Reaction To All 9 Big Cities in Canada Ranked WORST to BEST

[@bradleypierce1561]

I’m from Winterpeg, and I am bloody tired of it being always rated dead last all the time! Okay. The winters suck. They’re pretty much half the year. That being said, this city is full of beautiful early 20th century architecture, and has a wonderful arts scene. The people are generally very friendly as well. HELL! It says ‘Friendly Manitoba’ on our license plates!

[@jeffreycairns767]

I'd vote Winnipeg above Montreal.

[@oceanside88]

Don't worry because actual Canadians know the worst is Regina.

[@jeffreycairns767]

@@oceanside88 Why?

[@renees1211]

Winterpeg IS known for its wonderful people

[@maggie7133]

I lived in Winnipeg for 30+years……the people are very nice…..the cultural events are spectacular…..the weather sucks but it’s

[@bgood5907]

He skipped over the 333 sunny days a yr in Calgary too quickly. Even during those -30c days, you can look up into a bright blue sky. In between Banff and Calgary is the beautiful Kananaskis County.

[@laurag7295]

😊❤

[@TheLumberJacked]

Surprisingly this record sunshine trades between medicinehat, Calgary and Edmonton. The competition as it were resorts each year and each year there is maybe 10 days of sunlight difference between any of them.

[@ianf3565]

I was born in Winnipeg and yes, its plagued by mosquitoes. Been in Edmonton since 1983 and it is NOT full of empty buildings and parking lots. I have no idea where this info comes from. However does get cold and can get to -30 anytime from November to February.

[@slothfratelli5546]

Right? I was like, have you ever been to Edmonton JJ?.

[@kontiuka]

Ya, you just have to take these lists with a grain of salt.

[@rhondathieson1156]

Edmontonian here! I too was perplexed by the assumption that 1/2 the city is empty buildings and parking lots, urban sprawl is a factor to be sure as Edmonton is massive in area due to the huge developments in the burbs. We have unlimited shopping, restaurants, and festivals year round and we embrace winter to the limit. We have no fear when it comes to winter, compared to other cities in Canada we really aren’t that much different. Heck, my mailman wears his shorts 10 months of the year and people ride their bikes all dang winter! Edmonton is a friendly beautiful government and university city that has its issues just like any large Canadian city over one million.

[@marilynmckercher4147]

Calgary downtown is a ghost town compared to Edmonton.

[@my3dviews]

Ya, I was hoping to buy up some of those empty lots here in Edmonton, but I can't seem to find them. 😂

[@sandrajewitt6050]

You have to remember that the crime rates are compared to other Canadian locations. In general, Canada is a safe place.

[@fattymcbastard6536]

Except for the fact that all the repeat, violent offenders are released from jail the next day.

[@prettydark]

In addition to this, most serious crime is between people who already know one another.

[@beerstein7137]

Not if you drive a car thar is high on the criminals` desirable list.

[@robbiemillar704]

I am biased as a born-and-raised Calgarian... but there's honestly so much to do within 3 hours. Edmonton to the north, Drumheller and the Badlands and the Tyrrell dinosaur museum to the east, Crowsnest pass and Waterton Lakes National Park to the South, and of course Banff Jasper National Park to the West.

[@Spurlano420]

I moved from St. John’s to Calgary 15 yrs ago, as so many of us Newfie’s do. And can honestly say Calgary is amazing. The amount of sun we see is remarkable! Even when it’s bitter cold in February it’s still sunny. And you can’t shovel the cold. 26 winters in St. John’s was enough for me. As much as I love home, you’d have to drag me there kicking and screaming. It’s a lovely place for a few weeks in July or August though.

[@TimothyCHenderson]

My mums from PEI and same thing. They always plan their visit the last week of July, first week of August.

[@Spurlano420]

@@TimothyCHenderson yup only time to go.

[@loonylovesgood]

I live in Edmonton. Definitely has its issues but its river valley trail system is phenomenal and it has a lot of diverse restaurants and beautiful architecture in some neighborhoods.

[@jeffreycairns767]

I live in the Toronto area but if I was to move it would be to Edmonton, but I'd still be a Leafs fan. Lol.

[@xxxmikeyjock]

bitter winter lasts 9 months. brutal cold winds. yeah great place. oh and they call the filthy sloughs 'lakes'

[@dawnblake7414]

‘Half of Edmonton is empty lot’s buildings and lots’. Nope.

[@my3dviews]

@@xxxmikeyjock "9 months"? Now that's obviously a big exaggeration. June to September are warm. May and first half of October and last half of April aren't too bad. So, six month winters is more accurate.

[@bryanevans5398]

​@@xxxmikeyjockwhat?? At least be honest

[@thierrylavoie5462]

As someone who just moved to Quebec City I have to admit that the mix between a big city and the old French buildings is quite beautiful, definitely feels special passing the walls into the old city each morning. I can’t say it’s THE best since I haven’t visited half of those cities but I assure you it’s definitely earned to be high ranked no matter who competes

[@stormstudios8281]

Mert, that drive in the video starting at 1:26 with Cascade mountain in the background is one of the most awe-inspiring drives anywhere. It's quite early into the Rockies and leads you to Banff from Calgary. For local Albertans seeing Cascade's size is jaw-dropping.

[@Rubberman2036]

Heading to Banff I often stop on the side of the highway to just take it all in.

[@mokeyo8382]

Thank you for your videos; I really enjoy them! I am in an interesting position...I am from Calgary, and have lived most of my life there, except for high school and first year University...When I lived in Winnipeg! I was not very happy about moving to Winnipeg (although I wouldn't have been happy moving ANYWHERE), but I actually really loved my time there. I went to a fine arts high school, which was publicly funded. Winnipeg has an amazing cultural and arts scene. I thrived there! It is very cold in the winter and very hot and humid in the summer, as well as very flat regarding landscape...but there is an insane amount of lakes and beaches in Manitoba that are close by, as well as the Whiteshell and Lake of the Woods districts around the Manitoba/Ontario border. Those areas are full of cabins and beautiful places to camp and explore. I DID move back to Calgary, however, and now live an hour away from Calgary in a little village called Beiseker. I am close enough to go into Calgary several times a week, yet get to enjoy rural living.

[@Highlander-s5p]

Canadian mosquitos rank more as birds then insects , they fly in formation .............lol

[@Meowziez]

I call mosquitoes terrorists. It's what they are. 😂

[@snafufubar]

Mosquitoes rank more as heavy bombers. Black flies...they rank as fighter escorts.

[@serenapenner3581]

Don't forget the horse flies and deer flies which we as kids did call bombers ( horse fly) and B52's ( deer fly) 😂

[@serenapenner3581]

.@yser-qc3oe5d7x I had a shirt that said " Mosquito Manitoba "s Provincial Bird" 😂

[@patchaxeman9406]

Than”

[@damonx6109]

I've lived in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Nothing beats Vancouver. Some things are expensive for a reason.

[@cnault3244]

Given the choice, I would choose Victoria over Vancouver.

[@andrewdonatelli6953]

You get what you pay for.

[@dylandornstauder7341]

Edmonton is actually fabulous! It’s much nicer than people make it out to be. And the guy making the video I doubt has visited.

[@carletonrutherford1799]

LOL! My brother had to go there for work a few years ago. He spent about 4 months there. He had his work truck busted into twice, and every time he left his hotel he was asked for smokes. He said the roads were terrible. The flying insects were bad too. He didn't have much nice to say about Edmonton. You can keep it.

[@debuthunter5389]

So industrial

[@paulg6274]

@@carletonrutherford1799 sounds like he was staying in a low income area

[@dwaynegamble244]

He was definitely in a shi@&y part of town Edm downtown has gotten so much better last 5 yrs

[@robertguay3773]

Edmonton has a LOT of festivals, one of the best in city parks. We are going to head up in the next couple weeks hit the pool do some Christmas shopping and take a nice weekend off.

[@zoef007]

I visited Winnipeg for the first time in October 2022. I walked pretty much the entire downtown area over several days. It was beautiful! So much public history and amazing architecture. Great early 29th century buildings. I loved it!

[@dontpokethebear4190]

I’ve lived the majority of adult life in Calgary. The mountains are near by, less expensive compared to Vancouver or Toronto. It’s quite multicultural and has many things to do. It’s a great city to work and live that’s why I love Calgary.

[@carletonrutherford1799]

Alberta, the sad Texas wannabe of Canada. Sorry, but I would never, ever live in Alberta.

[@Rubberman2036]

@@carletonrutherford1799 And here in Calgary we are thankful for you decision.

[@dontpokethebear4190]

@@carletonrutherford1799 Comparing Apples to Oranges. Texas produces Light crude oil while Alberta produces and develops Bitumen or Heavy Crude oil. Alberta is not only Oil but an Energy producer. Calgary is positioned to be the Centre of it.

[@robertguay3773]

@@carletonrutherford1799 Thanks we appreciate it.

[@TheCanadianReacts]

@@carletonrutherford1799pls don’t come here. We don’t want bums like u

[@gomezfriesen]

From BC here: I live in Maple Ridge , and commute to North Vancouver every day. An hour each way... over 3 bridges. Yes that drive is nuts, but I tell ya, it's so beautiful every morning.

[@exile220ify]

Fun fact: despite how cold it is, Winnipeg leads the world in per-capita consumption of 7-Eleven Slurpees

[@jeffreycairns767]

Lol

[@beastoned8596]

Yes! Slurpy capital for 22years! 7-11 loves us!

[@serenapenner3581]

Never knew that! Thanks❣

[@nolanharriott4574]

I’m from Winnipeg. Winnipeg is a great place to live. It does get cold here and we get a lot of snow. You skin can freeze in less than a minute in the cold months. But our summers are very hot and wonderful. Winnipeg is a city in a forest. There are laws about green space so we have so many trees and parks you can’t see all the houses from the air in the summer just trees. The city is built around two rivers that meet at a fork in the centre of the city. Our crime rate isn’t as bad as it sounds because it’s based on per capita. We only have a city of 750 000 people so a few crimes makes it look like a lot when compared to a city like Toronto with a population of 2.9M. Manitoba has a lot of lakes with a lot of great beaches and beautiful campgrounds. You don’t have to be on an incredible beach and enjoying the wilderness. We have mosquitoes, but we also have bug spray and mosquito coils and other repellents. We have a beautiful winter landscape when all the trees are white and the ground is covered with fresh white snow. Skating and skiing and snowshoeing are some great things to do in the winter. We have so much wildlife right in our city you don’t have to go far to experience them, deer, foxes, raccoons, skunks, beavers, coyotes are just some of the things we see in our neighbourhood not including all the things like birds and squirrels. Winnipegers are proud of there city including their hockey and football teams.

[@cinzabeary5226]

Yes. I love our urban canopy. I've seen cities that are just scant of trees between all the buildings. They provide so much oxygen and shade, and I believe they are helping clean the air of smog and that's why you can see the buildings downtown from Transcona so clear that you'd think the downtown is much closer than it is. Our winters are magical. Especially when there's frost on everything and all the frost and snow sparkle in the sun and in the moonlight. Love hearing the coyotes at night. You don't have to live in the wilderness. If you're near heavily wooded areas or near the perimeter within city limits they're around and howling still. There are beavers in the Sturgeon river in St. James. Don't forget not just the Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers, we got our Winnipeg Sea Bears basketball team, Valour FC soccer team, Goldeyes baseball team and all the junior hockey leagues.

[@antokent]

Main Street winnipeg is the most depraved sight my European eyes have ever witnessed, with an absolutely insane amount of homeless people for such a small city and population. You got more amputees than a war zone. It's a pretty crazy place (I lived there for 7 years)

[@dosmundos3830]

@@antokent amputees from combat with diabetes and alcoholism. People will pick the nice things of the city to talk about and just turn their backs on the rest.

[@melodybaker458]

I was born in Montreal...but moved to the number 2 city...Calgary and never looked back. Love living in Calgary and it really is the cleanest city in the world. I live out in the suburbs and we have a retired fella who created his own volunteer job. He picks up any discarded paper or bottles or packaging that someone may have discarded in a public place. Yes I go to Banff all the time. I actually lived there for two years after Montreal and before Calgary. It is a nature lovers paradise, that’s for sure. Calgary is a natural paradise also I can walk a few blocks to the river and see moose and deer.

[@georgesjarjour5994]

We live in Ottawa. It is quiet, safe and has a stable economy because of the variety of companiies and government jobs as well as high tech. They didn't mention that Quebec is right across the river. The Gatineau hills provide great hiking, swimming (lakes), and skiing (not mountains but great hills for skiing). A lot of museums for the kids, and summer festivals (jazz, busker, Canada Day etc). 2 hours from Montreal, 5 hours from Toronto. If you want a safe, quiet place to raise kids you may consider Ottawa. Oh and French and English are both spoken here because it is the seat of government and bilingualism. So if you want your kids to be bilingual it is a good choice.

[@xxxmikeyjock]

LoL 'hills for skiing' okay then

[@Hollyucinogen]

Unfortunately, we also have to deal with Trudeau and his bullsh*t here. As a person who lives in Ottawa: actually, I would currently not recommend it. Stay away. 😫

[@karenpower1643]

@@Hollyucinogen There's so much more to Ottawa than the government. You need to get out and see the world more so you can compare.

[@karenpower1643]

@@xxxmikeyjock There are a lot of places you can go cross-country skiing in and around Ottawa. Not all skiing is downhill. Instead of being sarcastic, you might want to Google it.

[@Hollyucinogen]

@@karenpower1643 I can't. I live in a care home, and they keep locking us down because of all these C-19 rules. 😭

[@MarcSherwood]

While Edomonton will kill you in the winter with low temperatures, it is a nice city. I was working there for about one week per month for a few years, and found the people super friendly, great food options, and a quickly growing tech scene.

[@TheLumberJacked]

What people don’t understand about Alberta winters is that while they can get cold, they average out around that -5 deg mark most of the winter…but more importantly it’s the amazing amount of sun light per year they get. Alberta has the sunniest cities in Canada and it shows. Even when the daylight hours are short, and it can be quite cold for a few weeks, the big blue sunny skies make it far more palatable a city to winter in than places like Vancouver, Kelowna, and so on.

[@MarcSherwood]

@@TheLumberJacked I don't mind the cold at all. With the correct gear it is all good. Just today, google photos showed me photos from a few years ago in Calgary where I used an electric scooter to get to a meeting , came out and there was so much snow. Had dinner, came out and it was clear and warm.

[@loonylovesgood]

I went to Winnipeg for a conference and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Had a lot of charm and some great shopping and restaurants.

[@kevinlove6336]

I'm born and raised hamilton, the reason our housing market is so high is because people from Toronto are buying houses in hamilton and commuting

[@jo-annelebel9819]

Calgary, has Chinooks in the winter (can go from -20 to 20 degrees in hours) so winters are somewhat warmer than some other cities. It is in the center of the populated Alberta. The Calgary Stampede is world wide known and is more than just a rodeo. Edmonton is a great city to live in. It is also close to Banff and Jasper. Edmonton has al sorts of festivals and is very multicultural. The food festivals alone are worth a visit. I have found that all of Alberta is kept clean and all of Alberta does not have a Provincial tax Oh Calgary also has much agriculture to draw their economy from

[@carletonrutherford1799]

If it wasn't for the oil industry, few people would actually choose to live in Alberta. A barren dry hellscape in the summer, and a frozen wasteland in the winter. If oil does eventually collapse because of electric vehicles, Alberta will return to what it was in the 1800's.

[@nothingpersonal878]

Ridiculous statement.​@@carletonrutherford1799

[@0CaptainMyCaptain]

​@@carletonrutherford1799Alberta is the heart of Canada, keeps the blood pumping year after year and is one of the fastest growing provinces. The people who live here love it so maybe dial back the 1800's prediction as I think we are doing a little better then the beaver trapping days 😂

[@ponfed]

I have an anecdote. I'm a Francophone from Montréal. A Queb. And I know the Chinook like if I lived it. Because in our English classes, there was a mandate to learn not just the language, but the culture of the different provinces.. it makes it much easier to learn a new language when you have concrète things to hold on to. So we learned all about the Chinook, as well as the stampede and the Rockies... I would wager that Québécois children of my generation know more about Alberta than most BCer!😂 (I'm exagerating)

[@ponfed]

Also... I mean that as a good thing. We learn about one another, it's harder to dismiss each other.

[@dorothyfielding8209]

It’s not pronounced “Torontons,” but rather “Torontonians.”

[@sirjohneh]

Torontons sounds like a creature from Tatooine

[@Royal_BLT]

🇨🇦 Calgarian here, and in mid October, we will be taking our 3rd Mountain vacation this year ! 3 days in Canmore, then we did 3 days in Banff and soon we will be taking another couple of days in Lake Louise ! So close, so beautiful and that is "living" your life !

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

A lot of the argument seems to be based on cost, which is a very 2 dimensional measurement. I wouldn’t want to live in a city, but if I did, it would be Vancouver. A factor never counted in these videos is the cost of life away from rent. With everything on the doorstep, you do not need to travel or confine certain activities to holidays. From downtown Vancouver, you can be on a ski hill or hiking amongst bears in 15 minutes. You can be doing serious rock climbing in an hour. You can be deep in the mountains at north americas biggest ski resort in an hour and a half. You can be on a beach in ten minutes. You can be at a marina to sail, or go fishing or go whale watching in ten minutes. The same goes for theatre, and arts centres. You can be wilderness camping in little more than an hour, you can be at an NHL or CFL game in under 15 minutes. The climate also means that you can do most of those sorts of outdoor activities almost year round. On tiktok I follow a young woman and her boyfriend who moved to Vancouver from Essex a year ago. She’s young very fit and loves the outdoors, everyday she’s off jogging round the sea wall, she kayaks, paddleboards, skis, snowshoes, hikes, climbs camps etc. she does these sorts of things almost daily, with weekends usually devoted solely to adventures. This simply isn’t an option in most places. It would mean considerable time and expense just to get to a place where you could do it, whereas in Vancouver, it’s pretty much on the doorstep. You can even go and do these things after work. And weekends aren’t about catching flights to go and do something, it’s all right there.

[@peterk3227]

Well said , I live in North Van, not a Mosquito bite this year. I can't agree with this selection as I grew up with three ski resorts in my back yard.

[@kellycornell7510]

I have lived the majority of my life where there are lots of mountains. I can't imagine living where it is so flat.

[@carletonrutherford1799]

If you want to go skiing in the winter, or hiking in the summer, and you don't live on the North Shore, there is a pretty good chance you be stuck in bad traffic either going to, or coming from the North Shore. I actively avoid the place but if I had to go there, I would wait until about 8:00 pm.

[@serenapenner3581]

I live in the Ottawa Valley Ontario, set in the Laurentian Mountains, although not as spectacular as the Rockies, this is another area where I can travel and swim, kayak, do whitewater rafting, go Rock climbing, or ice climbing, skate, go skiing , play hockey, hike, Kayak/ canoe in the Algonquin forest, it's all within 15 mins to 1.5 hrs from me❣

[@xxxmikeyjock]

@@serenapenner3581 Hemlock is right over here, but I agree I used to go night skiing on Cypress.

[@hollowhunter7791]

Honestly, my favourite part of living in Calgary is the 13.48 square kilometer Fish Creek Park, in which an abundance of animals can be seen on every visit. I've seen beavers, deer, snakes, and even a moose once while out there! Bears and cougars sometimes make an appearance there too!

[@darrylross3298]

Edmonton has over 122Km of park land/trails

[@IRQ1Conflict]

Heh. I had a moose on my front lawn once. Scared the crap outta me.

[@JudyPitcher]

Yes, people do commute from Hamilton to Toronto. There is the GO Train system of public transit.

[@robertpearson8798]

The fact that Hamilton is commuter distance from Toronto is one of the main reasons that home prices have risen here so much. Many Torontonians formed their opinions of the city from the view of the industrial sector while passing over the Skyway bridge on their way to Niagara and thought that it was representative of the whole city. A lot of them have found out differently and made the move.

[@agilemind6241]

Yeah, I was born & raised in Hamilton and was surprised to see it placed in it's more rightful spot on this list. It has the horrible industrial area around the highway between Toronto and Niagara Falls so that's all most people know about the city. But outside of that one corner it can be a beautiful, wonderful place to live. Between the Royal Botanical Gardens on one side, the lake on another and the escarpment & Bruce trail running through the city there is a lot of natural beauty. It's also extremely safe, despite some sketchy businesses downtown. Sadly the city is currently struggling under the weight of infrastructure maintenance - it is one of the oldest cities in Canada and still has wood & lead water pipes in some areas, and was recently amalgamated with surrounding suburbs - and lack of investment due to it's bad reputation and the fact politically it supports the NDP (the 3rd party in Canada who never forms the government).

[@suzannebilski6914]

And that's why house prices in niagara /st catharines have easily doubled in the last decade. We knew it was coming a long time ago when we saw Grimsby, Beamsville, and Vineland get really populated and the push of the go train now going all the way to the falls. It's becoming way too expensive to live here!

[@robertpearson8798]

@@suzannebilski6914 My Bother-in-law bought a house in St. Catharines about fifteen years ago because he just couldn’t afford an equivalent house in the Hamilton (Stoney Creek) area.

[@judes966]

I was born in #1 and moved to #2 when I was 14. I absolutely love visiting Montreal still - it's a great place to be from. A truly beautiful city (so are Quebec and Vancouver). Calgary is truly an amazing city and it has grown and matured beautifully since I've been here. It's a great place to live, but when oil & gas is down, the economy suffers terribly. We had a 2-3 year slump starting in 2016, but somehow still thrived. Real estate and housing are terribly expensive though and the vacancy rate for rentals is at an all time low. We are apparently embarking on a densification trend to combat this problem.

[@Mchris24]

Montreal is the best place to raise kids. Daycare only $7 per day, and college and university tuition is the cheapest in North America. Both of my kids were able to pay their own way through University just by working summer jobs. You have the multiculturalism and economic opportunities of Toronto, but with a small town feel and European flare.

[@laurag7295]

The $7 daycare is totally subsidized by the taxpayers of Canada. I paid for both my kids daycare, no subsidies, why can't the people of Montréal?

[@dwaynegamble244]

The rest of the country pays for your day care lady

[@amelieturgeon6317]

We in Quebec pay taxes to Canada as a matter of fax 40 % of the taxes paid to Canada come from Quebec. @@dwaynegamble244

[@403yyc]

@@laurag7295 Not everyone has access to the $7 daycare. The waiting lists are too long.

[@Beerando23]

I live in Calgary, it really is an amazing city. But lately, since after covid, crime has gotten higher than normal. Housing and rental costs have gone up quite a bit too. But all across Alberta, energy costs has skyrocketed. I used to pay $50-70 a months and my last electricity bill was $190. But yeah, driving to and from work and seeing the Rockies in the background is one of the best feelings I ever could have asked for. And to answer your "how often do you go to Banff" question, probably like once every 3 years or so. It's just tourist town, and not something I personally enjoy. About a decade ago, Banff's downtown had tons of unique shops. But when I last went last year, almost every shop had the same souvenir products available. Honestly I'm surprised Calgary was ranked 2nd. Makes me grateful of where I live :)

[@carletonrutherford1799]

Tell your fellow Calgarians, when they go to the East Kootenays, to stop acting like they own the towns. Treat those towns and their populations with respect. Don't act like those towns are just your playgrounds, to act like fools, and leave your garbage.

[@my3dviews]

Makes you wonder what the criteria is for the ranking, or is it just one person's opinion. If that's the case it doesn't mean a whole lot.

[@ryanlarocque2571]

I maintain Vancouver as the most beautiful city in the country but it is VERY expensive. I won’t live anywhere else but you pay in this region. One thing you’ll find for a lot of people born and raised in the BC lower mainland is that they have a hard time living anywhere without real mountains. Anywhere too flat feels foreign.

[@joygernautm6641]

I would say, Victoria is even more beautiful🙂

[@ryanlarocque2571]

@@joygernautm6641 there’s a good case there, Victoria is a beautiful city. But there are way too many amenities and access to natural beauty from Vancouver and the surrounding districts for me to fully agree.

[@robertguay3773]

It will be interesting to see how the rising interest rates affect Vancouver and Toronto. Hopefully it all works out but it could get pretty bad, Affordability in both places has been way to low for to long and now it is getting worse.

[@TheLumberJacked]

That’s because Vancouverites are soft.

[@agilemind6241]

@@robertguay3773 Well the banks are already stockpiling cash in anticipation of people defaulting on their mortgages. There will be another housing crash, there just has to be, the housing market is totally unsustainable in Canada.

[@anamakesthings]

Moved to Montréal from Europe over 5 years ago. Best decision of my life. The best thing about the city is the decision making involving urban planning. They understand that sprawling suburbs are unsustainable and encouraging of an isolated lifestyle and worse, close to one car per resident. Medium urban density and great public transit are a good way of combating that. Also, it's soooooo bike friendly. So much so, that this winter we're having a pilot project where you'll be able to rent winter bikes (the Bixi's) all throughout the cold season ❄️💚

[@louisd.8928]

Montreal being an island, it simply cannot do urban sprawling like other cities would.

[@sylvaindupuis5595]

@@louisd.8928 The suburbs extend way outside of the islands of Montreal and Laval.

[@DeborahHamilton-q1w]

@@sylvaindupuis5595 Do they ever!

[@tomasjakovac7950]

Moved to Hamilton for university and absolutely love it! Has an awesome local indie art and music scene, with plenty of interesting history and lots of breathtaking nature (over 1000 waterfalls within the city limits!). I prefer it to Toronto because generally I find it to be less pretentious and more down to earth. Sure the city may be a bit rough around the edges in some parts, but it's really been going through quite the revival, and there is a strong sense of local identity while still also being a very multicultural place in its own right. It's really a great city that doesn't deserve all the hate it gets!

[@tomasjakovac7950]

@@kirktuss4819 if I were in Stoney Creek I'd be saying the exact opposite of what I did lol

[@alandeon]

@@kirktuss4819 Stoney Creek is just one of Hamilton's chubby edges ;-)

[@jakesuth]

McMaster is far enough from the downtown core to enjoy the natural scenery but still close enough to the art and music and food scene. I agree

[@agilemind6241]

The local identity is a really undervalued aspect of Hamilton. People from outside the city are so quick to just merge Hamilton with Toronto but it really is a different, distinct place.

[@nancyrafnson4780]

Good day Mert. I’m am a Winnipeger born and bred and I love my city. I’ve just been reading the comments to your interesting video. There are a number of Winnipeg’s there and they have expressed what I think too. I live in the heart of downtown Winnipeg and I feel perfectly safe even at night. I’m also a 75 year old woman so I think that says something! Come visit us someday. I’m sure someone will show you around as we are very friendly and hospitable people. You probably should come between the 1st of June and 30th of September though as you aren’t used to our winters 😂

[@beastoned8596]

I second that! Winterpeger too!!

[@KB_13247]

i live in calgary, it is very clean, but NO WHERE NEAR the cleanest city on earth. EVERY city in japan that i've been too is FAR FAR cleaner than calgary. south korea too. don't get me wrong, calgary might even be the cleanest city in north america. but you cannot compare to how clean nearly every town or city is in japan. it's insane how clean japan's cities and towns are.

[@55MYAGE]

I'm from Winnipeg and yes it's cold in the winter and mosquito infested in the summer but once you get passed that it's a great city.

[@robertcartwright4374]

I've a soft spot for Winnipeg.

[@cinzabeary5226]

The mosquitoes haven't even been that bad lately. The wasps have been the biggest pains.

[@fledanow]

I've lived in Winnipeg most of my life but tried to live in southern Ontario 3 times (Ottawa, London, and Guelph). Nearly died of loneliness. Everybody is too busy to bother smiling, let alone chatting. I had a job experience which proved the greatness of this city: worked for a government commission making a big change to the health care system. Same process was happening in many other provinces but ours was the only one that developed our legislation and programme by consensus. We know how to work together here and consider others.

[@canuckzed]

My dad had a Christmas tie with a giant mosquito carrying a terrified santa!

[@cnault3244]

Winnipeg: Yeah, but it's a dry cold.

[@sirjohneh]

I'm a Torontonian moved here post university, but have visited (or lived in) every city on this list. I love every one of them for their own uniqueness, charms, quirk - insert your adjectives here. I wouldn't even go so far to try to compare cities, to me that's pointless; it's what works for you, for your community, lifestyle professional life. For me Toronto's depth of opportunity, culture, diversity and yes, professional windows to the world are, all together such huge attractions to living here. I live a 5 min walk from the subway where I can travel downtown, to the airport, to Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kingston, Niagara or Eastern Ontario to take in wine tours, jazz festivals, or drive 45 mins out of the city to go hiking on the Bruce Trail. I love all these Canadian cities, Toronto happens to fit the fit to be my home.

[@flowerlover73]

Born in Charlottetown, PEI, raised in Peterborough, Ontario but made Ottawa my home the last 25yrs. It's a big city that feels like a small town. Although crime & cost of living has increased over the years & the municipal government decisions have been ridiculous, I still love living here.

[@serenapenner3581]

I moved from Ottawa to the Valley, but do like it alot. I have previously lived in Winnipeg, Kenora, Kitchener/ Waterloo, as city references. There are alot of things that make this amalgamated city so great. There seemed to always be many events, within close proximity and that were within our budget. The people and relatively low crime rate at the time( 90's) was a big draw. Lots of jobs too, cost of living was good, and love the access to education in all areas of Canada but here it has multiple options including college, & university ❣ A trip to get out of the city is very near, but there are beaches, rivers & good parks right there too! ❤

[@CharCanuck14]

Hello from Peterborough - the little city of the newly wed & the nearly dead 😀 Actually it's a nice place to live, but also really enjoyed my time living in Ottawa.

[@kmacgregor6361]

@@CharCanuck14 Another hi from Ptbo. I've been here 20 yrs and love this city - such a beautiful area, and great arts scene. Plus, the perfect distance from Toronto. Close enough to go there for concerts and events, but not too close.

[@CharCanuck14]

@@kmacgregor6361 You're so correct about our little city being beautiful with a great arts, music, theatre scene. We also have a top-notch university & college. I grew up in Toronto & every summer our family would be camping in the Kawarthas. I just loved Peterborough & surrounding area, so when I moved back to Canada I chose this great little city. No regrets!

[@cheryla7480]

I’m a Winnipeger and I love my city and province. Sadly it is true, fellow Canadians like to dump on us ( like calling us “ Winterpeg “ ). I like to think though that deep in their heart of hearts, they still love us.

[@kontiuka]

We do. I've been talking about taking a road trip to Winnipeg when I have some time.

[@carletonrutherford1799]

I am a Vancouverite born and raised, but I have a lot of family in and around Winnipeg. I spent a couple summers there as a teen. I really liked it. I thought it was more welcoming than Vancouver is. If there was another city that I would live in if I had to move, Winnipeg would be the one. I would steer well clear of Alberta, and Toronto.

[@dosmundos3830]

we are winterpeg, that's not an insult. either is Manitoba doing referred to as little Siberia lol

[@Highlander-s5p]

You would fit perfectly in Halifax , Nova Scotia ,

[@rebeccabourque7704]

He would!

[@wanderlust16]

Are you saying that because he's Scottish? Lol!

[@bozotro]

Friend in Winnipeg describes the weather as 10 months of winter followed by 2 months of bad sledding.

[@cnault3244]

Winnipeg does have a high crime rate, but it's often localized within certain areas that the majority of people know to avoid.

[@my3dviews]

Same with Edmonton. There's close to no crime where I live, but some places in the city I wouldn't want to live.

[@linnetoconnell457]

Well Mert, I think you should come to Ottawa! People here go to Montreal all the time - even for a day of shopping. Toronto is also not far from Ottawa and it's common to take a run to Toronto for a weekend. I was born in Montreal but grew up in Ottawa. I have family in both cities as well.

[@cherylw445]

I'm born and raised Calgaryian, though it is a pretty city, is very vibrant indeed, it is also VERY HECTIC 24/7. There is a go go go mind set, traffic is horrendous, and if your not oil and gas employed you don't stand a chance. If you are oil and gas employed your always worried about the next crash. The weather is eratic and unpredictable. Leave in the mornimg with runners, change into flip flopsid day, and by dinner time its boots. Chinooks are great, but excruciating because its hard to go from -30 to + 20 overnight, then back to -30 a few days later. Banff and Canmore are very close, but not an ideal get away as they are just packed with tourists year round. A vibrant vacation, but not a relaxing one. I actually left Alberta for B.C. simply because I wanted better access to nature and the mountains without all the tourism, and also because of the differences in lifestyle culture and mindset.

[@lamborghiniperlini1710]

Edmonton is great if you love nature, hiking, quiet living. Otherwise if you are moving from a warmer and more lively area please don't expect the same, you will not be happy. Lower your expectations and experience the city for what it is. It's not Toronto or Vancouver, it's not as polished or safe, there arent any BIG events (mostly local festivals), and the winters are farrrr from the same. But if you are looking for something more authentic, rugged, and fulfilling . I think Edmonton is a great place.

[@nothingpersonal878]

There ‘aren’t any big events’. Huh????

[@TheLumberJacked]

Dude, Edmonton, more than any city on this list, is all about the big events. World class some of them.

[@SoxyKrawl]

Once again, Edmonton gets absolutely shafted by the opinion of someone who's never seen it with their own two eyes. No idea where he got these preconceptions of Edmonton from, but it's an incredible place to live. And yes I've visited Calgary many times, but the only thing I like about it is how close it is to other places that I'd rather go to than Calgary.

[@burnbrae41]

I agree with number one, I live outside Toronto.I came to Canada from Scotland in 1967.before that I spent some time sailing as an engineer on the Ben line around your part of the world. The reason I like Montreal is the food, the restaurants are the best in Canada.

[@chrisbarratt4417]

It's nickname is 'Winterpeg,' emphasis on winter. Not to worry, spring will come...as will the mosquitos, often reffered to as skeeters as in "The ONLY GOOD SKEETER'S A DEAD SKEETER!

[@djdissi]

Mosquitos are a real problem everywhere in Canada. Obviously worse in some area than others. But yeah, in summer, there's definitely a mosquito season in every province.

[@kellycornell7510]

The joys of having millions of lakes.

[@Steve-tf1wv]

Not really an issue in sunny, dry, southern AB.

[@Bruhaha9]

I see 0-5 mosquitos a year in Vancouver. I forget they exist for years at a time. It's wicked.

[@Rubberman2036]

Here in Calgary I never got bitten once this year.

[@kellycornell7510]

@@Rubberman2036 I only get bit occasionally at night in the Okanagan. And I am 5 minutes from a beach.

[@muddyotterspottery569]

I lived in Calgary all of my life. There are lots of young families living here. The median age here is 36.4 years old. The town of Banff itself is quite touristy but there are Kananaskis Provincial Park and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park an hour’s drive from here where you can hike, bike, canoe and camp in the mountains. The city is coming into its own in terms of cultural activities and diverse cuisines. We ranked 20/34 in terms of crime rate compared to other Canadian cities, but that varies vastly depending on the neighbourhood you live in. Generally, the closer you get to downtown, the more crime you experience.

[@SusanMiddleton1]

You can commute from Hamilton to Toronto by car or commuter train and many people do. When housing started to go crazy high in Toronto, many moved to Hamilton and could buy large century homes for way less. Unfortunately, pricing is catching up.

[@TimothyCHenderson]

Hamilton used to be a tucked away secret. feels like the secrets out now.

[@coco9004]

I was born in Quebec City, shit load of snow, in feb and march the first floor cannot see the windows covered by 12 feet of snow

[@noseboop4354]

I worked one winter season as a snow remover. They hire seasonal workers from Mexico now to do most of the work, funny that Mexicans can handle the snow better than Quebeckers.

[@coco9004]

@@noseboop4354 maybe they all left for florida for winter time!!!

[@NJSoz]

The crime statistics are wrong Winnipeg is not the most dangerous city in Canada it actually ranks 5th. Surrey BC is number one. Winnipeg is one of the last cities in Canada where you can still afford to buy a home and rents are not outrageous.

[@cinzabeary5226]

True. Crime is everywhere and most murders are not random, but between people who know each other. Rent here is relatively affordable compared to other cities. Especially if you sublet, and there's a lot of social assistance programs to help low income earners that other places don't get.

[@cindysookermany]

We (MB) are the only province that allows renters to claim their rent on their taxes! 😊

[@cinzabeary5226]

@@cindysookermany I didn't know that but it makes sense that we can and should. Homeowners can claim their property tax and renters do pay property tax through their rent.

[@Lord_Shal]

I’ve lived here in Ottawa my entire life. It is more subdued then the other cities on this list but the green space, the friendly people, great schools and most importantly, the safety here is top notch. Lots of embassies here hence great security. For a city of just over 1 million people, we just hit our 11th homocide for the year. (9 months)

[@louisd.8928]

Safe? I used to think that about Ottawa when I lived there, but now the homelesness/drugs situation in the downtown core/Byward Market area is really getting out of hand.

[@Amkontos]

Montreal has low crime, large diversity/multi-cultural, 99% of the people speak both french and english, very artistic city. Great schools and parks and a perfect place to raise your children. I love it here! 😍

[@dizzyrick7653]

Yeah, but it's in the most authoritarian province. Quebec: come for the multiculturalism, stay because you have to.

[@Jaycee-Bee]

I am 72 years old, born and still live in the province ''authoritarian?'' Explain.@@dizzyrick7653

[@mikelavigne5085]

Don't even like to drive through it.

[@brentdallyn8459]

Xenophobic AF! if you're an English speaker, you're less than Zero

[@waynethera2712]

They put raw sewage it the St. Lawrence yet don’t want clean burning Natural Gas from Alberta..... and a lot of white collar crime. See the 1976 Olympics and the fraud and corruption.

[@pittsky]

I'm from Calgary. I love it. P.S. Banff is only about an hour away the way I drive. 😁

[@moniquedespins3574]

Born and raised in Edmonton but I live in Calgary for the last 21 years. I have seen a big change in Edmonton. The homelessness is off the chart right now. It's sad because there so many nice neighborhoods in the city to see and visit.

[@modestacattaruzza7400]

Calgary has his own problems with homeless. We in Edmonton know that,and the police have taken increments many times already like we did here. However; instead of Danielle Smith dishing out big moi for the sports arena, she should prioritize that money for this homelessness problems,but as always Calgary comes first. Then you wander why the capitol shut her out. No respect for 1million.2 , that's what is boiling doi to. She like the others plays favoritism. Discasting really. We're sick of this crapp, period!!!

[@xxxmikeyjock]

lefty city councils create those issues.

[@TheLumberJacked]

Ya, I think Edmonton and Calgary have the exact same problems at this point. Same economy, similar winters (despite the chinook).

[@moniquedespins3574]

That is true. @@TheLumberJacked

[@renyauger4560]

I grew up in Ontario (London) then moved to Toronto for 10 years & I loved it. After 5 years in the Caribbean we decided to give Vancouver a try in ‘96 and I’ve never looked back. I’ve been all over Canada & nothing compares to Greater Vancouver, I would never live anywhere else in Canada. Yes it’s expensive but being so beautiful can make up for a lot, especially when you can enjoy that beauty for free. A spectacular 90 min drive takes you to Whistler, the largest & most stunning ski resort in North American. As I hate snow I love Whistler in summer & fall. A 60 minute ferry ride takes you to Victoria on Vancouver Island. The historic old town reminds me of Quebec City but with ocean & mountains. Vancouver Island is huge with plenty to see & do (the city of Victoria is closer to Seattle than Canada on a map). The rain is very over reported & is not that bad, much less than Seattle or Portland and the mild, often snow free winters in the Lower Mainland are the best in Canada. Traffic is an issue but there’s an excellent public transit system (Skytrain) that can bring you downtown from all the out parts of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Many of which are much more affordable than inside Vancouver city limits but only 20 mins to downtown by transit. There is a great work / life balance & massive multicultural community with festivals for all cultures. Plenty of good jobs, schools & two of the best Universities in Canada as well as being Hollywood North.

[@modestacattaruzza7400]

I live in Edmonton, for a very long time, I could have chosen yo live anyplace, however, I love my city, and wrong, thete is plenty to do if one wants to . concerts, venues, theatres, all kind of museums, the jubilee auditorium, the citadel, jubilation, great restaurants and food, sports, the telus center and much more. So if people want to dpend some money to go places there's planty to do if not you ca dot home and complain there is mothing to do.

[@francesorensen7646]

I lived in Orleans (a suburb of Ottawa) for a year when the children were young. We loved it. School trips every second week to a different museum or cultural event. We learned a lot about our country. Lots of greenery. Skated on the Rideau canal in winter when family came to visit and attended some festival or other in summer.

[@rerunrescue8904]

I've lived in Vancouver and Montreal. Both great cities. If you're a nature lover, Vancouver is the city for you. But if you want an active social life and economic breathing room, then Montreal is the place to be.

[@thattallguy9053]

Wouldn’t Toronto be a better choice than Montreal for that,

[@jeffreycairns767]

Montreal is great, if you love construction and replacing the shocks, struts, tires, etc. On your car several times every year. With the highest taxes of any Province, why are the roads the absolute worst of any Province? Constant highway and road closures and more yet nothing ever gets fixed. You couldn't pay me enough to live in Quebec, plus the French people are very often the rudest I've ever come across.

[@noseboop4354]

@@thattallguy9053 Only if you're a millionaire. Or if you like sharing a room with 5 people to keep rent costs reasonnable. Also Montreal is much better if you go to bed later than 9pm.

[@dararupert7199]

Calgarian here I love Banff but I don't go as often as you'd think because it's gets so busy in the warm months.

[@gimenovax1]

Its comes down to what you want in a lifestyle. I could care less about some modern museum or expensive restaurant, I like the outdoors ,hunting and fishing. I made 90 000 a year and bought a house on a lake for 160,000 in Saskatchewan and its great. They can have their million dollar shacks leaving you with no money for fun.

[@cinzabeary5226]

That building in Winnipeg you're wondering about is the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. I disagree, being a resident of Winnipeg. You DO NOT NEED a car to live here. There is an ample enough transit system to get around just fine. There are people who live here who don't own a vehicle, let alone a license. But it does make finding a job very limiting, as a majority of good jobs here require a license and possibly your own vehicle to either work or get to work, if the business is outside of transit routes, or the employer doesn't want their employees relying on transit. But there are still lots of jobs for those who rely on transit. If you're just visiting and want to be able to explore the other parts of the province, then, yes, a care is necessity. But if you're fine staying in the city you can save a ton of money buying a 5 day, 7 day, 5 or 10 bus tickets, or even a 1 month bus pass. It's generally a bit cheaper than paying the fare with cash each time. Yes, there is, in fact, a lot of traffic here, and it's growing. We get rush hour and back ups due to train crossings and construction. It's not as bad as other cities. The mosquito population in the city has declined drastically since all the fogging and spraying of pesticides around the city over the last few decades. I haven't gotten bitten by a mosquito once this year. Now, horseflies are another ordeal. And you have to watch for ticks. Stay out of the long grass. The wasps are the worst. There's also the canker worms in the late spring to watch for when you're walking under trees. Look for eaten leaves on the trees and bright green worms hanging from trees and their webs. They don't do anything to you. They're just gross. But the canker worms are only around for a short time in late spring. The crime seems worse when you're paying attention to the news. It's still a pretty safe city. Like anywhere else, if you go looking for trouble, trouble will find you. Pay attention to your surroundings and where the decent people are going. There's still a lot of lovely areas and fun things to do here. Plenty of people stay and don't bother leaving for a reason. No, it's not just because we want to stay close to our family. Winters can be absolutely frigid but the coldest temps are not around all winter long. Usually it's about -20C - -30C with the windchill. If you go on the weather sites there will be alerts for severe weather and information on the difference between the air temperature and the "feels like" temperature. It's best to pay attention to the "Feels like" temps, as it will include the windchill factor and humidity. In the summer, same thing but hotter temps. We can get anywhere from 20C - 40C or higher, with humidity. One of the worst things a traveller can do visiting Winnipeg is underestimate our weather. Do dress for the weather.

[@noseboop4354]

So living in Winnipeg without a car is fine if you like to stay poor and never get out of your neighborhood?

[@cinzabeary5226]

@@noseboop4354 No. There are a lot of people who rely on transit and have good jobs but choose not to drive or are unable to drive. Doesn't mean you're "poor", and you can go anywhere you want in the city. Not everyone here owns a vehicle and get on just fine without one. I know plenty of people who don't drive and living comfortably.

[@lysem4392]

I moved from Ottawa to Montréal 50 years ago. From the moment I set foot here I felt free and alive, like this was the place I was supposed to be born. Lots of museums, lots of things to do, endless creativity, great performing arts, historic areas, vibrant neighbourhoods, great food, low crime, four major universities, good public transportation, and I could go on. However, I don't like the city planning. Every measure put in place to encourage cycling and walking makes it more difficult for people with mobility issues like me, and once you have mobility issued your life has already become immensely more difficult than could have been imagined. (By the way, it's not about having a car; I never did. Public transportation, taxis and - before disability - walking have been it for me.) I grew up in Ottawa and returned there for work for four years in the 1980s. I go back once in a while because I still have family there. It _is_ a beautiful, safe city but I quickly become bored there. Too sedate for my taste. There are things to see and do, but you have to actively seek them. You don't get the same happy serendipity as you get in Montréal. I'm a big city person. The only other Canadian city I would consider living in is Toronto, but it's much more expensive than Montréal and not as safe. I have visited it in the past and did enjoy it, however.

[@joygernautm6641]

As someone who lives in Victoria on Vancouver Island, and has lived all over Canada East Coast to West Coast, I can honestly say that if you have the means, this is the place to live.

[@Tombzy]

I bought a house in the east end of Hamilton in 2014 for $145k, today the house is worth $550k. The cost of living and house prices have basically tripled in the last 10 years. I feel sorry for the youth because they will never afford to buy a home. The country has become a real estate ponzi scheme.

[@dalehuhtala9285]

Ive lived in Calgary and Edmonton but I prefer Edmonton. Yes, it is slightly colder. It is only 2.5 hours away from Calgary so dont make it sound like it is a different climate zone! I dont agree with there being empty lots and buildings in Edmonton...it is not noticeable to me. The biggest difference to me is the people. Calgarians are often uptight white collar workers but blue collar workers are more easy going and friendly. Especially the south side of Calgary...it is like being in the US sometimes.

[@sylvaindupuis5595]

As a Montrealer, I didn't expect to see it in number one. I love Montreal and would not live anywhere else (ok, each winter I think of moving). I would have thought that Vancouver would be number one, but it's true that the cost of life is really higher there.

[@katieproulx2185]

I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba and am not surprised we came in last. The winters can be bitterly cold but the summers are beautiful. The amount of mosquitoes depends on how much rain we get in the spring and early summer. We are home to the polar bears in Churchill. It is a friendly city and has a very diverse culture.

[@cams5432]

I live in Hamilton I love it here and I would take it over Toronto any day. It’s hard enough to afford living in Hamilton let alone Toronto. Also lots of people do commute to Toronto from here

[@Dandelionfleur]

I've been to all these cities and many other cities all over the world but nothing can compare to the idyllic life I have up the coast from Vancouver. Who needs excitement when you have whales splashing in the sea outside your window, eagles swooping by, boats and ferries coming and going, shooing deer out the garden, gawping at bears that walk past so huge and magnificent that one is in awe! The 4 seasons come and go and each one tries to out-do the other in beauty and wonder. I love where I live!

[@robertcartwright4374]

The best Canadian city is the one your friends and family live in. Everything else is down the list.

[@RobertBreedon-c3b]

I use to live in the Lower City of Hamilton ( Hamilton is broken into two parts the lower and upper city the upper is on what we call the mountain not really a mountain though) I loved it the cost of my home was cheap and drove to Toronto each day for work it was a great place to live we have the most waterfalls in Canada I paid nowhere near 700k for my house I only paid 190K for my house 3 bedrooms a finished basement and 2 baths it was a corner lot had detached garage and decent yard for the dogs taxes were cheap as well and that was in 2015 in the Crown Point East area. I did sell it for a good profit in 2021 I got 345K for my house and moved about 3 hours north of Toronto to smaller city named North Bay population 53 thousand being retired it fit our needs has everything I want and great fishing. I was born in Toronto lived there till I was 48 and had a great job but could not afford to buy even a condo let alone a house that is why I went to Hamilton. If you wanted go to Toronto on weekends you could just take the GO train from Aldershot to Union for a Jays or Raptors or Leafs game and if you worked normal 9-5 hours the GO train was the way to do it each day there were a ton of Toronto transplants in my area of town we all couldn't afford to buy in the Big Smoke so we all moved and commuted each day to Tronna as we say it. The locals didn't really like that we were moving in they worried we would bring the Toronto problems to Hamilton but it worked out fine.

[@nadaadecirr]

I loved Vancouver and Calgary, big cities with a lot of nature around,

[@stay_puft]

Calgary has Banff, Vancouver has Whistler, Montreal has Mont-Tremblant, ski resort towns aplenty. Although the Van to Whistler Sea to Sky highway drive is beyond stunning.

[@TheLumberJacked]

Edmonton has Jasper. I love how Calgarians can’t process that for some reason 😂 it just pains them to be nice to anyone else. 😢

[@tamibenz6626]

I’m an Albertan home grown I’ve lived here all my life except for 6 months in Germany, there’s NO way I’d move anywhere else but if I truly had to would be Saskatchewan 💕 but their cities weren’t big enough to make the mark sorry Saskatchewan 🙏🏻💐

[@jbloomfield619]

Lived in 3 different cities on this list. I've lived in Vancouver in late 90s went to school down there. Loved the water, mountains and hated the rising rents. Lived in Edmonton Alberta I hated it there. In the early 2000s found it dirty and cold. My ex-husband loves it there. I missed seeing the mountains. Moved to Calgary in the 2002 to 2008 and loved it there but got transfered back to BC for work. What I found out people either loved Edmonton and hated Calgary or loved Calgary hated Edmonton. No in-between.

[@optimoprimo132]

Canadian here. Lived in USA for 10yrs, Italy 6yrs, Africa 2yrs(where I got malaria from mosquitoes), India 6 months, Australia for 6 months... Etc. Ive been back in Canada for some years now and no place beats Canada or at least Ontario for the birds of black flies and mosquitoes. Now Manitoulin island is mosquito free if you are looking for camping without the pain of bugs. The countryside of Australia takes the cake for flies. They don't do much except land and bounce off you constantly in your eyes and face.

[@LunaSimtea]

Thanks for the advice about Manitoulin island being bug free. I didn’t realize that, so you’ve provided me with a great holiday alternative as I love nature, but can’t stand the mosquitoes or black flies!!

[@richardhudson4649]

Winnipeg - seems right at 9. Edmonton - seems way too low at 8. I would expect it to be higher. Hamilton - I haven't been there, so I can't comment. Toronto - I would put it way higher. I actually like it. Vancouver - Beautiful but expensive. If you have money it is a clear #1. If you don't, then it probably should be lower than this. Quebec City - Only been there once, I loved it. And I don't speak French. Ottawa - I love it Ottawa. I have spent a week or so there, and if I didn't live in Calgary, I would live in Ottawa. Calgary - I live here and love it. I think it is #1. But thats me. Montreal - I enjoy Montreal. Great Euro-style city and Formula 1. I put it behind Calgary but it deserves to be high. Honourable mention, Halifax which probably barely missed the list. I really like Halifax.

[@robertguay3773]

Rich list top 3 1-Toronto (best things to do Blue jays, Raptors, Leafs, Canadas wonder land, The island, Brewery district the list is endless 2-Vancouver- if you have piles of cash it is a very nice place to be but only for multi millionaires. Everyone else works 3 jobs and lives in a tiny apartment. 3-Calgary- Low taxes one of the best airports to travel out of, best ski hills, Really nice acreage houses surrounding the city with still only a 30 min max commute downtown. plenty of places like callaway park heritage park, one of the top 10 zoos in north america. Middle class or lower. 1-Edmoton 2-Calgary 3-Winnipeg all 3 have jobs that pay enough to live a decent life have a roof over your head and not have to work yourself to death to survive.

[@adoptgdx651]

Calgary (live just outside) I do love our area. Its so beautiful with huge diversity from one area to another. People are open and welcoming here .

[@sherrygreason1374]

I’m from Winnipeg, I left 15 years ago and have no plans to ever return. I agree with the description here.

[@squamishfish]

Though Victoria BC is not on the list I consider this city as the best place in Canada , Though small in comp with a metro area of Only 400,000 and A service area of over 500,000 it’s the place to be , The most mild city in Canada the least rain in the Pacific North west being in a Rain shadow it gets way less rain Then The nearby by cities of Vancouver BC And Seattle Washington ,

[@shirleyklein1770]

I've lived in Edmonton my entire life except for two years in Calgary. I definitely found the people in Edmonton much friendlier than in Calgary, hence the move back after two years and the only thing I would rank Calgary above Edmonton on is the zoo and yes it is a bit closer to the mountains but not so significantly that I would live there. I also love Montreal and if i was going to move to any other city it would be Montreal. Edmonton is a great city. Most of my relatives live in Winnipeg and it's really not that bad either. All Canadian cities are way above most cities in the world in so many respects. We just lack the history of many other places in the world.

[@Grimbald_The_Vindictive]

What! How is Halifax not on the list at all? It should be #1. I'm from central Ontario, yes there are places in Ontario outside the GTA, and I'm astonished every time I'm in Halifax. Friendly, quaint, scenic it's the best place in the country to forget what time or day it is.

[@markhammer643]

Born and raised in Montreal and living in Ottawa for the last 30 years, I have also lived in St. John's, Fredericton, Hamilton, Edmonton and Victoria, and have visited Halifax, Quebec City, Vancouver and Toronto a number of times, and have driven across the country several times. This "ranking" is pish-posh, and rather snarky in its tone. Most capitol cities, whether national (Ottawa) or provincial (Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec), are generally well-kept, if not necessarily possessed of an inspiring and vibrant night-life. The emphasis and de-emphasis on crime in these 9 cities is striking. You would think from the description that Vancouver was not having a problem with overdose deaths and homeless in the downtown core, or that Winnipeggers were afraid to leave their homes. As for "average home price", it depends on what sort of home we're talking about and how far one is willing or able to commute for work or school. I joke to friends that Montreal will be a beautiful city...when they finally finish building it. But it's a lovely very walkable city. It is also the most bicycle-friendly city in North America. Toronto is also a great city, *IF* you can live life as a pedestrian. If your life requires that you have to drive, Toronto will eat your soul and spit it out. It's just too big for its own good, and anyone behind a steering wheel deeply resents that and takes it out on fellow drivers. Hamilton is a lovely city underneath, but it desperately needs some sandblasting and a fresh coat of paint. The shrinkage of heavy industry in the area has had a harsh effect on the city, but many areas are getting gentirifed. And yes, there ARE people who commute from Hamilton to Toronto, for work or school, but you don't want to drive alongside or in front of them. But it is a much easier city to get around in than Toronto. It can easily take 90 minutes to drive across Toronto on their "expressway". Edmonton is relatively clean, but thinly spread out. For years, its downtown suffered due to the train tracks that acted as a barrier to commercial and residential development. Visiting it after the, tracks were removed, I was encouraged by how much had now sprung up in the downtown core. Not mentioned is the extreme shift in daylength, although this may not be an issue for those from the Scottish highlands. I couldn't take the short days in winter (about 7hrs full daylight) and ultra-long days in summer (about 17hrs broad daylight). One doesn't let you sleep and the other doesn't let you feel like you've woken up. And as I joke to people, if you get in your car on a January morning, and the front seat feels like it is made of 2" MDF, that engine is *NOT* turning over for love or money. I tell people that Calgary is "the future of weather". If you see a news photo of someone snowboarding in cutoffs and a bikini top in February, or shovelling the snow in their driveway in August, it's in Calgary. There is absolutely no respect for the seasons there. It's pleasant enough, but you get what you get when you get it, as far as weather is concerned. Friends who lived or live there like it, but it's pretty spread out. Quebec City is about as close to Europe as you can get in North America. But like many cities, the downtown core and the suburbs can be two different universes. A pity Halifax didn't make the size cut. It's a very liveable and walkable city, with moderate weather (when there aren't hurricanes or torrential rains!). And any place where a ferry is part of the municipal public transit (just show your transfer and hop on board) can't be all bad. All the cities listed have their strong and weak points, depending on one's interests. Some might see the 6hr drive to New York City as a plus for Montreal, while others might see Hamilton's proximity to Toronto as a convenience. You will note that nowhere in that video are food or fuel prices mentioned. Both of these daily costs can vary widely across the country.

[@krnstc]

Born and raised in Ottawa - for me it's the perfect blend of city and rural. There are activities after dark but we are more conservative about our night life. Currently living 30 mins east of the city in paradise (for me) Edmonton - lived there for a year - way too flat for me lol there seemed to be no hills and not a lot of green space Calgary I've been to lots of nightlife and has stunning views! Cities in QC - stunning - beautiful places and life is enjoyed. The French spoken in QC tho is NOT the same as the French spoken in France. I've heard that people from these places struggle to understand each other.

[@dancooper1]

We don't struggle, just like an American living in Australia it takes a little while to learn the slang, but they understand each other fine.

[@jeffreycairns767]

The funniest thing I've heard, from a Frenchman, is that Quebec French is the original language and not France French. That makes absolutely no sense. The roads are f*cking horrible everywhere in the Province, from Montreal to Val-d'Or to Chicoutimi to New Richmond. Highest taxes yet destructive roads. Males no sense.

[@serenapenner3581]

Howdy neighbour❣ I live in the Ottawa Valley too. ❤

[@wanderlust16]

​​@@jeffreycairns767 that's almost true. It's more like the 2 places diverged in the 16th century, where Quebec became isolated and protective of their unique culture and language on the continent and France, free from this concern, allowed interactions with its neighbours to change the language over time to a certain degree, as it always had. For example, I grew up in France in the 80s and 90s and was used to saying "weekend" (with an accent) and then moving to Canada when I was 10, finding Quebecers saying "fin de semaine" for meaning "weekend". And now I watch a French tv show and hear them say "challenge", which confuses me considering it's a mouthful compared to the actual French word "défi"! Why did they have to change that?! 😂

[@jeffreycairns767]

@wanderlust16 If Quebecors arrived from France, France French would be the correct French. If they changed it after arriving, it's not the original French language.

[@marcmulligan9357]

saw a mosquito carry off a small child in winterpeg

[@djyanno]

Quebec City is incredibly beautiful. Old Quebec is part of UNESCO World Heritage. That is how amazing it is. Food scene is already great and getting better. But I am in Montreal and Montreal will always be better than Quebec.

[@caribbb]

Born, raised and live in Montreal. I’ve been to all these cities except Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg so I can’t comment on them except to say I always feel bad for Winnipeg for taking the brunt of criticism all the time. I’m sure it’s better than what KZbinrs say. Ottawa and Quebec City are just nice cities all around. Very livable and friendly. Quebec’s old town is awesome. Toronto is great and yes very very multi cultural. It should have been in the top 3 IMO. Lots to do and see there. Vancouver is is the most idyllic setting with the mountains framing it. That’s what makes it so inviting. The actual city is nice but I’ve find it cramped with so many people in such a tight space and little room to expand. Stanley Park and Gastown make up for that though. Hamilton is surprisingly interesting. I ate well there, lots of good restaurants. Finally home, Montreal during summer festival time (Jazz Fest, Just for Laughs, Les Nuits d’Afrique etc) is awesome. Also Old Montreal never fails to live up to expectations. The Metro and REM offer good safe transit. Great food here too so glad it was picked number one but Vancouver and Toronto could easily have been there too. I need to go visit Calgary now.

[@kicknpost]

I currently live in Vancouver 20 years, but also have lived in Edmonton, Hamilton and Ottawa with plenty of time visiting the other major cities in Canada. My personal ranking order would be 9 Winnipeg, 8 Quebec City, 7 Calgary, 6 Montreal, 5 Hamilton, 4 Toronto, 3 Edmonton, 2 Vancouver, 1 Ottawa - But basically you can switch any of them between 6 and 3 in any order as they are al so close. The reason I rank Quebec City and Montreal so low is the adoption of the extreme language laws like Bill 96 which makes helpline and services on communicate in french. I have lived in France and it was less authoritarian about its language laws. And Calgary/Edmonton are ranked lower because of the UCP government which seem to be actively trying to dismantle green initiatives to try and keep their oil culture alive. Also the Premiere of Alberta currently is a little to Trumpesque in her beliefe system. Winnipeg is last because Winnipeg. I only rank Ottawa higher than Vancouver (a city I love in living in) is because of cost of living and crime rate.

[@TheJonnieredeyez]

Went to visit Calgary with my aunt and uncle from Scotland. Drove to a different mountain town each day. Actually Canmore is probably better for a night out than Banff. cheaper as well.

[@realalbertan]

Edmonton used to have 2 airports and the closed the city centre airport. Developing that will increase the overall demsity substantially. Densification is a goal of most Canadian cities.

[@brianheritage]

Born and raised in Toronto. Spent summers with my grandparents in Ottawa. Spent my 20s living and working in the Northwest Territories in the Oil and Gas industry, until I settled in Calgary and have been here since. I love this city. Yes, I've been through a few booms and busts because of the oil price. But, the city always seems to survive. Also, over time, the city has been trying to diversify. When I first moved here, I would go up to the mountains almost every weekend. Now almost 40 years later and the Banff, Lake Louise areas have become a major tourist area. So much so, that it's almost impossible to get into either Banff or Lake Louise on the weekend. It's gotten to the point where it's tough getting in there on weekdays. Instead, I've found a number themed museums within easy driving distances from Calgary. Not only do you get a nice drive through the countryside but you visit interesting things like the Royal Tyrrell Museum (The dinosaur museum at Drumheller), or Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Center (A World Heritage site), or the Frank Slide Interpretive Center (in 1903 a landslide pretty much wiped out the small town of Frank, Alberta), and there are a number of other museums and interpretive centers within 2 to 3 hours drive from Calgary.

[@Ithoughtthiswasamerica]

If you ever get the chance you should check out Waterton and Writing-on-Stone; both are just above the US border so it’s a little south of you but Waterton is the beauty of Banff without the crowds and Writing-on-Stone is visually sort of like Drumheller badlands but with ancient First Nations’ pictographs littered everywhere and you can climb all over it… it feels almost alien.

[@cindymorris7943]

I've lived in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Yellowknife, and now I live in Calgary. I love Calgary but if I could afford to live in Vancouver I would.