Move to Toronto? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Move to Toronto?

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marycatherine
1759
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 23:31
Hamilton is a separate city, but the lines are blurred with Toronto and other towns in between.
Snugglepot
56
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 17:47
Ah...tdale - thanks for clarifying about driving in other parts of Canada being different to Toronto. It is actually good to know. Also helps to know it is not just me being in a new environment and imagining the driving to be so aggressive here. Really can't understand it as the police are out in full force, see far more police pulling people over here than ever did in Dubai, so why do drivers continue to speed and intimidate! Sara65 - the girls are right "Toronto" is a huge area - my DH actually corrected me when I put Toronto in the address, he said it should just read Ontario - I am still getting my head around that Hamilton (for example) is actually like its own "city" as opposed to being a suburb of Toronto (still not sure that I have even got that right!). As I am not allowed to work for 12 months (or until I get my PR which can take that long) I guess I have not had to think about transport to get to work - I will eventually try to find something in the area we are living in when the time comes - luckily DH is working from home, so not a problem for him either. There appear to be many web-sites to help with the transition to Canada so I am sure you will be able to find the information you will need. Best of luck
Babylons8684
328
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:51
by "merge" do you mean merge in with the traffic??
natalie826828
619
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:22
I used to live on the border of Etobicoke and Missisauga and took the Go Train to Union Station - 20 minutes tops. I preferred using the Go Train over the subway system. Nice area, mc. I've lived in both Etobicoke and Mississauga. The Go Train is really good. the trick is, to find out where you'll be working, then plan your move around this. There are schools to consider too. You would have to send your kids to the school that is closest to where you live, so choose carefully. Toronto cna mean a huge area now, from Oshawa to Brampton and Markham, to the Niagara Peninsula, including, as some have mentioned, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, and Hamilton and further out towards Niagara and north on the 400, like Barrie and beyond. Cost of living is high in most of the areas whithin an hour's drive to Toronto, but then if you move farther out, like Barrie, you could be spening 2 hours in traffic each way, then you have the snow to contend with in the winter. There are many companies in the 'suburbs', so you should really find this out first. Good luck. <em>edited by natalie8 on 14/08/2011</em>
marycatherine
1759
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 14:12
Toronto and surrounding "suburbs" (Oakville Port Credit etc.) have an excellent public transportation system into Toronto proper called the Go Train - in the mornings there are express trains with fewer stops from some of the more distant areas. If you're working downtown and looking for an easier pace and lower rents, check out those areas served by the Go Trains (you can probably find a map and timings online) - I used to live on the border of Etobicoke and Missisauga and took the Go Train to Union Station - 20 minutes tops. I preferred using the Go Train over the subway system. <em>edited by marycatherine on 14/08/2011</em>
imolinar
341
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 11:16
The driving in Canada is generally nice, except in Toronto. I really hate the 401. It is the busiest highway in North America and you can bump into traffic jumps there even on Sunday. Rental prices in Toronto are very high, and many houses are very old. I had a terrible experience there. House full of rats, humidity, etc. It is better to live in the outskirts.
tdale
139
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 10:53
I need to be clear about something, but dont want to start a mini-war :) Drivers in Canada so NOT all drive like they do in Toronto!!! haha... Actually it is greatly known in other areas of the country (i.e Ottawa, Montreal) of how BAD the drivers in Toronto are, compared to those other areas. I have lived 24+ years of my life in Canada and so speaking from experience.... Toronto drivers SUCK. Though, on the other hand, Ottawa drivers are so NOT aggressive, that sometimes you actually wish they were just so traffic could "move along" a little faster.... But anyway, as other posters have mentioned, you MUST learn to merge! :)
khatoon
79
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 09:11
we will be moving to canada in october ...thanks for starting an informative thread...i just hope DH gets a good job there...
SueB
2262
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 06:12
she is right, drivers on your tail. You must learn how to merge in Canada. Go with the flow of traffic and follow the speed limits...learning to merge is a big thing in Canada...Dubai, not very much ;( You will get used to the road system in Canada, it is diffrent than Dubai, but not better or worse :)...just different :) You can choose to assimilate which is good. Your realestate agents are just that...they sell Realestate and have a license to do so....Apartment and house rental agents do that and that is all :)..a very clear definination :)...please take the time to enjoy your entry into Canada :)
Snugglepot
56
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 05:39
Hi Sara65 - we have just moved to Toronto from Dubai about 5 weeks ago now. We had intended to look around the Burlington/Oakville area to rent, but found to get something decent was a bit out of our budget. We have ended up in a suburb called Stoney Creek which is very nice (and close to the wineries!). We are in a house, so I guess it depends on whether you are looking at a house, townhouse or apartment. We found a good real-estate site to use is realtor.ca. We had started looking on it before we moved to get familiar with the areas and prices. Can't comment on schools as we don't have children. The differences I have personally found so far - very rule and regulation orientated here. Drivers are very aggressive - want to rid on your tail all the time - I actually find it worse here than Dubai. The drivers are crazy in Dubai, but the road system is excellent - the drivers are aggresive here in Toronto, but the road system is also not up to the standard of Dubai (I stress, this is just my opinion). I am originally from Australia (lived in Dubai 4 years) and had always thought Canada & Australia were very similar - am changing my mind a little now that I am here. Oh.... and there is no EW site to go onto to find out information!! I have found another couple of expat sites, but they are not as informative and easy to navigate as EW. Overall - it has taken some adjusting here, but after 5 weeks we are just starting to enjoy and appreciate it a little bit more. Hope this is of some help to you.
Gummy45034
257
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 03:24
Well, I can't give you too much advice since I am 2 hours away from Toronto in London (ontario). As far as schooling is concerned, there aren't huge differences between schools in the public system. They all have standards they have to meet and the curriculum is pretty standardized. There is a public secular school board and a seperate Catholic school board. Both boards offer french immersion. Housing is expensive, but less expensive than Dubai (from what I understand). Can't help you with neighbourhoods. :)
sara656225
55
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 August 2011 - 01:19
Possibly looking at a move to Toronto - any advice/info please from any Canadians? What is housing like (rental prices, good locations, etc) schooling, general quality of life? TIA.
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