TORONTO, April 16 /CNW/ - Calgary is the place to be in Canada for recent
university graduates. Ottawa-Gatineau tops the bill for young professionals
and families with children. Toronto is the destination for "empty nesters."
These are but a few of the conclusions that urban visionary Richard Florida
came to in researching the revised Canadian edition of his international
bestseller Who's Your City? (Vintage Canada).
"For all its natural splendour, Canada is more urban than much of the
U.S. and even parts of Europe," says Florida, Professor of Business and
Creativity at the Rotman School of Management and Director of the Martin
Prosperity Institute. "For someone like me who is interested in cities and how
they work, Canada is a fascinating and dynamic place."
In compiling his rankings of the best places to live in Canada, Florida
and his research team focus on five distinct demographic groups the represent
our various life stages: university graduates, young professionals, families
with children, "empty nesters," and retirees. A number of important factors
were considered in determining each city's ranking; namely the percentage of
the city's population that fits a particular life stage, underlying economic
conditions (regional economic growth as well as a considerable measure of
creativity, talent and tolerance), amenities and quality of life factors (arts
and culture), and specific cost of living. With that criteria in mind,
Ottawa-Gatineau, Calgary and Victoria rank near the top as the best places to
live in Canada across various life stages, while Montreal and Vancouver make
strong showings as, what Florida calls, "best buy" locations.
Florida's thinking for compiling his list is quite clear. "The point is
not to determine which of Canada's cities is 'the best,'" he says. "The point
is to give you the information and thinking processes to find the place that's
the best fit for you."
To learn more about Richard Florida's rankings of the best cities to live
in Canada, please go to www.creativeclass.com and click on Who's Your City?Best Places in Canadian Provinces and Territories(*)
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Overall
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Singles Mid-Career Families Empty-Nesters Retirees
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1 Calgary Ottawa- Ottawa- Toronto Ottawa-
Gatineau Gatineau Gatineau
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2 Iqaluit Calgary Toronto Ottawa- Toronto
Gatineau
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3 Ottawa- Whitehorse Calgary Calgary Calgary
Gatineau
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4 Victoria Yellowknife Fredericton Victoria Victoria
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5 Yellowknife Iqaluit Yellowknife Canmore Montreal
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6 Edmonton Edmonton Guelph Charlottetown Vancouver
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7 Guelph Guelph Quebec City Vancouver Kingston
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8 Canmore Victoria Kingston Montreal Quebec City
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9 Whitehorse Toronto Hamilton Parksville Guelph
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10 Montreal Montreal Montreal Kingston Halifax
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(*) From Who's Your City? by Richard Florida (Appendix C, p. 326).
For further information: Scott Sellers, (416) 957-1564,
ssellers@randomhouse.com
