Canadian - U.S. city similar or lost sibling?

[shootingstar]

I struggle to compare Boston as similar to Montreal.  They are only comparing old historic areas of city.  I've been to both cities several times. Spirit of Montreal is different, from Boston.

And I've heard it over 'n over, our city similar to Denver.  I've only been to the Denver airport for a layover.  Here are some major Canadian cities matched with their American equivalents (blogto.com)

Edmonton similar to Houston...???

Not surprising to compare VAncouver BC to Seattle. While they are same climatic zones by the ocean, the feel of each city is to me, different enough.

[Kirby ★]

I wouldn't really think of Montreal and Boston as similar either.   Most cities have unique aspects which is what makes visiting different places interesting.

[shootingstar]

1 hour ago, Kirby said:

I wouldn't really think of Montreal and Boston as similar either.   Most cities have unique aspects which is what makes visiting different places interesting.

Absolutely true.

Though Montreal is far more anglophone than the rest of Quebec, anyone from Toronto/Ontario next door, knows shortly when there, that they are in Montreal. And Old Montreal is completely different to me, than the historic area of Boston. THere is pronounced influence of the early French settlers and the area is historically more Catholic, since the latter Church did dominate the culture and politics in Quebec for several centuries.  It feels closer to parts of ...older France on a much smaller scale. 

I do walk the historic Freedom Trail of Revolutionary War history in Boston....to me, very different feel in terms of history.

I'm not even clear about Denver compared against our city, Calgary.  I'm willing to bet I would not find historic area in Denver, there where is historic police fort like ours right by a constant flowing bluish-turquoise river that flows north from the mountains, to south, right through the heart of our city.  That already makes our prairie city distinctly different from some other large prairie cities. I do realize there is a river running through Denver, etc. which alot of cities started near the waters source.

What is noticeable to me, is some the historic govn't bldgs. in some U.S. capitals/major cities, are just so huge in columns, etc. Not quite the same in Canada though some parts of the Parliamentary Bldgs. are kinda like that. But on scale not quite the same.

[Kirby ★]

Denver and Calgary sort of make sense as a match, although of course they're not going to be exactly the same.  Both are gateway cities to mountain ranges, both have a "cowboy"/western history, both have big connections to the oil industry and both have a relatively young, outdoorsy feel to them.   Clearly not exact matches, but closer in spirit to me than Boston and Montreal which don't really seem at all similar to me.

[shootingstar]

1 hour ago, Kirby said:

Denver and Calgary sort of make sense as a match, although of course they're not going to be exactly the same.  Both are gateway cities to mountain ranges, both have a "cowboy"/western history, both have big connections to the oil industry and both have a relatively young, outdoorsy feel to them.   Clearly not exact matches, but closer in spirit to me than Boston and Montreal which don't really seem at all similar to me.

The population composition for Calgary looks different to me than Denver. We  have way more South Asian descent folks. While there (small) historic Afro-Canadian pockets in Alberta. The blacks to me, either from the Caribbean (which one finds alot in Metro Toronto as a historic base), but in our area, more educated Nigerians, Ethiopians, etc., have immigrated in past decade.  A number of them are hired across our organization...in professional positions.  

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Denver city, Colorado

 

City of Calgary below. In late 2022, we were 1.3 million. THis is figure that is used over and over to all us employees and to the public.    I don't really think of Metro CAglary at all. Not yet but we are expanding very (too) fast outward like an uncontrollable amoeba. 

Looks like Denver City is 780,000 with Metro @3 million.

[Dottleshead]

7 hours ago, shootingstar said:

While they are same climatic zones by the ocean, the feel of each city is to me, different enough.

Without question. You got the better deal.

[Airehead ★]

Hamilton and Buffalo do

feel

the same. 

[Wilbur ★]

Personally, i find pairing cities of Canada and the US to be silly.  They are all different even though immigration patterns and sizes may be similar.  Too many metrics to make any comparisons.  But Montreal an Boston is a laughable comparison. 

[Rattlecan ★]

37 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Personally, i find pairing cities of Canada and the US to be silly.  They are all different even though immigration patterns and sizes may be similar.  Too many metrics to make any comparisons.  But Montreal an Boston is a laughable comparison. 

But you can have baked beans with your breakfast in either location so there’s that.

[BuffJim]

1 hour ago, Airehead said:

Hamilton and Buffalo do

feel

the same. 

I haven’t spent any time in Hamilton, about an hour from here. Just driving through on the way to Toronto or points north or west. We have two major league sports teams, Hamilton has none. Ti-Cats are essentially minor league. Toronto is the biggest city in proximity to both cities, though the article suggests we’re a satellite of NYC, without saying it. Buffalo politics and education scene has a strong influence from NYC, but our sports and retail culture has much more Canadian influence. Tim Hortons dominates our donut scene, Dunkins has a tough time surviving. 

[shootingstar]

6 hours ago, BuffJim said:

 Buffalo politics and education scene has a strong influence from NYC, but our sports and retail culture has much more Canadian influence. Tim Hortons dominates our donut scene, Dunkins has a tough time surviving. 

So it's just Tim Horton's infiltrating from Canada into Buffalo? I'm trying to think of a major CAnadian retail player that's gotten into the U.S. in a significant way.  I can only think of TD Bank which in the U.S. is TD Ameritrade or something like that but only in the U.S. northeast?

Lululemon, CAnada Goose stuff can be ordered online. But don't know if Lululemon has U.S. stores.

Of course, Walmart, Costco are big enough in most major Canadian cities.

[BuffJim]

Just now, shootingstar said:

So it's just Tim Horton's infiltrating from Canada into Buffalo? I'm trying to think of a major CAnadian retail player that's gotten into the U.S. in a significant way.  I can only think of TD Bank which in the U.S. is TD Ameritrade or something like that but only in the U.S. northeast?

Of course, Walmart, Costco are big enough in most major Canadian cities.

Not what I meant. Our shopping centers, hospitals and airports are filled with Canadians taking advantage of lower taxes and prices- even though NY has pretty high sales tax, it’s less than the PST/GST load. Tim Hortons is the biggest Canadian brand name that comes to mind in our region. US hospitals have higher prices, but some rich people will use our hospitals to get better wait times. 

[shootingstar]

27 minutes ago, BuffJim said:

US hospitals have higher prices, but some rich people will use our hospitals to get better wait times. 

That takes me out, BJ.  I would not be visiting the U.S. for this. I probably would scour whatever information and professional connections that my siblings in health care, would know.

[BuffJim]

19 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

That takes me out, BJ.  I would not be visiting the U.S. for this. I probably would scour whatever information and professional connections that my siblings in health care, would know.

My observations are mostly pre Covid. Not sure if those patterns will/have returned or not. But financially over the last 30 years, travelers from Ontario have played an important role in our regional economy. 

[shootingstar]

16 minutes ago, BuffJim said:

My observations are mostly pre Covid. Not sure if those patterns will/have returned or not. But financially over the last 30 years, travelers from Ontario have played an important role in our regional economy. 

I believe it ..those Ontario visitors. I'm not clear about the reverse.

I have heard noticeable number of black American visitors like visiting Metro Toronto and Windsor-Essex county ...latter is for the historic Underground Railway sites in CAnada as final destination to build their lives. Actually some incredible history stories in the area..which I know because of visiting a close friend various times there.

Also Caribana was (not sure now) a huge draw for those who lived in southern Ontario and then American relatives and friends would visit.

Not sure people here, even know...but Metro Toronto has a very large, strong black community for a long, long time. Probably the largest in Canada, city/urban-wise.

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

9 hours ago, Wilbur said:

Personally, i find pairing cities of Canada and the US to be silly.  They are all different even though immigration patterns and sizes may be similar.  Too many metrics to make any comparisons.  But Montreal a Boston is a laughable comparison. 

Boston has a better hockey team too. 

[Wilbur ★]

6 hours ago, Parsnip Totin Jack said:

Boston has a better hockey team too. 

Did you hear that @Rattlecan?

[Square Wheels]

10 hours ago, Parsnip Totin Jack said:

Boston has a better hockey team too. 

For now, all things change.

[Rattlecan ★]

10 hours ago, Wilbur said:

Did you hear that @Rattlecan?

Yeah

[Prophet Zacharia]

8 minutes ago, Rattlecan said:

Yeah

And yet 24 Cups > 6.

[Rattlecan ★]

50 minutes ago, Prophet Zacharia said:

And yet 24 Cups > 6.

Well, Toronto has 13 which makes them second only to Montreal but the last one was when I was 13 years old. I will be 70 this year and doubtful I will live to see another. 

When discussing who has the better team, I take it to mean currently not historically.

[shootingstar]

On 1/14/2023 at 4:50 AM, Airehead said:

Hamilton and Buffalo do

feel

the same. 

I was born in Hamilton, but we lived in a tiny town of less than 1,000.  

We biked round trip from downtown Toronto to Royal Botannical Gardens in  spring one year not far from Hamilton.   It was hot and humid. The gardens are stunning.  The most incredible lilac garden in the world is there:  Horticulture & Collections - Royal Botanical Gardens (rbg.ca)  I had never seen such an incredible range of different lilac hybrid trees and bushes.  It was stunning to see. And of course, there is the natural bloom smell.

My memories of cycling a rural road in Ontario..and seeing lilac trees and bushes ahead. 

Perhaps I should time one of my trips to see friend to a near by  city, where gardens are, at bloom time.