The ‘goodest’ city in Canada

By Shirley Genga             

Maybe you have seen the You Tube video, maybe not. Well, LG Canada went out to discover the ‘goodest’ city in Canada.

The researchers conducted a test in major cities from Vancouver to Halifax, asking random passers-by if they could spare 20 minutes to help move a load of appliances and electronics into an apartment, in an attempt to discover which city has the friendliest people. Those who agreed were rewarded with the appliances they helped to carry.

The results: in Toronto only 19 per cent of people said were willing to help; in Winnipeg, 24 per cent say yes; and in Calgary, 41 per cent agreed to help load the appliances.

However the goodest city in the country, as declared by LG Canada, was Fredericton, New Brunswick, where a whopping 81 per cent of people agreed to help.

I came to learn just how friendly the people of Fredericton are on my first visit to Canada between July14 and 17. On my first morning in the city, during my morning jog, I could not help but notice how everyone I met went out of his or her way to say ‘hello’ to a stranger.

But it was not just the friendliness of the people that got to me; it was the interesting mixture of contradictions that make up this place.

Fredericton, which is the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, and where most of the population is English-speaking, is also the cultural capital of Canada, making it the perfect mix of small town charm and big city life, all wrapped up in one.

Apart from being a cultural melting point, Fredericton is also an educational centre. The University of New Brunswick (UNB) and St Thomas University (STU), which are both located in Fredericton, have a growing influx of foreign students from all over the world.

Further, Fredericton is visually stunning. Here is a city defined by an eclectic and impressive mixture of buildings, from three-storey wooden residential Victorian-styled homes, to 19th-century limestone buildings, and modern, even futuristic, pieces of architecture.

To add to the contrast within the city, you will also find parks and riverside green spaces for biking, jogging and walking.

Also worth taking note of is the fact that the city of Fredericton is bisected by the Saint John River, resulting in the creation of two distinctive regions: the ‘Northside’ and the ‘Southside’.

The Southside is characterised by cultural and historical attractions such as The Gallery, The Playhouse, and the Fredericton Region Museum.

It also hosts the historical buildings, banks and provincial government departments. While the Northside is more urban, with a very modern look, the Victorian style houses found in the south are rare, if not extinct. It is made up of largely suburban neighbourhoods and retail outlets and also feels more congested.

Ambiance

Everything in Fredericton seems to be an interesting mixture of the modern and traditional. Even the hotel in which we stayed — Crown Plaza — blended different eras. Although it had a modern façade from outside, it also had a traditional Victorian ambiance on the inside.

Additionally, being the cultural capital of Canada, Fredericton boasts a lively artistic scene, including theatre, art galleries, and musical performances.

Advantageously, our hotel was located smack in the heart of the city’s cultural boiling point, and so we got to experience a little bit of everything. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Provincial Legislature, Fredericton Playhouse and Officers Square are located near the Crown Plaza. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, for example, is adjacent to the Crown Plaza, and is literally about a minute or less away 

Our last day at Fredericton, however, turned out to be the highlight of the trip; we got the chance to experience a dinner cruise on the St John River. We sailed on the MV Voyageur II, a commercial boat that docks at the St John Marina, which is only minutes away from the city centre.

The MV Voyageur II, a double decker boat with a wooden traditional design, took us across the St John River in style. The scenery was not only breathtaking, but was akin to getting a front row seat to two distinct sides of Fredericton.

As we had our dinner —which included mashed potatoes, home steak fries, chicken breast, steamed salmon, bread rolls, and Caesar salad — a live band serenaded us as we watched the stunning sunset at ten in the night.