# Halifax? Toronto? Calgary? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 3, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912 "2006-11-03T00:20:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/41 "2006-11-03T17:26:21Z")
[QUOTE=Poysyn] We also possess a prairie desert and a very interesting climate (cold in the winter, smoking hot in the summer). [/QUOTE] OK. Sorry, the plains are right out. No Saskatoon, or Regina either. I’m sure they’re all nice enough cities, but I just don’t want to live on the plains unless there are mountains close by. Both my maternal grandparents were from Saskatchewan, which they fled as soon as humanly possible. (There’s a picture my mom has of my grandfather standing next to the city limits sign of his birthplace: “New York is big, but this is Biggar”) This is all wonderful information, though. I’m really delighted with all the ideas and info being thrown at me. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/42 "2006-11-03T17:43:09Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Too bad you’re not into curling, **Frank**. We could help you out there in any city or town, then. Have you thought about taking it up? [/QUOTE] _looks at kitchen floor_ I’m not very good with a broom. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/43 "2006-11-03T17:47:00Z")
Bah! Like that matters. Can you drink? ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/44 "2006-11-03T17:57:44Z")
Given what you’ve been saying (minus the baseball), Ottawa does seem like a good choice. It’s kind of boring, lacking the kind of nightlife and downtown that I’m used to (living in Montreal) but it’s a pleasant place, full of culture and daytime activities, nice people, and it’s close to lots of things. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/45 "2006-11-03T18:04:23Z")
What would realistic driving time be from Ottawa to Montreal? To Toronto? Too far for a day trip, right? ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/46 "2006-11-03T18:16:15Z")
I have lived in Calgary, Ottawa, Waterloo, Guelph, and Halifax. Currently in Halifax. If I was to live in Southern Ontario again, it would be in Guelph. It is a very pretty little city (around 100K). Waterloo is also nice and it has the benefit of a very strong IT industry. The University of Waterloo is world-class in engineering and computer science. In fact Microsoft recruites more graduates from UW than from any other univeristy in the world. And, as mentioned, it was UW graduates that started RIM and invented the blackberry. RIM is headquarted there and is always hiring (but from what I hear preferentially to UW grads). I have heard that Waterloo and southern Ontario in general is very much like upstate New York. Guelph and Waterloo are only about 1/2 hour away from each other. And around an hour from Toronto. I really like Halifax. It isn’t too big (around 500K if you include Dartmouth and Bedford). The winters here aren’t all that bad really. It rarely dips below -5C, but we do get a couple of big snow dumps a year which pretty much stops the city for a couple of days while everyone digs out. I know some people who work in IT here and they seem to do alright for jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/47 "2006-11-03T19:09:04Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] What would realistic driving time be from Ottawa to Montreal? To Toronto? Too far for a day trip, right? [/QUOTE] Ottawa to Toronto is a bit of a hike - about five hours, if I remember correctly, on the mind-numbing 401. Ottawa to Montreal is more like 1.5 - 2 hours. That’s one of the things I liked about Kingston - it’s about equidistant between the three cities. You don’t like the prairiies?!?! I’m hurt! And you’ve got Saskatchewanian heritage? Really, I wash my hands of you! ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/48 "2006-11-03T19:13:34Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] What would realistic driving time be from Ottawa to Montreal? To Toronto? Too far for a day trip, right? [/QUOTE] Montreal is about 2 hours, Kingston about 1.5 and Toronto is a little over 5. Actually Quebec City is about 5 hours as well. The weather is basically what you’d find in Montreal but if you want [details, click here.](http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/cities/can/pages/CAON0512.htm) [Ottawa](http://www.ottawa.ca/index_en.html) is nice, green, and filled with cultural activities from Parliament, Museum of Civilization, National Arts Centre, the Senators, Jazz Fest, Blues Fest, Tulip Festival etc. Nightlife isn’t bad but it isn’t Peel Street/St. Catherines. 🙂 On the downside, it’s crawling with politicians. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/49 "2006-11-03T19:14:20Z")
[QUOTE=Daffyd] And yeah, the weather has been a little rough so far… Is it almost spring yet? 😃 [/QUOTE] Mate, we haven’t even gotten _started_ yet. See you in February. 😉 Toronto’s a beautiful city (of course, I’m biased). Calgary’s nice, and I haven’t had the chance to visit Halifax yet, but trust me–it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/50 "2006-11-03T21:07:04Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] I believe it’s in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that all Canadians have the right to have a Tim Horton’s within ten minutes of their house. [/QUOTE] Oh yeah? Try living in Southern Alberta, between Lethbridge and Calgary. Human rights abuses abound. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/51 "2006-11-03T21:08:23Z")
Let me also throw in my HA! WHINERS! to those of you (Daffyd) complaining about the winter weather in Toronto. _Toronto_. In _early November_. Ginger, Of the North. Where it’s COLD. Cold like Winnipeg, but for longer. ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/52 "2006-11-03T21:23:06Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Waterloo, of course, would be _west_ on the 401. [/QUOTE] … Crap. And to think I’m a pilot. Next time I fly to T.O. I’m going to end up in Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/53 "2006-11-04T00:51:19Z")
One good thing about living in Ottawa is that you can take the _train_ to Toronto and Montreal and not have to deal with the Evil Death Highway of Doom known as the 401. At least the 416 and 417 are kinda scenic. > [@Daffyd](#): > > Gotta say I’m loving Toronto… one of the things I love is the diversity here… living downtown has been great for getting around too… after living in my car in California, being able to walk everywhere is amazing to me… My car has gotten used maybe once every week or two since we moved here… > > > [@](#): > > > > Yes, not owning a car and being able to take the streetcar to a choice of Tibetan restaurants is nice. These days I tend to see the negatives in my city a lot, maybe too much. > > And yeah, the weather has been a little rough so far… Is it almost spring yet? _blink_ Uh-oh. You _do_ own a parka and warm winter boots, do you not? Unless you are part of that rich downtown set that lives their entire life in buildings connected to the subway and never goes outside after Halloween, you will need them. Winter has not yet begun. Last winter was extremely unusual in that we never had that week of -20C highs we always get in late January or early February. We had almost no snow, too; I think I only wore my winter boots for a week tops. Do not expect these conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/54 "2006-11-04T02:46:09Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] One good thing about living in Ottawa is that you can take the _train_ to Toronto and Montreal and not have to deal with the Evil Death Highway of Doom known as the 401. At least the 416 and 417 are kinda scenic. [/QUOTE] Having driven the Evil Death Highway of Doom (aka Highway 401) umpteen-bazillion times, I feel that maybe there should be a special road test and license endorsement necessary to drive on it. The train is a fast and efficient way to travel between Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto, though. Fun, too. Wish we had train service out here in the west. ---
**Author:** ![Daffyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daffyd/32/8923_2.png) [@Daffyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffyd)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/55 "2006-11-04T03:21:28Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] You _do_ own a parka and warm winter boots, do you not? Unless you are part of that rich downtown set that lives their entire life in buildings connected to the subway and never goes outside after Halloween, you will need them. Winter has not yet begun. Last winter was extremely unusual in that we never had that week of -20C highs we always get in late January or early February. We had almost no snow, too; I think I only wore my winter boots for a week tops. Do not expect these conditions. [/QUOTE] It was a joke - sort of… I’m just used to whining when it gets down to 50 F… I’ve actually been walking alot… I have my winter coat, my gloves and a winter cap… and I have some boots somewhere in a box I haven’t unpacked yet… I’ve actually been trying to find some earmuffs, but they don’t seem to sell those anywhere in Toronto… Halloween was fun - it wasn’t really that cold - the neighbors/neighbours and I stood outside drinking wine handing out candy to kids for about 2 hours… and I lived to tell about it - no frostbite at all! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/56 "2006-11-04T03:49:21Z")
[QUOTE=Daffyd] I’ve actually been trying to find some earmuffs, but they don’t seem to sell those anywhere in Toronto… 😛 [/QUOTE] earmuffs suck - get a toque. A blue and orange DOMO one with a pom-pom on top 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/57 "2006-11-04T03:51:22Z")
[QUOTE=St\_Ides] Waterloo’s considered the hi-tech city of Ontario. RIM is probably the best known of the companies based here. 2 universities do this. It makes it a ‘young’ city. [/QUOTE] It is? That will certainly be news to the people of Ottawa. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/58 "2006-11-04T03:55:07Z")
[QUOTE=Poysyn] earmuffs suck - get a toque. A blue and orange DOMO one with a pom-pom on top 🙂 [/QUOTE] o/~We jump to the pump for youuuuuuuuu…o/~ ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/59 "2006-11-04T05:26:53Z")
No, no! Get one of [these](http://www.carleton.ca/cares/raisetheroof.html). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2006, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912/60 "2006-11-04T05:54:39Z")
[QUOTE=Poysyn] earmuffs suck - get a toque. A blue and orange DOMO one with a pom-pom on top 🙂 [/QUOTE] It’s what all the cool Canadians wear. I don’t think you can actually call yourself Canadian until you’ve experienced toque hair. And stuck your tongue to something metal outside in winter, but most of us get that over with as children. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halifax-toronto-calgary/378912.md?page=4)