Close Reading

Any list using the words vibrant city should get itself better descriptors. City is more a curse word in my World and is the ultimate oxymoron. As a person that has studied and worked in the social sciences I can unequivocally state that any of these lists are rift with creator bias. I've not looked all of the list but it's set up to be no different and not based in many of the factors that matter to most people.

I would never live in Quebec as it has the highest provincial income tax rate. The starting rate on the first 45K of income is 15%, that's triple Ontario and BC. Ontario is number one for me. If you live in smaller city, the cost of housing is bearable. It's starting provincial tax rate is just over 5%, much like BC. Alberta is only tax friendly if you are earning at least $100 grand but for lower incomes, their starting tax rate is double that of Ontario and BC at 10%. I have seen a few cost comparison websites by province and NONE that I have seen mentions provincial income tax differences, a major omission.

People leave Canada,no jobs discriminations all levels, harsh 6 months winter, auto - home insurance very high basic foods like milk cheese gas , cheap in USA than Canada , house prices and taxes higher than USA , better medical treatments, you pay insurance and get better service, you will save money to buy insurance , cars , gas, insurance prices lower than Canada In Canada nothing is free you. Pay in taxes and worst service you getting, try to move to South sunny weather choose smaller or medium size city , lots of jobs ,lower prices house and taxes , you will have more savings in your account .

Vancouver often tops the best cities in the world…. so BC is number 1

LOVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA\nThe USA is the land of the free AMERICA IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD\nTHE LAND OF THE FREE !!\nIT'S FREE\nIT'S WELCOMING\nIT'S ACCEPTING\nIT'S CARING\nIT'S THE BEST ❤️??\n\n??❤️ !! EAST OR WEST AMERICA IS THE BEST !! ❤️??\n\nIT'S democratic and diverse in terms of geography and the quality of life is pretty open and free ❤️??\nNot other country is powerful like it \nWANT TO SEE THE POWER OF THE NATION - WASHINGTON DC \nWANT TO FEEl THE GLAMOUR OF HOLLYWOOD - CALIFORNIA\nWANT TO GAMBLE - NEVADA\nWANT TO RELAX IN TROPICAL - FLORIDA AND HAWAII\nWANT TO EXPERIENCE CITY LIFE - NEW YORK\nWANT TO FEEL OLD WEST - TEXAS\nWANT TO FEEL FARMS AND FRESH AIR - KANSAS , MAINE \nWANT TO FEEL THE REAL SOUTHERN CULTURE - LOUISIANA AND SWEET HOME ALABAMA\nWANT TO FEEL SNOW AND SKI - COLARADO\nAnd there are so many MORE AMAZING states and places in America that are just like a PIECE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH ❤️??\nGEORGE WASHINGTON FOUNDED AN AMAZING COUNTRY ON JULY 4th 1776\nLove US from INDIA ??❤️??\n??❤️??

LOVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA\nThe USA is the land of the free AMERICA IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD\nTHE LAND OF THE FREE !!\nIT'S FREE\nIT'S WELCOMING\nIT'S ACCEPTING\nIT'S CARING\nIT'S THE BEST ❤️??\n\n??❤️ !! EAST OR WEST AMERICA IS THE BEST !! ❤️??\n\nIT'S democratic and diverse in terms of geography and the quality of life is pretty open and free ❤️??\nNot other country is powerful like it \nWANT TO SEE THE POWER OF THE NATION - WASHINGTON DC \nWANT TO FEEl THE GLAMOUR OF HOLLYWOOD - CALIFORNIA\nWANT TO GAMBLE - NEVADA\nWANT TO RELAX IN TROPICAL - FLORIDA AND HAWAII\nWANT TO EXPERIENCE CITY LIFE - NEW YORK\nWANT TO FEEL OLD WEST - TEXAS\nWANT TO FEEL FARMS AND FRESH AIR - KANSAS , MAINE \nWANT TO FEEL THE REAL SOUTHERN CULTURE - LOUISIANA AND SWEET HOME ALABAMA\nWANT TO FEEL SNOW AND SKI - COLARADO\nAnd there are so many MORE AMAZING states and places in America that are just like a PIECE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH ❤️??\nGEORGE WASHINGTON FOUNDED AN AMAZING COUNTRY ON JULY 4th 1776\nLove US from INDIA ??❤️??\n??❤️??

I think it should be cities in Canada. Some Canadian cities are not that good , like how can you compare Toronto, Sudbury, Kitchener or Thunder Bay in Ontario alone .

Ontario should be #1. We have Toronto, the biggest and best city in Canada. Period.

Quebec, Nova Scotia and NFLD are tied for history. I suggest visits to Fortress Louisbourg & The Citadel in Halifax and yes Montreal & Quebec City are historic and lovely. You have reminded me of why my friends from the subcontinent love Canada and wish to make their home in our drop dead beautiful country. Really, their is no worst in Canada unless you want to live on the beach all year. Then your likely to get skin cancer.

This is infuriating, NB has St. John and Moncton. St. John has huge character/personality. When you move to any city you have to go out and get to know people.

So such low mortgage rates and all the immigrants you’re bringing in has absolutely nothing to do with it right? Liar. Toronto had more cranes than any city on the planet set up not o long ago for a long period of time. They were for all the condos that have erected in the last 10 years.

Can you record or question anything in US embassy in any Indian city? Same instructions is every embassy. I have been to Indian embassy in NYC many time. People behave like crazy. I have seen people scream on officers for visa denial.

I would like for you to make a Canadian city video

I m from india but you try to making fool to people bcs ur r showing the remote area or outside city area but cities like new york , london , paris , sydney, dublin , toronto area much more crowder & vibrant than india & african countries , western cities are over crowded especially the big cities

This doesn’t apply to all. May be more in city life.\nRemember real nice and fun life is there when you move out from industrial areas.\nEven in industrial areas there are choices to socialize. However if you are coming from a different culture it’s not easy. But with effort you can mix with your new society.\nDon’t expect the same culture or surroundings though. You need to change a bit too. It’s your choice when you move to a new country.\nDo not complain.\nLot to talk about this topic. I stop here :)

True. I was born and raised in the countryside in Mexico. Even in the cities in Mexico and other Latin American countries, life is more vibrant. I remember when I used to live in the city in my home state in Mexico, you couldn't even tell if it was a weekend or the middle of the week because there were always many people sitting around in the parks and central plazas enjoying life. Businesses used to close two hours for lunch so the employees had plenty of time to go home or eat anywhere before going back to work in the afternoon. Life wasn't just about work, but here in the United States it seems like everything revolves around work, work, work, and work... and that doesn't seem to be a healthy lifestyle (physically and psychologically).

Let's be positive, here: Manitoba has a balanced climate; -35°C in winter, +35°C in summer. Hard to beat. Québec has some of that too, but it has much more snow. The city of Québec receives almost as much precipitations as Vancouver, 950mm vs 1100mm for Vancouver, but in Québec it falls as snow and everything gets buried. People in Vancouver do not tan, they rust!

Is it me or is Mexico better than usa? \nJust if you live in a safer city. \nLatinos are more friendly no offense to others

When I came as an immigrant in the 70s life was much better. We could walk to the store, walkable cities, we waited at the bus with all the kids (no bussing/school choice) no worries playing outside because we had a group of kids and no fear of social workers, and everyone had a grandma at home, one of which watched us. Now, no.

This US or Canadian Urban Sprawl, sort of started post WWII, when, to kickstart a post War economic boon, the building, automobile and materials industry lobby, promoted the suburban living homesteads.\nLand in the city perimeter was (and is) costly. So, pick up large tracts of land and build cheap single family homes. Promote the 'wonderful life of openness, safety', etc in the never ending sprawl of an unplanned growth.\nSoon enough, city planners figured out that this model is unsustainable (transport, connectivity, social life disconnect, etc), but it has morphed from low/middle income segment to uber rich gated communities. And is sadly copied blindly in emerging economies.\n\nMost of the comments below are the opinions of recent immigrant folks.\nWhat do the people, who've lived in a similar environment all their lives, think about it?

This is true, however despite the amount of people in big cities like NYC in the west, it actually feels more lonely than empty semi rural/suburban places like what is filmed in the video because of how busy people are

In 1965 the United States was 90% White or people of European ancestry. Cities,Towns and Neighborhoods had open ,safe, and thriving communities .

This video seems to really capture the reality of a typical America and the narration really crystalizes it. Even though it depicts a less urban setting, the same stillness can be found in cities and suburbs. It’s not what you see on Netflix or in Hollywood where there’s a story to be told and you do see a lot of human interaction from scene to scene. In real life America so many lead an isolated life indoors except for when one has to go to work or school. One explanation for this, however, is that community in America and many societies is not geographically determined. It’s structured around work, school, church, one’s immediate family if there is anyone and other kinds of civic associations. Loneliness really comes in when one does not belong to any of these “communities”. One’s geographical community (in a society like America’s) simply does not or cannot provide a sense of belonging. It provides physical and material comforts but not emotional or social sustenance, which has to come from those other types of associations. And I sense this is not just a Western world phenomenon. I think it’s happening everywhere and simply a fact of life wherever the vast majority of people living in any space have no family ties with one another. In a village or neighborhood setting in a place like India or Africa, you’ll have such liveliness on the streets and among neighbors because a lot of the people there are simply relatives of each other.

I love this kind of house and surrounding areas. It's have large territory & beautiful greenery. Suitable for just run away for awhile from chaotic city. I would like to stay in this kind of environment after retirement. If you don't like just get out from there. Simple.

For a guy like me living in India, this is a sort of cultural shock! I never knew this side of US and Canada. I guess that’s something to do with the type of governance. It seems like it’s a baggage of capitalism. Focus on “you”. When India was socialist (still is, to a lesser extent than 90’s, people were more open. If a person was going to city from village, a dozen of villagers would accompany him till he boards the bus. That’s gone. Here, sometimes, the socialising is too much. You’ll be asked about personal questions like why are you not having a kid. When you’ll get married etc etc. Some people feel big cities are better. There is socialising but people mind their own business. I am so very glad that I was born and brought up playing and dancing on streets!!

You're living in small town and people mind their own business, stay away from trouble even start from small kids bullying each other , if you're going outside looking for friends meaning you're lonely yourself, go live in big city like newyork, los angeles, find your friends from work, school but then expensive to have a nice comfortable live.

I have lived most of my working life in the USA. I can relate to some of what you said. The lifestyle depends upon the individual and the groups or the social circle one belongs.\nIf you go to big cities like Los Angeles and San Diego will find communities of immigrants that stay close and connected.

If you ask me, India has also become a lonely country. Unless you like to stay within a single community, religion, FAMILY etc. you become isolated. And cities are now full of tall apartment buildings where people are locked away. Same with gated communities everywhere and suburbs. Lonely people watching the world on TV.

I am born in America in the suburbs north of Boston.Your words are so correct. I am now 74, and my childhood was idyllic, playing outside every day, roller skating, bike riding, climbing trees and long walks with my girlfriends. Sadly, due to the scourge of the drug trade and gun violence all communities everywhere have been adversely affected. Parents are fearful of letting their kids play outside. I have lived in Egypt for 20. years with returning to the states every summer for 3months I became to realize the problem.\nThen I returned to Florida USA for 8 years to work.The difference was huge from the friendly Egypt. Definitely, isolation is the norm now in the states, and it is impossible for someone to adjust who is from Africa and be happy.\nThank you for clearly warning of the culture clash...it is real. The only option for an African is to live in the big cities like N.Y.. Miami, Chicago, but it is so tough to raise children there due to the gangs.\nThis Ramadan, I pray hard that Allah will change things. But Quran says Allah does not change the condition of the people unless they change what is in themselves.

I can agree with these comments if your not American, growing up we had all that interaction with family, friends and neighbors. Life n times have changed in America due to gun violence, especially in large cities. Socializing is different in every state in America and in every country. I can understand how if your not accustomed to our ways of life even today, that you would prefer your ways of living back in your hometown and your Country. If you live in a big City in America and moved there from a smaller town in America, you will be feeling some loneliness, that's normal to us in America. If your American then you adjust to making n meeting new people, that hasn't been so easy with the pandemic for anyone. To compare our homes in one community from another or even from another country, is just criticism. We don't have a specific way of living, as far as our homes are constructed. This is how as American's we have always lived, small homes, large homes, big cities, small towns. Since the pandemic we do find ourselves spending more time inside due to no fault of our own. We do have different ways of living but so do other countries which we do enjoy when we visit. If you want to learn more about America and our lifestyles and history, you should do that. Every Country has it's government rules n law's and we try to abide by them, that's what makes our Country n Our Nation Great, that's also why many people come here to visit or work and study. Loneliness can be anywhere, depending on the person you are and reaching out to make new friends or just acquaintances is important. Especially, if your away from friends n family from home or a different Country. ✌️

Another issue is that some white families have sold off or abandoned their family homes in once vibrant community's because they have refused to live with other people of color who happen to move in. Then black communities build up over say 50 to 75 years a great community, their own churches , schools, day cares, playground, crime watch and near jobs and easy transportation suddenly others with money wish to expand in those same areas. So taxes go up. Fire insurance goes up. Schools are closed down due to so called lack of budgets. Factory's move out farther. And or new higher technologies come in only looking for a few or certain type of trained skilled workers with higher educational degree's. All of these complex events cause the death of a functional great long standing community. By the time others come and say hey, where are the kids, where is the small local business and the great gardens, farmer markets or book clubs, libraries, community workshops, and black church's giving out food? Trust me its not such a simple answer. Many many other forces are at play. Entire sections of the city and rural areas have gone through displacement.

My brother America is a very very big place. You must do research before you come. Each area is different. It really depends on where you live. If you move to Philly or NJ or certain areas of New York in the city and on certain blocks tou will find neighbors and neighborhoods where the same families leave closely for decades. In a lot of these communities have been forced to go through massive gentrification.

He just told you what one problem is. Immigration. Immigration has continued but house building can't keep up. They should have acted years ago but all the foreign money being brought in to the big cities has put them out of reach. That's only the tip of the iceberg. We need immigration but what numbers I'm not sure?? Maybe the answer is tradesmen to catch up on the building trades and bring costs down? The biggest problem though is the deficit financing leading to inflation. Like father like son...maybe the answer is think before you vote.

you are so true, I was born in the US and lived here my whole life and people are very selfish here and it is very lonely and now days it's so expensive the a verage worker can not even afford to rent a basic apartment in a city

I've been to many cities across indias length and breadth for job and education. Every place I went, first thing I did was to befriend the neighbourhood tea stall/tobacconist (used to smoke back then) there's one at every corner. You visit that place regularly you share a laugh and a nod with other regulars. To the point they ask abt u if they don't see u for a couple of days. Then u add them on Facebook and see th living their lives for the rest of the life. \n\nWe talk to random people everywhere and in India atleast, a stranger is truly a friend you're yet to know. And that is what I love the most abt my country. And can't imagine living anywhere else.

The suburbs and countryside can be isolating. I grew up in the suburbs and left in my early 30s. That’s why I love living in the city. It’s communal living, shared use of public spaces like parks, museums, and outdoor entertainment.

The U.S. is very large, and there are many different types of people and many different types of neighborhoods, cities, and communities. I have lived where neighbors knew one another very well, and their kids would play ball in the street or play baseball at the local park or playground. I have lived where there are walking trails where you would see the same familar faces time and again. I have lived where there were many community activities. There are places where you can find farmer's markets and where churches are large and hold events. Our town has many groups that you can join, and there is a local theater. There are cities of course, where you can find all sorts of things to do. People do have a tendency in many places to have their spaces, and as most people do have what they need within those spaces...and many are spending more and more time on computers and watching televisions, we are becoming more estranged than we once were. We have come to value privacy. But, again, there are many many people with many different lifestyles. Today I went to shop at two different stores and ended up in conversations with several people. One man invited me to visit his farm. One woman told me all about her home and garden. Another lady told me about her daughter and what was going on with their family. I did not feel like a stranger, and the people I saw working in different businesses today were talkative and interacting with many other people, including friends and neighbors and other familiar faces. it just takes a little effort to smile and to speak. That being done, I was very happy to return to my home and have my own space again, where I knew I could take a nap without anyone knocking unexpectedly on my door. So....it depends on what you want. I would hesitate to paint the U.S. with a very broad brush. \nThat being said, it is very difficult to leave your home behind. It can be very difficult to stop seeing differences because you did love so many things about where you grew up, though you might not realize how much you will miss them until you've gone. I feel that in myself, and I have to be very careful not to miss the potential and possibilities where I am, because I am always thinking about how I miss where I once was.

Great video. I am a Canadian that works with newcomers. I have lived abroad and back again. We recently did a trip to the U.S. A great trip overall but I agree with a lot of your comments about the suburbs. We saw some beautiful neighbourhoods in the US (and here in Canada) but there are almost no signs of life. I grew up in the suburbs and it was nice as a kid because we were always outside but as soon as I finished school, I couldn't wait to get out. My old neighbourhood is now a bedroom community built for the car. Now, I live downtown in a major Canadian city. My house is very small and old but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I always see people, rain or shine, snow or hail. I see families, dogs, dogwalkers, children, seniors with canes. I love it because I see life. Living in a neighbourhood like the one in this video would indeed feel lonely and isolating.

What city is this?

When mothers stayed at home to look after the young children I think things were very different , its the same here in Australia now . Although when our children were young my wife did not work and there was a vibrant community of mothers during the day time and children playing out in the streets , even when we returned from a small country town back to the city . Now , both parents need to work , so the suburbs ar empty during the week . As an aside if EBM is talking about north / north America much of the winter months are so cold you are not likely to be sitting out on the porch talking to your neighbour !

Stop the immigration and housing prices wouldn’t have increased! But its too late now. And higher denisty increases cost, it doesn’t lower it! Look at the most expensive cities to live in in the world are high dense cities!

i am so thankful my parents held onto our townhouse in vancouver;\n\nfor anyone that isnt familiar with it, my dad bought a townhouse in the 1990's on west 7th avenue (practically downtown vancouver) for around 500k. even when we moved away, he kept it as a rental property just for some extra cash (back in the early 00's they probably went for 2300ish)\nhe past away recently, and gave me and my fiance the townhouse (it was worth roughly 1m when he died, and this was with minimal reno's/fixes) we just did an entire renovation top to bottom, we got it appraised at 3.5-3.75, maybe even 4 million if we wanted.\n\nof course we won't sell, it has incredible views & is close to everything. but i am so thankful we don't have to worry about if we can ever afford to live in a city i've called home for my entire life

This clown needs to start doing substantial things or get out of the way. \nWhen the younger ppl of a nation or city see that they have no future to build their lives they simply up and leave to places with opportunity. That means other countries if necessary. - which hurts the areas future even more as they lose the valuable asset of the next generation. Canada is on the verge of complete stagnation.

There are lots of new homes being built in my city but they're all selling for $400K plus.

Get the hell out of the cities!

10 years ago I had to leave Vancouver to buy a home. Never looked back at that dysfunctional City. ? \n It's your local governments the clog the building with exceptionally stupid permits and hoops to jump through.

Vancouver, one of the most soulless life force sucking cities on earth. The people are so lonely there. So its not just the desolate suburbs tat are like this.

There is generally more peace in those suburb areas such as where you where able to place yourself. The problem lies in the evil in American culture especially apparent in the cities, hood mentality, gangster glorification, the Civil liberties paid for by tax payers has become a pandemic of people that don't want to progress by construction of good communal respect. Therefore thank God you are able to live where you do because if you where living in the city most likely all types of drugs would be sold in your face, men would show their asss In your face, you could not leave your doors open etc etc

I suppose city born Athiest people world over would find socialization and sharing stuff not a thing they are raised to be good at. ?

my childhood was in a city with 100k population. my school was 5-7 minutes of walk. my music school was 20 minutes away. I had no any issue walking myself to where I need. without any supervision. It was super safe. Just imagine you are living in a world, - where no criminals, no guns, no violence, no pedophile alerts and databases where they are registered. Imagine a kid 6-8yo is walking alone from home to school and back. That was there. Not anymore much. Soviet union was not the best place to live in, but it was damn safe there. And now what? Fertilization and cancer clinics are everywhere. Obesity. You cannot let your kid go to school without a bus cause it's illegal to do so. You cannot even leave them alone at home for 1h. It's also illegal.