A TALE OF TWO CITIES

There is a rivalry between Ottawa and Toronto that doesn’t make much sense to outsiders. I hadn’t expected to see it played out though as part of the Canadian Tulip Festival.

Ottawa is the national capital. Toronto, five times as large is the provincial capital. Toronto thinks it is the centre of the universe. Ottawa is known as the town that fun forgot.

The competition between their sporting teams is more intense. In hockey Toronto has won the Battle of Ontario in the playoffs in the last 15 years or so. In football, it is Ottawa that has the championship ring.

Because of its size Toronto dominates when it comes to arts and culture – but the funding comes from Ottawa. And Ottawa usually scores better on quality of life surveys.

I just didn’t expect the rivalry to play out in the tulip beds.