The City: Online dating service declares London as Cougar Capital of Canada

Suddenly, it?s crystal clear: We need to dump the tired old ?Forest City? image and start promoting London as the ?Cougar Capital? of Canada.

And no, I?m not talking about big, bewhiskered cats.

I?m talking sex. Because sex sells. And it?ll definitely draw more attention than trees. At the very least, it might keep a lot of young men ? and everybody says London needs to retain more young people ? from leaving town.

Because according to a survey from the online dating service CougarLife.com, London is now the cougar capital of Canada ? the city that boasts the highest ratio of ?cougars? to ?cubs.?

The online dating service, which claims four million users worldwide, says the ratio of cougars (women in their mid-30s or older who prefer dating younger men) to cubs (men who date women at least five-to-seven years older) is about one-to-one in most cities. London, however, boasts a 60% ratio of cougars to cubs among its 8,518 registered CougarLife members.

Or as the online service puts it, ?there is an abundance of cougars for the hunt? in London.

Let?s face it: London has never latched onto a sexy marketing scheme. Sure, we?ve got comfortable commutes, affordable housing, Guy Lombardo and a jet d?eau. But selling our city as the country?s ?cougar capital? might just get this city sizzling.

And don?t worry ? according to CougarLife.com spokesperson Marlo Jordan, the term ?cougar? is no longer a demeaning insult.

?I think society has changed,? says Jordan, who lives near Sacramento in northern California. ?I think the cougar phenomenon is starting to become socially acceptable.?

Jordan certainly practises what she preaches ? the 42-year-old divorced mother of three is dating a 29-year-old chiropractor.

?If an older man can date a younger woman, why can?t an older woman date a younger man?? Jordan says.

Jordan says the presence of a university and college in London likely contributes to the relative abundance of older women searching for younger men. ?Maybe there are some hotter guys coming into town, and the women are noticing,? she says, adding the age difference can periodically present problems. ?There are times when it?s like, ?Oh boy, you sure are young ? I?m going to burp you before I kiss you.? ?

Jordan is equally candid about why a younger man would want to date an older woman.

?I think the bottom line is that a lot of younger guys .?.?. are still trying to learn what to do in the bedroom,? she admits. ?And what better way than being with an older woman who can teach them??

Fair enough. And does Jordan have any advice for an aspiring cub?

?Be yourself, act your age, be confident,? she says. ?And don?t be afraid to say what you want out of the relationship, because she probably wants the same thing, which is more than likely going to be sex.

?I mean, c?mon,? Jordan says. ?At the end of the day, what else are you going to do with these guys??

Ian Gillespie is the Free Press city columnist.

ian.gillespie@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/IanatLFPress

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Cougars: Women in their mid-30s or older who date younger men

Cubs: Young men who date women at least five-to-seven years older

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TOP COUGAR CITIES IN CANADA

(based on ratio of ?cougars? to ?cubs?):

1) London: 60%

2) Richmond: 58%

3) Ottawa: 57%

4) Winnipeg: 57%

5) Halifax: 57%

6) Saskatoon: 56%

7) Windsor: 56%

8) Victoria: 55%

9) Waterloo: 54%

10) Moncton: 53%

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Famous cougar couples

(past and present)

• Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher (15-year age difference);
• Kim Cattrall and Alan Wyse (23 years)
• Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins (12 years)
• Liz Taylor and Larry Fortensky (20 years)
• Madonna and Carlos Leon (12 years)

Source: http://www.lfpress.com/2013/07/09/the-city-online-dating-service-declares-london-as-cougar-capital-of-canada

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