Toronto vs. Ottawa

Come to vancouver!
probably not as big a city .. but it offers a great lifestyle!

In Toronto I would recommend Mount Sinai, Sunnybrook, even Sick Kids. I thought Mount Sinai was the best overall.

Toronto has some good hospitals but since you're asking about hospitals with the greatest respect and opportunities for RNs...I'm hard pressed to give you names. I left Toronto in late 2001 but when I left, sign on bonuses, referral bonuses and tuition reimbursement were non-existent, relocation assistance was offered by only one hospital there and retirement options weren't mentioned. Plus I've heard they haven't gotten raises in a couple of years (since 2001) .I'd like to think that things have changed though. On the flipside, when I was there there were a lot of nurses going back to school to get their BSNs and several hospitals were encouraging them, by way of flexible scheduling and so on. Hospitals up there also encourage getting involved by way of committees, etc...Plus, most of the hospitals in Toronto are unionized, which is a big plus. I'd recommend going to a teaching hospital (Sunnybrook/Mt Sinai/UHN/St Michaels), you'll learn so much and plus you'll get to use more of your skills (i.e, giving blood, central lines, PCAs, NG insertion, complex wound care etc...).
In short, hospitals in the US give more opportunities to RNs $$-wise, but I have yet to hear of a hospital in either the US or Canada that gives respect to RNs in word and in action. Lots of hospitals say they value RNs but I have yet to hear of one who actually backs it up with action.

You have to remember that Toronto is a much bigger city than Ottawa. Ottawa is a government and university town. Lots of cultural events and museums, closer to the countryside, a very pretty and great place overall ( I lived there for 3 years) but if you're into the big city life then Toronto has more options just because of it's sheer size. Also more options for work as there are more hospitals there. I imagine that Toronto's cost of living is higher even though wages are the same in both places.
Both are great cities!

I am now living north of Toronto on beautiful Georgian Bay.
When I was in my 20's I worked as an RN at Sick Children's Hospital.
It is located on University Avenue just south of the government legislature, Queen's Park" and across the road from Mount Sinai and around the corner from several others including Woman's College Hospital. It is just a few city blocks from the lakefront and CN Tower.
I often go there just to walk around and visit.

I loved working at Sick Kid's and would go there in a flash if it was north of the big city! I believe that still have no union and I am amazed at that.

When you are tired of city living though keep in mind Parry Sound on Georgian Bay! Come for a vacation when you get to Ontario!

Helen in Occ Health up North!

I am a nursing student, so I don't know what it is like to work in any of these places. I have lived in Toronto, and loved it. I still live near it 45min away and go there often. There is so much to do. The cost of living is higher then Ottawa but not by much. I paid $1200 for a two bedroom at Yonge and Eglinton, and my friend in Ottawa, on Bronson, paid $1150, not a huge difference. She also had to pay hydro, which I did not.
I have visited her in Ottawa numerous time and loved it there as well. There is also a lot to do, and their are a lot of East Coast people there. The nightlife is great in both cities, but I found that people in Ottawa are more friendly (this is usually at bars, at night, so I don't know about the city overall, but it seemed pretty nice). From what I found the transportation system in TO is better, if you stick to the Subway, the bus system is not that great, but in Ottawa the buses were pretty good. I did not have a car when I lived in TO, and would not have wanted one. It would have been a big pain. I hope that this helps.
BTW did you (or do you) go to UNB. I am at the UNB-Humber program. Just curious.
Kristen

1150.00 is not the average rental price BTW. That's really steep.

The average is 750.00 for a one bedroom. That's WITH hydro too.

Z

BTW, I did not say that $1150.00 was the average, read the post properly. I was comparing the price of where she lives to where I lived, and mentioned that she had to pay hydro on top of her rent price.

Ok Ok..no need to get beligerent.

1150.00 is pretty steep though.

Where was it? I used to live in the golden Triangle area......cant do that now that I,m in school

Z