a tale of two cities
So this is where it begins. My journey towards a new life. Ever since my first visit to Ottawa back in 1986, I wanted to live there. Maybe because it was so different that what I had become used to. I was born and raised in Montreal and that had always been my home. Toronto and Ottawa were worlds away.
Because of my line of work – writing and media – Ontario was a logical place to start my career. Toronto had more opportunities and sure enough, in 2002 I was hired at a Country Music station in Durham Region. The pay was terrible, the management was awful and the commute from North York to Ajax each day was hardly worth it. But as far as I was concerned, I was working in the radio business in Canada’s biggest media market (Greater Toronto Area).
Yet for some reason, Ottawa had always been the true goal. In 1997 I visited both Ottawa and Toronto. Since the T-Dot was bigger, I was attracted to it right away. But the comfort-zone that Ottawa offered was always in the back of my mind.
I had certain personal reasons for wanting to move to Toronto. It was drastically different that Montreal, for one. And it had a Hooters restaurant. Funny how things change years later.
Now I’m looking elsewhere. Ottawa doesn’t have a Hooters restaurant any more, but they have enough to keep me interested. The city has grown in the past ten years, and certainly a great deal since 1986. I can find most of the same stores and restaurants in Ottawa and I won’t be without everything I had gotten used to over the last six years – after all, Ottawa is still part of Ontario.
However, this is where I take the first step. The company I work for has an office in Ottawa and Toronto, so I’m hoping that a transfer will be easy. I also know a few people in Capital City so I’ll feel at home knowing a friendly face.
And as close as it may seem, the actual move is still far off. Aside from the transfer, there’s the logic of planning a move and of course finding a new place to live.
But these are bridges that I will cross when I get to them. In the mean time, the bare-bones planning is underway.
Everything posted on this blog is my personal opinion and does not necessarily represent the views of my employer or its clients. © 2008-2009 All material Capital City Chris
I can’t believe you’re moving to Ottawa from Toronto or not going back to Montreal. I moved to Ottawa from Montreal. At first, I thought I’d enjoy it like you did and escape the noise and the transportation system. Here I am stuck in a snow storm without bus service (they went on strike and they provide 0 service, not even during rush hour like Montreal)…and the restaurants are terrible. Lack of atmosphere in restaurants, bland food, lack of coffee shops, lack of multi-culturalism, horrible transportation system (no subway), etc. The only thing is you can survive without French while in Montreal you can’t and I guess I could understand why you might have moved to Ottawa, as that’s what I faced but if I could, I’d learn the language and go back any day.
MontrealMisser
December 13, 2008 at 10:35 pm