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Any insight into live in Toronto?

Any insight into live in Toronto?

Old Jan 16th 2011, 4:25 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by Auld Yin
Toronto, for the most part, is NOT bitterly cold in winter.

Agree with this, though some days the windchill can make things tasty. Today we have minus 10 and beautifully sunny. The average daytime high in Jan is -3 I think. I haven't spent a full winter here yet, but so far I haven't experienced anything to fear at all.
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Old Jan 16th 2011, 4:28 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by christmasoompa
Anybody considering it would be wise to check it out as it seems to be somewhere people either love or are very disappointed with.
People who love it generally come from small towns, what they love is the facilities available when a large number of people live near one another. They would, I think, love Pittsburgh or Manchester equally well. If there's something unique to Toronto, to love or hate, I haven't stumbled across it.
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Old Jan 16th 2011, 4:50 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by dbd33
People who love it generally come from small towns, what they love is the facilities available when a large number of people live near one another. They would, I think, love Pittsburgh or Manchester equally well. If there's something unique to Toronto, to love or hate, I haven't stumbled across it.
It's not a world class city but it's pretty bloody good for public school education, culture and the climate (summers are worse than winters in my view). As for traffic, yes it's a bit crap on the 401 and the DVP but having just come back from LA the traffic here is NOTHING compared to other North American cities ...
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Old Jan 16th 2011, 5:00 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into living in Toronto?

I'm basically looking for suburban life, so no not necessarily Toronto, but as my IT background is within the financial sector, Toronto struck me as the most likely candidate.

Our kids are age 3, 5 and 9 so having to ferry them around isn't a problem. As long as the place is well served for recreation and not too awkward a commute into whichever major centre is nearby. I tend to commute 45 miles to work at the moment which takes on average 45-50 minutes.

Thanks for all the ideas so far.
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Old Jan 16th 2011, 5:02 pm
  #20  
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Default Re: Any insight into living in Toronto?

Originally Posted by Andy194
I'm basically looking for suburban life, so no not necessarily Toronto, but as my IT background is within the financial sector, Toronto struck me as the most likely candidate.

Our kids are age 3, 5 and 9 so having to ferry them around isn't a problem. As long as the place is well served for recreation and not too awkward a commute into whichever major centre is nearby. I tend to commute 45 miles to work at the moment which takes on average 45-50 minutes.

Thanks for all the ideas so far.
So do you already have PR? The visa really is the most crucial bit of this process and will influence the answers you are given. If you do, then you'll need to give more info for meaningful answers i.e. your salary/what kind of lifestyle you'd want/how many cars you'd need to run/what kind of property you want etc. Then people will be able to suggest suitable areas based on the above.

May also be worth starting your own thread rather than hijacking the OP's.

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Old Jan 16th 2011, 5:02 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by London Mike
As for traffic, yes it's a bit crap on the 401 and the DVP but having just come back from LA the traffic here is NOTHING compared to other North American cities ...
The 401 is the busiest road in North America (unless you count Mexico as being in North America) so, I'd say that driving in the GTA is equally as miserable experience as driving in LA or round the Beltway. Mind, I'm not sure I'd count the 401 as being in Toronto, GTA certainly, but it's a fair way north of the city, driving on it is more of a trial for people in the suburbs than people in Toronto.
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Old Jan 16th 2011, 5:57 pm
  #22  
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by London Mike
Agree with this, though some days the windchill can make things tasty. Today we have minus 10 and beautifully sunny. The average daytime high in Jan is -3 I think. I haven't spent a full winter here yet, but so far I haven't experienced anything to fear at all.
That's bitterly cold in my experience.
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Old Jan 16th 2011, 6:52 pm
  #23  
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

I lived in Toronto for 7 years. It's a great city - probably my favourite city in North America. There is a ton of things to do there for people of all interests and lots to do for kids.

I didn't have any issue with the weather. The winters were not bad at all - I learned to skate, ski, play curling and also became a big ice hockey fan. I loved the clear blue skies - a big improvement from cloudy, rainy days in the UK. The hot summers were great too - high humidity was never an issue for me as everywhere was air conditioned (except for the outdoors of course!). The winters have been just as bad or worse here in the DC area in recent years. And the DC area is also famous for dreadful summer heat and humidity. You just deal with it.

Toronto's public transportation system is pretty good. I didn't have a car for the first 4 years there and could get everywhere I needed to using the TTC (subway, buses, and streetcars). I lived at Yonge/Eglinton and worked in Downsview. My wife had an even easier commute downtown on the subway. We bought a car only after our first child was born and I started working in Mississauga (commuting via the 401).

Yes, 401 traffic can be difficult but that's true of most major cities in North America. I'm currently dealing with the Beltway and the I95 here in the Washington DC area and I've seen horrendous traffic here. I lived in London and saw major issues on the M25 and M1. I lived in Manchester and had to deal with the M6. Traffic problems are a concern the world over in major metropolitan centers.

I had tons of visitors (family and friends) during my time in Toronto. Everyone absolutely loved Toronto. It was great to be so close to Niagara Falls and it was easy to drive into the US.

The crime rate is relatively low in Toronto. The number of murders is very low for a city of that size. It's a relatively safe and clean city.

There are great schools there and the University of Toronto is a world class institution. Medical facilities are very good - there are some very good hospitals there. The Hospital for Sick Children is probably the best children's hospital in the world.

I honestly really can't think of any negatives. Toronto has a lot going for it and stacks up well against any other destination in North America not just Canada.
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Old Jan 16th 2011, 11:51 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by dbd33
It's a shame then that the thread header does not more accurately reflect the question being asked:

"Any insight to live nowhere special in southern Ontario? I'm looking to be somewhere like Slough"

might have worked better.
OK I'm not sure how this conclusion was reached but I was hoping to get some input from those amongst the forum members that have actually emigrated from the UK to Toronto specifically. I am gathering as much info as possible from as many varied sources to start to formulate a view of this place...that's all.
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Old Jan 17th 2011, 1:21 am
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by SamiZ
OK I'm not sure how this conclusion was reached but I was hoping to get some input from those amongst the forum members that have actually emigrated from the UK to Toronto specifically.
Me, for example. You have my list of child tolerant neighbourhoods in post 9.
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Old Feb 25th 2011, 10:05 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Hey, What is Toronto like for young people?
Ive heard that it has a good club vibe to it ?
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Old Feb 25th 2011, 10:33 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by j-dizzle
Hey, What is Toronto like for young people?
Ive heard that it has a good club vibe to it ?
Speaking as a young person myself, I think you'll find it adequate.

Certainly better than anywhere else in English speaking Canada, (I'm thinking of Montreal as a rival).

Party down.
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Old Feb 25th 2011, 10:48 pm
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by Novocastrian
Speaking as a young person myself, I think you'll find it adequate.

Certainly better than anywhere else in English speaking Canada, (I'm thinking of Montreal as a rival).

Party down.
Party down? You were doing so well there.
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Old Feb 25th 2011, 11:13 pm
  #29  
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by ireland2canada
Party down? You were doing so well there.
One tries. But empathizing with folk your age takes a toll you know.
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Old Feb 26th 2011, 1:45 am
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Default Re: Any insight into live in Toronto?

Originally Posted by j-dizzle
Hey, What is Toronto like for young people?
Ive heard that it has a good club vibe to it ?
It's fantastic. Toronto and Montreal are the 2 best cities in Canada for young people in my opinion and 2 of the best in North America.
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