Hello guys,please,i intend to move to Canada in the next few months.I am torn between Toronto or Ottawa.pls kindly tell me all you know about these cities to halp me make a choice.Thing like which has a better climate,lower crime rate,good for raising children,good job oppurtuinities, better cost of living,etc. I'm looking forward to getting your replies.
Thanks. T dot for atmosphere. Toronto is safe depending on the neighbourhood.
TO has fewer snow storms than the capital, but very few differences...
Jobs, both have opportunities....
cost of living would be a BIT cheaper or some things...like gas and stuff.... I would choose Ottawa...
Ottawa and Toronto have relatively similar climates, although Ottawa tends to be a few degrees colder in winter. The crime rate in Ottawa is lower than Toronto. In Ottawa temperatures range from the low 30s Celsius in the summer to below zero in winter. Autumn and spring temperatures are a moderate 16 to 20 degrees. The cost of living in downtown Ottawa is lower than living in downtown Toronto.
Ottawa is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a population surpassing 1 million, Ottawa enjoys all the attributes of a major centre. Yet, it still maintains the atmosphere and charm of a smaller city. Ottawa is safe, clean and green, surrounded by three rivers and enclosed by a 42,240-acre greenbelt of protected farmland and wetlands.
As a capital city and a cosmopolitan centre located on the Ontario/Quebec border, Ottawa boasts an ethnically diverse and bilingual population.
The city is compact and easy to negotiate using public transportation. There is an extensive network of bicycle paths. Ottawa is filled with parks and recreational facilities. The Rideau Canal, the world's longest skating rink in the winter, meanders through the city. The Gatineau Hills, located only 10 minutes from the downtown core, offer spectacular views and outstanding recreational opportunities (hiking, skiing). Ottawa also boasts the finest in Canadian arts, culture and history.
Ottawa has four universities in the area: Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, the Universit茅 du Qu茅bec 脿 Hull, and the Universit茅 du Qu茅bec en Outaouais. There are also three community colleges: Algonquin College, C茅gep de l'Outaouais, et La Cit茅 Coll茅giale. Gee quite the sales brochure for Ottawa, well it isn't quite the truth. Ottawa is one of the coldest capital cities in the world and the climate between TO & Ottawa is similar Ottawa gets more snow and is MUCH colder than TO because it is moderated by Lake Ontario. Ottawa only has TWO univercities Ottawa U & Carlton U the others are in Quebec and there you had best speak French. Ottawa has only ONE community college that would be Algonquin the others mentioned are yes you guess it on the Quebec side of the river.
Ottawa is a very nice city with little heavy industry as it is mostly a government town and with the government at all levels you had best speak French or forget it. HOWEVER don't let that put you off there are many good paying jobs that don't care if you speak a second language as long as you can do the job.
I personally don't like Ottawa and only go there when I have too, saying that I'm not too keen on the Big Smoke in Toronto
Housing prices are high in both places but they will be higher in Toronto than Ottawa. Ottawa will have a lower crime rate than Toronto by order of smaller population about 1 - 2 million in the catchment area, where as Toronto has about 4 - 6 million people in their catchment area. As far as good for raising children it would really depend on where you wish to live in either of the cities, there are areas in both that I wouldn't go out in at high noon let alone a dark moonless night.
Depending on what you plan on doing for a living if you like the hurly-burly big city life style then Toronto. On the other hand if you like a medium city little slower pace then Ottawa.
Good luck on your choice and welcome to Canada, BTW I still miss my old country but I have a good live here in a small city. Toronto any day of the week. As the other respondants have said, Ottawa has a low-key atmosphere with some big city attributes, but let me tell you from personal experience, the people there are a bit strange. Very conservative town considering the fact thats where our nation's capital is. Unless your looking for a government job I wouldnt recommend going there. Toronto has everything you need, and a bonus is you can live in the suburbs to cut the cost of living down. Yes, both cities are ridiculous when it comes to cost of living, but thats if you wanna live close to downtown. If you ask me, look for places in Whitby, Ajax or Pickering if you choose Toronto. Right on a public transit line (GO Transit) that can take you straight into downtown, around a 20 minute drive from downtown, and the cost of living wont be as much. Crime is anywhere you go in any city, and depsite popular belief, Toronto isn't as dangerous as people make it out to be. The crime is central to certain areas and if you don't wanna see it, then don't go to those places.
Overalll, I'd say Toronto over Ottawa. Hope this helps a bit.. It depends on what you are looking for. I have lived in both places, and enjoyed them both.
1. Climate
Ottawa is colder in the winter-- a lot colder. One day my husband and I literally chippen six inches of ice off our car (that was a record day though). However, Ottawa is beautiful, even in the winter, while Toronto has more pollution. In the summer, Toronto can get hazy and in the winter, the Snow becomes brown and slushy in some places.
Overall, if you can take the cold, Ottawa has nicer weather-- less precipitations (Toronto has lake-effect) and less smog.
2. Crime Rate
Toronto's crime rate is up. There have been shootings lately-- though compared to where I live right now (Washington DC) they are negligible. They are more the exception than the rule, and if you live in a nice neighborhood, the crime rate is tolerable.
Ottawa does have crime and violence, but it is much rarer.
I feel that overall Ottawa is a safer city than Toronto, though of course there are parts of Ottawa that are not great either.
I am not sure where you are moving from, but if you are moving from the States, I would say that both of the crime rates in Toronto and Ottawa are really low compared to major american cities.
I would pick Ottawa for the safer city, though like any place it depends on the neighborhood.
3. Raising Children
I have no children myself, but I am a teacher. As far as a good place for raising children goes, I would have to say that, again, both cities offer good and bad things.
The Ottawa Public School Board is in major debt and turmoil. They are making huge budget cuts right now and the system is in a bit of a disaster. However, most of the schools are nice and clean and the teachers are well qualified.
The Toronto Public School Board is a good school board with enough money, but because the city is so big, they have a hard time attracting enough good teachers. There are more teachers lacking the qualifications in Toronto than in other school boards, however the schools are very nice and most teachers are good.
For things to do, there is an equal amount of fun things for children in both cities, and both cities have great educational opportunities available, though Toronto has a Zoo and Ottawa does not.
On the whole, though, I would vote for Ottawa because it has a much more suburban feel to it than Toronto, and because it is lesss urban in general. When I taught in Ottawa lots of children would walk to school, but in Toronto (depending on the neighborhood of course) most parents would not be comfortable with their kids walking. This is almost a tie, but Ottawa is more family orienteed, while Toronto is more of an urban area where young people and professionals thrive.
4. Job Opportunities
There are a ton in both places. Toronto is huge and has lots of opportunity, but you might be more likely to find better paying jobs in Ottawa, especially if you can get a foot in the door to the governement-- the benefits are really good.
5. Cost of Living
Cost of living is high in both places, but is obviously higher in Toronto. Still, for a city its size, Ottawa is very expensive too. I would say you pay more in Toronto but probably get what you pay for, whereas in Ottawa, you pay a little less than Toronto and get a little less.
6. Community
Because of its big urban feel, it is easier to make friends in Toronto, and there are more organizations to join, more volunteer opportunities etc. However, Ottawa is a warm and friendly place too. Both places are very multicultural, but again Toronto has more people and so more culture clubs, groups, and places to go out.
I think that Toronto is easier to make friends it, at least it was for me.
7. Night Life
If you love night life and big cities, Toronto is without quesiton the place for you.
Ottawa shuts down in the downtown at about 5 o'clock, except for the "market" area. Toronto is alive 24/7.
Good luck with your move! I am not sure which one you should pick, but I tried to give you an honest perspective on both. Remember this advice from someone who has moved around a lot-- you will have a honeymoon period and then hate where you live for about 4 months until you settle in-- that is the usual adaptation period for anyone moving to a brand new place. So expect it, and it will be easier to deal with.
Hope you love the choice you make! Ottawa is a very nice city, not too big neither is it too small.
The climate in Ottawa and Toronto is pretty similar although Ottawa does get a little cooler in the winter and gets a little more snow then Toronto. Ottawa has a lower crime rate, it's a whole lot less scarier to walk around at night in Ottawa, unless of course you go downtown (rideau street,etc) then it can get pretty scary very late, as Toronto is downtown and in other areas. Again for raising children Ottawa is a good place, there are many neighborhoods that are good to do so, Orleans, Sandy Hill, The Gleebe, etc. As for job oppurtunities it all depends on the job you're looking for. Ottawa is overall a good vibrant city, it can get crazy some days but most of the time it's a nice atmosphere around town, and some good people. French and English population. Good Schools, good shops, good food. :) People in Toronto aren't friendly, at all. Plus it is easier to get to the country from Ottawa, and there's always Montreal not too far. really tough choice to make, although, the choice could be very easy depending on YOU ! So far, nobody considered this question with consideration of YOU, just a bunch of generalities.
First of all, considering "crime rate"...which of these answers gave you any substantiated statistics? The rate of crime per 100,000 people is truly a 'rate'. A smaller city could have a higher crime rate but less crimes simply because the smaller size and population just doesn't show as much. I can tell you there are millions and millions of people in the big city that never get harmed by any crime. Toronto is a safe city.
Actually, you can see this note too, from a govt. webpage,
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/0607...
"Virtually all 27 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) reported declining or stable crime rates. The only exceptions were small INCREASES in London and Ottawa."
You should consider lifestyle factors.
Do you want a LOT of multiculturism? a huge Chinese community for friends and festivals? Do you want a lot of opportunities for festivals, arts, culture? A lot of selection of products and things and stores boutiques to buy at? Choose Toronto. Avoid it if you don't like road traffic and a lot of people.
Do you like to be relatively near forest wilderness and farm areas, like for camping and canoeing, and a bit less road traffic to go out of town? Choose Ottawa. Avoid it if you don't want to get boredom.
Toronto is better for hospitals, with leading-edge technology and research and top-notch, hot-shot, world-class doctors. Teachers and the educational system are also no lower in quality compared to that in Ottawa.
Toronto is usually just a couple degrees warmer, so I think spring comes just a little earlier, and autumn and winter generally come a bit more gradually in Toronto because of the mellowing effect from the summer warmth stored up in Lake Ontario. Ottawa's water is a bit cleaner because it just comes from a river that came from forest areas in northern Ontario/Quebec. Toronto's water is still quite good too anyways because of extreme filtration and very strong standards.
I actually love both fine cities. Choosing one of the two depends on you than on the condition of the cities. TorontoI
I am from UK but lived in Oakville, about 20 mins of go train from Toronto for a couple of years and i loved living there. Lots to do there with parks, fun parks, small ski parks, sailing, and everything else associated with city life.
Lived in Oakville cos much cheaper and can find great places that you would not be able to afford in Toronto itseld
What i loved is that it is close to Niagara Falls and US so we used to visit regularly.
Loved the climate in Oakville area - cold winters but great springs, summers and autumn with lots to do outdoors and in
Visited Ottowa but only for a long weekend but was not particularly struck by it - sure it was lovely but felt a bit souless(i preferred visiting Vancouver)
I would suggest visiting first or getting the job before you go - you would not want to spend the next few years wondering if you made the right decision! You've received many very thoughtful answers to your question. I agree with all of them. Your choice of city really depends on what you're looking for in a home. I've lived in both Toronto and Ottawa, and prefer the small city attributes of Ottawa, but that's very personal. Many of my friends would never live anywhere but Toronto. Good luck with your decision. Ottawa - no contest. Montreal |
