Yesterday, I was paying for my purchases at a grocery story when my son called to remind me we were completely out of sugar. I decided to return to the baking section and pick some up as I know how much he likes sugar in his tea.
As I selected my checkout lane to pay for my single item, an older woman with a cart swooped in ahead of me. I was rather taken aback, but thought that maybe she didn't realize why I was standing there.
I asked her very nicely if I might go ahead of her, me and my single item.
"Oh, sure," she said.
I proceeded with what I hoped was a winning smile and said: "Thank you."
"You'd never get ahead if you were in Ontario," she offered. "No, there you could have one thing and there be a whole line up ahead of you and they'd never think to let you in. No, sir. Not in Ontario. I tell you, I've been there and they wouldn't look at you."
My smile slipped. Do I tell her?
I decided not to. Neither did I point out that she had -- in effect -- cut me off, or that she didn't offer to let me in ahead of her, I had asked.
I wish I could say that this was a unique encounter, but, since moving here, I have had to listen to this sort of thing frequently.
It seems Ontario -- but which most Nova Scotians mean Toronto -- is modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah.
Two years ago, I found myself having to watch a video from the United Way showing a man down on his luck, living on the streets. I knew right away it would be a Bluenoser who had moved to (da da da dah) Toronto. I was right. As we all know, that could never happen to someone here.
When NS branded itself, it was all done in comparison to Ontario. How do I know this? I was at the meetings. "It doesn't take two hours to drive to work here." Neither does it anywhere in Ontario except Toronto. I had to listen to hours of negativity about Ontario.
Two summers ago, I ran into a couple of teens from Ontario who had landed a job selling magazines door-to-door. The bigotry they faced was something we wouldn't want our kids to have to handle. Taunts like: "Whats the matter? Can't your rich parents pay for your eduction?"
C'mon people.
First of all, Ontario is huge. One congested city does not a province make.
Are there wealthy people there? Sure there are. But Ontario also has two large areas (the entire north -- look at a map, it's big -- and the eastern area) that are economically depressed.
Will people talk to you there? Yes. Even in Toronto. I know, I've actually been there unlike many people who slag Torontonians from zero personal experience. It is a city. They do rush. But if you ask somebody something, they'll stop and take the time to help.
Crime? Halifax has the highest violent crime rate in Canada.
Beauty? Both provinces have beautiful vistas. Different, most definitely, but beautiful nonetheless.
Usually, when someone starts yammering away about Ontario, I try to hold back from rolling my eyes and attempt to enter a civil dialogue.
Yesterday, I just didn't have the heart.
It's times like these that I wish I'd never left home.
Colleen
