I’'ve never had any concerns about walking in Toronto at night, though I haven’t lived there for a decade.
Wow Im glad I opened this thread!
Muffin, are you from Thunder Bay ? Wow, I thought of THAT simpson Street right away. I grew up in Port Arthur, went to Hammarskjold.
As for DOWN TOWN WINNIPEG at night… I had my first nursing job at Health Sciences Center. People would get murdered three blocks from us. Curb stompings. (Google that one in the Winnipeg Free Press, try May 2000) Gangs. Once my boyfriend and I decided for a lark to look at the $275 a month apartments near my work.
Beautiful arcitecture. High ceilings, crown moldings, hard wood floors, big holes in the walls, stench of crack (I didnt know what that smell was, but my boyfriend who had lived in bad parts of East Vancouver knew.) One place was so gorgeous, (Cracked ) french doors, hardwood, pedestal tub, bay windows… everything… oh except the front door to the building was a steel door with a hole through it at a chain and a paddllock.
But I miss Winnipeg. I lived in the “Village” near great cafes, a short walk to little Italy, (Corydon) a nice river walk to the Forks, and best of all my apartment was 465 a month.
Now I live in North Vancouver, and my apartment isnt nicer, is only slightly bigger, but its 835 a month.
You can buy a house for under 70 grand. A friend had a house built for her and her blended family… 5 bedrooms, custom everything and it cost less than 160K.
Godo(t) mojo and I talk about moving back there, just for the cost of living factor, but dont know if thats really what we want.
On the other hand… we love to downhill ski… so forget Winni…
Yes, I am in TBay, though I’m not originally from here. The skiing and paddling attracted me.
I’m from TBay too, and also went to Hammarskjold ages ago. One morning at 6 o’clock I saw a girl moon another on Simpson st. She was not built for pleasant mooning, and it disturbed me for 15 seconds.I stayed in downtown Winnipeg in 1970 when I hitchhiked to Vancouver, and saw nothing serious.BTW, the room cost $5.00 for the night, and I had a buffet at another hotel two blocks away for $1.25!
I think the problem with downtown Winnipeg is the sheer lack of people out and about (especially in the winter, but then it’s snapp’er ass cold). Most other cities have alot of people in their downtown areas, and therefore find a lot of safety in numbers, not so here. I have had many a mispent night in our downtown and never had a problem (downtown area, not near Sutherland or heavy North End, mind you).
That said, I have wandered into many a “bad” (while travelling) area and come out unscathed. I guess Fortune favors the drunks and the fools. 
Just occurred to me, if this was a recent trip, they have been a few gang-related scuffles as of late, a little turf-war is apparently brewing.
BTW we are also the dandruff capital, although I have never suffered from that particular affliction myself.
GO WINNIPEG! 
Finnie…
good to meetcha. Nice to know there are other TBay dopers.
Wow, Sable Island - the little sand strip island? I didn’t think anyone lived there. I have been interested in Sable Island ever since I learned about the wild horses there. Was she doing research? Seems like an interesting, yet desolate, place.
I think you left off a couple of zeroes-- if you’re still talking about North Vancouver. 
Gotta say I hate the road layout in NVan. Every time I go there I get lost because the street I’m on decides to sneak off in another direction and rename itself.
Poysyn, I’ve been told that even in the summer Winnipeg nearly clears out on the weekends. This is due to a) the stifling heat and b) it has a large cottage culture much like parts of Ontario has. That wouldn’t apply to the winter tho’. That would have to be attributed people staying indoors because of ungodly cold I guess. Speaking of which, I made a trip there last winter too and it was -35C without the windchill. :eek: It sometimes gets that cold in Edmonton but it’s usually very short stints…
My latest trip was just last week and interestingly, the cab driver was telling me all about the gang scuffles you mentioned. Apparently there had been a murder a few days before.
::wanders off muttering something about still having California blood and never having gotten used to these blasted winters anyway::
Her hubby was posted to the Sable Island meterological station, and she went with him. She loved it there. Her hubby’s current posting alternates every few months between Eureka near the north pole, and Winnipeg, so they bought a home in Winnipeg.
I would have gone with Eureka - the climate would be similar, but there would be fewer mosquitoes.
I’m getting a memory moment…Eureka… I had my 5th birthday in Eureka. I remember I got a green bike…lovely memory. Oh. That was Eureka California. Sorry.
Carry on…