Why Do So Many Canadians Hate Toronto?

I'm not from Toronto, by the way. I'm from Winnipeg. But I've NEVER been able to grasp why so many Canadians are so anti-Toronto. I've travelled throughout the world and been to many major cities, but Toronto remains my favourite city on Earth. It offers everything from history to architecture to nightlife to culture. There's a buzz in Toronto that's just not seen in any other Canadian cities, even Vancouver and Montreal. Like it or not, Toronto is ranked as Canada's only world class city. Why not take pride in it the way the French take pride in Paris, the way Japanese take pride in Tokyo, or Italians take pride in Rome. Even the way Americans take pride in New York?





And as for this "people from Toronto have an attitude" crap ... it's just that: C-R-A-P.





Torontonians may be a bit more aloof than people from other cities, but the same can be said about Parisians or Londoners. In a city of nearly 6 million people, passersby don't always have time to say hello to you in the street

Why Do So Many Canadians Hate Toronto?
I am one of the ones who calls Toronto "the centre of the universe" with sarcasm.





I get really tired of Ontario being painted by the same brush as Toronto. Nothing that happens outside of Toronto (except Ottawa) is important. An ice storm in Toronto? Life shuts down and poor, poor them. An ice storm in northern or northwestern Ontario? Wait...do people in Toronto even KNOW where that is unless they have a cabin there?





Provincial legislation and federal is based where votes are. That means Toronto, and southern Ontario in general. The rest of us live by laws that do not make sense many times up here. Or important issues up here are ignored because something where the votes are is more important. Elections in general are decided before they even GET to the rest of the country. I know that is population based, but it DOES cause a lot of bitterness. So does moving jobs from other areas to there. (which recently happened to me)





When I went to Toronto, I did get a lot of attitude from the people. Looked down their nose at me. You smile at people to be friendly and they ignore you. You make small talk at the store and you are cut. You are at a seminar and try and talk about other areas of the country...eyes roll and snickers. Why? Because "nothing" is better than in Toronto.





I lived in Winnipeg for 10 years before I moved. I have never seen that kind of snootiness there. A bit of "Perimeteritis", but not as bad as Toronto. (I'm sure I spelled that wrong, but people from Winnipeg know what I mean)
Reply:People hate Toronto because Toronto thinks it is the centre of the universe, and certainly the only city that matters in Canada. I'm sure that Toronto is a great city and has a lot to offer, but it really is more the attitude of Torontonians and of the media that makes me hate Toronto. To me Toronto is kind of like the United States in that they only know what is going on in their little pocket of the world, and think they are the only place and the only people that matter. It's not about friendliness... I've known lots of people from Toronto who are perfectly friendly and wonderful. But it's this superiority thing, this way of thinking, that the world (more specifically Canada) revolves around Toronto. I'm sorry but Canada is a great country with a lot of great cities and while that's great for Toronto to be a world class city and all, they are not the only world class city in Canada.
Reply:I used to work in the greyhound call centre and I hated getting calls from Toronto. It was always " yeah I want to go from here to Calgary" and id say " from where" and then theyd say "..here"





and then it would go on until i said, " where is here" and very insulted they would say Toronto, like I'm an idiot.





I think the problem is most people, or at least people I've ever had to deal with from Toronto act like they are the centre of the world and sadley, they arent.
Reply:I think we make fun of "the centre of the universe" because Toronto is such a power house city in Canada. That's where most of the major Canadian companies have their headquarters. All company regulations and policies are decided there. That's certainly how it is for the media company I work for. I think we are all a little bit envious (and nervous) that Toronto holds so much power.
Reply:Hey, you should be our next Mayor !





You are very right !





Canada is great and beautiful, and Toronto is part of it all !
Reply:Every country has to pick on some portion of themselves..... I guess we just somehow fell into picking on TO. Maybe the rest of us are jealous?





Personally, I didn't enjoy Toronto - have been there in all seasons, and much prefer Vancouver with it's scenery, theatre, mountains, lakes and oceans,........ oh well, to each their own!





PS - I enjoyed Winter-peg though LOL -and spent some time there many years ago.
Reply:Different people - different tastes.


I have experienced living in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto (Rosedale), Montreal,


Quebec City and Halifax and of these Toronto is at the bottom of the list for me. It is always a delight when it is time to leave Toronto and go somewhere that has a Soul.
Reply:Because the MAPLE LEAFS HOCKEY TEAM SUCKS.
Reply:What are you talking about?! I'm from Edmonton (live in Calgary), and I've gone to T.O. about a million times and I love it. Pretty much everyone I know out west would agree that Toronto is a great place. In my opinion, Albertan's have the worst attitudes in Canada, way bigger jerks than Ontario.





Go Toronto!!
Reply:Jealousy, I guess.
Reply:Yeah, I've wondered this too. In my experience, people who badmouth Toronto are from small towns, and are just as likely to badmouth Calgary or Montreal. It's not Toronto per se that troubles them; they just have this bias against "the big city". They don't like the traffic, and perhaps are even a little intimidated by it. Yet Toronto is a pretty nice place to live, assuming you don't commute into work on the 401 or DVP every day!!
Reply:I tend to agree with you, I have worked in and lived in Toronto off and on for 17 yrs, I am from a smaller town, 70 miles south of Toronto, Brantford ON, when I worked for CP hotels and travelled around Canada and to the Caribbean it sometimes was evident that there was some disliking of people from T.O.





I was in Edmonton during the 1980's and I was told once or twice to go back east, as we were taking all the jobs away from the Albertans, I was one of the only qualified chefs with trade papers in the kitchen.





I not sure if it is dislike or just misunderstanding, in Toronto you can go to the ethnic areas and get any food from around the world, try and get some of the foods in other places that are available here, Plus were can you eat in a different restaurant and experince a different cuisine every day for a month and never have the same thing.





Most people who have issues with Toronto have never been here or experienced the diversity we have to offer, so we cannot be to hard on those individuals, just wish they had the advantages we have had and been able to be here for themselves.
Reply:Mr. Canada:





THE TORONTONIANS SALUTE YOU!!