Forever the Odd Man Out

Forever the Odd Man Out:

Toronto versus Canada

Four years ago and 6500 miles away from home I found myself asking the question that today, I still do not have an answer to: why do all Canadians hate Toronto? At the time I had been trekking through Nepal's mountainside, enroute to Everest base camp. After a long day of uphill walking I had found myself in conversation with a fellow Canadian. In the time that has passed I have forgotten this man’s name but I will never forget the reaction he had when he found out I was from Toronto.

“I’ll forgive you” was his immediate response.

Fast forward two years later to my first day of work at the Split Crow here in Halifax where my coworker, after finding out about my Toronto upbringing, exclaimed that I seemed like “one of the good ones.”

These two interactions, while in no way being the only ones of their kind, for some reason or another continue to stick out in my mind. Perhaps it is because both statements were notably blunt and unapologetic...

This is not to say however, that I have been surprised or offended by these interactions. In fact, I have grown quite accustom to the varying shades of hate directed at the city I grew up in. In 2007 Shannon Brown produced a documentary entitled Let’s All Hate Toronto; and, in June of this year VICE news posted an article devoted to a similar style of bashing. The latter piece went so far as to suggest our national symbol, the one upon which we “forge a common identity”, is hating Toronto; incidentally, he dismissed beavers and maple syrup as “tourist kitsch”.

I found myself admiring writer Ishmael Daro for the many ways in which he was able to justify nation-wide hatred of a single city; were obnoxious, self centred and consequently, deserving of the hatred. Had I not been from Toronto myself, maybe Daro’s piece would have elicited a Facebook share amongst friends? His quick quips were balanced with some well deserving criticisms, least of which included our notorious crack-smoking former mayor Rob Ford. While I can attest to the fact that Ford’s antics shone an unfortunate light on Toronto I choose instead to focus on the ways in which the city has moved forward.

Despite living in Halifax, a city I am proud to be a part of, I still refer to Toronto as home. My response to criticizers could be to list off the many reasons I believe the city is wonderful. These include being able to go to the St. Lawrence Market on Sunday mornings, being able to enjoy Canada’s National Ballet, and being surrounded by diversity and multiculturalism, to name a few. I could continue but ultimately people will take the city for what it is, the good, the bad or a combination of both. Yes we are not perfect but no city is. I can list flaws and I can list off interactions I’ve had with rude and obnoxious people because yes those people exist too.

If I am any indication, though, the city still has some ‘good ones’. And in the end, if that isn’t true, us Torontonians can be forgiven.