Job offer in the GTA

[Pinner]

Calgary is the only big city I've ever lived/spent time in, would it be fair to say Calgary is more "middle" class than most N.American cities?

What I wouldn't like is the poor areas of TO, slummy areas or like the ghettos, Calgary didn't have those areas when I moved away.

[Finny61]

Originally Posted by Cheese

You guyz keeps bringin Mel Lastman and his stupidity up...in 1998!!!

As far as January and February goes...sure if you like -25C as an average temp.

I like statistics over a lengthy period of time so I did a quick search for you. In fairness as well in some of the surrounding suburbs and communities the numbers are less favorable then what Toronto shows statistically. Ie: if you live downtown your snowstorm and temps are likely not as bad as the guy living in Vaughn and north of there. Ottawa is a good representation of averages for communities outside of Toronto.

http://www.calgaryarea.com/calgary_weather.htm

Its 1998 every year as far as I'm concerned the joke doesn't get old.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Finny61

I like statistics over a lengthy period of time so I did a quick search for you. In fairness as well in some of the surrounding suburbs and communities the numbers are less favorable then what Toronto shows statistically. Ie: if you live downtown your snowstorm and temps are likely not as bad as the guy living in Vaughn and north of there. Ottawa is a good representation of averages for communities outside of Toronto.

http://www.calgaryarea.com/calgary_weather.htm

Its 1998 every year as far as I'm concerned the joke doesn't get old.

yep Ottawa would be comparable for sure...but its a 5 hour drive NE of Toronto.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Pinner

Calgary is the only big city I've ever lived/spent time in, would it be fair to say Calgary is more "middle" class than most N.American cities?

What I wouldn't like is the poor areas of TO, slummy areas or like the ghettos, Calgary didn't have those areas when I moved away.

I think you should get on a plane and travel more...not being facetious by the way. Toronto has very few slimy areas. Some areas are old...but are very cool places to visit and live. Yes there are one or two areas that are not nice to be around, but there is no reason to go to these areas anyways.
Toronto has a LOT of things to do and see...I'm sure you would have a great time and have zero issues.
Id also say Toronto is likely more middle class than Calgary.

[Finny61]

Originally Posted by Cheese

yep Ottawa would be comparable for sure...but its a 5 hour drive NE of Toronto.

No kidding. Ottawa and Barrie have similar stats and guess what Barrie is only one hour north and one of the most popular commuter cities to Toronto.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by Cheese

I think you should get on a plane and travel more...not being facetious by the way. Toronto has very few slimy areas.

Id also say Toronto is likely more middle class than Calgary.

Sometimes I watch the Toronto news on satellite, I've seen ghettos/housing projects there. Creepy.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Pinner

Sometimes I watch the Toronto news on satellite, I've seen ghettos/housing projects there. Creepy.

Bad news sells...

[Pinner]

Most people think that slums are a feature of US inner cities. But many Canadians would be shocked to find that housing conditions in some parts of Toronto are as bad or worse than in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles.

Many people even come to Toronto from the so-called Third World to find housing conditions worse then what they left at home.

Toronto's slums are populated by the working poor, people on fixed incomes and recent immigrants. The rents are generally not that much less than "cleaner" better maintained buildings.

But often these better buildings are not accessible to the poor or new immigrants. There is a hidden but clear pattern of discriminatory rental practices.

We are creating ghettoes.

They are clustered in various parts of the city.

http://www.torontoslumtourism.com/our-facts.php

[Muta]

Originally Posted by valo403

Huh? How does higher taxes lead to increased tipping?

I usually double the tax to find out how much to tip, and since there's more tax in Toronto... voila. I thought that was standard? I dunno.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Finny61

No kidding. Ottawa and Barrie have similar stats and guess what Barrie is only one hour north and one of the most popular commuter cities to Toronto.

Toronto gets WAY less snow than Barrie. Barrie's in the snow belt while Toronto misses a lot of snow due to the the lake effect.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Toronto gets WAY less snow than Barrie. Barrie's in the snow belt while Toronto misses a lot of snow due to the the lake effect.

No kidding, same with Ottawa, which gets way more snow than Toronto as well. I have no idea how the person who suggested otherwise figured they were similar at all.

[Pinner]

I tip on the quality of service, a novel idea in this thread.

Some servers suck, and they shouldn't be rewarded anything, and their co workers notice.

[FlamesAddiction]

I got a job in Oshawa and am moving there next week. I'll be staying temporarily at my sister's in Bowmanville, but if anyone has any advice for what areas to living in around there, I'm all ears...

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I got a job in Oshawa and am moving there next week. I'll be staying temporarily at my sister's in Bowmanville, but if anyone has any advice for what areas to living in around there, I'm all ears...

Id live in Whitby Ajax or Pickering before Oshawa myself...lots to pick from in those cities and still a close commute against the flow. Welcome to the Centre of the Universe FA!! What kind of job did you get?

[Finny61]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

No kidding, same with Ottawa, which gets way more snow than Toronto as well. I have no idea how the person who suggested otherwise figured they were similar at all.

I made the case as to why Toronto has significantly less snow then Barrie and north. Read my post (using Ottawa as an example of weather for commuter communities outside Toronto because if you look at the website Ottawa is the next closest city for stats). Ottawa and Barrie aren't all THAT different, yes there is lake effect which enhances Barrie's snowfall amounts but Ottawa this past year got dumped on a lot, at least according to my father-in-law.

[Rubicant]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Id live in Whitby Ajax or Pickering before Oshawa myself...lots to pick from in those cities and still a close commute against the flow. Welcome to the Centre of the Universe FA!! What kind of job did you get?

I would second this. It depends what you're looking for in a place to live, but usually Oshawa isn't good. There are nice areas in the Shiwiggity, but if you do end up living there, for the love of God stay away from south Oshawa.

I personally live in North York and commute to Ajax for work. I hit traffic usually once or twice a year - every other day I laugh at the poor suckers going west.

I would likely choose Pickering or Whitby out of that list. Pickering is closest to Toronto, yet still only a 15 minute commute to Oshawa.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Muta

I usually double the tax to find out how much to tip, and since there's more tax in Toronto... voila. I thought that was standard? I dunno.

Double the tax used to work out not bad, when the GST was 7%. Now that the GST is down to 5%, a (standard) 15% tip would be triple the GST. I wouldn't start tipping 25% plus in Ontario just because they have more tax. If the HST is 13%, round up a bit to get to around 15% and you're good to go.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Double the tax used to work out not bad, when the GST was 7%. Now that the GST is down to 5%, a (standard) 15% tip would be triple the GST. I wouldn't start tipping 25% plus in Ontario just because they have more tax. If the HST is 13%, round up a bit to get to around 15% and you're good to go.

Well, to be fair, I also adjust my numbers based on the service. If I get crappy service, I give a crappy tip... regardless of any 'tipping' policy.

[Savvy27]

I'm sorry to hijack your thread a little bit, but I just wanted to to ask Torontonian flames fans if there is a spot to watch games with a friendly crowd? Do Calgarypuckers ever get together out here? I just moved here and the only non-leafs fans I've met so far are canucks fans...

Back on topic... I can only speak of Toronto itself, but my time here so far has been enjoyable. People are about as friendly as they are in Calgary, there are a ton of restaurant options, the weather has been decent and I haven't even been bothered too much by the air quality.

I hope the job works out for you!

[yads]

I'll echo the live close to work or expect to see commute times like you've never seen before. Traffic is absolute hell in Toronto.