Language Exchange Summer in Canada. Toronto or Vancouver ?

[sonq]

So. Im going (or should I say coming) to Canada for language learning trip for whole summer, and I have two city choices:
Toronto and Vancouver. (Yes, no Calgary. )

I have no experience about Canada, but my dad has been there many times because of work, and he has said that everywhere you go, people are nice and warm. I believe, actually I know that's true, but does it count even the people in big cities ?

- Thanks.

[Muta]

Do Vancouver for the weather and the west coast feel, but Toronto for the real cosmopolitan / big city experience.

If you go to Vancouver, you can see palm trees in Canada. Yes... it's true.

I've been to both cities many times, and people are friendly in both cities. You really can't lose with either one, especially in the summer time.

[Hack&Lube]

Both cities are good choices, I would go to Vancouver if you like the ocean but there is a bit more rain. I find Vancouver more beautiful than Toronto, Toronto is a big metropolitan city big areas of lots of urban traffic like Dundas Square which is nice.

[Hustle]

I went to school in Vancouver but now live in Toronto and can honestly say that
both are great choices. Vancouver is a laid back city that has a lot to do if you're an 'outdoorsy' person (the mountains and water are easily accessible). Toronto has a big city type of feel.. there's always something to do.

If you were going in the winter I'd say Vancouver just for weather purposes (despite the constant rain)... but since you're going in the summer.. both cities should be fine.

[sonq]

Aaaa. What I have understood, Toronto is like "big city" and Vancouver more down to earth ? If so, Vancouver might be better for me.
How much Vancouver is from Calgary ? Like, in kilometers.

[malcolmk14]

You can't really go wrong with either city. Vancouver is beautiful and has a more mild climate. Lots of rain. Toronto isn't as picturesque but it's more of an urban feel, and it's HOT all summer.

Originally Posted by sonq

Aaaa. What I have understood, Toronto is like "big city" and Vancouver more down to earth ? If so, Vancouver might be better for me.
How much Vancouver is from Calgary ? Like, in kilometers.

687 km flight (62 minutes). It's about an 11 hour drive from Calgary.

[fundmark19]

12 hour drive ish from vancouver to calgary. Quite a bit closer then toronto

[Flame Of Liberty]

15 yr old girl going overseas that's pretty ballsy.

[sonq]

12 hours .. Holy rebound ! THAT is much ! In Finland you need to sit in car almost same time
when driving through the whole country, from "head" to "legs".

But yeah, thanks for the answers. Vancouver, see you next summer.

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

15 yr old girl going overseas that's pretty ballsy.

Oh cmon, 15 is not even bad. And Im 16 before summer. (Y)

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by fotze

19 out of 20 high school students choose Aruba for their overseas exchange.

I expected a better reply from you fotze

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Both cities are good choices, I would go to Vancouver if you like the ocean but there is a bit more rain. I find Vancouver more beautiful than Toronto, Toronto is a big metropolitan city big areas of lots of urban traffic like Dundas Square which is nice.

In the winter, yes. In the summer though, Toronto gets about 70% more rain than Vancouver. Vancouver's pretty dreary in the winter, but it has some of the best weather in the world in the summer. Other than Victoria, it has the driest summer weather of any major city in Canada.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by opendoor

In the winter, yes. In the summer though, Toronto gets about 70% more rain than Vancouver. Vancouver's pretty dreary in the winter, but it has some of the best weather in the world in the summer. Other than Victoria, it has the driest summer weather of any major city in Canada.

And most importantly, that lack of precipitation doesn't leave Vancouver an Arid desert. I love the mild Summer, and 10 day streth of 30+ weather followed by another mild august into a mild fall.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by opendoor

In the winter, yes. In the summer though, Toronto gets about 70% more rain than Vancouver. Vancouver's pretty dreary in the winter, but it has some of the best weather in the world in the summer. Other than Victoria, it has the driest summer weather of any major city in Canada.

I wasn't aware of that. I've spent a few summers in Toronto and it seemed like it was just blisteringly hot all the time.

[MelBridgeman]

The weather in Toronto is much nicer in the summer in terms of sun and heat
Vancouver in the summer is nice if the weather is nice, considering Vancouver as two straight decent summers, expect nothing but cloud and grey this summer....

[FurnaceFace]

Having lived briefly in your fine home country, from a Finnish perspective I would pick Vancouver. It will have a different feel than Finland does but has the familiar ocean to Helsink or Turku (Assuming that's where you live). If you're more from Keski-suomi then the trees and lakes of Ontario may be more familiar but I'd still pick Vancouver. My Finnish friend who came for a visit really liked Vancouver. One thing's for sure, you'll never think Finland has mountains anymore or great distances.

[evman150]

Ya that's what people don't realize about Vancouver and (especially) Victoria. Very very dry in the summer. Also, Victoria receives just a little bit more than HALF of Vancouver's rain. Added to that, downtown Victoria gets about half the rain that the weather station at the airport gets.

Victoria's Koeppen climate classification is actually "subtropical", while Vancouver's is "oceanic".

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I wasn't aware of that. I've spent a few summers in Toronto and it seemed like it was just blisteringly hot all the time.

Vancouver still has the more rainy days in the summer months then Toronto....If he is talking about average rain fall, well in doesn't really rain like it is now in Calgary or in Toronto...You can have more rain in Calgary in a few hours than 2 days of "rainy" days in Vancouver. Having lived for 4 summers in Vancouver, its either really nice, which it has been the last 2 summers or really bad which it was the previous 2 summers...nothing in between for me yet

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by evman150

Ya that's what people don't realize about Vancouver and (especially) Victoria. Very very dry in the summer. Also, Victoria receives just a little bit more than HALF of Vancouver's rain. Added to that, downtown Victoria gets about half the rain that the weather station at the airport gets.

Victoria's Koeppen climate classification is actually "subtropical", while Vancouver's is "oceanic".

I lived in Victoria, best weather in Canada no doubt, trumps Vancouver by a country mile.

[sonq]

Have still few questions ..
How long is trip from Van to the Niagara Falls City ? And what about Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park (moraine lake, etc) ?

What's the average climate in Vancouver at the mid summer ?
Sorry 'bout this asking, I just wanna be sure.

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Having lived briefly in your fine home country, from a Finnish perspective I would pick Vancouver. It will have a different feel than Finland does but has the familiar ocean to Helsink or Turku (Assuming that's where you live). If you're more from Keski-suomi then the trees and lakes of Ontario may be more familiar but I'd still pick Vancouver. My Finnish friend who came for a visit really liked Vancouver. One thing's for sure, you'll never think Finland has mountains anymore or great distances.

Well I lived ten years in Helsinki, until five years ago we moved here in Nurmijärvi, which is really close to Helsinki, but still kind of countryside.
Hah, for sure ! Even now when Im watching photos that my dad has taken there, Finland feels so small and kind of "normal" and soo simple.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by sonq

How long is trip from Van to the Niagara Falls City?.

Maybe you should do a little rudimentary Googling and research on Canadian geography before you ask some of these questions.

It's like the distance from Finland to the Turkey.