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This is kind of interesting, but that's incredibly isolated. Living out there full-time isn't just a bit of a departure from a big city, by Canadian terms it's

This is kind of interesting, but that's incredibly isolated. Living out there full-time isn't just a bit of a departure from a big city, by Canadian terms it's about the width of British Columbia, just to get back to the city where your friends might be if you're coming from Toronto. In their Maclean's interview, they remark that they're on the same latitude as Winnipeg, but Winnipeg is already incredibly isolated as it is from anywhere else. To get from Winnipeg to Toronto it would take 28 hrs of driving if you're silly enough to not fly, or 14 in the other direction to get to Calgary, assuming you're not stopping for long in the smaller "cities" along the way. For that reason, anyone making that kind of a leap has some level of respect from me, it's not a move I'd make. Although I do drive that far sometimes to see some friends and family, it's like a bi-yearly thing at best.

hadlock 2y ago
Allegedly they're getting passenger rail service (reinstated) soon so I would imagine that will help. With service to nearby mining city Timmins. Timmins is about 40k people and cochrane would be about 20k people if every lot is built out. https://www.ontarionorthland.ca/en/travel/northlander-passenger-train https://www.ontarionorthland.ca/en/travel/northlander-passen...
wenc 2y ago
I couldn't see myself living in Northern Ontario either, but for some people, small town life is idyllic. There was even a popular Canadian sitcom portraying such a life ("Corner Gas", set in rural Saskatchewan). As a "city-slicker" I really enjoyed watching Corner Gas. It's like the Canadian version of Parks and Recreation except more rural.
- brailsafe 2y ago
  I watched a lot of Corner Gas growing up, and once spotted Brent Butt with his wife in Vancouver where presumably they live. I think it's a wildly different perspective to have if you've either been born in a small town like that or have a legitimate reason to be there, such as being a farmer, than it is just pick an arbitrary place as a remote office location. For some, working remotely is a relief, and they do feel like they can finally get away from the city, but I feel like those people often don't do anything in the city anyway that cities are great for; they've not bothered to try and form much of an intimate connection with their community, or feel like their whole life can just be picked up and dropped off somewhere else without much sacrifice.

hadlock 2y ago

Allegedly they're getting passenger rail service (reinstated) soon so I would imagine that will help. With service to nearby mining city Timmins. Timmins is about 40k people and cochrane would be about 20k people if every lot is built out. https://www.ontarionorthland.ca/en/travel/northlander-passenger-train https://www.ontarionorthland.ca/en/travel/northlander-passen...

wenc 2y ago

I couldn't see myself living in Northern Ontario either, but for some people, small town life is idyllic. There was even a popular Canadian sitcom portraying such a life ("Corner Gas", set in rural Saskatchewan). As a "city-slicker" I really enjoyed watching Corner Gas. It's like the Canadian version of Parks and Recreation except more rural.

brailsafe 2y ago
I watched a lot of Corner Gas growing up, and once spotted Brent Butt with his wife in Vancouver where presumably they live. I think it's a wildly different perspective to have if you've either been born in a small town like that or have a legitimate reason to be there, such as being a farmer, than it is just pick an arbitrary place as a remote office location. For some, working remotely is a relief, and they do feel like they can finally get away from the city, but I feel like those people often don't do anything in the city anyway that cities are great for; they've not bothered to try and form much of an intimate connection with their community, or feel like their whole life can just be picked up and dropped off somewhere else without much sacrifice.