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Saint John, NB gave off the gritty vibe when I visited. Not sure if it is number one, but it belongs in the discussion.
My home town. Don't be disturbed by that huge pulp mill in the centre of the city... Saint John has a lot of older housing, and pockets of poverty that are among the worst in the country. I grew up next to the docks on the lower West side. Having said that, the people are actually relatively nice and friendly, even in the dodgier areas. I will admit, though, that some of the shabbier old Victorian-era housing looks like something out of a Dickens novel.
I would still vote for Montreal... for a couple of reasons. The rough parts of Montreal are rough indeed: there are hard drug users, street prostitution, homelessness, and violent crime, not to mention some crowded and dingy housing conditions. Most of that is far worse than what you'd see in Saint John, or most smaller cities, no matter the poverty rate. I think the levels of violent crime and the transient populations in big cities make poverty much more difficult to survive there.
Saint John, NB gave off the gritty vibe when I visited. Not sure if it is number one, but it belongs in the discussion.
That's what my brother says, too. His company offered him a bit of a promotion if he moved to Saint John. After going there to visit, though, he said, No thanks, and decided to stay in Oakville. )
That's what my brother says, too. His company offered him a bit of a promotion if he moved to Saint John. After going there to visit, though, he said, No thanks, and decided to stay in Oakville. )
Most people with decent jobs in the area actually live east of the city, in the Kennebecasis Valley. Saint John's population is about 60,000 and I'd guess the KV area has around 35,000 people. Thus adding to the general poverty inside the city proper.
I would still vote for Montreal... for a couple of reasons. The rough parts of Montreal are rough indeed: there are hard drug users, street prostitution, homelessness, and violent crime, not to mention some crowded and dingy housing conditions. Most of that is far worse than what you'd see in Saint John, or most smaller cities, no matter the poverty rate. I think the levels of violent crime and the transient populations in big cities make poverty much more difficult to survive there.
What's happening to Montreal? I lived there in the 80s as a teen, and, at that time, Montreal didn't have any worse areas that most cities have. What factors do you think contribute to Montreal's decline?
What's happening to Montreal? I lived there in the 80s as a teen, and, at that time, Montreal didn't have any worse areas that most cities have. What factors do you think contribute to Montreal's decline?
I don't think it's a decline, it just seems that the more down-and-out places have a laid-back resignation to the conditions. Also, it's 30 years since the 1980s... the shabby buildings have had 3 more decades to fall apart.
Crumbling infrastructure doesn't help the city's self-image either. Maybe with more projects to rejuvenate the roads and the new bridge, Montreal will get a boost.
Montreal isn't that bad. It has actually cleaned up A lot. I was thinking of areas around point st charles and little burgundy and other places off the canal but those places are much much nicer now than they were 15- 20 years ago. Even parts of the plateau looked pretty gritty before. St john has its grimey looking areas for sure. North end Halifax used to be very grimey, one of the few places that really did look like a slum in areas like creighton street, maynard street etc. It was a violent drug infested area with old boarded up houses. But even the north end of Halifax has been cleaned up in a big way. It is still a little rough but nothing like what it used to be.
My home town. Don't be disturbed by that huge pulp mill in the centre of the city... Saint John has a lot of older housing, and pockets of poverty that are among the worst in the country. I grew up next to the docks on the lower West side. Having said that, the people are actually relatively nice and friendly, even in the dodgier areas. I will admit, though, that some of the shabbier old Victorian-era housing looks like something out of a Dickens novel.
I would still vote for Montreal... for a couple of reasons. The rough parts of Montreal are rough indeed: there are hard drug users, street prostitution, homelessness, and violent crime, not to mention some crowded and dingy housing conditions. Most of that is far worse than what you'd see in Saint John, or most smaller cities, no matter the poverty rate. I think the levels of violent crime and the transient populations in big cities make poverty much more difficult to survive there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by newdixiegirl
That's what my brother says, too. His company offered him a bit of a promotion if he moved to Saint John. After going there to visit, though, he said, No thanks, and decided to stay in Oakville. )
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottawa2011
Most people with decent jobs in the area actually live east of the city, in the Kennebecasis Valley. Saint John's population is about 60,000 and I'd guess the KV area has around 35,000 people. Thus adding to the general poverty inside the city proper.
My SIL lives out there now because she married a guy from the area. So we had some time to explore the city after her wedding. It definitely gave off a down and out vibe, but as you said the people are very friendly. My sister and I even went out drinking one night and had a good time chatting it up with everyone.
As you mentioned many of the professional folks seem to live outside the city. She lives in Rothesay and we also spent some time in Quispamsis, both of which are really nice. Ironically enough she said she got a raise from her job in Toronto, which was surprising because the COL is super low from what I gathered.
I will most likely be back next month for a visit, look forward to digging into the city a bit more.
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Don't be disturbed by that huge pulp mill in the centre of the city... Saint John has a lot of older housing, and pockets of poverty that are among the worst in the country. I grew up next to the docks on the lower West side. Having said that, the people are actually relatively nice and friendly, even in the dodgier areas. I will admit, though, that some of the shabbier old Victorian-era housing looks like something out of a Dickens novel.
