cheap and tacky into that if you want. If youre not in the hospitality industry, I don't see what there is for you there.

Niagara on the Lake. Miles away from the falls is a really beautiful town, somewhere where I could see myself retiring to, but maybe a little too sleeply for me at the minute.

Whitby, this was our second choice place to settle in Ontario, not really sure why, we just liked it. it is a bit of a commuter belt for Toronto, but the commute into Toronto is a nightmare.

Ottawa, this is where we settled. Although it is the capital city of the country and houses the Government, it is not nearly as busy as Toronto. There is naturally a lot of government employment in the city, but there are many other industries that are very big in and around the city. Technology and IT are very big in the west end of the city. Then city itself doesn't feel crowded, and has a feeling of Barcelona and Amsterdam about it, if you haven't considered Ottawa, have a look, you may be surprised. Ottawa is also very close to Quebec, just over the river, where you can buy beer and wine almost anywhere, and much cheaper than in Ontario, and Montreal is less than 2 hours away, where there is some good shopping available for the ladies, as a bloke, I restrict my shopping to Marks Workwear, Home Depot and Lowes, so I can't really comment from a mans perspective.

Kingston is military base and houses a federal prison and a large university campus, so there are many other opportunities there, although some of the inmates families in the prison are known to move to the area when their loved ones get incarcerated there. (federal prisons are the equivalent of high security prisons in the uk and they keep the worst criminals there).

I hope this helps somewhat, but as I said, if you provide a bit more information of where you are thinking of, you will get a better idea of what it is like.

WHAT!?

[QUOTE=rich07;9675898]

Ottawa, this is where we settled. Although it is the capital city of the country and houses the Government, it is not nearly as busy as Toronto. There is naturally a lot of government employment in the city, but there are many other industries that are very big in and around the city. Technology and IT are very big in the west end of the city. Then city itself doesn't feel crowded, and has a feeling of Barcelona and Amsterdam about it, if you haven't considered Ottawa, have a look, you may be surprised. Ottawa is also very close to Quebec, just over the river, where you can buy beer and wine almost anywhere, and much cheaper than in Ontario, and Montreal is less than 2 hours away, where there is some good shopping available for the ladies, as a bloke, I restrict my shopping to Marks Workwear, Home Depot and Lowes, so I can't really comment from a mans perspective.



Hi Rich, regarding Ottawa and IT in the west end of the city; where would be a good place to live around here for a family?
Hubby is in IT so definately interested in this.

We currently live in NS but are maybe looking to move to Ontario for a bit more of an exciting life and more job prospects. We are looking at Toronto but Ottawa is our second choice (or England).
Is there alot to do for family days out?
Is there stuff to do in the evening for adults, like good bars and restaurants?

Thanks in advance

[QUOTE=Lorry1;9676419] Most of the IT is based in Kanata, so that would be a good place to start looking.

Family days out really depend on what you want to do, in winter there is skiing less than an hour away, either on the dark side, or lid you are out west (Kanata) calabogie or mount pakenham are pretty close to Kanata. There is also the winter festival in feb, which is great with the kids, plenty to see and do, and there is also skating on the Canal, the worlds largest skating rink I believe.
Ottawa city is very bike friendly, with plenty of cycle lanes, and more coming.

Bars and restaurants are going to depend in where you are, they do exist in the more urban areas, but when you get out into the country, the bars are few and far between. If your kids get into any sports, you will find your life taken over by the matches and practices, but it does at least give you a social life, which generally ends up in a restaurant for a bite to eat and a few beers.

The other major plus side to Ottawa is the relative lack of traffic compared to the likes of Toronto, it may seem busy compared to ns, but compared to the uk or Toronto, it is a real breeze

Jobs?

[QUOTE=Lorry1;9676419] I think that's a bit of a stretch rich07, to be honest. I like living here, but Barcelona it ain't...

Odd that you pulled out Flamenco as Spain's selling point. I would have thought Rioja would be in your list Novo.

Have you ever been to Prince Edward county in the autumn and sampled some of the local wine, or made pasta with some of the amazing tomatoes that you can get up there? I'm tellin ya, just delicious.

Europe it ain't, but gems it has.

[QUOTE=Lemonfish;9676674] I agree it ain't Barcelona, but it has that european feel to it, the Barcelona/ Amsterdam feel has more to with the waterside aspect and architecture rather than the street traders and the lively night life. The comment was base on the city itself also, and not the suburbs or the surrounding countryside

[QUOTE=rich07;9676798] Ottawa has a canal but so does Manchester and no one speaks of Manchester as that Amsterdam North of Watford. Ottawa's pleasant enough for a weekend, in that brief gap between bugs and bitter cold, but Utrecht more than Amsterdam.

Barcelona? Not even if you squint really hard.

[QUOTE=rich07;9676798] If you insist on comparing Ottawa to a european city, how about Helsinki?

I used to play it reasonably well and still enjoy listening to it.

You make pasta with tomatoes?

Minor stones, no diamonds.

Yeah, it's a ****er getting them through the machine and I'll be darned if you can hang them up properly afterwards, but what can you do?