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Hi
I'm looking for some help! I'm planning a move to Canada. But I'm finding it quite difficult to decide between Vancouver and Toronto (or maybe somewhere else!). I suppose if I kind of describe myself and what it is I'm looking for then maybe someone out there could give me some advice!
So, I'm 23 and from Ireland. I'm pretty relaxed and love music. I used to DJ and I now produce some of my own stuff. I love electronic music but also many many other genres. I'll be bringing my equipment and hoping to find a good music scene wherever I go. I love healthy living - food, exercise, beautiful scenery. Love socialising. Wanna meet lovely down to earth people and don't wanna spend all my time hanging out with other Irish people! (I've heard a lot of Irish to go to Vancouver). Not that I have anything against my fellow countrymen, but I dont want to travel halfway across the world just to always hang out with people from home!
I'm coming to Canada alone so I'm also wondering if it's easier/more difficult to meet new people in either city? Which is more expensive? Most FUN?!!!
There's so much I could say and I've probably just confused anyone reading this. But if anyone can make some sense of it and help me out it will be much appreciated
Toronto has a larger music/nightlife scene because it's a bigger city and has most of Canada's corporate headquarters (ie: $$$). As a result, if you're looking to immerse yourself in corporate culture and are really gung ho on being constantly immersed in a city's nightlife, go Toronto all the way. But the scenery is uninspiring - it's fairly flat for hundreds and hundreds of miles and it's located in Canada's industrial/manufacturing region - imagine if Manchester became the corporate headquarter city of the UK - you've got Toronto.
Vancouver has a smaller music/nightlife scene, but it has the beautiful scenery (beaches, ocean, mountains, rainforests, islands) and a laid back vibe. Greenpeace/Adbusters was founded here, and yoga is a practically a religion. I've never really noticed any large quantity of Irish people in Vancouver, so I wouldn't worry about that. I have friends who are DJ's who live in Vancouver, and the scene exists, just not to the quantity of Toronto. www.straight.com, www.clubzone.com, and www.clubvibes.com would give you a taste of nightlife in Vancouver. One thing's for certain - Vancouver's a very unique city.
Both cities have a great restaurant scene, although Vancouver's is heavily dominated by Asian cuisine.
Vancouver's weather is similar to Dublin's, including the grey, wet, rainy, dark winters. Toronto's has hot, muggy, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Torontonians will tell you that it's not "that cold" in Toronto, which is relative to the even more FREEZING cold parts of Canada, but compared to anywhere in Ireland, Toronto winters are cold.
Both cities are incredibly expensive to live in. Vancouver, perhaps even moreso.
Both cities are very multicultural, again with a more dominant Asian presence in Vancouver.
Have you considered Montreal at all? It's cheaper to live in and has a very eccentric, thriving arts/nightlife scene that puts most of Canada to shame. It also has the French aspect - it's bilingual. It would be a bit difficult to obtain a job without some knowledge of French, but if you're planning to DJ, I don't think it would really matter.
Last edited by Robynator; 12-28-2007 at 05:24 PM..
Ha.....nothing much more to say. Robynater said it all. Follow his advice.
I lived in North Vancouver but spent much time in Vancouver. Hope your wealthy. Rents are simular to Tokyo. Many people simply can not afford a normal place so living in basement flats are common.
I can only add that in Vancouver there are endless things to do. You will be soaked doing it but coming from Ireland that is nothing new.
Hey wana trade places? I want to go to Ireland so bad. Im Irish but that has nothing to do with it.
Which reminds me. I was watching Larry King interview President Clinton. King asked Clinton this question: If you could live anywhere on earth except the United States, where would you live? Without even hesitating, Clinton said he would live in Ireland in a heartbeat.
Wow !
Good luck on your move. Sorry I know nothing about Toronto.
my wife and i and our dog r thinking of leaving ireland to work in canada . i am a carpenter and she works in clerical. so where do u reckomend.and are most flats pet freindly,
I have two of my kids living in Van. and two of them living in TO. My one son that lives in toronto moved back from Van. He complained about the culture being a me me me culture. He also said that he felt that they were almost like Americans there. I have to agree. I fell that Torontonians are much friendlier as a group but that would not matter to me as you can find lots of fun and interesting people where ever you are if you look for them. My one son that lives in Van. would never move back east because he loves the geography of the west coast. If mountains and the ocean are at all important to you it's a no brainer where to live. Personally I'm stuck living in southern Ontario gor a variety of reasons. I have lived here for 56 years and I would much perfer living in the lower mainland of BC. The natural beauty is stunning and I really like the multi culturalism. To has that also. I think the claim is that To is the most multi cultural city in the world.
It depends ... because Toronto is a beautfull city!! ... Its very Multicultural city, with a beautiful nightlife! ... Torontonians are very nice people, they are very helpful and sweet. .. Here in Toronto, we get Snow, which is not a big problem because Toronto is not the only city with snow. It is the biggest city in all of Canada, so if you are a city person.. then why not live in Toronto? TORONTO IS AWSEMEE!!
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