TRC

I currently live Toronto and want to move to Ottawa as I've heard there is better job opportunities there, I don't speak French though.

I currently live in Davisville, love the area, so would live a similar type of area to live in, if someone could recommend a some areas I would like to check them out. I like Toronto, I just hate the TTC, job situation (girl friend is a teacher) also quite a few crazy people here and homeless I don't like. I dont like the wind here either, such a windy city, I'm not sure if Ottawa is the same?

Love how much there is to do here and the amount of bars and restaurants. Always something going on, so a bit worried Ottawa maybe a bit boring?

Any advice from people that have moved from one to the other is appreciated, I guess the cost of living is higher in Toronto?

orly

Lived in Ottawa for a year and overall really liked it. Never lived in Toronto and never will. Rarely impressed by it when I visit. I'd have no problem living in Ottawa again though.

Jobs - french is a big advantage.
Weather - maybe not as windy but it'll be colder than Toronto in winter.
Homeless - plenty of them downtown
It's big enough that there is likely enough to keep you interested. Byward Market is always good for bars/restaurants.

I lived in the area around the Glebe and Little Italy near Bronson Avenue/Carling Avenue. Very high in students due to proximity to Carleton University but a lovely area overall.

Might want to pick spots close to the "O Train" stops if you're not fussed on commuting.

Souvy

I never lived in TO and I don't live in Ottawa but Oakville to Gatineau is close enough for jazz.

The French bit will depend rather a lot on what your job is. It's not really an issue unless you are doing something governmentish. Be aware that the job market is a bit rough here at the moment. Thousand of federal government employees are being fired, as are consultants. Those folk will all be looking for new jobs.

There are plenty of homeless and crazies in Ottawa. They are mostly found on King Edward and in the Vanier sector.

Weather is different here. I know what you mean by the wind. Ottawa doesn't have those wind tunnels leading off the lake. It is certainly colder here in winter and it snows more than it does in TO. The summer is probably hotter. Much of July is usually brutal, with very high humidity. The air quality here is way better than in TO. We do get quite a few earthquakes, though.

The cost of living is almost certainly lower here. Property definitely is (particularly if you cross the river).

Ottawa is much smaller than TO so there will obviously be fewer bars, restaurants etc. There are still plenty of them. The Byward Market is the main centre of stuff like that but it is far from being the only one.

You didn't mention outdoor life. There is plenty of that here and it's very close to hand. Winter sports, cycling, beaches on the lakes - all on your doorstep.

You are really not all that far away from here. Why not come up for a weekend and have a look?

MarylandNed

I lived in Toronto for 7 years and have visited both Toronto and Ottawa frequently. I must admit that my knowledge of Ottawa is nowhere near my knowledge of Toronto. My experience of Ottawa is limited mostly to downtown (including Byward Market) and Carleton University and environs.

In Toronto, I lived just north of Davisville and know that general area very well - still visit there frequently. You're living in a great area. I think Toronto has better nightlife so you might find that aspect a bit disappointing in Ottawa after having lived in Toronto first (although Montreal is only 2 hrs from Ottawa). Toronto does have a higher cost of living. It's typically colder and snowier in Ottawa. I wouldn't consider such a move without one or two good recce trips to Ottawa - which should be easy to do as you are within driving distance of Ottawa.

Lemonfish

Agree with what Souvy said regarding living here.

I only know Toronto from visits for work mainly, but good neighbourhoods to check out here:
Glebe, Westboro/Wellington, New Edinburgh, Old Ottawa South

I doubt you'll find the nightlife as vibrant as Toronto, but the city has lots of other things going for it - affordable, plenty of green space, biking, museums etc. I moved here from London UK and don't find it too dull.

One point to note if one of you is looking for teaching work, there's a big oversupply here. This is based on the experiences I've heard about from various (Canadian) teachers who have recently qualified or moved here.

Unless you are teaching in French to immersion classes, it seems to be very difficult to get anything other than limited hours substitute teaching.

This doesn't seem to be uncommon for Ontario, but I'm told the situation here is tougher than Toronto by someone who has experienced both.

Souvy

To follow-on:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle12357404/

wolstie

Or the transitway, which will give more choice of areas. Plus, a vast chunk of it will be converted to light rail in the coming years.

Souvy

Ditto Rapibus, on my side of the Great Divide. If they ever finish it, it will make northern and eastern Gatineau a lot more accessible to people working in Ottawa.

wolstie

Slated for an October start... (i'm in the transit 'industry')

Souvy

What? You're a bus driver?

I think the Rapibus will prove to be very popular with the wage slaves working in Portage and Chaudieres. That will get a fair few cars off the road.

It's almost as good as the now-completed highway 50.

Atlantic Xpat

I think the teacher oversupply and difficulties in obtaining full time, permanent work is pretty much universal across Canada. Too many teachers, too few jobs, union seniority rules etc etc.

My SIL lived in the Glebe. I liked that area and quite like Ottawa in general. Personally I'd take it above TO any day of the week. SIL now lives in Stittsville which is OK in a commuter suburb sort of way. It seems to be reasonable well served by public transit which is a bonus.

Souvy

There are undoubtedly Glebeish bits of TO but I would also take Ottawa over TO any day.

I do sometimes wonder when people start using the number of bars, restaurants, clubs, museums etc as a criterion for selecting a city to live in. How often do most people frequent such places?

A real downtown would be much higher up my list than the number of places one can observe sculptures made of moose dung that poignantly depict the miseries visited upon the natives by the European settlers, or some such bollocks.

wolstie

Planner.

Souvy

Oh, one of them............

wolstie

Ha ha ha. I was recently called a 'genius' by one of our schedulers. Took me a while to realise it wasn't a complement.