The American equivalent of each Canadian city

[Giesela]

I am not familiar enough with places to have anything to add but I want to say I really like this thread! I'm always looking for places to go but I usually go to smaller cities, more rural places.

I'm not sure if some of the comparisons are geography,culture, size, historical, ethnicity?

Not having been to either I wonder if Milwaukee and Regina might have something in common in terms of ethnicity and size? (My parents visited people in Regina once being Black Sea Germans). Or maybe Regina and Lincoln NE?

And matches along the lines of Windsor/Detroit would also be Port Huron/Sarnia and the two Soo's.

[Cart24]

I can definitely see the parallels between Montreal and Boston.

- Large Historic Housing Stock.
- Strong commitment to preservation and History.
- Impressive Colonial Period Architecture.
- The two largest post secondary Student populations per capita in North America.
- Similar foreign born populations and diversity.
- Founded and Incorporated in the same time period.
- Densely populated and walkable.
- Both cities suffered from Great Fires (Boston 1872, Montreal 1852)


Of course I understand that there is no direct comparison to Montreal anywhere in America or even Canada outside of Quebec. At the same time there is really no equivalent to Boston in Canada either, its Educational Institutions, HealthCare, Scientific Research Industries and Colonial Housing stock have no real match in Canada.

So while both cities are unique (all cities are unique if you really think of it) both Montreal and Boston share alot in common.

[lucknow]

I have really enjoyed reading this thread. It's interesting to read what it is that makes people think cities are similar. I have been most large cities of both the USA and Canada and most of them are more unique to themselves than to other places. I have thought for a long time that Pittsburg and Hamilton are very similar. They even have much of the same feel to them. Besides them both being steel towns they are both big college towns. Both of them are major medical centres and both of them are at the bottom of a mountain. Now if we could just get the Pens to Hamilton then we'll be talking. The one thing about Pittsburg that Hamilton can't touch are the Bridges. I love Pittsburgs Bridges. There are so many of them and they are way cool. The main courthouse in downtown Pittsburg looks a lot like the old city hall in Toronto. I found out it was built around the same time with the same red and brown stone and designed by the same man.
Two other cities that have a similar feel to me are Vancouver and Portland. I love both places and it's more the feel of the place to me rather than physical similarities because they are quite different in that way.
Montreal and Quebec city? No place sees at all similar to them.
I'm trying to think of a place that reminds me of Toronto but nothing comes to mind. I really don't think either NY city or Chicago are much like TO. Toronto is so unique in so many ways.
I think that Canada's large cities are on average nicer than large American cities. I say that because I really hate the urban wastelands that I see in so many American cities. One of my very fav cities in the world is Buffalo if you can believe it. It's a very interesting city and I can spend days there just wandering around, The city has lost about half it's population in the last 50 years and so it falls in to disrepair. I mean what can you do when the people leave? That being said I have to add that I like American small cities and large towns way better than Canadian ones usually.

[ionlife]

This entire premise cracks me up as a " g how are we american or how are we uniquely canadian" attitude? I remember growing up in Canada and saying, about actors/actresses "she/he is Canadian aye"

No offense but the folks in the US and Europe aren't worried about comparing themselves to Canadian or other country cities.

ID? Huh?

[Robynator]

Originally Posted by ionlife

This entire premise cracks me up as a " g how are we american or how are we uniquely canadian" attitude? I remember growing up in Canada and saying, about actors/actresses "she/he is Canadian aye"

No offense but the folks in the US and Europe aren't worried about comparing themselves to Canadian or other country cities.

ID? Huh?

Huh indeed.

I thought I'd just say that in the context of City-Data's Canada forum, it's typically American posters who are coming on here and prompting these Canada-USA comparisons.

[ionlife]

Perhaps they all want to know which Canuck city is best for them should they require free health insurance and a war free country zone if they are americans trying to compare and contrast to Canuck cities. But that doesn't negate my personal memory. It is loud and clear as a bell the "he/she is Canadian aye." Too funny in retrospect. Like that reminds me of "Canadian Content" on the TV and Radio shows. What is up with that? I never got that when I was living there. Is the only way to boost Canadian talent by enforcing using Canadian Talent?

Sorry, I digress. But it does bring back memories.

[lucknow]

Originally Posted by ionlife

Perhaps they all want to know which Canuck city is best for them should they require free health insurance and a war free country zone if they are americans trying to compare and contrast to Canuck cities. But that doesn't negate my personal memory. It is loud and clear as a bell the "he/she is Canadian aye." Too funny in retrospect. Like that reminds me of "Canadian Content" on the TV and Radio shows. What is up with that? I never got that when I was living there. Is the only way to boost Canadian talent by enforcing using Canadian Talent?

Sorry, I digress. But it does bring back memories.

Canadian Content? I can tell you what's up with that. Canada would like to foster it's own home grown talent. Therefore the media must present a persentage of their broadcasts that are Canadian productions as a condition of their permit. Very simple concept really.

[Zoisite]

Originally Posted by ionlife

Perhaps they all want to know which Canuck city is best for them should they require free health insurance and a war free country zone if they are americans trying to compare and contrast to Canuck cities.

In your experience, is that what you find most Americans believe, that Canadian health insurance is free and that Canada is not involved in any wars? If that is what they believe, what do you think would be the best way to set them straight on those misconceptions?

.

[kkgg7]

Originally Posted by Zoisite

In your experience, is that what you find most Americans believe, that Canadian health insurance is free and that Canada is not involved in any wars? If that is what they believe, what do you think would be the best way to set them straight on those misconceptions?

.

Canada is hardly involved in any war for a long time because it is a small country with only one neighbour and hardly any international relevance. Who would Canada have a war with, the USA? Harper does try to be more relevant, but seriously, who cares.

Health insurance is not free in any country. It is either paid by your own tax or from someone else's.

[mutlee]

[quote=kkgg7;11615427]

"Canada is hardly involved in any war for a long time because it is a small country with only one neighbour and hardly any international relevance. Who would Canada have a war with, the USA? "


Hummmm..... WWI & WWII Canada was fighting YEARS before the U.S. got involved.

Korea, Canada was there too. Afganistan same thing. Vietnam/Iraq nope, too smart for that.

The USA did try to start a war with Canada.... They lost, Canada burnt the White House to the ground as James Madison hid in the gullys.