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| Subject: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience? |
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Any experience or advice here on Windsor or Sarnia, ON?
Detroit, across the river from Windsor, has its questionable aspects. I´ve read that Windsor is mostly immune from that city´s negative issues and is actually a relatively quiet and safe place to live. It may not be the most scenic, though.
[28-06-2008,17:28]
[**.53.225.29]
Richard |
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(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
Windsor has a beautiful view of Detroit, and is a completely different sort of city than what you´ll find across the border. My impressions of it has been that it´s very bustling--lots and lots of traffic--and very ethnically diverse. Lots of ethnic shops and restaurants, but maybe not a whole lot to actually do. There is a nice park in town for decent hiking (can´t remember the name) and a mall with a Chapters and the regular mall type stuff. There´s also a sort of run down park along the waterfront, which is pretty when the river is iced up in winter.
Windsor has the feeling to me as being very transient, not really the type of place most people settle down. Obviously a lot of immigrants call it home (presumably because of its proximity to the US), but I´d wonder how many stay for long. I hope no one takes offence to this; it´s just my observations in passing through and spending a few weekends there on various occasions. I´d worry about air quality, too; not sure if you´ve been to Detroit, but it´s really pretty bad (like, child-gagging-in-the-backseat bad).
I´ve been through Sarnia but can´t say it made any impression. The roads were terrible on the way up, but I don´t recall the town at all. I do remember that we swore we´d never drive that way again to cross the border, but I think that was just road and traffic related.
[28-06-2008,20:54]
[**.189.189.252]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
I have no idea about Sarnia.
Visisted Windsor for many times though. If you compare it with Detriot then you are correct. Detriot is one of the places where I would never visit except any emergency. Safety..property value..in all of those ascpects Windsor is far more liveable. Though I don´t think that it is comparable to a mega city like Detriot.
Of course it is not a scenic city at all (to me).
[28-06-2008,20:55]
[**.207.127.42]
DC |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
Richard: I think I´d recommend London or K-W over the border towns if you´re thinking southern Ontario. They are quite a bit nicer and more scenic, not to mention closer to Toronto (which I think you´ve mentioned you wanted to maybe be close to). Likely you´ll find more professional jobs there as well.
[28-06-2008,20:58]
[**.189.189.252]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
Kitchner may be another consideration.
[28-06-2008,21:53]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
I am in Windsor. this city is good for u if u work in Detroit area and wants safe place to live. because there r no jobs here.
crime rate is getting high. lots of dirt and polution. trucks r everywhere. City government raise taxes every year. local people r moving to western Canada.
IF U DONT HAVE JOB, THEN DONT COME!
[28-06-2008,22:16]
[***.183.28.132]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
Thanks wannabe, DC, Sharon - very helpful. I sort of suspected as much about Windsor. These Canada border towns along Michigan aren´t anything to write home about (sorry if offense to residents there). Didn´t realize about the poor air quality. Makes sense as very industrial there.
Recent article in Tribune talked about a chemical plant bordering Sarnia suspected of causing birth issues with native Americian Indian tribe on the Ontario side. Sault Ste. Marie along upper peninsula Michigan/Ontario side basically an economically depressed one-industry steel town losing population. All this must have a lot to do with Great Lakes shipping and original development of heavy industry along the border.
Yet towns and areas in Michigan like Traverse City, Charlevoix, and Petoskey not far from these place are gorgeous. I just don´t understand it.
I completely agree that London, Kitchener, Waterloo, some of the outer Toronto suburbs, and maybe Hamilton offer much better livability based on discussions and input here. Niagara-on-the-Lake as well.
Will let you guys know of impressions upon return. Bill and Sharon are probably ultimately correct in their unwavering support of BC and natural beauty there.
[28-06-2008,22:20]
[**.53.225.29]
Richard |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
Hamilton has been historically a steel town, Windsor has been know as the car manufacturing capital of Canada. Waterloo has a university of note.
Yup... Bill and I will need dynamite to get us out of BC.
[28-06-2008,22:31]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
Thanks Anonymous for first-hand input (you posted at same time as me), and will take your advice for consideration. I wonder if you plan on eventually leaving Windsor yourself based on your opinion?
[28-06-2008,22:42]
[**.53.225.29]
Richard |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
Richard,
Mr. Anonymous gave a good description about Windsor in short.
I´m here with Sharon & Bill. If I would consider a place for settle for a longer term given the job factor is simialr everywhere; I would definitely chose BC at the 1st place.
Though my sincere advice will be to avoid ON, but in case you are biased for ON then London, Kitchener, Waterloo are way better than Windsor. These 2 groups in my scale even are not comparable, unless you like Casino. Hamilton may not be that suitable as well. Burlington (sister of Hamilton) should be more preferable.
[28-06-2008,23:03]
[**.207.127.42]
DC |
(in reply to: Windsor or Sarnia, ON experience?)
Thanks again DC. Looks like BC is probably no. 1 for most Canadians. I read on Vancouver website Sharon shared, that contributing reason why housing prices are so high in BC is that everyone wants to live there when they retire.
New movie just out here and reviewed in Chicago Tribune called "My Winnipeg". Apparently, Winnipeg film-maker (Guy Maddin) is making point that his hometown is the best place to live being "the heart of the heart of the continent". Got good review at 3 1/2 stars. So ok all, how about Winnipeg (as a semi-border town?) for livability? I can´t believe Vancouver is the only real good place in Canada.
I did scratch off Hamilton based on input here.
[28-06-2008,23:17]
[**.53.225.29]
Richard |
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