sorry, i didnt see this message previously. I am at the 'received by the visa office' stage according to status and 'in process' according to a different communication from CIC. I am not planning to settle in Canada any longer but if I was, I would probably choose Vancouver but it really depends on a job. If i had a job at McGill, then I would choose Montreal without a thought. Toronto isn't a bad choice either.
I am not a big fan of going to Alberta (given my circumstances and preference).
It sure is a hard decision.
BC in general is expensive, you will have to find a really good job to afford its costs, especially the housing markets. For me, I would never go to Alberta (unless I had that worthy job) because of its cold weather.
Toronto might be a good place to work in, but not to live in- It is too expensive , there is always news of shooting or stabbing, however one can choose to live in areas near Toronto so it is a little cheaper, and safer.
By the way, for those who are almost there, here are some most useful Canadian websites for finding a place to live: viewit.ca and gottarent.com and kijiji
I have been in Canada for a while now, and believe me, you will find yourself spending a lot of money. I advise all those who will come to have a job as soon as they are here. For the car insurance, it is awfully high (even with 10 years of driving experience and no accidents ).
Finally, Canada is a great place to live in and it gives a lot to those who are ready to give generously. Good luck to you all.