dbd33

It's a shame Lulu's has gone, a former K Mart store, at one time it claimed the longest stand up bar in the world. It got quite busy at Oktoberfest. There's also the Christmas market with skating and gluhwein, not a patch on the one in Belfast, or so I hear, but nice enough. I'm not knocking Kitchener, though I will on demand, but since it's not commutable to Hamilton, wondering what features attracted and might be available elsewhere.

I enjoy the horse auctions and summer sausage without thinking their beliefs or animal "care" defensible.

All of which is fair enough but none of which distinguishes Kitchener from the other southern Ontario towns such as Orangeville, Cambridge or Brantford.

SCORPION

We moved to Kitchener last July, and my daughter (8) loves it. I was a bit skeptical at first but I am a true convert now. we live at the KW border and my daughter attends a school in waterloo. Ther's lots to do here - for kids, at a cost of course but at least the options do exist. However, we still dont have a family doctor (GP). hope this helps.

PeterF

You can't have been then.

Sponsored by Molston, so only Molston Canadian beer available in plastic glasses (YUK)

PeterF

I still can't understand why Kitchener and not Burlington?

Howard Morris

Is Burlington better?

dbd33

It's more expensive but nearer to Hamilton. We've been around this before on this board but it seems to me that it would be bizarre to live in Burlington and commute to Hamilton. Burlington's a suburb of Toronto, part of the dormitory sprawl, it's cheaper than Oakville but similar so people live there and put up with the longer commute. If you don't have to commute to Toronto then you have more choices, places that either have merit or offer the same features as Burlington at a lower cost; Kitchener, Cambridge, Grimsby, etc.

PeterF

But is it cheaper in the long run, longer driving means higher cost for fuel and wear and tear on the vehicle.

Also as I mentioned and was swept under the carpet is the winter driving. 6 months of the year is winter with the additional hazards, delays, etc.

dbd33

Living in Burlington and commuting to Hamilton would be cheaper than living in Kitchener and doing the same but, for the same distance, why not live in Grimsby or Ancaster?

I don't think there are more delays in winter, I think drizzle is the worst condition for traffic speed and that's not specifically a winter thing. Wind isn't good either so a location involving commuting over the Burlington Skyway wouldn't be my choice.

Howard Morris

Well, thanks for your help everybody. Lots of different opinions I see. I'll just figure it out when I get there.

Jaffa0007

Hi Howard,

I live in the Chicopee area of Kitchener, which is a really nice neighbourhood. It is a new sub division, so the houses are in the region of brand new to about 5 to 7 years old.

A new school has just been built and opened within the Chicopee area which is a Catholic school as well, and from what my neighbours say who have kids going there, it is a great school. It was opened in Sept 2010 and the website is:

http://pjp.wcdsb.ca/

Hope this helps

Thanks

Jaffa

Bells1424

Take a look at Ancaster, Grimsby...............

Novocastrian

It sounds like hell on earth.

To the OP: why would you consider such a place and then add the misery of a long commute to Hamilton?

There are some nice parts of Hamilton.

Jaffa0007

Wow Novocastrian,

I am not sure if this is a joke (if it is, then haha very funny, you got me!), or if you are being serious, then you are entitled to your opinion, I am sure if it was 'hell on earth', I am sure that's why Waterloo has two of the best known universities in the world, has excellent job oppurtunties within the financial and IT sector, and nearly 250,000 people live here....which much make them 'hell-lites'!

Over to you, Novocastrian

dbd33

I can't speak for Novo, but when I initially read this:

"It is a new sub division, so the houses are in the region of brand new to about 5 to 7 years old."

Knowing that it was in Kitchener I thought, "Poor you, I hope that never happens to me."

m4mm4l

Hi Howard,
I work in Kitchener-Waterloo and live in Hamilton but on the mountain. The commute is 70 minutes on a good day with clear run and I would imagine its a lot worse going from Kitchener to Hamilton due to the Toronto traffic. (by the way - gas costs me about $55 per week for a VW Golf)

It's worth looking at housing on Hamilton mountain and in Dundas/Ancaster - although Ancaster is very expensive. Hamilton city itself is comparable to somewhere like Sheffield in the UK - old steel city trying to recover but the mountain is a lot better with good amenities.

hope this helps.
Chris