Toronto or Vancouver
Oct 12th 2010, 5:44 am
#46
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 79
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
besides you never meet many people that are vancouver born and raised..... I personally have never had too much trouble meeting here but i imagine that the muted social scene does not help. I can remember when there was very few places to go here and the laws around booze were a joke. It seemed that the norm was to buy a bottle and have parties at each others homes. I thinks this is why some view the place as cliquey which is not true at all, but inviting someone you hardly know to your home is less likely to happen on a social level
Thanks for the info regarding Vancouverisms btw - that does ring a bell now you mention it.
Incidentally I should add that when I was begining to have my wobbles about Vancouver I read a bunch of discussions on here, which while they didn't result in me sticking it out certainly provided the affirmation that I wasn't the only one and not losing the plot somehow
Oct 12th 2010, 8:19 am
#47
Éireann go Brách
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: White Man in Hammersmith Palais
Posts: 2,932
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
Love Van and really would like to return, i feel like a westerner. I just want my next move to Canada a more successful one, ie, make some money not live month to month.
Oct 12th 2010, 12:59 pm
#48
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
Hi, I have recently returned from my first ever trip to Canada and as expected I loved every minute of it! I flew from London Heathrow to Toronto before getting the via rail to Ottawa and then onto Montreal before heading home. By far my favourite city was Toronto.
When I was there a lot of people recommended Vancouver to me and although I wanted to go there I couldn't fit it into the trip because of the time I had and time it took to get there. I am now planning on moving to Canada for 6 months real soon and can't decide if I should stick with Toronto (which I know I like) or give Vancouver a go even though I have never been there!
Quite a few friends have visited and all of them prefer Vancouver of the two so my next question would be - are the rental prices for a 1 bedroom (possibly shared place) around the same figures for both cities? I don't claim to be an expert on Toronto but seeing the area I would have a rough idea of where I would like to stay if I chose there yet I have no clue about areas in Vancouver.
It's a big choice for me to make and I thought of no better place to get some tips than the expat forum
I begin my research on Vancouver today and any advice will go a long way.
Thanks.
When I was there a lot of people recommended Vancouver to me and although I wanted to go there I couldn't fit it into the trip because of the time I had and time it took to get there. I am now planning on moving to Canada for 6 months real soon and can't decide if I should stick with Toronto (which I know I like) or give Vancouver a go even though I have never been there!
Quite a few friends have visited and all of them prefer Vancouver of the two so my next question would be - are the rental prices for a 1 bedroom (possibly shared place) around the same figures for both cities? I don't claim to be an expert on Toronto but seeing the area I would have a rough idea of where I would like to stay if I chose there yet I have no clue about areas in Vancouver.
It's a big choice for me to make and I thought of no better place to get some tips than the expat forum
I begin my research on Vancouver today and any advice will go a long way.Thanks.
Oct 12th 2010, 2:01 pm
#49
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
As for the work front, the wages don't correlate with the cost of living. Wages are probably higher in Edmonton FFS!
Many people have ideas about where they would like to live, but the reality is work and housing are going to be huge deciding factors.
Oct 12th 2010, 2:15 pm
#50
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
Interesting - when I was there earlier this year I played touch rugby with a guy born and raised in Vancouver, but as a result of working in the film industry had also lived in TO, Montreal, and London (England), as well as a couple of others I think. In having a conversation with him comparing those cities, I asked him which had the best nightlife in his opinion and he said Vancouver - somewhat surprising, based on what I knew about Vancouver and had heard about the other cities. Turns out that was based on his experience of house parties there - so when I remarked that the local population seemed somewhat difficult to get in with to the extent where they'd invite you to a party, he replied that "Oh yeah it's cliquey as hell, but once you're in it's awesome". Seems to correlate with your experience...
Thanks for the info regarding Vancouverisms btw - that does ring a bell now you mention it.
Incidentally I should add that when I was begining to have my wobbles about Vancouver I read a bunch of discussions on here, which while they didn't result in me sticking it out certainly provided the affirmation that I wasn't the only one and not losing the plot somehow
Thanks for the info regarding Vancouverisms btw - that does ring a bell now you mention it.
Incidentally I should add that when I was begining to have my wobbles about Vancouver I read a bunch of discussions on here, which while they didn't result in me sticking it out certainly provided the affirmation that I wasn't the only one and not losing the plot somehow
http://www.beyondrobson.com/nightlife/
Vancouver is odd and it takes a fair bit of time invested in the city to figure out how it works. Again, i think it sort of like prohibition and has resulted in a counter culture.
things are changing though and city hall is puhsing a review of live music venues and bylaws surrounding licences permises etc, designed to make it easier for the average Joe. At my age though, i don't really care anymore and cant even remember the last time i was out past midnight
What we need are the killer patios and rootop clubs like in TO
Oct 12th 2010, 2:29 pm
#51
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
house prices are the biggest negative about vancouver and have significantly impacted the livabilty of the place. Its one of the reasons that would cause us to move
As for the work front, the wages don't correlate with the cost of living. Wages are probably higher in Edmonton FFS!
Many people have ideas about where they would like to live, but the reality is work and housing are going to be huge deciding factors.
As for the work front, the wages don't correlate with the cost of living. Wages are probably higher in Edmonton FFS!
Many people have ideas about where they would like to live, but the reality is work and housing are going to be huge deciding factors.
I remember a few years back when I was looking into moving to Vancouver from Toronto. The salaries for IT professionals were lower in Vancouver than they were in Toronto and I certainly didn't think the cost of living was lower in Vancouver - if anything it was probably higher.
Last edited by MarylandNed; Oct 12th 2010 at 2:32 pm.
Oct 12th 2010, 2:33 pm
#52
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
I was merely making the point that Vancouver is not a beautiful city in my opinion - rather it is a city in a beautiful setting (with ocean and mountains etc). Paris is a beautiful city in terms of its actual infrastructure and architecture - if you could lift it up and relocate it, it would still be a beautiful city. The same can't be said for Vancouver. There are many cities in the world that look like Vancouver in terms of infrastructure - they just happen to not be situated in such a naturally beautiful setting as Vancouver.
I'll admit it's been a while since I was last in Vancouver. I remember wandering the city looking for restaurants/bars/clubs and they were surprisingly hard to find in a city of that size. I remember seeing lots of gay couples (nothing against them-just an observation), lots of coffee shops (where are the bars?), lots of homeless people, and some dodgy areas in and around the downtown core. I understand that Vancouver's temperate climate attracts homeless people from colder parts of Canada. If I remember correctly, Vancouver also has one of the highest crime rates and one of the biggest drug problems amongst Canada's largest cities.
So, yes, beautiful setting but certainly not a city without some serious flaws. Of course, my interests are probably different since I was last there. There's a good chance that the fresh air, the park, the ocean, the mountain and the beach could provide all the entertainment I now seek- as long as I don't mind rain I guess. However, my lasting memory at this point is still one of how utterly ugly, boring and devoid of life the city itself was.
I'll admit it's been a while since I was last in Vancouver. I remember wandering the city looking for restaurants/bars/clubs and they were surprisingly hard to find in a city of that size. I remember seeing lots of gay couples (nothing against them-just an observation), lots of coffee shops (where are the bars?), lots of homeless people, and some dodgy areas in and around the downtown core. I understand that Vancouver's temperate climate attracts homeless people from colder parts of Canada. If I remember correctly, Vancouver also has one of the highest crime rates and one of the biggest drug problems amongst Canada's largest cities.
So, yes, beautiful setting but certainly not a city without some serious flaws. Of course, my interests are probably different since I was last there. There's a good chance that the fresh air, the park, the ocean, the mountain and the beach could provide all the entertainment I now seek- as long as I don't mind rain I guess. However, my lasting memory at this point is still one of how utterly ugly, boring and devoid of life the city itself was.
Gastown, Yaletown, commercial drive are dominated by bars and restaurants
How long were you here for?
yes it can be a bit sleepy at times
As for crime, Vancouver does have a drug culture and organised crime are well established in the drug trade. this is not a concern for the average joe. As for crime in general, there are only about 10 - 12 murders a year in vancover proper and about 60 for the entire region
Violent crime is no worse that any other similar city, and teh gangs here are not entrenched in certain areas of the city as in TO where street gangs have a LA mentality (trust me on this Im a major crime cop and have had lots of work related trips to TO). Vancouver does not have street gangs, at least not in the typical north american sense
I have always found vancouver to be a very safe city and in 17 years here have never felt threatened.
Oct 12th 2010, 2:37 pm
#53
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
Absolutely. Add kids into the mix and it becomes even more complicated e.g. education, recreational opportunities, healthcare, etc.
I remember a few years back when I was looking into moving to Vancouver from Toronto. The salaries for IT professionals were lower in Vancouver than they were in Toronto and I certainly didn't think the cost of living was lower in Vancouver - if anything it was probably higher.
I remember a few years back when I was looking into moving to Vancouver from Toronto. The salaries for IT professionals were lower in Vancouver than they were in Toronto and I certainly didn't think the cost of living was lower in Vancouver - if anything it was probably higher.
Oct 12th 2010, 2:48 pm
#54
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
[QUOTE=MarylandNed;8912355]I was merely making the point that Vancouver is not a beautiful city in my opinion - rather it is a city in a beautiful setting (with ocean and mountains etc). Paris is a beautiful city in terms of its actual infrastructure and architecture - if you could lift it up and relocate it, it would still be a beautiful city. The same can't be said for Vancouver. There are many cities in the world that look like Vancouver in terms of infrastructure - they just happen to not be situated in such a naturally beautiful setting as Vancouver.
Most modern cities, esopecially in North America or Australia have a sameness about them, it's a function of what cities have become. Cities such as paris evolved over centries and were not dominated by the need for autos or office space. Vancouer is not much over 100 years old and when founded had 1500 inhabitants.
As for the beauty of vancouver, what it does do rather well is intergrate itself into its natural surroundings. Vancouver has a relationship with the ocean and mountains. From the seabus to the northshore, float planes landing in coal harbour, kayaking in falsecreek, cruise ships at Canada Place to tankers out in the strait.
the seawall is a massive enhancement of the connection of the city with its outdoorspaces and many vancouverites use it. Beaches skirt the edge of the city, stanley park is one of the largets urban parks in north america. To me that is the true beauty of the place and is as much about the city's identity is the effiel tower to paris.
Most modern cities, esopecially in North America or Australia have a sameness about them, it's a function of what cities have become. Cities such as paris evolved over centries and were not dominated by the need for autos or office space. Vancouer is not much over 100 years old and when founded had 1500 inhabitants.
As for the beauty of vancouver, what it does do rather well is intergrate itself into its natural surroundings. Vancouver has a relationship with the ocean and mountains. From the seabus to the northshore, float planes landing in coal harbour, kayaking in falsecreek, cruise ships at Canada Place to tankers out in the strait.
the seawall is a massive enhancement of the connection of the city with its outdoorspaces and many vancouverites use it. Beaches skirt the edge of the city, stanley park is one of the largets urban parks in north america. To me that is the true beauty of the place and is as much about the city's identity is the effiel tower to paris.
Oct 12th 2010, 4:15 pm
#55
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
However, my lasting memory at this point is still one of how utterly ugly, boring and devoid of life the city itself was.
Oct 12th 2010, 4:43 pm
#56
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Posts: 10,222
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
hmm - Lots of gay couples - is that a problem? I see it as lots of people - in varying degrees of coupledom - giving the city a wide ranging vibe and sometimes some interesting questions to answer from the kids!
and sometimes some interesting questions to answer from the kids!
Oct 12th 2010, 4:46 pm
#57
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
Didn't mean to offend - some of my best friends are gay. Just reporting that one of my memories of Vancouver was the relatively large gay population I noticed in the downtown core.
Oct 12th 2010, 4:49 pm
#58
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Posts: 10,222
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
You were probably in Davie Village, Denman and Davie, near to English Bay .
Oct 12th 2010, 4:52 pm
#59
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Toronto or Vancouver
I m really leaning to you have only spent a short amount of time here and have not really seen much of the place beyond downtown. Your comment about a lack of restuarants is what did it for me.
Oct 12th 2010, 4:53 pm
#60
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Posts: 10,222
Re: Toronto or Vancouver