Looking for quality of life? Saint John is number one in national survey!

Most of the happiest cities in Canada are on the East Coast, not surprisingly, Saint John is at the top of the list.

According to the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Canadians are most likely to be satisfied with the quality of life in places like Saint John, Moncton, N.B., and Charlottetown, all of which placed in the top five of a survey of 18 Canadian cities.

In fact, knowing your neighbours — and trusting those around you — is a key reason why a city like Saint John tops the list, said John Helliwell, a University of British Columbia economist who led the research project. He said his ongoing work, which has not yet been published, suggests a correlation between lower levels of life satisfaction in some of the country’s most affluent cities — Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary among them — and the lower levels of trust among neighbours in those cities. “They’re more inclined to feel harried. They’re more inclined to feel pressured,” Helliwell told CBC News. “They have a little less time to build these positive relationships.”

All the same, Helliwell said the findings suggest that cities with a static population and deep roots are happier places. “It’s really the extent to which people feel connected to each other, committed to each other and open,” he said.

So what do you think? I’m not surprised one bit, just look at the cost of living alone. You may not make as much as you would in Alberta, but your money goes a long way when it comes to essentials such as housing. You can’t beat the pace of life either. I can bike to work in a little over half an hour, or drive within twenty. Try explaining that to someone from Toronto!

PS - Thanks for the link Steph.