The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Much like the Jennifer Aniston vs. Angelina Jolie debate, Vancouver and Toronto are a rivalry that refuses to die. Personally, I wouldn't even want it to. As far as I'm concerned, Vancouver is Aniston — effortless, naturally stunning, and unfairly underrated. Toronto is Jolie — more flashy, expensive, and constantly trying to prove they have some edge. I don't make the rules, I just report them.
I was born and raised in Vancouver, and at 22 (plus 6) years old, I have hiked exactly once and never again. So, if you think I'm about to pull the "but we have nature" card, think again. I can see the mountains from my apartment — I don't need to go into cardiac arrest at the 1/16th checkpoint on the Grouse Grind.
So, without further delay, here's why I'd never trade the West Coast for Toronto.
The views
I don't care how good the PR team of this architectural structure on the Drake album cover is. This is not "views." My point being that the CN Tower is not "it." In fact, I'll go so far as to say Toronto's CN Tower is the equivalent of Vancouver's Gastown Steam Clock — a true tourist trap. Except our steam clock is free.
To me, the photo above is real views. Vancouver is the kind of beautiful that feels borderline unfair. It's a city where even the most mundane moments — grabbing a coffee, running errands, contemplating your life choices — are set against a picture-perfect backdrop. The mountains look like they were hand-painted by Bob Ross himself. Even the rain somehow makes everything moodier in the coziest way.
Also, not to roast the CN Tower again, but Vancouver has our own nearly identical version. The Vancouver Lookout at the Harbour Centre is in the heart of downtown and boasts sweeping panoramic views of the city. Petition to get Bryan Adams out of retirement to recreate Drake's album cover.
The sushi
OK, I'll give it to Toronto. If we're going by the Michelin Guide standards, they definitely have more stars than us. However, they also have more McDonald's, so. The pendulum swings both ways, my friends!
Now, despite my article: 4 Michelin Guide restaurants in Vancouver that I think are worth the hype, I'm not a Michelin star snob. However, I am a sushi snob — and Vancouver wins when it comes to all foods seafood.
We are right on the Pacific Ocean, which means our sushi chefs are working with salmon, spot prawns, and uni (sea urchin) so fresh, that they were having an existential crisis that morning.
If you want the best possible Michelin star omakase experience and don't mind shelling out for it — Toronto has it on lock (Sushi Masaki, Saito, Shoushin). But then again so do we. But that's not all we have. If you want fresh, affordable, and consistently top-tier sushi? Vancouver is the place to be. Honestly, I'd take an $8.95 "Crazy Boy Roll" from Asa Sushi over Michelin star (almost) any day.
Hollywood North vs. The New York of Canada
One of my greatest (and most useless) talents is spitting a Vancouver-filmed TV show within 0.2 seconds of an exterior shot. Pro tip: look at the street signs.
Toronto loves to push the narrative that it is "the New York of Canada." Which is aspirational, but here's the thing —Vancouver doesn't need to be the knockoff version of anything. We're not trying to be "the Los Angeles of Canada". We're entirely unique.
Hollywood knows this. That's why we're the chameleons of the industry. We can be New York (Deadpool), Seattle (The Good Doctor), Riverdale (Riverdale), and despite the 150 days of rain per year, we can even double as Beverly Hills. (Yes, the 90210 reboot was filmed here. This is not a drill).
And what does Toronto have? Suits.
Vancouver has Twilight and every Hallmark movie ever made. The winner is clear. And to the answer to the question you weren't even asking. Yes. Every Vancouver woman born between 1990-1997 did believe during the seven season-run of Riverdale they were going to bump into Cole Sprouse and he was going to fall in love with them on sight.
The music scene
I know what you're thinking. "This can't be true. Toronto has Drake! Justin Bieber! The Weeknd!".
Two words: Kid Carson. Three more words: Chad. F*cking. Kroeger. Between The Beat 94.5 (RIP) and Nickelback, I think it's safe to say — we have it all.
Even though Nickelback isn't technically from Vancouver, they moved here in 1996 before the release of their debut album, Curb (shoutout to Alberta, though, for producing the King of Canada himself). At the time, Vancouver's music scene was more promising than a small rural town, so the boys packed up and moved west.
But make no mistake — Nickelback is a Vancouver band. They built their career grinding in local clubs and bars (paying their dues, just like the rest of us who have endured Roxy Sunday bouncers on a power trip). The band recorded most of their albums here. They even have a star on the Granville Street Walk of Fame, which none of us even knew existed until this very moment.
The 6ix can keep JB and The Weeknd. Pretty sure they all moved to LA anyway.
OK, I lied — the nature too
It's not just a city park kiddy-cornered to a bank on Bloor St. It's cinematic, iPhone screensaver-worthy, BBC-documentary-tier nature. The kind where you take one deep breath and suddenly understand what your yoga teacher meant when she said "grounding".
The best thing about nature is, you don't need to be the proud owner of a pair of Birkenstocks to enjoy it. In Vancouver, you can be a Netflix binging, doom-scrolling, Wi-Fi-dependent, oat-milk-latte-drinking city dweller, who enjoys it too. All you need is a couch facing a window.
Yes, it rains. I could write a whole article on why Vancouver rain is my favourite weather. However, I know I'm in the minority there. So for the normies who can't stand it, I will simply say, that rain is the price we pay for living in what is essentially an enchanted forest with an urban underbelly.
We have beaches and mountains. Oceans and forests. Whales (I've never seen) and bears (I never want to). We have hiking trails for the athletic and seawalls for the athletically challenged. My people, who just want to their "get steps in" before hitting Urban Fare for their groceries? I see you. I'm one of you.
So yeah, we have nature. And unlike Toronto's version of "nature" (a lone tree planted outside a condo development with a Tim Hortons on the ground floor), ours is the real deal.
Hustle Culture vs. Healthy Mindset
Toronto moves fast. Maybe too fast? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a fast walker just as much as the next guy, but sometimes I can't help but feel the city moves like everyone's one missed email away from a meltdown.
It’s a town where hustle is a badge of honor, and burnout is just part of the job description. Vancouver, on the other hand, moves with intention — prioritizing quality of life, fresh air, and the audacious belief that success and a balanced lifestyle can actually coexist.
Let's get real. Our entire city is basically sponsored by Lululemon. And I love it.
Forever and always, I am Team Vancouver. She's the one I want to come home to after a long day of merging into one lane on the Granville Street Bridge.
But even though I wouldn't necessarily want to live in Toronto, I'd happily vacation there. Toronto has rizz. There's an undeniable energy, a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it fun for a visit, even if I wouldn't want to call it my forever home.
