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I'd say that the pacific n.w. and B.C. are pretty similar with their liberal attitudes and environmentalism. The interior of BC and eastern Washington and northern Idaho are probably similar with their rural conservatism and religion. Parts of Alberta are similar to the great plains with their cowboys. Northern Minnesota is similar to northern Ontario with their accents, fishing, and their remoteness from the world. New England and the Maritimes are similar in their historic links to England and the sea.
Borderlands that aren't similar would be the borders at Detroit and Buffalo, where the U.S. side has a decaying rust belt economy and "Northern Cities" accent, and major black-white racial tensions, while the Canadian side is quieter with a more neutral midwestern/Canadian accent and better economy. Also, Quebec obviously has a different culture than New York, and New England, however the northernmost counties of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine do have some French Canadian cultural influence.
I tend to agree with this post. I think the American cities with the most in common with Canadian cities along their border is probably the cities in the Pacific Northwest. Alot of this though has to do with close proximity to each other, and isolation from the rest of North America.
As far as the Midwest coast and the East Coast. I would say none of the MAJOR. Notice I say major cities have really nothing in common with their northern neighbors.
Toronto's layout is quite different from Chicago if you compare them closely. Chicago has amazing skylines along Lake Michigan while Toronto's skyline more surrounds Yonge street. IMO Toronto's architecture lacks the density and diverse beauty found in Chicago. You can easily find many big parking lots even in the downtown core in Toronto (Yonge and College/Gerrard for instance). You don't find those in Chicago.
Toronto is more like Cleaveland than Chicago. Chicago has maintained open space since its earliest settlement along the downtown lakefront while Toronto and Cleaveland have an industrial lakefront harbor. Toronto and Cleaveland share the same lakefront orientation (E-W) unlike Chicago (N-S).
You might be right about the skyline. The Key Bank Tower in Cleaveland and the BP Building have impressive height but stand alone. First Canadian Place and Scotia Tower are positioned the same way. The CN Tower looks like the flagpole on the Terminal Tower and the TD Canada Trust Tower is shaped like that tower. (One thing I noticed is that Toronto's buildings are so rectangular. Why?)
I'd say that the pacific n.w. and B.C. are pretty similar with their liberal attitudes and environmentalism. The interior of BC and eastern Washington and northern Idaho are probably similar with their rural conservatism and religion. Parts of Alberta are similar to the great plains with their cowboys. Northern Minnesota is similar to northern Ontario with their accents, fishing, and their remoteness from the world. New England and the Maritimes are similar in their historic links to England and the sea.
Borderlands that aren't similar would be the borders at Detroit and Buffalo, where the U.S. side has a decaying rust belt economy and "Northern Cities" accent, and major black-white racial tensions, while the Canadian side is quieter with a more neutral midwestern/Canadian accent and better economy. Also, Quebec obviously has a different culture than New York, and New England, however the northernmost counties of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine do have some French Canadian cultural influence.
It's the same with Northern NY near Malone and Plattsburgh too. They even have some radio stations that market to Montreal and NNY.
Western Canada shares its cultural, politics , and economy with its aligned north south states.... Examples.; BC is most like WA.,OR.CAL., they trade together, vacation together , retire together , yes , quite the same as far as peoples and their lifestyle.....Alberta is most like MT.WY.CO.TX.OK. , because of energy, coal and oil. You will find the same oil field workers in both areas, depending on the job and the need to share materials, expertise , and yes , Politics. Alberta is the most like Texas when it comes to Right leaning views, of anyplace in Canada. SK. is most like the bread Basket states of the Great Plains, people ( farmers), are the same. In Fact , many farmers in SK also have land in ND. and vise verse. Same goes for the First nation Peoples , who , do not recognize the boarder...never did.
Manitoba , much like SK, and as well MN., kinda a mix of Midwest-Northern tier folks. Same goes for Northern ON. and the UP of MI. all part of the northern tier, in culture, jobs , and lifestyle.
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What I've noticed with most border cities, is the American one on the border is, comparatively speaking, overlooked, nothing or very little to do and/or run down, while the Canadian one is the opposite (ex: Blaine, WA, White Rock, BC....Detroit and Windsor, Niagara Falls, ON vs. Niagara Falls, NY).
What I've noticed with most border cities, is the American one on the border is, comparatively speaking, overlooked, nothing or very little to do and/or run down, while the Canadian one is the opposite (ex: Blaine, WA, White Rock, BC....Detroit and Windsor, Niagara Falls, ON vs. Niagara Falls, NY).
That's because
1) the border area represents the coldest places in the US (ie. where people feel reluctant to live) and the warmest in Canada (where people tent to gather). Toronto being a mild city in Canada is considered frigid in the US.
2) Canada's economy depends on the American one significantly, therefore being close to the US gives them advantage. On the other hand, the US economy doesn't depend on Canada and there isn't any advantage being close to Canada.
That's because
1) the border area represents the coldest places in the US (ie. where people feel reluctant to live) and the warmest in Canada (where people tent to gather). Toronto being a mild city in Canada is considered frigid in the US.
2) Canada's economy depends on the American one significantly, therefore being close to the US gives them advantage. On the other hand, the US economy doesn't depend on Canada and there isn't any advantage being close to Canada.
Could you elaborate?
Canada's biggest cities, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, are all within 2 hours drive from the US, while none of the biggest US cities are that close to Canada. It is not a coincidence.
Could you elaborate?
Canada's biggest cities, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, are all within 2 hours drive from the US, while none of the biggest US cities are that close to Canada. It is not a coincidence.
Canada is a huge Country, with a fraction of the population of the US. The cities are where they are because of natural climate, not because of being close to the US border... Also , Canada is the largest trading nation with the US. The US benifits with oil,gas, lumber,gold,silver,and a lot of Canadian mfg. of auto parts. The vast part of Northern Canada has limited population, most people live in the area that was settled long ago, a lot of the popuation expansion started before it did in the US.
Border cities ARE mostly larger in Canada because of trade routes, highways, water transportation, not because the people want easy axcess to the US.... An exception right off is Detroit and Windsor.
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