What's Wrong With The Soo (Detroit, Pigeon: for sale, hotel, jobs)

[gouligann]

Hi, I'm from Soo Ontario.
I agree that Soo Mich is a quiet town. It's not a pretty town, but it's clean, and in the summer, it's very busy with tourism. I think of it as a very safe place to raise your kids, and a good smaller city, if you don't want a fast pace of living.
The three casinos bring a lot of business into Soo Mich. Otherwise, there really isn't any industry. I often see signs advertising jobs in stores and restaurants, but I know nothing about the wages.

I, and many fellow Ontarians feel very fortunate to have another city right near us. Crossing the bridge is EASY for us, and for US citizens. There is NOTHING TO IT, (unless the traffic is heavy), and it's nice to have a variation of stores to shop in. We cross over about once a week to shop and donate a bit of cash to the casinos. lol

Some of you mentioned that the Antlers restaurant was closed. I didn't even know it was closed, if it was.
IT ISN"T CLOSED!!!
We were just there last night for a steak supper with another couple. The food was just ok, not great, ok. The steaks weren't any pricier than other places. We have had many a great meal there through the years. It's the same old place...bells, whistles antlers and all the taxidermy still the same.

There isn't a gift shop or bar downstairs any more. Since there is no other fire escape but the one set of stairs, I guess? for safty regulations, they stopped the use of the basement down.


As for rudeness, only once in the many times I've been in Soo Mich., have I had an encounter with a rude person. I'm no spring chicken either lol I have always found people in every state I've visited, very polite. Some cities in Canada have very rude people. (Toronto for instance) No one even gives you eye contact there. Maybe afraid? Crime is very high there.

One other thing I've noticed on this board, is that you say Soo Michigan has no shopping. The Walmart strip mall is a very busy place, but ok, there aren't any malls. But! We have two malls in Soo Canada, so there is plenty of shopping just over the border for you. With your dollar being better than ours, I'd think you'd get more for your buck shopping on this side? I'm not suggesting that you shop here, it makes no difference to me, but to say there isn't shopping in the Soo???? huh?? Yes, there is.

NOW, I have a question. I have a friend in another state that is travelling up to visit me in the summer. She will fly into Soo Mich, and I am driving over to pick her up with my car. She is my age, and very respectable. She has an 8 year old DUI, and both her and I called all over the place to find out if she needs a waiver to cross. All either of us got were recordings. It's like no person works in the consulate offices, just machines. Very sad that technology has done this. She has a current passport, which she will have on hand, but has decided against trying to get a waiver. Not from the lack of trying to get an answer!!!
Have any of you crossed into Canada with an older DUI without a waiver? How did it go? Was there any trouble? Were there questions asked, or did they even mention it?
I am concerned about this, and would just like to be reasured that there won't be any troubles for her to come into Canada.
Any and all comments welcomed. Thanks.

[FaeryMeg]

I agree with everything about the Soo being economically depressed and there being no shopping. There's the Walmart strip and Fudgie Lane, but little else. Very few good jobs and it's a really depressing place during the winter.

[gouligann]

HI, DOES NO ONE HAVE AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION? Please?

[Rapunzll]

Originally Posted by gouligann

HI, DOES NO ONE HAVE AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION? Please?

IMNSHO, the best thing to do would be to call customs/border control and ask them.

[ChairborneRanger]

Originally Posted by gouligann

HI, DOES NO ONE HAVE AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION? Please?

That's a really tough call---suggest, as Rapunzll indicated, that you check right at the border.

Many years ago I pled no contest to a misdemeanor, but, that said, I never had any problems crossing into Canada. Then BANG-----last November----I got turned back at the border (Vancouver) for it. Not only me, but a good 25-30 other people on the flight from Mpls., many of them with DUI's, petty drug offenses, etc. Evidently, as part of the "war on terror", the U. S. has given Canada (as part of a quid pro quo in terms of record accessability between the two countries) full access to all the "criminal" records of every U. S. citizen and resident.

I've since heard that whether or not someone can enter Canada is quite dependent on the specific Canada Immigration Officer----and that it will vary considerably between border crossing points, etc.-----it appears, though, that there are not necessarily any "hard and fast" rules as to who does and doesn't get in.

Good luck on this---I certainly got suprized! You think something is long behind you and then it suddenly comes up and smacks you right between the eyes!

[gouligann]

Thank you CR, Finally someone answered my question. I hadn't checked back on here until now.

I did call the border and they gave me a phone number. OF COURSE it was a phone number that didn't have a PERSON answering. Just a stupid answering machine. Never did reach a real person. It's like no one works in government offices any more. They just turn on the phones to answer, and leave for the day lol

I guess we'll just take our chances, and hope that we get a nice man/woman border guard, who doesn't see a mid aged Canadian woman, bringing a mid aged American friend into Canada, as a threat. Pretty dumb if you ask me, if we do get turned back.

[lmadams]

in my opinion, Sault Ste marie is a terrible place to live! I am on this site looking for a better place to live!

There is a great deal of poverty in this area. Many people rely on Social Security, Unemployment, and State benefits. The main employers are the state prisons, the hospital, and the school system. The numerous maller employers cant afford to provide health care for their employees, so they go without, basically. Wages are low, and there is a lack of jobs in the area.

The area does not have alot to offer as far as entertainment goes for people who are not "outdoors" types, the movie theater, bars, restraunts, and shopping, which consists of a walmart, Kmart, and not much else!

Many employees in Sault Ste Marie actually reside in Sault Ste Marie , Ontario, which is just across the US-Canadian border. This causes obvious economic problems for the community.

The school system is lacking, my children have had great teachers, and endured terrible ones.

The city spends money on needless things instead of focusing on true economic development. Many organizations write grants for things like a parking structure or low income housing or flower beds.


The town also has a dirty appearance to it--hard to describe, it has just always seemed dirty, as in grimey to me.

The summers are nice here, more activity. The town is dead in the winter except for bars, restraunts, and stores.

I apologize for not thinking of something nicer to say.

[yooperforever]

You need to leave here ASAP. People like you are the reason SSM seem's to be so horrible. If you think this towns sucks, then leave.

Many wages are low. SSM is a summer-tourist town. We aren't Chicago where we have millions of dollars coming in year round.

With some POSITVE attitude, SSM will turn around. Its your negative views that hurt us.

Originally Posted by lmadams

in my opinion, Sault Ste marie is a terrible place to live! I am on this site looking for a better place to live!

There is a great deal of poverty in this area. Many people rely on Social Security, Unemployment, and State benefits. The main employers are the state prisons, the hospital, and the school system. The numerous maller employers cant afford to provide health care for their employees, so they go without, basically. Wages are low, and there is a lack of jobs in the area.

The area does not have alot to offer as far as entertainment goes for people who are not "outdoors" types, the movie theater, bars, restraunts, and shopping, which consists of a walmart, Kmart, and not much else!

Many employees in Sault Ste Marie actually reside in Sault Ste Marie , Ontario, which is just across the US-Canadian border. This causes obvious economic problems for the community.

The school system is lacking, my children have had great teachers, and endured terrible ones.

The city spends money on needless things instead of focusing on true economic development. Many organizations write grants for things like a parking structure or low income housing or flower beds.


The town also has a dirty appearance to it--hard to describe, it has just always seemed dirty, as in grimey to me.

The summers are nice here, more activity. The town is dead in the winter except for bars, restraunts, and stores.

I apologize for not thinking of something nicer to say.

[Driller1]

My hubby cross with a fire arm, that would be a problem with a DUI. I do not believe she will have a problem at all. Make sure she has her birth certificate. I predict they will not look at it.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by gouligann

HI, DOES NO ONE HAVE AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION? Please?

This is what my above post is in regrades to.