Ontario doesn't have the greatest rap when it's compared to other Canadian provinces like B.C. If you ask people who grew up on the West Coast what they think of Ontario, you won't hear much praise and the nickname "Onterrible" may come up.
I moved from Ontario to B.C. over eight years ago and while I do get what people say about the beauty of the West Coast, I also miss some aspects of my former home province.
Keep in mind that I live in Victoria, which is on Vancouver Island and not on B.C.'s mainland. So I don't exactly get that big-city lifestyle those in Vancouver do.
Nervertheless there are some major differences between the two provinces as a whole, that you might want to consider if you're making the move like I did.
Aside from missing family and friends, here's what I miss most about living in Ontario.
The music scene
Toronto has a huge music scene and there are constantly concerts and shows happening in the city. Whether it's a major artist or a smaller band, it's almost always guaranteed they'll be playing in Toronto if they have Canadian dates.
Toronto also has the Budweiser Stage and going to a concert there during the summer is one of the best activities you can do every year.
Public transit (especially the GO Train)
I know Torontonians like to complain about public transit, but I quickly began appreciating it once I moved to B.C.
I refuse to drive when I'm going downtown Toronto because it stresses me out and I always depend on the GO Train. Then if I need to get around the downtown area, the subway and streetcars are super convenient.
Anytime I go to Vancouver I basically always take my car because it's easier to get around. Otherwise, I get confused once I get off the ferry and just end up calling an Uber and then walking once I'm downtown.
The fall colours
B.C. is known for being super green and vibrant during the spring and summer months with all the colourful flowers and various types of trees.
While I love those warm months on the West Coast, the one part of the year that I miss in Ontario is fall time.
Driving around and seeing the mix of yellows, oranges and reds is always incredible and we don't get the same effect here on the West Coast.
Cheaper travel
I love travelling and it's gotten significantly more expensive to do that ever since I moved to B.C.
Yes, flying to places like L.A. or Hawaii is less expensive since I'm now closer to those parts of the world, going to any country in Europe (where I tend to vacation more often) costs more.
That's partly because flying to Europe takes longer since I have to fly from Victoria to Vancouver or another major Canadian airport before going abroad.
To put it into perspective, a quick Expedia search says it costs $640 to fly from Toronto to Lisbon, Portugal for a week in September. Compare that to the $1,400 it costs for the same timeline from Victoria to Lisbon. Not even buying in advance will save you a lot of money.
I miss the days of direct flights and the deals you can sometimes score when travelling from Toronto.
Starsky Fine Foods
Ontario is also winning when it comes to the vast amount of stores they have compared to B.C., including specialty food stores.
One of the stores I miss most is Starsky Fine Foods which is a popular store in Ontario. From fresh meats and cheeses to pickled items and an incredible bakery section, it has everything Polish people (like myself) need when it comes to cooking and eating traditional food.
Vancouver does have some small Polish stores, but they just don't compare because their selection is limited and you'll never find everything you need in one place.
I always stock up at Starsky before flying back to the West Coast.
How the city (and the people) handle snow
I was told Vancouver and Victoria barely get any snow in the winter and that fact wasn't wrong. What I did find amusing and surprising during my first winter here (and ever since) is how the city reacts to snow when we do get some.
First of all, we talk about the snow for days leading up to it and then when it arrives the city essentially shuts down because it can't keep up with the road clean-up.
Schools and businesses will also shut down because the roads don't get cleared quickly and you'll often see cars on the side of the road or empty streets because people aren't used to driving in those conditions.
In Toronto, it snows often and while it can be a pain to travel in, people get over it quickly and continue with their day.
Road trips to small towns
A day trip to a small town in Ontario is always a possibility because of how easy it is to get to them.
While there are many small charming towns in B.C. to explore, getting to them is not as easy because they are a bit more spread out.
B.C. is huge and a lot of towns are spread out so going to visit one (like Nelson) is more of a weekend activity than something you can do in a day, depending on where you want to go.
The nightlife
While there is somewhat of a nightlife in B.C., it's seriously lacking compared to what you get in Ontario. I miss the nights I could meet up with friends and enjoy the bustling scene in Toronto on any given night.
Whether you're going out to see a show or to a bar for drinks, there's always something to do afterwards, even if it's just grabbing a quick bite to eat from a street vendor.
The hustle and bustle of Toronto's nightlife makes the city so much more exciting and energetic than what you'll experience in Vancouver.
While I do miss these parts of living in Ontario, there are many aspects of B.C. living that I wouldn't want to give up!
Stay tuned because I'll focus on everything that I love about living on the West Coast in another story.
This article's right-hand cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
