Hi all,

Trying to get a tasty debate started...

Basically I love Vancouver / BC and want to move my whole family there within the next few years.. if possible.

However, I work for the 2nd biggest bank in Europe and I know that Toronto has the 5 biggest banks in Canada, operational HQ's, etc.

This would be the easiest fit for my career, however only visited Toronto once and after some dodgy mexican food spent the 3 days in my hotel toilet... too much info hence, didn't see the sights.

So, for a young family and cultured(ish) couple - what's the best, you decide?

Many thanks,
Simon

Oh come on that's not a fair question! For sport and family life vancouver! For the banks (like me I work for RBS financial markets) then it has to be toronto.

I can't really see the attraction of Toronto; certainly not to the extent of moving half round the world for it.

However, Vancouver sucks if you can't get a decent job.

What sort of culture are you looking for? Vancouver doesn't have any decent museums or art galleries.

You see the dilemma!

I also work for RBS (Gogarburn, Edinburgh). Some great results we just announced, not! Fred the shred needs to find a new job....

Are you based in Canada?

Are Vancouver galleries and museums really that poor, to be honest it's a secondary priority, keeping the kids entertained is high on my list.

Take it you don't rate Toronto? anything specific you can share?

The climate's horrid and the surrounding area has little of interest. I can't see what it offers that you can't get in, say, London.

Vancouver has one museum, which is sadly obsessed with First Nations "culture". As civilizations go, they're not really up there with the Egyptians or the Romans. The Vancouver Art Gallery is small and has little of note in its collections other than a lot of Emily Carr stuff (I don't think anyone's heard of her outside BC).

Vancouver's all about the outdoors. If you don't like skiing, hiking, kayaking, sailing or cycling, then there's probably not a lot here for you.

It is called local history and culture, learning about where you live.

Sure, and that's fine, but you might hope for a bit more in a city of 2 million people. Doesn't bother me, I lived in London for six years before moving here. At least in Toronto they've got the shoe museum.

[QUOTE=bazzz;6670150]The climate's horrid and the surrounding area has little of interest. I can't see what it offers that you can't get in, say, London.

Yes cus all this rain we get in TO is just like in lower mainland BC and is shit isnt it?

Your right TO aint no Vancouver but it beats 90% of cities Ive been too! (and yes Ive been to lots before the sarcastic remarks start)

[QUOTE=Mikey B;6670259] I'd go with 89%. OK, I'll meet you half way 89.5%

Where did you find Mexican food? Mexican is the worst represented of all the world's cuisines in Toronto.

It doesn't have anything you can't get in London and there's lots in London you can't get in Toronto. However, what it does have is cheaper. I think that's the central point about emigrating to Canada, it gets you more consumer durables at the expense of intangibles. Canada's good if you measure your life by the number of cars in your driveway.

I think the only thing you can do it have a reccie trip to Toronto and see what you think. I always imagined, from reading about it, etc, that I'd love Toronto but when I actually visited, it really wasn't my kind of place at all (putting it politely!). You might find the same, or you might love it! And unfortunately the only way to find out is to head over there yourself.

Good luck deciding.

Hey Hammy no I am based in the City in London I move to Canada in November. The result was bad but not as bad as expected or what the other institutions are posting so we can stay happy for now. I wont be working for RBS or ABN in Canada but I may be looking at one of there brokers Scotia bank in TO. The thing is Toronto is wage wise like London but is a nicer city and is close to NY which is cool but you need money to live there.

Vancouver is all about the good life if you can fund it. So the choice they say is yours! )

Erm...really? It is about as interesting as an ingrown toenail to be honest.

Qualification: I finished the beer in the fridge tonight. I hate this tedious place. I am sure I will be fine in the later a.m. with a coffee, looking at the mountains I can't ever climb.
Honest gov.