[le calmar]

What city is similar to yours? This includes streetscapes, architecture, ambiance factors and anything that makes your think: "Wow, this city reminds me my hometown so much!"

Schenectady, NY and Concord, NH reminds me Sherbrooke a lot... The architecture is the same, New England style, the main commercial street downtown, the landscape with small hills and farms around the city, the small rivers, a lot of green...

Schenectady

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1270/1239919647_69f9947b2d_b.jpg
http://flickr.com/photos/40397489@N00/1239919647/sizes/l/


Concord NH:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/55383450_655b20a90b_o.jpg
http://flickr.com/photos/stevenerat/55383450/in/set-1199951/


Sherbrooke:
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/4885/well2008qe2.jpg
The Rock the Motard

http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/5146541.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/5146541.jpg




I believe Boston is pretty similar to Montreal; both cities got a soul, both are old cities with many monuments and old buildings, both are known for being scholars. The skyline is quite similar, not that impressive but not so small either.



Boston:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1225/780364197_a606bc761c_b.jpg
http://flickr.com/photos/darthbengal/780364197/sizes/l/

http://boston-limousine-service.com/user/cimage/bostonSkyline.jpg
http://boston-limousine-service.com



Montreal:

http://www.smc2007.org/images/tourisme/vieuxMontreal.jpg
http://www.smc2007.org

http://www.sen.parl.gc.ca/wdangus/pictures/Montreal%20at%20night2.jpg
http://www.sen.parl.gc.ca

[Only The Lonely..]

Winnipeg probably has the most in common with Milwaukee, Cleveland, or Kansas City if you ask me.

Winnipeg
http://www.winnipegfirst.ca/~media/photos/nathanb/buildingarticle07/demolition2007_article5.jpghttp://www.bedfordinvestments.com/images/design/exchange_district_overhead.jpg


Cleveland
http://urbanohio.com/NEOhio/Cleveland/Neighborhoods/WarehouseDistrict/WarehouseDistrict11.jpg
http://urbanohio.com/NEOhio/Cleveland/Neighborhoods/WarehouseDistrict/WarehouseDistrict10.jpg

Kansas City
http://www.hotelsbycity.net/images/travelguides/usa/missouri/kansas-city-big.jpg

[MonkeyRonin]

Take some Chicago and Detroit, add some Moscow, fill it with San Franciscans and you get Toronto.

Anyway, hasn't this thread been done like, 3 times already in this section alone?

[matt602]

Hamilton and Pittsburgh I'm going to say. Both have/had impressive steel manufacturing dominated skylines and "mountainous" land forms inside of the city. Pittsburgh seems to have a much more modern, built up downtown however and is generally more impressive.

[Rico Rommheim]

Pittsburgh seems to have a much more modern, built up downtown however and is generally more impressive.

well its in a whole different league.

[1ajs]

Take some Chicago and Detroit, add some Moscow, fill it with San Franciscans and you get Toronto.

don't forget auckland

[feepa]

Anyway, hasn't this thread been done like, 3 times already in this section alone?

What topic hasn't been covered at least 3 times in the Canada section

[WhipperSnapper]

fill it with San Franciscans and you get Toronto.

I don't get this at all. SF may have a bohemian sub-culture but overall, its as West Coast Californian as they come.

[le calmar]

What topic hasn't been covered at least 3 times in the Canada section


"Naked Bicyclists take to Winnipeg Streets" :shrug: I didn't know this topic had already been covered though.

[The Chemist]

Considering my city has 20 million people and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, I'd have to say there aren't any cities really similar to it, except for maybe other Chinese cities. :D

[Rico Rommheim]

Considering my city has 20 million people and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, I'd have to say there aren't any cities really similar to it, except for maybe other Chinese cities. :D

what about Montreal?!

According to the UCO its the fastest growing city in the whole Greater Montreal area! Take that Thunder bay!

[le calmar]

Brossard is having a huge demographic boom indeed :shrug:

[Doug]

Considering my city has 20 million people and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, I'd have to say there aren't any cities really similar to it, except for maybe other Chinese cities. :D

Maybe KL or Bangkok

[Doug]

The closest parallel to Calgary is Denver, but pretty much any western US city has at least some similarities.

[Rico Rommheim]

The closest parallel to Calgary is Denver, but pretty much any western US city has at least some similarities.

I don't know I've spend a while in Alberta and aside from downtown, both Calgary and Edmonton look alike. Most post war cities look pretty much the same, imo anyways.

[ReginaGuy]

New York

[shappy]

Take some Chicago and Detroit, add some Moscow, fill it with San Franciscans and you get Toronto.

fill it with Berliners instead.

[Greco Roman]

I don't know I've spend a while in Alberta and aside from downtown, both Calgary and Edmonton look alike. Most post war cities look pretty much the same, imo anyways.

Meh, I would disagree. One city has a view of the mountains, and the other one has class. :D

[The Chemist]

Meh, I would disagree. One city has a view of the mountains, and the other one has class. :D

Tell me, are any of your posts anything but an excuse to bash Calgary? :rolleyes:

[francely57]

what about Montreal?!

According to the UCO its the fastest growing city in the whole Greater Montreal area! Take that Thunder bay!

Hum maybe Montreal is the fastest growing city on the island of Montreal?
(the boomtowns of the Greater Montreal area are super popular suburbs like Laval, Brossard, the north shore, etc.)




Similar: Montreal-Boston for sure... also Montreal-Melbourne should be like twins...?

Opposite: Montreal-Dubai, Montreal-Calgary, etc.

[joelpiecowye]

saskatoon-no one were to special to be similar to another city :P

[big T]

I have yet to see it first hand, but from the various photo threads Winnipeg sometimes looks like a mini Chicago.

I agree with Montreal-Boston, although I find Boston feels consistently older, especially downtown. Montreal feels (and, incidentally, is) a bit newer as soon as you leave Old Mtl.
Some areas around the Village and the western end of HoMa remind me of Philly, too.

[flar]

I'll back up matt602, many people note the similarities between Hamilton and Pittsburgh. The topography, the steel industry, the blue collar heritage, the look and feel of the neighbourhoods, the grit, the undeserved bad reputations, and the surprising beauty.

[caltrane74]

Toronto has a similar feeling to Montreal. Except Toronto is bigger.

[harls]

Toronto has a similar feeling to Montreal.

I've never thought that at all. They have very different vibes.

[caltrane74]

I've never thought that at all. They have very different vibes.

I find they have a very similar scale, and pedestrian activity. Much closer than Toronto is to New York for example. Which alot of Americans always seem to compare Toronto too.

[wild wild west]

Been done to death, but Calgary and Denver for obvious reasons ranging from downtown skyline to geography/distance from the mountains. Although, obviously being similar in size and in the same province, Calgary and Edmonton share many traits as well.

N00/1239919647/sizes/l/[/url]
I believe Boston is pretty similar to Montreal; both cities got a soul, both are old cities with many monuments and old buildings, both are known for being scholars. The skyline is quite similar, not that impressive but not so small either.

Philly has a lot of similarities to Montreal also IMO.

[MolsonExport]

Toronto has a similar feeling to Montreal. Except Toronto is bigger.


I never got that feeling at all.

Very different beasts.

[MolsonExport]

London, Ontario is 3 parts K-W, 1 part Ottawa, with 1 jigger of Saint Catherines thrown in for good measure.

[401_King]

i think toronto is pretty unique

[Greco Roman]

i think toronto is pretty unique

I would say that about Edmonton too, as I can't think of any other city (besides Winnipeg) that it would resemble.

[RTA]

^ I wouldn't even say it resembles Winnipeg. I was actually surprised at how little Edmonton and Winnipeg have in common when I visited the 'Peg for the first time this spring.

[MonkeyRonin]

I don't get this at all. SF may have a bohemian sub-culture but overall, its as West Coast Californian as they come.

Whats "West Coast Californian" supposed to mean? :shrug:

Looking at it purely empirically, the ethnic composition is fairly similar, but more importantly, I just found the people there not much different than here, same fashion, same speech, same way of thinking, same kind of...characters. No where else have I felt so at home than SF.


Maybe KL or Bangkok

Kuala Lumpur is too...North American. And Bangkok is too low-rise (seems much grittier too). I'd characterize Shanghai as a cross between Sao Paulo and Tokyo.

[LeftCoaster]

I have never seen this similarity between San Francisco and Toronto... I just dont get it. Both are quite liberal, and I think thats where the similarities end.

I see Toronto much more like New York, very socially liberal but still fiscally conservative and quite business oriented.

Vancouver is much more like SanFrancisco IMO

[Greco Roman]

^ I wouldn't even say it resembles Winnipeg. I was actually surprised at how little Edmonton and Winnipeg have in common when I visited the 'Peg for the first time this spring.

Maybe not so much the downtown, but definately the older urban neighborhoods have a strong resemblance. The large elm trees covering the streets, the older neighborhoods (man, there are some that make me feel like I am actually IN Winnipeg since they look so similar), the street light lamps, the size of the roads (even the numerous potholes ;) ), the ethnic makeup of the population (for me, the large Ukrainian population), and I could go on.

No, I would say that these two cities have much in common both physically and socio-economically.

[MonkeyRonin]

I see Toronto much more like New York, very socially liberal but still fiscally conservative and quite business oriented.

Vancouver is much more like SanFrancisco IMO

San Francisco ain't exactly socialist either, its a rather wealthy city. And perhaps I'm being a bit stereotypical, but NY is more fast-paced, while Toronto, like San Fran, is much more laid back.

And I don't see any similarities between SF and Vancouver. Different ethnic groups, different "lifestyle", different fashions, etc.

[LeftCoaster]

Toronto... Laid back?? Come on.
Lets not be silly here.
Perhaps it is not as "go-go" as New York, but it is a very corporate city.
Vancouver is much closer to the speed of San Francisco... although we are a little slower.

Also the ethnic groups in San Francisco are much more similar to Vancouver than Toronto. The lifestyle is much closer to Vancouver and the fashions... well I dont know enough about that to comment.

[vid]

Thunder Bay is like Sudbury, but more afraid of progress. And our trees aren't dead.

[MonkeyRonin]

Toronto... Laid back?? Come on.
Lets not be silly here.
Perhaps it is not as "go-go" as New York, but it is a very corporate city.

And this is based on...?



Also the ethnic groups in San Francisco are much more similar to Vancouver than Toronto.

San Francisco
45% European
33% Asian
14% Latin American
7% African

Toronto
53% European
34% Asian
3% Latin American
8% African

Vancouver
49% European
48% Asian
1% Latin American
1% African


The lifestyle is much closer to Vancouver

You'll have to excuse the huge generalizations here (though they seem to be completely permissible in this thread, so..), but in Vancouver, people seem to like to leave work early, then go walking along the coast or skiing in the mountains, then smoke some pot and take the bus home to their modern condo. People are very nature-focused.

In Toronto and San Francisco, the lifestyle is a bit more "urban." Work 'till late and make alot of money in your office tower, go to an independent art gallery, then a trendy bar, take the streetcar home to their older rowhouse or apartment and eat some granola. :)

[LeftCoaster]

Wow, you really have a warped vision of Vancouver....
And a warped vision of Toronto for that matter.

I'm not even going to bother.

[MonkeyRonin]

Wow, you really have a warped vision of Vancouver....
And a warped vision of Toronto for that matter.

I'm not even going to bother.

I hope you understand that the above comment was intended as being somewhat facetious.

But in any case, what are then are the "true" perceptions of Toronto and Vancouver, if mine are "warped"?

[Boreal]

I'll agree with Only The Lonely on the Winnipeg account. I find Winnipeg and Milwaukee to be very, very similar.

[Greco Roman]

I'll agree with Only The Lonely on the Winnipeg account. I find Winnipeg and Milwaukee to be very, very similar.

I find that Winnipeg has much more in common with cities out east (in general) than with cities out west.

[vid]

I find that Winnipeg has much more in common with cities out east (in general) than with cities out west.

In the Midwest US maybe, but it's pretty different from places like Philadelphia, Montreal or Toronto. Milwaukee and Kansas are both pretty Midwestern, as is Chicago.

Port Arthur is more like a city in Ontario or Quebec, hilly, lots of creeks and trees and rocks, located on a lake. Similar maybe to Peterborough or Kingston. Fort William on the other hand is more like Winnipeg or Regina. Flat, centred on a river instead of a lake, very spread out with a pretty dense downtown and large suburbs.

Current River is like Timmins. It's at the same latitude, as well.

Like Winnipeg, Thunder Bay is (or at least was) compared to Chicago a lot. (And also called the Gateway to the West.) The greedy Torontonians that tried to grow the city had aimed to make it the largest in the world.

[rousseau]

Take some Chicago and Detroit, add some Moscow, fill it with San Franciscans and you get Toronto.
Actually, none of those cities even remotely resemble Toronto in terms of their built form. UK cities look more like Toronto than American cities do, save for Toronto's generic North American-style freeways and skyscrapers. Actually, it's amusing how much council estates look like Toronto's commie blocks!

San Francisco probably bears a passing resemblance to Toronto when it comes to demographics, save for the Mexicans, of course. Actually, I daresay that San Francisco comes closest to Toronto in this regard, moreso than Minneapolis. And vibe? Toronto is the retarded little brother of New York and London. NY and London are always good to Toronto, patting Toronto on the head and saying encouraging things, but on Saturday nights NY and London go out on the town, scarfing poppers and getting laid, while Toronto stays home and plays with his Etch-a-Sketch for hours. Still, the family resemblance guarantees Toronto a modicum of goodwill from everyone. His future is secured.

[Greco Roman]

In the Midwest US maybe, but it's pretty different from places like Philadelphia, Montreal or Toronto. Milwaukee and Kansas are both pretty Midwestern, as is Chicago.

Port Arthur is more like a city in Ontario or Quebec, hilly, lots of creeks and trees and rocks, located on a lake. Similar maybe to Peterborough or Kingston. Fort William on the other hand is more like Winnipeg or Regina. Flat, centred on a river instead of a lake, very spread out with a pretty dense downtown and large suburbs.

Current River is like Timmins. It's at the same latitude, as well.

Like Winnipeg, Thunder Bay is (or at least was) compared to Chicago a lot. (And also called the Gateway to the West.) The greedy Torontonians that tried to grow the city had aimed to make it the largest in the world.

I've always thought of Cleveland, Chicago and Milwaukee as in the eastern half of the US instead of the mid"west". Winnipeg is lucky to resemble such cites as they have beautiful architecture.

[vid]

Nope, they're midwest. The definition is a little bit blurry for Ohio but usually includes Cleveland. The term predates their knowledge of how big the west was.

[rousseau]

I've always thought of Cleveland, Chicago and Milwaukee as in the eastern half of the US instead of the mid"west". Winnipeg is lucky to resemble such cites as they have beautiful architecture.
Wikipedia is your friend: Midwest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest).

[MonkeyRonin]

Actually, none of those cities even remotely resemble Toronto in terms of their built form. UK cities look more like Toronto than American cities do, save for Toronto's generic North American-style freeways and skyscrapers.

Right. British cities more like Toronto than American ones.

Looks like someone needs to spend a couple minutes looking at pictures and maps. :tup:


Actually, I daresay that San Francisco comes closest to Toronto in this regard, moreso than Minneapolis.

uhhh...Minneapolis's demographics aren't even remotely close. Funny you mention Wikipedia then prove to be completely unable to use to check something so simple as demographics.


And vibe? Toronto is the retarded little brother of New York and London. NY and London are always good to Toronto, patting Toronto on the head and saying encouraging things, but on Saturday nights NY and London go out on the town, scarfing poppers and getting laid, while Toronto stays home and plays with his Etch-a-Sketch for hours.

:banana:

[rousseau]

Right. British cities more like Toronto than American ones.

Looks like someone needs to spend a couple minutes looking at pictures and maps.
Looks like that someone is you. Or how about going to a place like Chicago so you can see for yourself how unlike Toronto it is?

Though I'll give you the fact that Toronto is built on a grid, there's no question that that is North American. But the housing stock and shopfronts are closer to London than Chicago.

[Greco Roman]

Wikipedia is your friend: Midwest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest).

I understand, but in my mind, Wisconsin eastward is "east" and North Dakota westward is "west" and that is the way it will always be to me. The true Midwest is Minnesota as it is the "gray" state in terms of geography :)

[rousseau]

I understand, but in my mind, Wisconsin eastward is "east" and North Dakota westward is "west" and that is the way it will always be to me. The true Midwest is Minnesota as it is the "gray" state in terms of geography :)
Yeah, funny how perceptions are. For me Alberta is a Caribbean island. Saskatchewan is the prairies, and BC is the coast, but Alberta is a Caribbean island. Don't ask me why.

[Greco Roman]

Yeah, funny how perceptions are. For me Alberta is a Caribbean island. Saskatchewan is the prairies, and BC is the coast, but Alberta is a Caribbean island. Don't ask me why.

Hehe, Alberta is hardly "Caribbean" in any sense; actually, I've always referred to BC as "Tropical British Columbia". To me, Alberta is, well, Alberta.

[JuelzJones]

Toronto def. does not look like any UK city or European....not even close

UK cities just look weird.....and stupid no offence to anyone who's from there lol


as for the look it is def. unique but has some similarities to american cities.

add some Chicago, Detroit and Washington D.C. ......then u have toronto

as for the downtown I would compare it most to New York

[kool maudit]

UK cities just look weird.....and stupid







jane jacobs died just in time; the urban theorist of the 00s has arrived.

[SpongeG]

well considering most of the Canadian cities were planned by the british or on the british ideals of city planning...

the us developed its own ideas to stray and get away from the british ideas/planners

vancouver is probably more like seattle than anywhere else - maybe some portland

[worldwide]

Vancouver is similar to Swift Current, SK

[Reesonov]

I'm just grateful we've avoided the clumsy Vancouver-Hong Kong comparison so far.

[matt602]

Yah, I'm at a loss when I try to compare Toronto to anything else. Chicago is the only thing I can come up with, but it's more of a "general similarity" in terms of size and density. Montreal and Boston is a good one.

[flar]

There's no Washington DC in Toronto.

[Rico Rommheim]

Yah, I'm at a loss when I try to compare Toronto to anything else. Chicago is the only thing I can come up with, but it's more of a "general similarity" in terms of size and density. Montreal and Boston is a good one.

Montreal is a similar to Boston as Toronto is similar to Boston. Bref, none are the same.

[GreatTallNorth2]

I think that London is somewhat comparable to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both cities are somewhat overshadowed by a large metropolitan city in their state/province. Both cities have a river running through them and also are close to one of the great lakes. Both cities are fairly conservative, steady as she goes type. Both cities have new arenas downtown that are very successful. Grand Rapids is the headquarters of Amway and London has Canada's Amway's headquarters.

[Doug]

well considering most of the Canadian cities were planned by the british or on the british ideals of city planning...

the us developed its own ideas to stray and get away from the british ideas/planners

vancouver is probably more like seattle than anywhere else - maybe some portland


Physically, Vancouver resembles Seattle but in terms of vibe, Seattle is much more of a go-go commercial center than laid back Vancouver. Portland and San Diego (another big tourist and retirement city like Vancouver) both have a similar feel to Vancouver. All of the large Australian cities as well as Auckland also remind me somewhat of Vancouver.

[elsonic]

Victoria is a northern clone of Monterey CA.

[trueviking]

canadian cities are all unique and i have never been to any where i thought it was similar to somewhere else....i dont think i would say that about american cities, which tend to be more homogenous.

i definately did not get a winnipeg vibe in milwaukee...i have never had a winnipeg vibe anywhere else....just as i have never gotten a toronto or montreal vibe in any other city.

the only canadian city that i think might have enough similarities to another place to make a valid comparsin would be calgary....because it feels so much larger than it is, i dont think it is unreasonable to compare it to the more modern large western american cities like dallas and denver....similar downtowns, similar residential neighbourhoods, similar freeways, similar vibe...it has the electricity of some of the larger american cities.

[Lysander]

Montreal is quite hard to compare to any other city worldwide given its french/english duality. If a was forced to choose a city, I'd probably say Brooklyn with a tiny bit of Paris. I don't agree with Boston/Montreal since Boston is way more conservative than Montreal is.
As for Quebec city, i'd say it ressembles Edinbourgh the most. At least architecturally wise.

[someone123]

US cities do seem a bit more generic. I guess part of the reason why is that people there move around so much. One corollary of this that I've thought about is simply how talent moves around in the states. If you are highly successful and feel like uprooting yourself you probably are not going to pick Cincinatti over New York or San Francisco. Because of this phenomenon, the biggest or best cities tend to function in a very special way within what you might call a "migratory region". It doesn't really matter how big the city is specifically or even how big the region is, although larger and wealthier regions would tend to produce more talent. This is why cities like Zurich have something in common with the New Yorks and Tokyos of the world.

Another reason is that the regions of the US are dramatically larger and there are usually several large or mid-sized cities with a similar economy. The Midwest for example has more than twice as many people as all of Canada and dozens of small-ish cities that all seem pretty similar. Within Canada you do see this effect in Ontario.

Montreal seems to resemble Philadelphia a little bit economically and historically.

It's definitely true that cities like Boston are "older" than anywhere in Canada in the sense that they became large and important much earlier. Even in the 20th century there was a big lag - Toronto and Montreal didn't get subways until the 1950s and 60s but a number of US cities started building them (along with elevated passenger rail lines) around 1900.

[MonkeyRonin]

Looks like that someone is you. Or how about going to a place like Chicago so you can see for yourself how unlike Toronto it is?

Though I'll give you the fact that Toronto is built on a grid, there's no question that that is North American. But the housing stock and shopfronts are closer to London than Chicago.

Let's have a few looks around Toronto...
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1777/2050020562599915e632bzf9.jpg

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/9246/22248321072b1d947f2bbxl5.jpg

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/1874/2167033008d95b8a3af6dt3.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2794/keeleaj2.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4117/23375627699ec33d8dddbuf4.jpg


Now let's see Chicago
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9277/800pxchicagodowntownaeryc6.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/3943/180184743fcae738a19gc5.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3189/half081nm8.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2709/roundup030yn8.jpg


And London. Does this look more like Toronto to you? Even if you think Chicago is nothing like Toronto, how is this any more so?
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6774/pa1800451fq7.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5382/s200609034786bbdg6.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5526/aylesburyestate2pq1.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7942/16195215592bdc3818abvn2.jpg


I will certainly agree that Toronto has more of a British influence - architecturally especially, though is closer to American cities in all aspects than British ones. 19th century structures in Toronto in particular, what with all the Victorian and Georgian buildings. However, early-1900s architecture is much more American influenced, and post-war is rather internationally generic.

[kool maudit]

rousseau is one of those canadians who finds the present colonial power so intrusive that he defects backwards to its antecedent.

[LeftCoaster]

If we can have a civil conversation and not accuse Vancouver of being a hotbead of lazy pot smoking unemployed hippies I would love to discuss this.
I don't see any similarities between SF and Vancouver.
The similarities between Vancouver and San Francisco are striking and go far beyond those of Toronto and SF. The similarities between Toronto and San Francisco are comprised of little more than two cities with liberal attitudes and significant financial sectors. Your assertion that San Franciscans are not nature oriented and more urban is just plain wrong.

Here are how Vancouver and San Francisco are similar:

Geography: Both cities are located on large bays on the pacific coast with very hilly urban terrain. The ocean is an integral part of life for both cities and factors decisively in their histories and current cultures. The two cities are both on the Pacific Rim and both are subject to frequent earthquake activity.

Climate: Both cities are temperate maritime climates, with cool dry summers and wet temperate winters. They both are subject to offshore systems moving in from the Pacific ocean and have numerous fog days and relatively stable predictable weather.

History: Both cities were experienced phenomenal growth explosions due to mining booms (San Francisco gold rush and Yukon Gold Rush respectively).

Ethnicities: In your post you pointed out that Toronto and SF had similar ethnicities, but your stats were too broad based. You showed 33% of SF being Asian and 34% of Toronto being Asian but that is misleading. East Asians comprise much more of SF population, like Vancouver, whereas Toronto has far more Indian immigrants. East Asian culture (although no slouch in Toronto either) is far more ingrained on SF and Van. Also the ‘blacks’ who comprise the Toronto stats are mainly of Caribbean decent, whereas in SF they are mainly African American. I don’t think either city can be readily compared to the ethinc make up of SF, although Vancouver and SF Asian influence causes the two to appear more racially similar on a superficial level.

Architecture: Here is one of the most notable similarities, the two cities have grown up together and have many shared architectural tendencies….Primarily emanating from our southern neighbours. Vancouverites have a tendency to rip off architectural designs from SF and put a local spin on them. Just look at pictures of both cities and you will see what I mean.

Now those were the easy quantifiable comparisons, now for some of the more subjective comparisons.

Culture: Both cities have a storied counter culture history. From San Francisco being the home to the hippy revolution to Vancouver being the birthplace of Green Peace both cities gave birth to many grass roots organizations and go against the conservative grain. Aside from the financial sector SF also shares a laidback lifestyle, one seen replicated in Vancouver… or even vice versa. There is a reason people talk about west coast lifestyle and California lifestyle… its because its different, its certainly something Vancouver and SF share, and is why I said Toronto is more ‘go-go’ than either city. Similarities can also be seen in how residents of the two cities relax. Despite your previous assertion that San Franciscans are not very nature oriented that is not the case, when the sun comes out and its time to play both Vancouver and San Francisco have large sailing communities, are abound with popular sea side beaches and are filled with hiking trails. You said that in Toronto “[you] go to an independent art gallery, then a trendy bar…etc” after a day of work, however I think this is something all 3 cities share as they are all cosmopolitan cities with well developed art communities and no shortage of chotchy drinking establishments.

Economy: Here is where Toronto and Vancouver may be equally comparable to San Francisco. While Toronto and SF share a common financial services industry Vancouver and SF share similarities in the software and tourism fields which are very important to our economies.

I think saying Vancouver and SF share is just ludicrous, and a proper evaluation of the evidence shows that the two cities share far more similarities than TO and SF.

[MonkeyRonin]

Geography: Both cities are located on large bays on the pacific coast with very hilly urban terrain. The ocean is an integral part of life for both cities and factors decisively in their histories and current cultures. The two cities are both on the Pacific Rim and both are subject to frequent earthquake activity.

Climate: Both cities are temperate maritime climates, with cool dry summers and wet temperate winters. They both are subject to offshore systems moving in from the Pacific ocean and have numerous fog days and relatively stable predictable weather.

Well we were talking about people, but geographically and climate-wise, Vancouver and San Fran are really not all that similar (more so than TO and SF, but still completely different). The topography for instance is quite different - SF has small, steep mountains withing the city, with slightly larger mountains surrounding the city. Vancouver is generally flatter, and the hills it does have are of a more gradual slope. And then of course it is surrounded by one of the tallest mountain ranges in the world.

And your summary of the climates is somewhat wrong. You are correct about Vancouver, but San Francisco summers are comparatively cool to the rest of the year, and prone to heavy fog, with autumn being the warmest time of year. There is less temperature variation as well, ranging from an average of 7-21, versus 1-22.


Ethnicities: East Asian culture (although no slouch in Toronto either) is far more ingrained on SF and Van.

And thats basically where the similarities end. Just going by a "visible" perspective, Vancouver is incredibly different.


History: Both cities were experienced phenomenal growth explosions due to mining booms (San Francisco gold rush and Yukon Gold Rush respectively).

Architecture: Here is one of the most notable similarities, the two cities have grown up together and have many shared architectural tendencies….Primarily emanating from our southern neighbours. Vancouverites have a tendency to rip off architectural designs from SF and put a local spin on them. Just look at pictures of both cities and you will see what I mean.

In the context of the present day metropoles, the fact that they once served as centres of the gold trade and boomed due to the gold rush is all but irrelevant. What is relevant however is the city's age and how it grew in the past. San Francisco and Toronto are both late 1700s cities, and for much of their history were of about the same size. As such, there is a much more extensive collection of older buildings in comparison to newer, more recently-grown Vancouver.

Architecturally, the 3 cities couldn't be more different. Though due to the general built form and older building stock, I'd describe San Fran as slightly closer to TO than Van in this regard. The east end (Chinatown most notably) does have that San Francisco look to it, though.


Aside from the financial sector SF also shares a laidback lifestyle, one seen replicated in Vancouver… or even vice versa. There is a reason people talk about west coast lifestyle and California lifestyle… its because its different, its certainly something Vancouver and SF share, and is why I said Toronto is more ‘go-go’ than either city. Similarities can also be seen in how residents of the two cities relax.

As far being "laid back" goes, I don't see how Vancouver is any more so than Toronto, when putting the old stereotypes aside. What I judge as laid back involves what I see - are people relaxing? sitting around in parks smoking a joint? drinking parties on the train? impromtu street performances? a general tolerant, open-minded, uncaring attitude? You get the idea. As far as being laid back though, I think I'd have to put Montreal above all 3.

The thread title is what city do YOU think is similar to yours, and from the experience of my travels, I found San Franciscans to be easily the most similar group of people to Torontonians. People in Vancouver seemed more "different" to me than us in comparison most other major North American cities I've been to. Just my perception of course.

[subdude]

Ah well, my team for 3 decades now, the Lakers, are going down to the hated Celtics tonight. Man if Odom and Gausol would just show up now and then they coulda won this thing ... sorry back to the topic:

Barcelona reminded me a lot of Vancouver: a 2nd tier city on the coast with a strong arts community, and a hatred (or dismissal I guess) of the power center - Madrid. Barcelona is definitely something Vancouver should try to emulate anyway.

[rousseau]

I will certainly agree that Toronto has more of a British influence - architecturally especially, though is closer to American cities in all aspects than British ones. 19th century structures in Toronto in particular, what with all the Victorian and Georgian buildings. However, early-1900s architecture is much more American influenced, and post-war is rather internationally generic.
Next time post some actual commercial and residential streetscapes of Chicago and enjoy how different they are from Toronto. Can you say: triplex?

rousseau is one of those canadians who finds the present colonial power so intrusive that he defects backwards to its antecedent.
kool maudit is one of those people who enjoys making non sequiturs. You've ably identified that I much prefer various aspects of British culture to American culture. Well done.

[vid]

Yes, it's the triplexes of Toronto that really differentiate it from the rest of the continent and link it to Europe. :yes:

[rousseau]

Ah well, my team for 3 decades now, the Lakers, are going down to the hated Celtics tonight. Man if Odom and Gausol would just show up now and then they coulda won this thing ... sorry back to the topic:

Barcelona reminded me a lot of Vancouver: a 2nd tier city on the coast with a strong arts community, and a hatred (or dismissal I guess) of the power center - Madrid. Barcelona is definitely something Vancouver should try to emulate anyway.
Gasol turned out to be a bust in the finals. He had one strong move on Garnett in game 2 when he posted up and dunked on him, but otherwise he played like a girl. Plays like a girl. It must be because he's from Barcelona. Interestingly enough, I met Jorge Garbajosa on the street in Toronto once. We chatted for a bit, and when I informed him that I was on my way to Barcelona he shook his head in mock sorrow and told me I needed to get myself to Madrid, his hometown. I went to both.

But there's something disturbing about being a Lakers fan, I must say. I hated the Celtics growing up, but I hated the Lakers even more. Before Toronto got a team I liked Detroit and Philadelphia. The Lakers have always been plastic, superficial and soulless. Like their fans. Ugh.

[rousseau]

Yes, it's the triplexes of Toronto that really differentiate it from the rest of the continent and link it to Europe. :yes:
Learn to read.

[vid]

Learn to read.

Why? This is the internet.

[MTLskyline]

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7069/news06lnh3.jpg
London (Bond Street)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/12/17890666_e2728c6ae8.jpg?v=0
Toronto (Gerrard Street)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/13/Little_India.jpg/800px-Little_India.jpg
Chicago (Devon Avenue)

Toronto and Chicago neighbourhoods (commercial) seem more similar to me
________
Kitchen Measures (http://kitchenmeasures.com/)

[rousseau]

So it's Little Indias we're doing now, is it? Next time get an actual shot of Little India in Toronto, and not the no-mans-land in between Little India and Chinatown east. There isn't a single restaurant on Gerrard that is even half the width of that massive restaurant in Chicago (that Pakistani place under construction is its own building, so it isn't up for comparison in this context).

Half of the shops on Gerrard are barely fifteen feet wide. Chicago is the city of big shoulders, which is their shopfronts are so wide. They're wide. Get it?

And try to find me one narrow street in Chicago. Just one.

[SpongeG]

pouce coupe is most similiar to moose jaw

[MonkeyRonin]

Half of the shops on Gerrard are barely fifteen feet wide. Chicago is the city of big shoulders, which is their shopfronts are so wide. They're wide. Get it?

And try to find me one narrow street in Chicago. Just one.

Grasping for straws now?

"But, but, Chicago's shop fronts are wider than Toronto's...that makes Toronto more like London!!"

[204]

Grasping for straws now?

"But, but, Chicago's shop fronts are wider than Toronto's...that makes Toronto more like London!!"

Give it a rest. Nobody's going to "win" this argument.

Also: SF is nothing like Toronto. At. All.

[LeftCoaster]

Well we were talking about people, but geographically and climate-wise, Vancouver and San Fran are really not all that similar (more so than TO and SF, but still completely different). The topography for instance is quite different - SF has small, steep mountains withing the city, with slightly larger mountains surrounding the city. Vancouver is generally flatter, and the hills it does have are of a more gradual slope. And then of course it is surrounded by one of the tallest mountain ranges in the world.

And your summary of the climates is somewhat wrong. You are correct about Vancouver, but San Francisco summers are comparatively cool to the rest of the year, and prone to heavy fog, with autumn being the warmest time of year. There is less temperature variation as well, ranging from an average of 7-21, versus 1-22.

Yeah I never said they were the same... but they are very comparable. Toronto and San Francisco share no similar attributes in climate. Even the temperature variation you pointed out shows how similar they really are, like I said cool summers and temperate winters...

And no Vancouver and SF's topography are not identical... there are no cities with identical topography, but they are similar, and much more similar than TO and SF which share no similarities. Also the hills in vanocuver can be very steep, fairview slopes on false creek is carbon copy of anything you would find in SF.


And thats basically where the similarities end. Just going by a "visible" perspective, Vancouver is incredibly different.

Thats not what I meant. What I was trying to point out is despite actual differences and other large sub groups both cities are famous for their large east asian influence and culture. They are both viewed as very 'asian' cities despite the presence of many other varied ethnic groups.



In the context of the present day metropoles, the fact that they once served as centres of the gold trade and boomed due to the gold rush is all but irrelevant. What is relevant however is the city's age and how it grew in the past. San Francisco and Toronto are both late 1700s cities, and for much of their history were of about the same size. As such, there is a much more extensive collection of older buildings in comparison to newer, more recently-grown Vancouver.

Architecturally, the 3 cities couldn't be more different. Though due to the general built form and older building stock, I'd describe San Fran as slightly closer to TO than Van in this regard. The east end (Chinatown most notably) does have that San Francisco look to it, though.


While true that SF is much older than Vancouver, most of its buildings were knocked out during a massive earth quake at the start of the 20th century. Within the city proper the architecture is quite similar (vancouver specials aside), if you really like I can dig up many pics showing this. Even within the burbs Vancouver attempts to immitate SF with many spanish style houses set among the hills. Toronto on the other hand couldnt be furhter from either city, and I think anyone on thes fourm would back me up on this one. The housing is completly 'North east' from its brick row homes to old victorian style houses along the Kingsway. TO shares almost no architectural similarities with SF.


As far being "laid back" goes, I don't see how Vancouver is any more so than Toronto, when putting the old stereotypes aside. What I judge as laid back involves what I see - are people relaxing? sitting around in parks smoking a joint? drinking parties on the train? impromtu street performances? a general tolerant, open-minded, uncaring attitude? You get the idea. As far as being laid back though, I think I'd have to put Montreal above all 3.

I dont get this, in one of your earlier quotes you describe Vanocuver as somewhere that people skip out of work early to go smoke a joint, and toronto as somehwere people stay late at work to make more money, now you say they are equally as laid back?? I dont get it...

I have lived in both cities, and I know there is no way to emperically prove it, but Vanocuver is much more laid back than Toronto in nearly every way. It can be seen in the way people drive, dress, communicate and even small social differences. For example in BC it is unsual for a young person to call his friends parents Mr. ____ but in Toronto that is expected, and not doing so could be considered rude. Has anyone else lived in both cities care to share their opinoin?


The thread title is what city do YOU think is similar to yours, and from the experience of my travels, I found San Franciscans to be easily the most similar group of people to Torontonians. People in Vancouver seemed more "different" to me than us in comparison most other major North American cities I've been to. Just my perception of course.

Thats fair enough, you are allowed to think and see what you like, and I am not here to say what you observe in subjective fields is wrong. What I am saying is that in almost every quantifiable way Vancouver is much more similar to SF than Toronto. Anyone else have any input here?

[401_King]

I dont get this, in one of your earlier quotes you describe Vanocuver as somewhere that people skip out of work early to go smoke a joint, and toronto as somehwere people stay late at work to make more money, now you say they are equally as laid back?? I dont get it...

I have lived in both cities, and I know there is no way to emperically prove it, but Vanocuver is much more laid back than Toronto in nearly every way. It can be seen in the way people drive, dress, communicate and even small social differences. For example in BC it is unsual for a young person to call his friends parents Mr. ____ but in Toronto that is expected, and not doing so could be considered rude. Has anyone else lived in both cities care to share their opinoin?



yes, i have lived in both cities. here is my opinion

vancouver, is by far more laid back than toronto. people in vancouver know this fact too and they pride themselves on this...they enjoy their west coast style of living. stanley park, the beaches and mentality is just more relaxed than toronto.

people in toronto are too stressed out, busy and always in a rush. for canadian standards, its truly canada's mean city. ppl here dont smile at you on the street like in van. we are too busy some times. walking is aggressive, prices are aggressive and driving is aggressive...like, go to any given freeway during the week and lets see some "laid back" relaxed toronto attitude eh...its a free for all. during the week, its all work. HOWEVER, toronto is laid back on the weekends, ppl know how to have fun here too and unwind

we do have some laid back neighbourhoods tho...kensington, the beaches. gerrard, st lawrence mkt... etc...

[IntotheWest]

I agree with TV...I don't think any cities share enough in common to really call them comparable.

TO stands on its own, as does Montreal. Too much of their own culture mixed in with their own histories to even compare to other US NE cities.

Vancouver comparable to San Fran? Nope. Don't feel these are similar at all, with the exception their both on the west coast (as is LA, San Diego, Portland, etc). The downtown area is far more hilly, the residential areas are filled with low-level walk-ups, and a much larger CBD...the architecture and built-form are completely different.

The only one I somewhat agree with is Calgary to Denver...with the exception that Denver feels immediately larger. But the similarities are mostly in the landscape itself - and climate (albeit, at about a 8-9c higher average year-round). Dallas does feel much larger as well, and the culture (re: Texas) has a much different "vibe" than Calgary, despite most non-Calgarian Canadians seeing Calgary as "Cowtown".

Winnipeg vs Edmonton? They too have very different feelings. Whether its the large Exchange District in Winnipeg, or the River Valley in Edmonton...there's too much difference between the two to really compare.

Greco - I agree about "midwest". I still argue with my Toronto Colleagues over terms like "Central Canada", "South-Western Ontario", and like you mention, the "Mid-west". Anyway, it is what it is :)

[IntotheWest]

yes, i have lived in both cities. here is my opinion

vancouver, is by far more laid back than toronto. people in vancouver know this fact too and they pride themselves on this...they enjoy their west coast style of living. stanley park, the beaches and mentality is just more relaxed than toronto.

people in toronto are too stressed out, busy and always in a rush. for canadian standards, its truly canada's mean city. ppl here dont smile at you on the street like in van. we are too busy some times. walking is aggressive, prices are aggressive and driving is aggressive...like, go to any given freeway during the week and lets see some "laid back" relaxed toronto attitude eh...its a free for all. during the week, its all work. HOWEVER, toronto is laid back on the weekends, ppl know how to have fun here too and unwind

we do have some laid back neighbourhoods tho...kensington, the beaches. gerrard, st lawrence mkt... etc...

I agree with this too. My experience working in TO was back in 2002, and Vancouver 2004-2006. Vancouver is by far the most laid-back, stress-free work environment in Canada. I think it's the "pot-smoking" comments that are not necessary (previous comments, not yours I quoted).

However, I'd also say that other west coast cities are nearly as laid back feeling - San Fran, and San Diego come to mind.

I would say Winnipeg is second in terms of laid-back, as folks there really value friends/family time, and seem to still maintain the proper work-life balance. Toronto is all about work, and Calgary has edged its way in that direction as well. However, I haven't worked in Montreal or the Maritimes - so, not sure how they would compare.

[Greco Roman]

Winnipeg vs Edmonton? They too have very different feelings. Whether its the large Exchange District in Winnipeg, or the River Valley in Edmonton...there's too much difference between the two to really compare.

Greco - I agree about "midwest". I still argue with my Toronto Colleagues over terms like "Central Canada", "South-Western Ontario", and like you mention, the "Mid-west". Anyway, it is what it is :)

I guess to each their own. I've explained my rational for Winnipeg-Edmonton so I won't go any further on that.

[MonkeyRonin]

And no Vancouver and SF's topography are not identical... there are no cities with identical topography, but they are similar, and much more similar than TO and SF which share no similarities.

True, but just because Toronto is more like Paris than Vancouver is, doesn't make it similar to Paris at all. Anyway, its not like I am arguing the climate of TO is similar to that of SF, merely the human element.


Within the city proper the architecture is quite similar (vancouver specials aside), if you really like I can dig up many pics showing this. Even within the burbs Vancouver attempts to immitate SF with many spanish style houses set among the hills.

Aside from a few individual structures, I see no overarching similarities in the least between San Francisco and Vancouver. Same with Toronto, though the overall built form is closer.


I have lived in both cities, and I know there is no way to emperically prove it, but Vanocuver is much more laid back than Toronto in nearly every way. It can be seen in the way people drive, dress, communicate and even small social differences.

Thats fair enough, you are allowed to think and see what you like, and I am not here to say what you observe in subjective fields is wrong. What I am saying is that in almost every quantifiable way Vancouver is much more similar to SF than Toronto. Anyone else have any input here?

As in any substantial city, there are many sides to it. Obviously, your experience of Toronto is quite different from mine.

The side of Toronto that I am a part of seemed similar to what I observed in San Francisco. That is all.


I think it's the "pot-smoking" comments that are not necessary (previous comments, not yours I quoted).

Canada has one of the highest marijuana consumption rates in the world, which is even more pronounced in major urban centres. Are you insinuating that this isn't true, or simply viewing it as something negative? As it quite clearly isn't, and rather, reflects on a location's general "laidbackness".


Toronto is all about work

:rolleyes:

[kool maudit]

You've ably identified that I much prefer various aspects of British culture to American culture. Well done.


so much so that you weirdly pretend it to be far more omnipresent in canada than it actually is.

i have met some canadians over the years who smugly and insanely insist on looking every direction but south. culturally speaking, it is more of a tic than a form of comment.

(nice vernac. at the end there too, r. well done, indeed.)

[IntotheWest]

Canada has one of the highest marijuana consumption rates in the world, which is even more pronounced in major urban centres. Are you insinuating that this isn't true, or simply viewing it as something negative? As it quite clearly isn't, and rather, reflects on a location's general "laidbackness".


I worked there for 2 years, and was quite "laid-back" without smoking anything...all I'm saying, is the "laidbackness" isn't necessarily because of weed...though, I actually have no way of proving it :) I personally think it just has to do with attitude, and Vancouver's surroundings.

As for the Toronto "work" comment, I believe I said that's my experience...again, I'm not sure if there is any truth to that in a more general sense - I'm sure there's surveys out there showing how many the average professional works in our cities.

[IntotheWest]

I guess to each their own. I've explained my rational for Winnipeg-Edmonton so I won't go any further on that.

Actually, I went back and re-read your comments...I do see your points. I lived in St Albert (and for a short stint in the south), and worked downtown, so maybe just saw different aspects of the city. I think there are probably aspects of all the Prairie cities that are similar too though.

[Rusty van Reddick]

I think if you guys who'd lived in "Vancouver" had spent more time with financially desperate immigrants trying to afford life in the most overpriced city in the country you'd have found it a lot less laid back. When all you've done is to rub shoulders with students and well-paid young professionals on the seawall, of course it seems "laid back," but for the huge number of its residents teetering on homelessness (not to mention grappling with a crime rate that is triple Toronto's- how does one of the country's highest murder rates and the highest rate of auto theft in North America make for "laid-back-ness anyway?) you might have a different impression.

Bottom line is that Vancouverites have convinced themselves with this "we're laid back" mantra that they really ARE "laid back" despite the stresses of living there. It's an amazing social achievement- seriously, one I absolutely envy- but don't kid yourselves and please try to develop a tiny but of critical sense. Dozens of murdered prostitutes don't happen in lotus land because it ISN'T lotus land for too many unfortunate people. The Downtown East Side is the antipode of "laid back" and reflective of social problems that most residents are happy to ignore. How Vancouver manages to pull the wool over everybody's eyes and lie to itself is astonishing and miraculous, really.

[Cambridgite]

*waits for things to really kick into gear* :)

[MonkeyRonin]

...all I'm saying, is the "laidbackness" isn't necessarily because of weed...though, I actually have no way of proving it :) I personally think it just has to do with attitude, and Vancouver's surroundings.

Quick - Singapore or Amsterdam - which one is more laid back? :haha:

Pot doesn't so much make a place more laid back, but rather, is a reflection of that attitude in a place.


As for the Toronto "work" comment, I believe I said that's my experience...again, I'm not sure if there is any truth to that in a more general sense - I'm sure there's surveys out there showing how many the average professional works in our cities.

Well thats a rather huge generalization to conclude that the lives of 2,500,000 people centre around "work". Obviously, if you've come to Toronto to work, you're experience would be quite a bit different from those who's lives go beyond that.

[rousseau]

so much so that you weirdly pretend it to be far more omnipresent in canada than it actually is.

i have met some canadians over the years who smugly and insanely insist on looking every direction but south. culturally speaking, it is more of a tic than a form of comment.

(nice vernac. at the end there too, r. well done, indeed.)
Here comes a mini manifesto.

There's nothing weird about seeing London when you walk down Queen West in Toronto, and not Chicago. Yes, you see Chicago in Toronto from the air in terms of the skyline. You even see Chicago in Toronto in the motor vehicles. But otherwise, there's very little Chicago in Toronto, save for when that film was playing. The history, demographics and vibe are completely different. Thought that is not to say that Toronto and London are twins in those regards, either. These days an overweight Blue Jays fan scarfing down hot dogs looks little different from his counterpart in Comiskey Park. No question. Still, all things considered, if Chicago is 1 and London is 10, then Toronto is 6. And God is 7, of course.

I'm not living in denial. Rather, I'm living in Stratford, where my neighbour two doors down power washes his two pickup trucks while blaring cuntry music from the speakers in his window (I'm in the charming older part of town, but some of the people here refuse to be Dickensian, confoundingly enough), and last year's July 1st parade featured a Dukes of Hazzard car which brought gasps of delight from the crowd. It is hard to overstate how much I loathe those expressions of American culture which come so naturally to so many people in Canada like my fucking neighbours and the fucking people driving that fucking car in the parade. This is why I tend to understate my disgust. It helps me remain incognito.

I am indeed very smug about my active dislike of most aspects of American culture and people, and your notion that I might be "insane" for not being completely in love with America is a joke and a half. I don't need to look south because they're blaring up at us. I wish to christ they'd turn it down. What's funny, though, is that I'm way more "anti-American" than any of the leftist nitwits I spent countless hours debating (for fun and profit) in pubs in the aftermath of September 11, save for in the area of the idealistically political.

I'm unabashedly infatuated with various aspects of British/Irish culture such as the literature, music and humour. I think it's insane not to be.

It's complicated, but here it is: I like much of the idea of America, I just don't like the current manifestation of that idea (this might not be a fundamental problem with the idea, though, as much as it is a manifestation of 60 years of cheap oil). And to throw a monkey wrench/spanner into the works, I hold the United Empire Loyalists in great reverence. I honestly believe that North America would have been better off if the British had prevailed in the 18th century and nurtured a new land more "organically" on this continent. I would have fought the rebel bastards in Massachusetts and elsewhere tooth and nail. They were a bunch of assholes, really.

P.S. I hope you've appreciated how much I've cursed a blue streak in the American style in my post. Just showing the bonafides of my schizophrenic complexity, I guess.

[MonkeyRonin]

All I gathered from that blathering diatribe is that you absolutely fucking loathe America and therefore Toronto is more British, because you like them more. :)

[elsonic]

Distillery District in TO is similar to our soon-to-be Griffintown Village in MTL - just a wish.

West End in Vancouver is Concordia area in Montreal, with a mediterranean setting

Dundas Sq is a squared Picadilly Circus

Hamilton is Providence RI

Mile End is a wannabe Brooklyn Heights

Ottawa is a more relaxed Sacramento

Commercial Dr is Carytown Richmond VA

Queens St West is Market Street in SF

Old Quebec is Old Puebla, Mexico

Toronto is a NA Frankfurt

Halifax is Malmo!!

The Beaches is Hoboken NJ

(and I repeat - no reaction about it) Victoria is Monterey CA



there's nothing like Chicago in Canada.

[MTLskyline]

Rousseau, please show us some photos to illustrate your point. :tup:
________
Disability Insurance Dicussion (http://www.insurance-forums.org/disability-insurance/)

[shappy]

Toronto has a lot of British influence... it's hard to deny that. But I don't really see a similarity to any particular place (like London as was mentioned). College, Queen, Bloor, Yonge, etc are more like High Streets of a decent sized British town. Although, I've seen photos of side streets in Tooting Bec (South London) lined with Bay and Gables that look nearly identical to those found on side streets in the central east end. There is also a "softer" quality to much of Toronto's Victorian architecture that looks more British than pretty much any other city on the continent. The prominent Gothic Revival influence also helps in this matter.

That, of course, is only one aspect of Toronto. Pretty much anything built between 1910 and 1940 resembles much of what you would find in Midwestern US cities. Also, aside from the huge amounts of towers-in-the-park (this is more of a French influence than a British one), the post war stuff is similar to what most of NA was building at the time.

[0773|=\]

I've always thought the US city that has the most in common with Edmonton is Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Both have cold, snowy winters, both cities have a huge mall, both cities rabidly support their hockey and football teams, they both have some ties with their economies -- big research centers (particularly medical research). Both have major rivers running through their metro areas. The twin cities has lots of greenspace, and Edmonton's has it's river valley, need I say more. Both places are perceived by their respective countries as a "gateway to the north", and both places in their past emerged from two seperate cities to became one urban area (Edmonton and Old Strathcona; Minneapolis and St. Paul).