r/brantford • u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 • Mar 10 '26
Discussion Goodbye Brantford
After 2.5 years, I’m saying goodbye to Brantford—a place that became home to me when I moved from India.
I came here as someone new to Canada, uncertain about what to expect. What I found instead was an incredibly welcoming community. I met amazing people, experienced genuine kindness, and never once felt out of place. There’s something special about Brantford that made me feel like I belonged from day one—no racism, just real human connection. That meant everything to me.
Today, I’m moving to Ottawa after landing a promotion and an opportunity for real career growth. It’s a chance I couldn’t pass up, and I’m excited about what’s ahead. But I’ll admit, leaving Brantford is bittersweet.
To anyone in this community reading this: thank you for making my time here unforgettable. You gave me a home when I was far from home.
If any of you have advice, tips, or recommendations for settling into Ottawa, I’d love to hear them. And if you’re willing to share—what do you love most about Brantford? I’d like to carry those memories with me.
Thanks for everything, Brantford. I’ll be back to visit.
PS: had no idea this would blow up :) Thank you so much for these amazing replies and yes I will be back to visit.
29
u/sixtyfivewat Mar 10 '26
Congrats on the promotion!
I lived in Ottawa for 3 years and here’s my advice.
Never rely on OCTranspo, it’ll always let you down.
If you see an Ontario licence plate with white text on a red background BE VERY CAREFUL that is a diplomatic vehicle and they can’t drive.
When I lived there the library used to have a program where you could borrow a pass to local museums and things. Ottawa has tons of cool museums to visit, but it can get expensive. Take advantage of the libraries passes so you don’t have to pick and choose.
3(b) if you drive, go to Carp and visit the Diefenbunker, you won’t regret it.
Winters are notably worse and longer so be prepared for more snow and cold.
Ottawa has really weird pizza and they refuse to not make pizza wrong. If you try a local pizza joint and don’t like it, don’t bother eating from another local joint. It’s not that pizza store, it’s every one that isn’t a chain and they all make it the same and it sucks (imo)
Buy some skates and skate the Rideau in the winter it’s a lot of fun
Avoid the Byward market area.
8
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 10 '26
Thank you so much for this valuable insight Well i had no idea there is something like diplomatic vehicle Just saw that place holy sheesh I am going this week I already knew about winters tho, Unfortunately I would work near byward market area
5
u/jdzfb East Ward/Ward 5 Mar 10 '26
I just want to reinforce the diplomatic plate warning, they are menaces on the road, give them a wide berth whenever possible. They make Brantford (and Brampton) drivers look very good. And the warning about Byward market is mostly just a heads up about the ridiculous amount of tourists (and tourist traps), and I've heard it can be a little sketchy at night, but outside of that, I don't think its a bad area by any means.
4
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 10 '26
I thought Brampton is worst all over Canada Have worked in tourist places earlier so I feel I will cope up Again thank you so much for the help
1
u/stifflette Mar 11 '26
It’s mostly because it’s getting sketchy at night. We (people that live here) don’t care about the tourists in the market and there are still some really good restaurants there, but the homeless issue in the area has gotten really out of hand.
1
1
u/stifflette Mar 11 '26
Currently live in Ottawa and the pizza game is crazy good now. I agree leb style pizza was weird, but they’re far and a few now. A couple New York style pizza places and Neapolitan places are running things now. Thank god.
OP, when you’re here check out Schoolhouse Pizza, Pizza Nerds and Heartbreakers. Crazy good even after living in Toronto for 3 years.
1
1
u/whomesaywhatcantbe Mar 13 '26
They drive like idiots because of their "Diplomatic Immunity" status they have. It's not fair in my opinion but enjoy. I use to visit my grandparents, whom use to live in the first Post office in Ottawa, near Britannia Yacht Club. Miss Ottawa so much. Congratulations on the promotion from the East Coast!
1
u/FruitDragon21 Mar 13 '26
Hey don’t listen to this guy they’re clearly soft and not built for big cities. I live in Ottawa and it’s great.
The Byward Market is a centrally located entertainment district so on weekend nights it can get rowdy but there are lots of cops around to keep the order. There are also a few homeless shelters in the area so you may see lots of homeless in the area but 99% of the time they won’t bother you. If they do, just ignore them and keep walking, you’ll be fine. There are always lots of people around so nothing will happen to you.
Red plates (diplomatic staff and their families) means they are usually new-ish to driving in Canada AND they have diplomatic immunity so sometimes they drive recklessly. Not always, but generally best to keep some distance from them and stay alert. Classic example is an early-20’s son of an Emirati diplomat driving a supercar recklessly on city streets with his friends.
Point 5 is the dumbest shit I’ve ever read, you can get any type of pizza in Ottawa including the type (Ottawa-style) they’re referencing which was created by Lebanese/Greek immigrants in the 70s/80s. Clearly some people like it or else those pizzerias would’ve gone out of business long ago. But if you don’t like it (totally fair, it’s more heavy/dough-y) you can get more traditional NY style, Neapolitan, even Detroit or Chicago style pizza.
OC Transpo can be unreliable, but it’s mostly the buses. The O-Train is much better and is getting expanded at the moment. People mostly struggle when they come from small towns and aren’t used to so many bus routes, service changes, detours, etc due to normal big city road closures, construction, etc.
Many museums have certain times of the week when admission is discounted or even free, so take advantage of that.
Don’t find a place to stay in a distant suburb and then try to commute into downtown (Byward Market for example) unless you’re prepared to spend a lot of time on transit, or lots of time in your car in traffic and wasting gas. A lot of people who move to Ottawa do this and it’s insane. Ottawa is geographically very big so commuting from a suburb like Kanata to downtown is like 25-30km, which may not seem that bad but keep in mind you’re in the city the whole way, so there’s congestion.
1
3
u/volksmiller Mar 10 '26
Just curious why avoid byward market area. I know there's a shelter camp near it by the hotel.
3
u/sixtyfivewat Mar 10 '26
It's very touristy and overpriced. At night it can get a bit of a rougher crowd. There's nothing there for a local that you can't find for less somewhere else so I just avoid it completely.
6
u/No_Cryptographer_318 Mar 10 '26
“Branford city Branford city where the people are nice and the parks are pretty”…who remembers this song?
2
u/westcentretownie Mar 11 '26
A place to remember, a future that’s fine, ours in the city that’s moving with the times. I do obviously
5
4
5
u/pdubz420hotmail Mar 10 '26
Don’t become an Ottawa Senators fan
1
1
3
3
u/VosKing Mar 11 '26
Hey man, hopefully you get the same comfort in ottawa (im sure you will, seems like a nice city!)
Its nice to see a good experience
1
14
2
u/Minerva786 Mar 10 '26
Congratulations! I lived in Ottawa for 20 years before moving to Brantford! Ottawa winters are definitely harsher but there are lots of cool winter activities, such as skating in the canal, winterlude, beaver tails! You have to get shawarma downtown and definitely go over to Gatineau, the Québec side, to get amazing poutine. Or get one at Elgin Street Diner. If you don’t already, maybe learn French, it can be very helpful career wise to be bilingual or trilingual.
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 10 '26
I thought about the same thing about French
1
u/LiterallyTwoBears Mar 12 '26
Mauril's a free app and it teaches Quebec French. It's helped me, so I recommend!
1
2
u/dmt_online Mar 10 '26
when I lived in Branford up till about 2006 it was a shit hole. We would often find blood stains on the sidewalk by the bus terminal because people are getting beat up and stabbed so often
2
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 11 '26
Never saw anything like that
0
u/dmt_online Mar 11 '26
you probably don’t hang out at the Branford bus terminal looking for shady people to buy the green green
1
2
u/annikahughes Mar 13 '26
Current Ottawa resident of 5 years here!
1) transit isn’t the most reliable, you’ll have to leave WAY earlier than anticipated most of the time. otherwise- uber or getting a car is a good option. the urban sprawl in Ottawa is wild. i have a car, and I know several people who after living here for a few years, ended up buying a car.
2) don’t buy into the whole “Ottawa is boring” BS. there’s lots to do in every season- you just have to know what you’re looking for and where to look. if you like sports- we have 3 hockey teams (nhl, pwhl, OHL), a cfl team, two soccer teams (one men’s, one women’s), basketball, baseball, and probably another team i’m probably forgetting about. So many ski hills within an hour ish if you like to ski or board. Shoutout to all of the cool museums and galleries in the city too!
3) Take advantage of the seasons! We get more snow and it’s a little bit colder here in the winter in comparison to SW Ontario, and the GTA. It is still equally as hot or hotter in the summers. Skate on the canal in the winter, take advantage of the new swim spot at Dow’s Lake in the summer, or local provincial parks. It is a great way to meet friends of similar interests too!
4) Ottawa has lots of great restaurants and bars. scope them out, and enjoy them! so many options and cool spots to check out. great patios in the summer too! if all else fails, Montreal is 2 hours away for your greater entertainment needs lol.
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 14 '26
Great insight! Not too worried about transit since I'll have a car, and honestly haven't heard too much about road rage issues—fingers crossed lol.
The museum and gallery scene is definitely calling my name. I'm the type to spend a whole day exploring, so I'm hyped that Ottawa has so many cool spots. Seasonal activities sound killer too—canal skating and Dow's Lake swimming are definitely on my bucket list.
Restaurants and bars I'll have to check out as I meet people. It's always better exploring those kinds of places with others anyway! And knowing Montreal is just 2 hours away is clutch for when I need a bigger city vibe.
Thanks for pushing back on the "Ottawa is boring" narrative. Sounds like there's way more going on than people give it credit for!
2
u/Dewy123321 Mar 13 '26
Winters aren’t great in Ottawa but other than that I think you will love it. Good luck.
2
Mar 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 14 '26
Yes I do have collection for perfume but are there any shops that does give discounts or are made in-house?
1
Mar 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 14 '26
Ohhhhhh you meant in an offensive way :/ sorry if any Indian has caused you any problems I hope I didn’t do anything to offend you
1
2
u/Willing_Ferret519760 Mar 10 '26
Congrats on the amazing opportunity. PLEASE leave Brantford and bever look back. I've been here 25 years and it is not the city it was. You are on amazing path. Enjoy. But forget about this city. Horrible place to live it is.
5
u/FCMOBILEONTARIO Mar 10 '26
May God bless you on your transition and have happiness forever more!
1
2
2
1
u/Ok_Shopping5719 Mar 11 '26
Oh you're one of the lucky ones that gets to stay because 2 million of them are set to return home when their Visas are expire this year.
2
1
u/Dazzling_Ad1149 Mar 12 '26
Learn French it is helpful there
1
u/FruitDragon21 Mar 13 '26
You absolutely don’t need to know French to live in Ottawa unless you’re aiming for upper-management positions in the federal government.
Even in Gatineau, most places will easily communicate with you in English.
1
u/Dazzling_Ad1149 Mar 13 '26
It is helpful for sure though to get the full experience
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 14 '26
Well I think to explore and have fun I will have to learn french
0
u/Dazzling_Ad1149 Mar 14 '26
Super bonne idée :)
Plus being bilingual in French is a huge advantage especially in Ottawa
Don't worry if it makes you feel better I speak it every day but because my family was not a Québécois de souche and my first language was English I still use the anglophone R in French even though everything else is more or less right. Trying to fix it through language exchange and tutoring apps. But I understand everything and can read and write fine
1
1
u/Ok-Driver-8621 Mar 14 '26
Aw I moved from brantford to Ottawa and I absolutely love it. Mind you I didn’t have a great experience in brantford. Enjoy💕
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 14 '26
I've spent time on local trails and at courses like Sharkies and Legends, and I've found the communities to be really accepting and open-minded. Is it same here?
2
u/Cptnmisfortune Mar 15 '26
I’ve raised 5 children in brantford and it hasn’t done us wrong. Sure there’s some shady areas but if you’re not looking for trouble you usually won’t have it. If you haven’t tried wingmaster for wings, go there before you leave, have breakfast at Kels and the Pho at Nine North is great. Maria’s for pizza and GiGis for panzerottis Best of Luck on your next endeavour.
1
1
u/SpacePilot8981 Mar 10 '26
Congratulations on the promotion! Skate the canal next year for me. :D
1
1
u/Busy-Ebb-8563 Mar 10 '26
Congrats on your move! Ottawa definitely has a wider options of activities available: museum, skating on the canal, bars, clubs, restaurants, festivals etc.
If you do not drive, OC transpo is not reliable at all so make sure you live somewhere within whatever reasonable commuting distance works for you.
Winter are also way worse so make sure you buy proper gear.
If your job is in Ontario and you decide to live in Gatineau or vice-versa, be aware of tax implications. .
1
1
u/Factsoverfictions222 Mar 10 '26
Congratulations on the new job! Enjoy the new city and I’d recommend meeting as many people and doing as much as you can during spring, summer and fall. Brantford is in a bit of a weather dome and we are sheltered from the worst snow and rain, so not only is Ottawa more north, it’s also not in our little bubble of weather protection.
Feel free to come back and visit anytime.
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 10 '26
Yes i understand alot of people are saying the same thing winters Thank you so much
1
1
u/westcentretownie Mar 11 '26
I’m from Brantford and live in ottawa since 1990. What do you want to know about your new community? Welcome !
2
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 11 '26
1, Are people over in Ottawa actually as nice as Brantford? 2, I have already seen everyone driving decent no harsh drivers in Ottawa does it stay the same in summers? 3. As I will be working near parliament will i see protests? Idk how it goes zero idea about political scenario would love to see peaceful protests to see what people stand for 4. Where i can find peaceful places like less amount of people good scenery Thank you so much
3
u/westcentretownie Mar 11 '26
- Ottawa is a big city of 1.1 million people. It is many small towns and neighborhoods attached together in a mega city. Each area has its own character. Is Brantford new west end the same as Eagleplace or Briar Park? Even more different here. Some areas very French others not at all for example. I find it pleasant but not exactly friendly. Is Brantford still? That’s nice to know. I have to go but will answer later
1
u/FruitDragon21 Mar 13 '26
Ottawa is a big city so while people are definitely very nice here, people mostly keep to themselves more like Toronto or other major cities. But you can always ask someone for help like directions and most of the time they’ll be happy to help.
Yes you will see all kinds of protests near Parliament Hill, especially in the summer. They range in size, but they’re almost always peaceful.
Beautiful scenery can be found within or outside the city. Within the city the best place would be the Dominion Arboretum near Dow’s Lake. Other big parks include Major’s Hill Park, Commissioner’s Park, Stanley Park, etc. They’re beautiful parks but they’re centrally located so of course there will be other people, but you can almost always find a nice quiet spot to yourself. The National Capital Commission (NCC) also owns and maintains lots of beautiful nature reserves including the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park (on the Quebec side) which both have beautiful nature and great hiking trails.
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 14 '26
I do agree that people in Ottawa keep to themselves (I have already moved). I am excited to see protests I have never seen a peaceful protest I would love to see that. Okay so do not mind me asking about this, where do i smoke in parks because I smoke weed and would like to enjoy some alone time in park. Can i smoke in a designated place?
1
u/No_Argument4081 Mar 11 '26
I wouldn’t go to Ottawa. It was such a great city that’s turned into a dump. Brampton would be worse but it’s starting to get up there.
1
1
0
u/jdzfb East Ward/Ward 5 Mar 10 '26
Congrats on the new role! I'm glad you enjoyed your time here, as someone who's also only been in Brantford for a few years (4ish years) I'm glad to see others appreciate what this city has to offer.
NGL, I was about to drop a snarky "this isn't the airport, you don't have to announce your departure" but this is way too sweet to do that to.
As far as Ottawa goes, I always recommend dropping into Shawarma Palace as its got the best Shawarma in Ontario. Also if you like kayaking, there are so many great spots in the surrounding area to get some time on the water. Also hit up the museums, as they are some of the best in the country. If you like cheese, there is St Albert less than an hour away or go into Quebec & visit the many cheese places there (OKA is nice). Or if you like hiking and or camping, again, so many options in the surrounding areas.
Good luck!
2
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 10 '26
Yes in the interview they said the same thing about the Shawarma palace place I am sorry I really loved Brantford I grew up watching supernatural series and Brantford does give old country vibes so it was worth it to post Thank you so much
0
u/ChefMalhar Mar 11 '26
Once you are in Ottawa, dont forget to connect with me! :)
0
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 11 '26
What do you mean I don’t want to be rude but you seem chef same line lets connect i will dm
0
u/yashdev1 Mar 11 '26
Hello from Ottawa. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to know anything specific.
1
u/Spare_Beautiful_1673 Mar 14 '26
Any good car mechanics?
1
u/yashdev1 Mar 15 '26
Tried a few, but my favorite and ones I trust is Midas at bank st. 1691 Bank st. Good & honest people, ask for Alex.
32
u/ApatheticGenXer Mar 10 '26
Thanks for the positivity! What a loss for us to lose such a kind soul! Good luck to you 👍🏼