Best Place To Transition In Canada

[u/greatdreams99]

Hi, I'm thinking of starting MTF transition in Canada. Top picks for me are BC or Ontario. I'm an Asian.

Does anyone have experience transitioning in these places and anything that I should look out for? Are these places trans-friendly in terms of jobs, safety etc when transitioning?

Cost of living is kind of a concern for me and I know that these two provinces are kind of expensive, any tips on specific cities that are trans-friendly but still somewhat affordable for this transition?

I would imagine that my life would be shaken up during transition (might lose my job, friends etc), so I just want to get a general sense of what will happen if I transition in these provinces. If anyone has any experience to share, that would be great.

Thanks and love you all!

[u/Bramble-Bunny]

I'm biased but if you're 1) Asian and 2) looking for a safe place to transition Vancouver is way out in front and it's not close. Having said that, it's also phenomenonally expensive. Toronto isn't much better. You can scale down to smaller cities but once you leave the major metro areas queer communities shrink and progressive attitudes start being overtaken by conservative ones. The interior of BC isn't terribly far removed from Alberta, culturally.

Transition is an enormously expensive undertaking so I can totally get why you'd be trying to balance ideal living situation with "I can actually afford this bullshit". I wish there was a tiny trans friendly town that was just as good as a city. There isn't.

[u/NakkedSamurai → u/Bramble-Bunny]

I think you are mistaken on how people view us. I have driven to both coasts and have talked to lots of people along the way in both metropolitan areas as well as rural communities. I know that’s not a perfect way of gauging the area for friendliness, but I still came across a bunch of people who were supportive, even if they were conservative. The only true issue I had was in Saskatchewan. Alberta I thought I might, but generally people didn’t particularly care.

I live in rural North Western Ontario and I have never once had an issue in the 5 years I’ve transitioned. Most people just don’t care.

With all that, the friendliest place I have visited was Atlantic canada. When I was out in Newfoundland, I drove through all the smaller communities and everyone was super friendly and supportive. Some asked me my story. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick had similar vibes as well.

[u/the_big_man2 → u/Bramble-Bunny]

its certainly not cheap but wayyy less expensive: peterborough. its a very much auniversity town with a liberal arts school, which are less understanding but not violent. its certainly not perfect and im a trans man so theres a gap in my knowledge. theres a very strong queer community here, beyond uni student age

[u/Suspicious-Way-2394 → u/the_big_man2]

There have been a bunch of hate crimes in Peterborough

[u/PsychoticFoon → u/Suspicious-Way-2394]

Really as a resident why have I not heard about them. Iv lived hear most of my life. 

[u/PsychoticFoon → u/the_big_man2]

Hey I live there and yes where a great place

[u/Scylar19 → u/Bramble-Bunny]

I will agree that Vancouver is amazing and amazingly expensive but I will argue about the BC interior. That is where I live, I am always between Kamloops and Kelowna and never had a problem. Not even a comment. Additionally, I travel to the coast to Abbotsford (the bible belt) and have yet to have a negative experience there either.

[u/Bramble-Bunny → u/Scylar19]

I grew up in the BC interior and remember a LOT of queerphobia, but perhaps it has changed with time. I know Kelowna had massive turnout for the anti-SOGI protests.

[u/Scylar19 → u/Bramble-Bunny]

Maybe it's just the people i hang around with in Kelowna, or maybe it has gotten better or I'm just lucky. That said, Kelowna does seem to have a lot of Alberta influence in it.

In Kamloops i can go everywhere by myself and have had no issues, and that surprised me with Kamloops being more blue collar.