scilly

Isn't there also a need to have full health insurance for the entire term of a working holiday visa in place before arriving in Canada?

LuckyNumberFun

UH OH. Looks like I'm gonna be looking for contract work...

sophiejones19

Thanks guys!

I understand nepotism dbd33, our accounting industry isn't like that, however our trading/investment banking industry is similar.
Thank you for the heads up, it's very interesting.

Thanks MarylandNed, I also understand you. One of my Irish friends worked in Toronto for an electronic store and he was on a working visa too. I guess the working visait's mainly for the easy short-term sort of job - something I need to get my head around
I think would be lucky to get something better than what I have now. Having a 2 month notice at my current job now, I would definitely be hesistant to leave. But for 25 years living in a cosy part of West London with my family, I want to try something new! I haven't experienced the 'hard life'.
My father thinks I should work in Canada to 'get it out of my system'!

sophiejones19

Yes you need to show that when you arrive at the airport/border..
I saw somewhere it is about £200-£300

waltsdog

$1500 for an apartment in TO is doable still, if that's your budget and you want to live alone then go with that, you won't get a condo anywhere close to downtown for that money though so look at apartments. Most of my friends live in and around Parkdale, Dundas West, Bloor West etc. and they all pay between 1200 and 1600 for one beds. I personally wouldn't go north as you'll have to rely on the TTC which IMHO is at best passable and at worse total dog doo.
If you share you'll end up paying near enough $1000 for anywhere decent anyway as downtown 2 beds are pushing $2-3000 right now.
You should be able to get within a 45 min - an hour walk to downtown with your budget (closer if you're lucky), the streetcar isn't much faster than walking most days so I never bothered with it much.

From personal experience, I moved to Toronto and managed to score a job in a similar area (I work for an accounting firm although not in a 'professional' occupation). So it can be done, but it took a long time and had I not had significant savings I'd be back in the UK right now.
If you don't have enough cash to pay your bills for 6+ months then you'll almost certainly end up having to take a serving job which is the best way to earn enough money to pay the rent (awful pay, great tips usually).

sophiejones19

Thanks waltsdog!

God, I think I may have confused people when I said 'condo' - I think I meant apartment!? (as in a 1 bed, 1 bathroom like a hotel?)

I also had to just Google what a 'streetcar' was *facepalm* - a tram in the UK.
Wow!!!

Thank you for all this information though.. I clearly have A LOT to research still.
I am now curious of your story! Is it anywhere on this forum? Do you live in Canada permanently now?
I've spent my lunch break today reading about people's experiences and long term stays after the IEC!

dbd33

It doesn't really matter from the renter's perspective if it's an "apartment" or a "condo" or a "rooming house", they all provide space with, at least, a shower and some sort of device on which a meal could theoretically be prepared. Condo vs. apartment is just a matter of how the building is owned.

ChrisBan

Splitting hairs but all of those areas you will generally rely on TTC unless you are lucky enough to find a related job in those areas, so I'd say excluding the north is unfair... unless you of course mean north of the 401.

dbd33

The advantage of being east or west is that you're taking trams so, when they break down, you can easily get out and walk. When the subway breaks down you're at the mercy of the TTC. Ideally one would want to always have the choice of walking, Cabbagetown is good for that.

JamesM

You could find a bachelor for $1500.

Remember the prices advertised are not written in stone so you can also negotiate/squeeze- especially if people can see an empty month on the horizon.

City Place and Liberty Village are the obvious neighbourhoods for young people.

Cabbage Town, Yonge-Eglington and anywhere of the Yonge line are decent too.

High Park and The Junction also decent-ish.

Queen between Bathurst and Ossington will have some spots.

You probably will get $50k as an accountant but my guess is close to half your income would be swallowed by your rent.

I don't know how you will meet people if you're not out and about so personally if I were you I'd try and find a share so you have more disposable income to socialise.