Moving to Toronto
This morning I just got word that I have received a job offer in Toronto at a financial sector firm. Since company policy prohibits advertising the company name and logo in relation to politics, I would ask that anyone who knows which firm I am working at not put it in the comments section.
As such you will probably see me blogging a bit less over the next few weeks as I am in the process of moving from Vancouver to Toronto. I plan to stay active with the Liberals federally, while provincially I am planning to support the Ontario Progressive Conservatives since John Tory is a moderate and I think would make an outstanding premier. Now I don't believe McGuinty has done a bad job by any means either. However, I still remain a Progressive Conservative at heart even though the party no longer exists federally, but will support it provincially where they still exist. This will certainly be an exciting experience since this is the first time in my 25 years I have lived outside of Vancouver. This will mean actually having to experience my first real winter and getting use to hotter summers. Off course, despite all the bad things I've heard about Toronto, from some Vancouverites, I think it is a great city. I am big fan of large metropolises so I have no doubt I will enjoy living in Toronto. The only downside for me is I will be away from my family and I don't have too many friends at the moment living in Toronto. Some people here say I will hate Toronto so much, I will be anxious to come back to Vancouver, but I am not so sure of that. I guess will find out, but considering the rivalry that exists between the two cities, I am sure some Torontonians would say the same thing about Vancouver.
As such you will probably see me blogging a bit less over the next few weeks as I am in the process of moving from Vancouver to Toronto. I plan to stay active with the Liberals federally, while provincially I am planning to support the Ontario Progressive Conservatives since John Tory is a moderate and I think would make an outstanding premier. Now I don't believe McGuinty has done a bad job by any means either. However, I still remain a Progressive Conservative at heart even though the party no longer exists federally, but will support it provincially where they still exist. This will certainly be an exciting experience since this is the first time in my 25 years I have lived outside of Vancouver. This will mean actually having to experience my first real winter and getting use to hotter summers. Off course, despite all the bad things I've heard about Toronto, from some Vancouverites, I think it is a great city. I am big fan of large metropolises so I have no doubt I will enjoy living in Toronto. The only downside for me is I will be away from my family and I don't have too many friends at the moment living in Toronto. Some people here say I will hate Toronto so much, I will be anxious to come back to Vancouver, but I am not so sure of that. I guess will find out, but considering the rivalry that exists between the two cities, I am sure some Torontonians would say the same thing about Vancouver.
posted by Monkey Loves to Fight at 10:42 AM
15 Comments:
Welcome!
You'll adjust fine. Vancouver is almost a city. :)
Good luck with your move!
Congrats on the new job. Toronto isn't so bad once you get used to it. Just stay true to the Canucks. :)
Best of luck Miles, keep in touch.
Just stay true to the Canucks. :)
Indeed.
First off, I would like to offer my congratulations on your new job.
As someone who has lived in Toronto for the vast majority of his life, I can say that it's a fairly good city. Weather is mdeiocre, when it rains, it gets pretty grey, and the summers are hot and sometimes unberable. Personally, I am much happier in Victoria, but as far as Toronto versus Vancouver goes, I really am neutral.
As for Torontonians saying Vancouver is horrible...nah, not really...it's kind of the rapport between Toronto and Vancouver....Vancouver hates Toronto, Toronto really doesn't think much of it. Like how Canucks fans hate the Leafs, when the leafs fans really don't give the Canucks much thought....we're too busy hating the Sens and Habs.
I am sure you will stay true to the Canucks, and have fun not being able to find their games on TV because its all about the Leafs over there i.e. the exact reverse of my predicament, which, were I not in, I would likely be watching them wallop the Sens right now and not writing this...anyways, I'm clearly rambling.
Other than that, Toronto is a great city, and filled with Liberals aplenty, so you'll feel right at home;)...other than that, have fun!
Congrats on the new job Miles, good luck in Toronto
Thanks for the comments. I am sure I will enjoy it. The climate might be a bit harsh, but I will get use to it. I am not too much of a hockey fan although I will likely still cheer for the Canucks. However, in baseball and basketball I will as I do now cheer for the Raptors and Blue Jays.
I think you'll find provincial politics in Ontario more to your liking - less polarized. In fact John Tory is more of a small-l liberal than Gordon Campbell is.
As for the Toronto/Vancouver "rivalry", I have to say it's really one way. People in Van tend to think a lot more (generally negatively) about TO than vice-versa, generally Torontonians have nothing to say or say Van is the most beautiful place.
I think you'll find provincial politics in Ontario more to your liking - less polarized. In fact John Tory is more of a small-l liberal than Gordon Campbell is.
I would agree that is the case at the moment, although I would say Mike Harris was more conservative than Gordon Campbell.
As for the Toronto/Vancouver "rivalry", I have to say it's really one way. People in Van tend to think a lot more (generally negatively) about TO than vice-versa, generally Torontonians have nothing to say or say Van is the most beautiful place.
I suspect your probably right it is more Vancouverites who have bad things to say about Toronto, probably since Vancouver is smaller I suspect and has less influence.
Good luck finding a place to live in Toronto
I've already got some places listed so hopefully I'll have one soon.
All the best to you Miles. I know you'll do great things in Toronto. Don't forget about us little people on the west coast!
Thanks Chad. I won't forget about the people on the West Coast. I've lived here for 25 years, so I will have to live in Toronto until I turn 50 before I will have lived there longer than here.
Miles,
The best of luck to you in TO both personally and professionally.
Even on a "bad" day you can take great comfort in knowing that you still possess the razor like ability to drive the Prime Minister and his fellow Conservatives bonkers regardless of your actual place of residence. Some talents do indeed travel well...
I know that you weren't a big fan of Glen Clark Miles, but I take it you'll agree with what Clark said about working for Jimmy Pattison and the political scene in BC:
"If you're a business person you have to hate the NDP and everybody in it - 'How could Mr. Pattison hire Glen Clark, he's the enemy?' And if you're a union person, it's, 'How could you go work for Jim Pattison, he's the enemy?' All of that is just silly, really," Clark says. "It's very debilitating, and I don't think it happens anywhere else in Canada."
Again you'll probably find Ontario more open to centrism (though interestingly enough both the BC NDP and BC Liberals seem to have undergone moderation in recent years).
Matt - I no doubt agree Ontario is less polarized on the whole. Certainly during the 80s, there was very little difference between the Tories and Liberals. In the 90s it became more polarized after Rae won a surprise victory and then it was followed by Mike Harris who was considerably more right wing that previous Ontario PC leaders. However, with the Liberals now in power and the Ontario PCs choosing John Tory, I think you are right.
In many ways BC reminds me a lot of Britain where the unions hated the business community and vice versa.
Wtf, Toronto you suck. I am from Vancouver, saying that you guys need a life. You take things waii to seriously. For Ex, The canada line and the Coors light billboards saying "Colder than most people from Toronto"
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