Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I've just recently relocated to Vancouver, and in keeping with being the sort of person I am, I like to lightly plan ahead ever here and there so I don't fumble with time too much.
If I do get the chance to explore areas of the Northwest Territories without it seriously hitting my bank account, I'll do that initially, but after that happens (or if it doesn't) I'd like to have clearer concept of which city I'd prefer to spend more time in (I'll be in Vancouver until some time in the latter half of this year).
I like decent sized cities to extremely large cities (I'm not really into anything smaller than Vancouver) and I'm big on live music (very big on punk and hardcore, and anything considered 'experimental') dining, cultural facets (especially things that are considered unique), general urban make up, and I like a bit of history too.
When it comes to Toronto, I'm interested in its size, and how people I've spoken to talk about how some of the 'bohemian' facets are starting to grow more? And also how its a large, dynamic, diverse city with plenty of things going so as to always keep me interested, sort of comparable to a city like London or NYC, with it being THE city in certain aspects (though, if I'm wrong, do correct me). Naturally, everything I know about the place I've only read or seen on a computer screen, so I can't comment on the fact.
I'm interested in Montreal because it seems like there is nothing like it. A culturally vibrant, expressionistic, self assured city in North America that's native tongue is French? Granted, I don't know any French, but if I'm steering towards Montreal I'll definitely make an effort to learn, it just seems like a lovely place to immerse myself in. Plus, I've been told it's possible to get by with English there as there is a sizable bi-lingual population. Still, I'd like to learn. Also, I've heard it's a great party city.
If it helps, my favourite city that I've visited is New York, but with cities I've lived in, Melbourne has been the best so far. Thanks!
I've just recently relocated to Vancouver, and in keeping with being the sort of person I am, I like to lightly plan ahead ever here and there so I don't fumble with time too much.
If I do get the chance to explore areas of the Northwest Territories without it seriously hitting my bank account, I'll do that initially, but after that happens (or if it doesn't) I'd like to have clearer concept of which city I'd prefer to spend more time in (I'll be in Vancouver until some time in the latter half of this year).
I like decent sized cities to extremely large cities (I'm not really into anything smaller than Vancouver) and I'm big on live music (very big on punk and hardcore, and anything considered 'experimental') dining, cultural facets (especially things that are considered unique), general urban make up, and I like a bit of history too.
When it comes to Toronto, I'm interested in its size, and how people I've spoken to talk about how some of the 'bohemian' facets are starting to grow more? And also how its a large, dynamic, diverse city with plenty of things going so as to always keep me interested, sort of comparable to a city like London or NYC, with it being THE city in certain aspects (though, if I'm wrong, do correct me). Naturally, everything I know about the place I've only read or seen on a computer screen, so I can't comment on the fact.
I'm interested in Montreal because it seems like there is nothing like it. A culturally vibrant, expressionistic, self assured city in North America that's native tongue is French? Granted, I don't know any French, but if I'm steering towards Montreal I'll definitely make an effort to learn, it just seems like a lovely place to immerse myself in. Plus, I've been told it's possible to get by with English there as there is a sizable bi-lingual population. Still, I'd like to learn. Also, I've heard it's a great party city.
If it helps, my favourite city that I've visited is New York, but with cities I've lived in, Melbourne has been the best so far. Thanks!
Hey mate, welcome to Canada!
I have only visited your country briefly (about a month), but I'd call Toronto more Melbourne-ish and Montreal as Sydney-like, from my impressions of those four cities. Paradoxically, Toronto is the largest city which you'd expect to have more things in common with Sydney, but when I was in Sydney, the vibe and the streets, and the parks, live shows, etc, all reminded me of Montreal rather than Toronto. As well, I found Melbourne a lot more buttoned down, similar to Toronto. I had American friends who were on the same trip also comment that Melbourne was a lot more like Boston and they compared Sydney to New York City.
The only issue you might have with Montreal is finding a job--Toronto would have more options, and in Montreal even though you can very well function both at work and at play only knowing English, a lot the job opportunities would specify bilingual French/English so it might be harder to break into the job market. That said, I know people whose companies transferred them from Toronto to Montreal, allophones (speaking English plus another non-French language) and had no problems at all, so if you could find the job, you should be fine.
Both cities have vibrant ethnic communities, and most bands/shows would visit both of them, although Montreal again would have the upper hand in the culture area.
Good luck with your decision, and enjoy the left coast while you can, since both TO and definitely Montreal are waaay colder than Vancouver.
If finding a job is a main concern for you especially since you do not speak french it would be foolish not to choose toronto. You can "get by" in montreal without speaking french as a tourist or just a visitor but i don't know any decent job that would hire you if you can't converse in french as well.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
