If you are landing in Canada without a job and if you don’t have any close relatives or friends here, then you need to plan ahead to start your new life in Canada. Choosing the city will be the first decision you need to make and it will need some research on your part.
Honestly, it can be a little confusing because as a newcomer you hardly know much about Canada. For us, even deciding where to go for a vacation is challenging. There are so many places we want to visit but deciding which one to go to next, takes a lot of time. Of course, choosing a city to live in a country where you haven’t lived before is even more challenging than that. But we’ll try to make it a little easier for you since we have lived in Canada for quite a few years now.
There are several big cities in Canada that have plenty of jobs and immigrants. Newcomers usually land in these large cities because they can find more jobs and also find more people with similar backgrounds. However, that means the competition for jobs is also higher in big cities and things are generally more expensive. Irrespective of that, big cities definitely have certain advantages.
In this article, we will talk about the 5 largest cities of Canada and they all are popular with immigrants. Each of these cities have some pros and cons that may help shape your decisions to move there.
1. Toronto
Being the largest city in Canada and one of the largest in North America, it is the centre of business and commerce in the country. Located in the province of Ontario, it is home to the headquarters of all Big 5 banks of Canada along with several other Fortune 500 companies. More companies are headquartered in Toronto than anywhere else in Canada.
The iconic CN Tower in downtown Toronto is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world and it’s still the tallest structure in the western world, even almost 50 years after its completion.
Toronto is also the leading city in terms of media, transportation, cultural influence and sports. Winters are average here from Canadian standards – not as cold as Montreal and not as warm as Vancouver. More than half of the Torontonians are foreign born (and that includes us too), a feat that even New York City can’t match.
Pros:
- Highest number of immigrants in Canada. More immigrants call Toronto home than any other Canadian city. In fact, Toronto is ranked as one of the most multicultural cities in the world
- Tons of cultural events in the city throughout the year
- Lots of international cuisines (if you are a foodie like us, you’ll have a gala time here)
- Better job opportunities, especially in the financial and tech sector
Cons:
- Expensive to live in. Housing is second most expensive in Canada
- Long distances and commute times. Greater Toronto Area (GTA) stretches 160 km from end to end and your commutes can be very long depending on where you live
- Higher traffic congestion because of high population
2. Montreal
Montreal is the second largest city in Canada and the largest in the province of Quebec, the only province in Canada that is primarily French. It can be argued that Montreal is a joint cultural capital of Canada along with Toronto. It is also the second largest French speaking city in the developed world after Paris.
Montreal is a lot older than Toronto and it used to be the largest city in the country until the 1970s. Walking on a street in old Montreal will make you appreciate the history of the city that’s centuries old. It also hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics, the first for Canada.
If you are a French speaker, this might be the best option for you. Even if you don’t speak French, you can still survive in this city because there is a large English speaking population as well. Montreal has the best food scene in the country. In fact, the national dish of Canada, poutine, came from the province of Quebec.
Pros:
- Ideal for Francophones looking for a big cosmopolitan city
- Culinary capital of Canada
- One of the best architecture and monuments in the country
- Many jobs in aviation, pharmaceuticals, Artificial Intelligence, and many other up and coming sectors
- Housing is still cheaper relative to the size of the city
Cons:
- Not knowing French can be a big barrier. You may still be able to get a job but your options will be limited. You may not be able to make as many friends if you don’t speak the local language.
- It is one of the colder major cities of Canada and gets a lot of snow
- It has a well built but very old infrastructure and the age shows
3. Vancouver
This is the third largest city in Canada and the second largest English speaking city in the country. Located on the Pacific coast, it has one of the mildest winters in Canada. Winters here are a joke when compared to most of Canada. Just like Toronto and Montreal, it is a very multicultural city and more than half of its citizens have a language other than English and French as their mother tongue.
When it comes to recreation, no other major city in Canada comes close to Vancouver. There are huge mountains on one side and a big ocean on the other. On the same day, you can go skiing, surfing and golfing. Vancouver is also known for its film industry. Being close to California, a lot of Hollywood movies are filmed here.
Vancouver is generally ranked as the most livable city in Canada, which combined with its geographical limitations also makes it the most expensive city in the country.
Pros:
- A very multicultural and vibrant city
- More laid back life compared to other big cities
- A lot of natural beauty and many recreational opportunities
- Many jobs in tech and entertainment sector
- Very mild winters compared to other Canadian cities
Cons:
- Vancouver is more expensive than other cities. Housing in Vancouver is known to be one of the world’s most expensive
- Winters aren’t that cold in Vancouver but it is mostly cloudy during that time of the year and sun rarely shines in winters
4. Calgary
This is the largest city in the province of Alberta and also the fourth largest city in the country. It’s not as popular as the 3 largest cities, with the people outside of Canada but it has its own unique charm. It has a very modern looking downtown and has good public transit for the city of its size.
It is just an hour’s drive from the Rockies, one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world. Canada’s most visited national park and perhaps the most beautiful one, Banff National Park, is just a quick 90-minute drive from Calgary.
Calgary is the energy capital of Canada since most of the major Canadian oil companies are headquartered here, some of which are Fortune 500 companies. But that also means that fortunes of this city are tied heavily with the oil prices and rise and fall of oil prices means unpredictable cycles of boom and bust. Due to low oil prices since last few years, Calgary has seen one of the highest unemployment rates in all of the big cities in Canada.
Pros:
- Big city feel without big city problems of traffic and overcrowding
- One of the most affordable housing in Canada
- Same day or weekend trips to the Rockies are possible from here
- Wages are generally higher in the province of Alberta and taxes are lower compared to other provinces
Cons:
- Over dependence on oil industry means unpredictable economic situation
- Unemployment rates have been higher than the country average since last few years
- Although it gets a similar amount of snow as Toronto overall, but winters may be stretched and longer.
5. Ottawa
The national capital is also the fifth largest city in the country and the second largest in the province of Ontario. It is home to the country’s Parliament, Supreme Court, Prime Minister’s Office and many other major federal institutions.
The city is strategically located on the banks of a river that separates Ontario and Quebec, the two largest provinces of Canada. Although Ottawa is located in Ontario, it does have a lot of French influence from neighbouring Quebec as well. That’s why all the road signs are bilingual here. If you speak both English and French well, this might be an ideal city for you to find a good job.
Predictably, the city has a lot of government sector jobs but it also has a booming tech sector. Some of the largest tech companies in Canada are based out of Ottawa.
Pros:
- Ideal mix of English and French influence
- Well paid government and tech sector jobs
- Affordable housing
- Commuting distances are manageable
- Within driving distance of both Toronto and Montreal
Cons:
- Winters are colder compared to Toronto which is in the same province and not very far away
- Culturally and economically, it is not as vibrant as Toronto or Montreal
It is definitely a great idea to read up on the cities you plan to live in. It helps in becoming familiar with the ways of life and the culture, and is sure to help you assimilate faster.
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