[Haliguy]

Halifax ranked second best city to live in Canada just behind Ottawa.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/bestplacestolive/list.jsp?

[kwajo]

More importantly, Saint John has the 2nd lowest murder rate (after Corner Brook), while Halifax has an alarmingly high rate. ;)

[Haliguy]

More importantly, Saint John has the 2nd lowest murder rate (after Corner Brook), while Halifax has an alarmingly high rate. ;)

Its higher than Saint John...but I wouldn't call it alarmingly high. There were lots of cites that were higher.

[kirjtc2]

More importantly, Saint John has the 2nd lowest murder rate (after Corner Brook), while Halifax has an alarmingly high rate. ;)

Fredericton outranked both Saint John and Moncton. Take that! :)

[Haliguy]

Fredericton outranked both Saint John and Moncton. Take that! :)

That doesn't surprise me Fredericton is a nice city. way to go!

Its really good there were 4 cities in the top 10 in Atlantic Canada.

[sdm]

If its so great then why is everyone leaving :shrug:

Seriously though, its nice to see the atlantic cities doing well.

[skyscraper_1]

No one is leaving the cities(well, atleast they are coming in greater numbers then they are leaving like every other city in Canada) especially Moncton, Fredericton and Halifax. The problem is in rural communities and this is not just a regional, every part of Canada is experiencing it. It just so happens that the maritimes are much more rural then the ROC.

[ErickMontreal]

I really like Moncton more than I have expected, I will stay as long as i will keep a decent job in my field of study.

Maritime provinces provide a great quality of life as well as the people are very friendly. Moreover, Moncton is the better way for me to improve my english skill level

[DuffMan]

Sorry, but I find these ratings really silly and arbitrary. As much as I like living in Halifax, this study makes no difference to me, and I take no pride in it. Apparently, Kelowna, BC and most other places in BC are the worst places to live in Canada! I'm sure the good people there woudl have something to say about that..

[Kelvin]

Canada's Best Places to Live 2007: Methodology
Phil Froats and Duncan Hood
From the April 2007 issue of MoneySense

To come up with this year's ranking, we started by gathering information on the 123 Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomeration areas that had a population of 10,000 or greater (and for which the required data was available).

Next we ranked each of those 123 communities by the following categories. The categories were scored out of a given number of points (in brackets next to each category name). The higher the potential points, the more weight that category had in our final ranking.

Weather (out of a total of 20 points)

This category included four sub-categories: The total amount of precipitation in a year (out of 6 points; the closer it was to the ideal amount of 900 mL/year, the better), the number of wet days (6 points; the lower the better), the number of days where the temperature drops below 0°C (6 points; the lower the better), and the number of days where the temperature is higher than 30°C (2 points; the lower the better). Source: Environment Canada.

Housing (15 points)

This category included two sub-categories: Average absolute house prices (7.5 points; the higher the average house price the lower the score), and time to buy a house (7.5 points; this was calculated by dividing the average house prices by the average pre-tax household incomes for the community, and the higher the number of years to buy a house, the lower the score). Sources: house prices from MLS, average estimated 2007 household incomes from Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.

Household Income (5 points)

The higher the average household income, the higher the score. Source: 2007 estimates as per Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.

Discretionary income (5 points)

We calculated the average discretionary income as a percentage of total household income. The higher the percentage, the higher the score. Source: 2007 estimates as per Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.

New Cars (5 points)

We looked at the number of 2003 to 2005 model year vehicles as a percentage of the total vehicles in the community in 2005. The higher the percentage, the higher the score. Source: Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.

Unemployment (10 points)

The lower the unemployment rate, the higher the score. Source: 2007 estimates as per Canadian Demographics, FPMarkets/MapInfo.

Walk/Bike to Work (10 points)

The higher the percentage of people who walk or bike to work in the community, the higher the score. Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 data.

Population Growth (10 points)

The average population growth in Canada between 2001 and 2006 was approximately 6%. We determined that the ideal growth rate for a community would be higher than the national average, so we chose an ideal rate of just under 7.5% in total over the 2001 to 2006 time period. The closer a community's actual growth rate was to this ideal rate, the more points it got. Communities with a negative growth rate received zero points. Source: Statistics Canada

Crime (7.5 points)

The total number of homicides in each community per 100,000 population. The higher the number of homicides, the lower the score. Source: Statistics Canada.

Medical Professionals (7.5 points)

The number of physicians, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, etc. per 1,000 population in each community in 2001. The higher the number of health professionals, the higher the score. Source: Statistics Canada.

Amenities (5 points)

We awarded up to 2 points for public transit and 1 point each for a hospital, university or college. Sources: Statistics Canada, web searches.

Attractions (up to 4 bonus points)

Communities received 1 bonus point for each of the following: having a casino, being a provincial or federal capital, having a major sports team, and having a major attraction such as a theatre or ski hill. Cities with multiple teams or attractions only received 1 point per category.

We summed the points earned in each category and gave each community a total score out of 100 (out of 104 if you include bonus points). The communities were then ranked by their total score to produce our 2007 table of Canada's Best Places to Live.

[worldlyhaligonian]

That methodology is not really logical to me, and I won't agree at all that Ottawa is the best place to live in Canada at all... or Halifax second. For someone who has lived in many of these places, etc... The list is completely off. Vancouver didn't make the top 10?? I have no idea how Moncton got in the top 10... seriously.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

^^^ The methodology is pretty poor. Little attention paid to culture, education. Weather is pretty subjective anyways, hell I love a good snowstorm. For crime they only looked at homicides, which most people aren't going to be affected by at all. They arbitrarely decided that a city growing faster than the national average was good, but most people really don't like things changing all that quickly.

Even though subjective lists like best city are usually skewed this one seems to have missed some big categories and did a poor job in a lot of others. I mean new cars scored as much as ammenities and attractions :koko: Isn't that why many people enjoy cities, the amenities and attractions? It's nice to see they gave some points for transit and percent walking to work though. :tup:

[Kelvin]

It would be nice to actually get the raw data used. One could then apply their own personal weights to the factors and derive a list suitable to their own personal bests/worsts. The authors note also, for example, that Ottawa only topped the list because it was average in all categories (no peaks - no valleys). Perhaps that is true of most of the other top 10'ers.

To me, weather is almost uniformly crappy across Canada, so it really should have a much smaller weight (and not be the single largest factor).

[Canopus]

I love these studies. Seriously, Halifax may be a decent place to live but it's obviously not that fantastic or it would be much larger as an obvious result.

The city is a beacon within the larger province but still suffers from rural thinkitis, backward politicians, limited employment ops, underfinanced infrastructure, a solid "old boys club" atmosphere, fairly strict/old social controls, a massive and regular exodus of young people, conservative values, unprogressive employers, etc. I'm not even sure Halifax actually wants to be a city in the end.

Definitely some advantages to living here but there are a lot of problems.

[Haliguy]

I love these studies. Seriously, Halifax may be a decent place to live but it's obviously not that fantastic or it would be much larger as an obvious result.

The city is a beacon within the larger province but still suffers from rural thinkitis, backward politicians, limited employment ops, underfinanced infrastructure, a solid "old boys club" atmosphere, fairly strict/old social controls, a massive and regular exodus of young people, conservative values, unprogressive employers, etc. I'm not even sure Halifax actually wants to be a city in the end.

Definitely some advantages to living here but there are a lot of problems.

Cynical much...geech it's not that bad.

[Canopus]

Cynical much...geech it's not that bad.

"Not that bad" does not a top city make.

Sorry but it's not cynicism if it's true. Halifax is great for access to natural areas, still relatively reasonable house prices, decent entertainment options for it's size, etc and that's great but it has major systemic problems as well.

To me, for a city to be a really "great place to live" it has to have a high degree of opportunity associated with it and the like that allows people who want to be here to come/stay. Stratford Ont is a nice little town for example but it cannot seriously be rated like this because it's basically unrealistic for most people to be able to live there.

As had been said, Moncton beat out Vancouver?!? That's pretty ridiculous.

[alps]

I love these studies. Seriously, Halifax may be a decent place to live but it's obviously not that fantastic or it would be much larger as an obvious result.

The city is a beacon within the larger province but still suffers from rural thinkitis, backward politicians, limited employment ops, underfinanced infrastructure, a solid "old boys club" atmosphere, fairly strict/old social controls, a massive and regular exodus of young people, conservative values, unprogressive employers, etc. I'm not even sure Halifax actually wants to be a city in the end.

Definitely some advantages to living here but there are a lot of problems.
Conservative values and an old boys mentality? If that were true, I'm sure it would translate to political results, which it doesn't. We have our fair share of backwards folk, but the situation isn't THAT severe. Also, Halifax is retaining a decent share of young people compared to other places in the Maritimes (I know that doesn't mean much, but you get my point:D ).

[someone123]

Halifax may be a decent place to live but it's obviously not that fantastic or it would be much larger as an obvious result.

This is a strange argument. Are you suggesting that the largest cities are always necessarily the best places to live? Would you prefer to live in Lagos, a city that has managed to attract millions?

Most cities in Canada lose large numbers of young people. Halifax actually retains more young people than most other small cities in Canada (supposedly the highest of smaller Canadian cities from 1996-2001). The fact is that a lot of people simply don't want to live in the same place for their entire lives. I am moving away despite job opportunities here. If I grew up in Toronto I'd probably also want to go somewhere else.

I think the politicians are the worst single factor here. The provincial government is typically run by tax and spend rural folk. The municipality is no better. They are extremely slow and uncreative. The private sector has been harmed to some degree as a result. If taxes here were more competitive then we would have better businesses and people would effectively be wealthier.

[Canopus]

Conservative values and an old boys mentality? If that were true, I'm sure it would translate to political results, which it doesn't.

Umm, maybe not Halifax per se but....fiddle playing Cape Breton gym teacher mean anything to anyone? Sunday shopping debacle? Last basic refuge of the old PC party? “who’s yer father” hiring practices not dead very long? This place does not change quickly. Unfortunately, the old boys here are also set up to help themselves with few meaningful connections to the larger country. Now that would help things.

We have our fair share of backwards folk, but the situation isn't THAT severe. Also, Halifax is retaining a decent share of young people compared to other places in the Maritimes (I know that doesn't mean much, but you get my point:

I agree that Halifax is far and beyond the most progressive place in the region but it's fighting in a sea of mediocrity.

[Canopus]

This is a strange argument. Are you suggesting that the largest cities are always necessarily the best places to live? Would you prefer to live in Lagos, a city that has managed to attract millions?

Comparing Nigerian cities doesn't lend credibility.

Most cities in Canada lose large numbers of young people. Halifax actually retains more young people than most other small cities in Canada (supposedly the highest of smaller Canadian cities from 1996-2001). The fact is that a lot of people simply don't want to live in the same place for their entire lives. I am moving away despite job opportunities here. If I grew up in Toronto I'd probably also want to go somewhere else.

Perhaps but somehow that doesn't hold water from my experiences. 100% of my graduating class (small class) left town for example and only I came back. Probably 65-75% of my high school class that completed university also left. Most have good careers now but most would have also stayed if there had been similar opportunity.

I've also known many people in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver that didn't want to leave (just like here) but also didn't have to. Besides, just retaining younger people doesn't make much difference. It's younger people of a certain type, educational level, etc etc that matters, although no one likes to say it around here.

I think the politicians are the worst single factor here. The provincial government is typically run by tax and spend rural folk.

Agreed

The municipality is no better. They are extremely slow and uncreative.

Agreed

The private sector has been harmed to some degree as a result.

Agreed although the private sector doesn't do nearly enough themselves.

I'm not attacking the city really it's just that only having a few nearby beaches and historic sites doesn't cut it in comparison to other places.

[Haliguy]

Umm, maybe not Halifax per se but....fiddle playing Cape Breton gym teacher mean anything to anyone?


I don't undersatnd you're problem here. His a teacher...so are alot of other Premiers. Shawn Grame, NB, Gorden Campbell, BC. At least he has a university degree unlike Raph Klein the former premier of Alberta now they have a farmer as their premier.

[Canopus]

I don't undersatnd you're problem here. His a teacher...so are alot of other Premiers. Shawn Grame, NB, Gorden Campbell, BC. At least he has a university degree unlike Raph Klein the former premier of Alberta now they have a farmer as their premier.

Gordon Campbell has an MBA, he was mayor of Vancouver for years, president of the union of BC municipalities, etc.

Graham has yet to prove anything much - same with Alberta.

Rodney is a joke. I was pleasantly optimistic when I heard his age especially as perhaps he would be a leader more in tune with the future. Instead, he's basically a bumbling non-leader letting both his personal and professional life be run by others. He has really no distinctive qualifications for premier at all and a short, undistinguished track record but that aside, the man hides better than he leads since winning the election.

[someone123]

I've also known many people in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver that didn't want to leave (just like here) but also didn't have to.

All of those cities are significantly larger than Halifax, and even Ottawa and Calgary are only like that because they have very special economies (government jobs and oil). To a great degree the problem is simply endemic to smaller cities, and Halifax is not going to cease to be one anytime soon. It's not really something anybody can do anything about at this stage.

[alps]

Last basic refuge of the old PC party?
That's not Halifax ;) .

METRO (HFX)
Party Elected Leading Vote Count Vote Share
NDP 13 0 63340 47.23%
PC 2 0 40143 29.93%
LIB 2 0 26669 19.88%

[Canopus]

That's not Halifax ;) .

Point taken and that's the main issue.

If Halifax could be moved somewhere else it would probably be far better off but it is stuck out on an arm of the continent surrounded by backward rural attitudes and voters. I think the only way that the city will really move beyond that will be to get politicians elected who are from the area (unlike the current cabinet) or at least are not tree farmers from Cape Breton, and for the city to recognize itself fully as dictinct from the province.

Halifax cannot remain a city within the province. It has to become a city that just happens to be located in a province.

[Smevo]

^in other words, the real leader you should have issue with for this topic is good ol' Peter Kelly! I'm not a cheerleader for Rodney either, but you seem to be using him as a way to speak your view on Cape Breton instead of your view on the topic at hand...I don't really need to state why I don't like that.

Besides, if you look at the categories and weights they used, it'll all make sense to you why Halifax ended up where it is. No measure is perfect, and is usually used to serve a specific purpose, but take these things with a grain of salt and let Halifax have it's moment in the limelight, because it is a good place to live. Just because not everyone wants to live there or can live there doesn't make it any less of a good place to live by the standards used in this ranking.

And it's not a province ranking, it's a city ranking, so keep your provincial politics crap out of this, especially since Cape Breton isn't exactly a PC hotbed either.

[mmmatt]

lol wow guys...having been to halifax on a few occasions I can say it certainly doesnt feel like a "rural city" or whatever it is you are trying to say...the real reason Im posting is because after looking over that list I saw that Whitehorse has the the highest homicide rate in the country! at 6.5! that is insane...remind me not to go there lol.

[Smevo]

^Matt, good to have you back! Hope you're able to check in relatively consistently over the summer.

[mmmatt]

good to be back :) I currently dont have the internet at home, Im currently using the net from work as I look over the wonderful skyline of Canada's 7th best city to live in! (from the 6th floor of the Terminal Plaza Building lol)

PS Id say its 1st of course, but I am a little biased :D

[Occit]

Hi everybody, have you any pic of Halifax????

[Canopus]

^in other words, the real leader you should have issue with for this topic is good ol' Peter Kelly! I'm not a cheerleader for Rodney either, but you seem to be using him as a way to speak your view on Cape Breton instead of your view on the topic at hand...I don't really need to state why I don't like that.

I'm not a Kelly fan at all. He seems too much the opportunist and not nearly enough has happened under his watch but it is nearly impossible to look at Halifax and NS as two completely different things at this point. Provincial priorities (which often hold the money) for example, are just not focused at all on Hfx. There isn't even a top person in the legislature from HRM (well one I think) and that makes for a very difficult situation.

And yeah, I have no problem with Cape Breton but the politics there I have a big problem with.

Besides, if you look at the categories and weights they used, it'll all make sense to you why Halifax ended up where it is. No measure is perfect, and is usually used to serve a specific purpose, but take these things with a grain of salt and let Halifax have it's moment in the limelight, because it is a good place to live.

Well, if you want to make the thing meaningless then sure, take it with a grain of salt and do whatever. The point of having rankings is to actually have something measurable and reasonably respected. Of course, none are perfect but that doesn't mean they do not deserve closer examination.

And it's not a province ranking, it's a city ranking, so keep your provincial politics crap out of this, especially since Cape Breton isn't exactly a PC hotbed either.

Potato, potato. Halifax just isn't distinct enough from the political environment yet to exist on it's own. Economically it has come a long way toward being something worth looking at but the power structures have not yet followed.

[skyscraper_1]

Side note

Maritimes keeping university graduates: survey

Most Maritimers who graduate from universities in the region are staying put, according to a survey of the class of 2003.

In a report released Tuesday, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission said that nearly 80 per cent of the graduates from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island were still in the region two years later.

Nova Scotia retained 74 per cent of graduates from the province, compared to 70 per cent for New Brunswick and 61 per cent for P.E.I.

Across the Maritimes, about 85 per cent of the 2003 graduates found full-time jobs, the report indicated.

"Our graduates are mobile, there's no question about that," said Mireille Duguay, head of the commission. "The fact is we're retaining [them]."

With only one out of 10 university graduates leaving the region, Duguay said she's unsure whether claims of a "brain drain" are true.

"It is holding steady," she said. "There are not more graduates moving out west, for example, than was the case with the class of 1999."

Statistics show that the population of young adults aged 18 to 24 is on the decline in the region. Duguay agrees that young people are leaving, but she said it appears they are not those with degrees.

The report also found that students are mainly satisfied with their education, though they are borrowing on average $23,000 to finance their first degree.

"Graduates from low-income families are much more likely to have borrowed and to have borrowed more," said Duguay.

Not surprisingly, she said, more students are reporting that they're having trouble paying off their debts after they graduate.

Jen Bond, executive director of the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations, said both the provincial and federal governments have to find money to cut tuition.

"Student debt is going to go up until post-secondary education is made a real priority," she said.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2007/06/05/university-maritimes.html

[someone123]

It is mostly low-skilled workers who move to Alberta from the Maritimes, and even then they tend to move from certain regions such as Cape Breton. It is a large trend to be sure, but it is not true that it applies to all segments of society all over the Maritimes, which is what a lot of people think.

Many successful people do move to Toronto but I think those numbers are smaller.

A lot of people also move away and come back. Many people in their 40s today moved out to Alberta during the 1980s.