There's nothing that stirs up drama quite like a Toronto vs. Vancouver debate — unless, obviously, you bring up politics at family dinner or stare at a man's receding hairline for a second too long.
Toronto insists on bagged milk, and Leafs fans say it's #ouryear, every year. Vancouver pretends it's a peaceful place reserved for forest bathers and nature enthusiasts. Both are painfully convinced they're right (we all have our shortcomings).
I've lived in both cities, endured both commutes, and paid rent in both postal codes, so yes — I have some thoughts. I don't believe in making a long story short (why would I do it this disservice? It's a long story for a reason).
In the spirit of giving this never-ending argument the nuance it deserves, here are eight differences between Toronto and Vancouver that you haven't thought of yet — straight from someone who's actually called both cities home.
The “gorpcore” fashion trend
In Vancouver, Arc'teryx is for function, not fashion. When you see a pair of Salomon shoes on the West Coast, it usually indicates you're headed out for a trail run. In Toronto, it's styled with a sheer midi skirt and vintage camisole for a shopping day down Dundas.
Vancouver should've patented and copyrighted gorpcore decades ago (a fashion trend that embraces functional, outdoor-inspired clothing in an urban, everyday context). West Coasters have been doing it since the dawn of time — long before it was cool, and I'm certain we'll keep it up far after the fad fades.
The cottage vs. cabin culture
One of the first things I learned after moving to Toronto in 2014? Never call it a cabin. As a wide-eyed and entirely naive West Coaster, I mentioned to a new friend that I was so excited for a "cabin weekend" in Muskoka. The reaction was severe, as if I'd made a public announcement about a man's receding hairline.
In Vancouver, it's a cabin — meaning, sweatpants, bug spray, maybe a canoe. Even if we're talking about a mansion on Bowen Island, we'd probably still say "we're going to the cabin".
In Toronto, it's the cottage — meaning, linen sets, spritzes, and curated playlists. Apparently, calling it a cabin is both incorrect and mildly offensive.
Public transit
Choose your fighter. In Toronto, the TTC screeches into Union Station at rush hour, and you shove your body into an aluminum subway car like your life depends on it. In Vancouver, you're standing in the cold rain waiting for a bus that's 15 minutes late (and that's considered on time).
Toronto may be chaotic, but it's surprisingly navigable. In Vancouver, unless you live directly on a SkyTrain line, I strongly recommend investing in a car.
The intersections
This one is less groundbreaking, but my boyfriend (an East Coast transplant) and every other bi-coastal Canadian bring this up. In Vancouver, some intersections have flashing green lights, which just means the light stays green until someone hits the walk button. It's a cute little West Coast quirk.
In Toronto, the light changes when it wants to. As is apt for the energy of the city (it's every pedestrian for themselves).
The workout classes
In Toronto, a workout class is a social event. A trendy to-do where you and your friends put on your matching Alo fits, yap about what happened last night, and buy $15 smoothies afterwards with whatever new iteration of bee pollen is in vogue because, well, you "earned it."
In Vancouver, for no apparent reason, you best be prepared to lock in for what can only be described as an unhinged version of Training Day (but swap Denzel for a far more intense spin instructor who screams at you through a microphone while their legs rotate at a pace of 200 km per hour).
I don't know exactly why there's this discrepancy between the two cities but all my friends who have exercised in both places can attest — Vancouver's workout classes are next-level hard.
The weather
Ok, I lied, I know you've all thought of this one. But to write a piece comparing Toronto and Vancouver without bringing up the elephant in the room would be "like waiting for rain in this drought: useless and disappointing" (iykyk).
Vancouver winter is grey, wet, and temperate. Toronto winter is freezing, but the sun does show up now and then. When it snows in Vancouver (about one week a year), buses spin out, Evos are abandoned mid-intersection, and schools shut down like it's a scene from The Last of Us (which, just so happens, also films in Vancouver).
In Toronto, it's business as usual — Blizzard or not, school is in session.
The actors
Throw a rock in Vancouver and you'll hit one of three things: the ocean, a road biker in a Tour de France-level spandex costume, or someone with an IMDb page. It's called Hollywood North for a reason! Vancouver is the Hallmark and Lifetime movie capital of the world (R.I.P. to the CW because, for over a decade, we were also the superhero TV show capital).
Toronto, too, is chock-full of actors. Still, they probably went to one of the million theatre schools, are pursuing the stage as well as the screen, and their overall ratio is diluted from all the finance bros, prospective DJs, and people with marketing degrees.
The "merch"
If you've been to Toronto, I'm sure you've seen the shirts that say "We the North" or "Toronto vs Everybody," and the latter became an almost unofficial motto for the city. Toronto branding is in your face, proud, and unnecessarily brash — much like the place itself.
If you're in Vancouver and want to feel on brand, unfortunately, all you have to do is throw on black stretchy material —Lululemon leggings, a hoodie, and chunky New Balance sneakers should do the trick. (In our defence, we never claimed to be fashionable.)
The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
