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Tutor Zach McLaughlin 's Column

Ottawa vs. Toronto

Weekly Topic: My Country/Town is Actually Famous for 〇〇!

Montag, 26. April 2021, 07:01

Photo: Algonquin College

Canada is a huge country, and if you’d like to know all about it, please consider my
Welcome to Canada lesson. Today, I’m just going to talk about two cities: Ottawa (where I was born) and Toronto (where I live now).


Toronto is the biggest and most famous city in Canada, so some people mistake it for the capital of the country. Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario, but Ottawa (which is also in Ontario) is the capital of Canada.


Parliament Hill in Ottawa is the political center of the country and also a great place to see tulips every year during the Tulip Festival in May. Winterlude, the largest festival in Canada, also takes place in Ottawa, and the Canada Day celebration on July 1st is quite large, too! With a population of around one million people, Ottawa is known for being quieter, cleaner, and greener than Toronto, which has a population of around three million. 


Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, so there are many French and bilingual speakers living or working in the city. The Rideau Canal is a popular destination for jogging and cycling in the warm months and skating (and eating BeaverTails) in the winter. Ottawa also has many museums, a significant high-tech industry, and an NHL hockey team (the Ottawa Senators). 


Toronto is known for being the financial and cultural center of Canada. Many companies have their main office in Toronto, and there are dozens of cultural festivals and events throughout the year, such as Taste of the Danforth (Canada’s largest street festival, held in Greektown), the Caribana music festival (now called the Toronto Caribbean Carnival), and Pride Toronto (an LGBT festival and parade). Unfortunately, most events have been cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, so Toronto is much less vibrant. Toronto is also known for its sports teams, such as the Raptors (NBA), the Blue Jays (MLB), and the Maple Leafs (NHL). 


As you may already know, Toronto is famous for being extremely multicultural. Over 180 languages are spoken by the residents, and it is the number one destination for newcomers to the country. Popular attractions are the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, High Park, the Toronto Islands, and the nearby Niagara Falls.


Like most big cities, Toronto has its problems, too. It’s known for being an extremely expensive place to live, and there are many homeless people living on the streets and in parks because they cannot afford rent. People who have lived in the city for a while may also express their disappointment that many historic buildings and well-loved small businesses have been torn down to build more and more condos. The most common complaint, however, is about the transit system (the TTC)!  


Overall, though, both cities are good places to live or visit for different reasons, and it’s easy to take a bus or train from one to the other if you want to see both! If you have any questions about Ottawa, Toronto, or Canada in general, feel free to send me a message!


This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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