SO I'm having dinner with my Lady last night and we start throwing around the idea of relocating ourselves somewhere in Canada ... but where? We couldn't decide. SO I am asking for your help! I figured that we have forum members from all across the country at this point so why not ask?

Where should Pawly and the Katwoman relocate too?


I think we are both kinda tired of the "Mean City" (HAH! Toronto! Globally speaking, not a superpower in meanness) and the grumps it seems to breed. We need a different perspective. We like the Housing prices to the East but we also like the Salary prices to the West. We both love to camp, hike and generally be outdoors.

Note ~ Caution when making the case for your town ... I may end up moving in next door.

Pawly,

Are you looking for a city, town, small town or rural? Maybe you'd like something a bit more laid back than a large city. Calgary is getting a bit too crazy at the moment. I hope things slow down a bit soon.

Edit: If hiking in the mountains in the summer and skiing in the winter sounds good then anywhere from western Alberta to the BC coast is a consideration. That's a lot of territory!

BB

Hey there Bill,

I would like a small town feel but need it to be big enough my Lady doesn't feel she's "In the Boonies". lol

HEY PAWLY
COWTOWN HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE HERE WHEN IT WASN'T POSSIBLE IN OTHER PLACES.
BUT..... I HAVE TO AGREE WITH BB. ITS STILL A PRETTY GOOD CITY COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER LARGE CITIES. BUT PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE REAL STUPID HERE MAKING IT HARD TO SURVIVE ON ANYTHING BUT A GOOD PAYING JOB. THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS GETTING OUTTA CONTROL HERE.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL KINDA SLIM IN THE INTERIOR OF BC BUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS REAL HIGH. UNFORTUNETLY MOST OF THE SERVICE INDUSTRY IN THE INTERIOR IS PRETTY SEASONAL. VANCOUVER IS NOT A PLACE I WOULD MOVE TO. POLUTION IS QUITE BAD AS WELL AS POPULATION. I WOULD SAY T.O. IS BETTER THAN VAN. IF I MAY MAKE A SUGGESTION, CHECK OUT VANCOUVER ISLAND. VICTORIA AIN'T BAD AT ALL WITH NANIMO BEING MY FAVORITE SPOT ALONG THE COAST. HAVE YOU EVER MOWED YOUR LAWN ON XMAS DAY?? I HAVE IN NANIMO. HAD TO. IT WOULDN'T STOP GROWING. HOME OF CANADA'S ONLY OUTDOOR PALM TREES.
HOPEFULLY SOME OF OUR EAST COAST MEMBERS WILL GIVE SOME INSIGHTS ON LIFE OUT THAT WAY. I'M INTERESTED IN THAT AREA FOR MAYBE THE SAME REASONS.
HOPE THAT GIVES YA A FEW MORE BITS OF INFO TO HELP IN YOUR DECISIONS.
IF IT MEANS ANYTHING, I'D SAY I WOULDN'T MIND HAVIN YOU FOR A NEIGHBOUR.
LATER
DR.Z

Oh you say that now but later ...... lol

I have visited Vancouver and Vancouver Island a few years ago. Beautiful Scenery! Friends and I drove from Nanaimo (where his Mom made us REAL Nanaimo Bars!) too Tofino (The termination point of the TransCanada Highway).

Definitely high on our list!

If your looking to stay in Ontario, there is alot of great communities near good camping grounds, North Bay, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst (home of Flight), Parry Sound and Orillia (my home town) just to name a few.

I know it's not in Canada, but Tasmania has all you want and more.

HEY RED ATOMIC
THAT I CAN AGREE WITH. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE SNOW SKIING BUT THE REST OF IT IS PRETTY FINE.
PAWLY, COME TO THINK OF IT, YOU'D PROBABLY FIT RIGHT IN DOWN THERE. FROM WHAT I CAN REMEMBER ABOUT MY STAY THEY LIKE TO PARTY HARDY.

LATER
DR.Z

HEy hey It's the Red Atomic Wunda from down Unda! lol Nice to see you my friend! I think Tassie would be a blast! Definitely on my International List!

HEY PAWLY
CHECK OUT OUTDOOR LIFE CHANNEL OLCC FOR THE PROGRAM " DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT"
IT'S ON TASMANIA TONIGHT

I'm afraid I missed it, Z. I'll catch it in a rerun I guess.

East Coasters, Quebecois and Northerners! I need your input!!

Anywhere in BC is beautiful, Vancouver was recently voted the most livable city in the world and the Cowichan valley on Vancouver Island has the mildest climate in Canada. Actually Vancouver Island is the closest we're gonna get to paradise this side of the grave. I do have to mention though on the Island we don't get much snow but it rains ALL winter.

Pawly. i hear gravenhurst is a great place to live you know, and the company would be great

Having lived in a number of places in Canada (East, West and middle) I'd have to say each area has it's own charm depending on what you like. Having lived in TO myself, I can see why you'd consider moving - I'm not much into muggy summers and freezing winters myself! Speaking of freezing winters - avoid Winnipeg (it's not nicknamed "Winterpeg" for nothing...also the insects suck (and bite!) pretty hard in the summer).

If you like the general area around TO, there are lots of smaller towns that are nice (I'm sure you've driven through many...) - I've never personally lived in any of them, but those I've come to know from the region always seem to have good things to say about it (close enough to the "big city" to get there if you want it, but far enough away your not overpowered by it!). Ottawa is a "little" more laid back than TO, but the political atmosphere kind of put me off.

If you're into something a little different - Montreal has some very nice areas and if you speak french as well as I do (aka not at all!) you can still get by fairly well as nearly everybody speaks english.

Calgary didn't used to be too bad, but I haven't lived there since the big housing boom started getting out of hand and I've heard it's not as nice now - too much sprawl. Someone living there now might know better...

I'm personally partial to the coastal areas myself (Halifax, Vancouver, Victoria), but it really depends on what you like. For real hiking/campling Vancouver and Victoria are both great - combine mountains and oceans and I'm happy. If you like city living downtown Vancouver is great (West end - older area; Yaletown/Falsecreek North - yuppieville; Coalharbour - more "city feel" but right next to Stanley park). Just in case you're comparing - living downtown Vancouver is NOTHING like living in downtown Toronto; they have done a lot in trying to make it as liveable as possible (lots of parks and greenery, lots of traffic controlled areas, etc). Stanley park itself has a lot of trails that are nice for light weekend hikes and the Seawall stretches seemingly forever (it's about 10K around Stanley park, but then continues around the downtown core and beyond. Victoria is also very nice and a little more laid back than Vancouver if that's more your style (there is such a thing as "Island time" afterall...) - people tend to be a little friendlier there as well (at least in my experience!).

Regardless, wherever you end up - have fun and good luck!

Thanks for the input Steve, Flight and 312! Very informative. The sea does appeal to me as I have never lived near it. I haven't ruled out gravenhurst yet either Flight! lol

LOL thats good

It really depends on what youre looking for. Urban/Rural, City/Suburbs, etc.

Theres plenty of places in Quebec, that offers a good mix of everything.
ie:
Montreal Suburbs: Short drive to Metro center, easy acces to services
Eastern Township: Smaller Cities with a rural feel, not all that far from the big cities/US border
Saguenay region: Relatively remote, but tons of areas to explore for the outdoors folk

And if you talk to someone and he doesnt understand you, the other one near you will probly step in and offer to help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec

La Belle Provence! I have always enjoyed my visits! Maybe.