Hi there !

I am still waiting for my PPR and during this time, has to plan and do some survey on what i need to do when/if I am there.

I went to Canada/Missisauga last year July. So fascinated with the life there and straight away applied. It may be some time before i will be there....

I intend to stay in Waterloo near the 2 universities. Made some research thru website and discover that its a very good catchment area for students business ie renting out basement/apt and provide homestay program for them and others.

That way, when we first landed, it may be very difficult to find a good job so the rental and homestay may prove to be a good source of income. I am thinking of taking up a course in Conestoga college nearby too ( convenient )

Any comments on the quality of life in KW and the idea above ?

Thanks

Gary

Hi Gary
We live just outside Waterloo and have no idea about the rental situation but hope that these links may be of some help to you regarding the way of life.

http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/navigat...ection12.shtml For general info from the University of Waterloo

http://www.kwrestaurants.com/home.htm For the important things in life!!

We have only been in Canada and KW for a few months but if there's anything specific that we can help with please ask.

Bernadette

I grew up in Kitchener-Waterloo - although Ive been away now for several years, we go back every year to visit family and friends. If I can be of any help let me know.

Quality of life in KW is quite good IMO. The area is rather non-descript but housing prices are below the Canadian average, while incomes are above average and the unemployment rate is low. The area has the second lowest poverty rate in the country.

The Universities continue to slowly increase their enrollments and high tech industry is growing rapidly in Waterloo.

I think your plan is a very good one, that more should consider. KW certainly doesn't have BC's scenary, but the standard of living is generally higher.

Hi Wilmore/MDX/AGibson,

Thanks a lot for your reply. Actually I have an Aunt staying in Missisisauga but the housing there is so high now. To buy a 2 sty detached at 300k is near impossible now but in KW, u can still get a nice house and bigger too.

good to hear that the unemployment rate there is low too and std of living is high.

Glad to hear your comments and make me feel more confident of my choice.

I may be making a trip again end of this year and make more detailed study of this place.

Thanks again

Gary

Dont forget to visit the waterloo farmer's market - great place to just walk around and then sit and take in the atmosphere while drinking a cup of coffee.

You might also want to check out the conestoga college in waterloo. Unless it has changed, it was being used for kids to complete high school. You might be more interested in the Kitchener/Doon location which you would probably need a car to get to if you wanted to go there.

Hi Wilmore !

I certainly will visit the place and go to Conestoga college too sicne i also want to take up a diploma course there. This makes me more and more eager to go there now..... luckily i hv a cousin who can drive me around.....i may even stay in Waterloo for few days.....any cheap and good accomodation there for me/wife and a 3 year old kid ?

Agibson

Thanks for the website....very informative indeed.....

i wrote to an pty agent and she sent me photos of the houses and they r fabulous.....and best part is within my budget.....otherwise...no point in thinking of it too

thanks again,....

Gary

My wife is from Waterloo and we lived there for a while in 1999. It is a nice safe town and the housing is cheap compared to areas closer to GTA. I would however IMO stay clear of Kitchener, gun violence is on the increase there (well according to the tv, - CKCO). The town is older looking than Waterloo and appears/feels deprived. All that being said we have friends in Kitch with a beautiful home, backing on to a wood, they love it! Just got over here and judge for yourself

Does the Kitchener/Waterloo area have the same air quality issues that the GTA does?

I think the air quality is better than GTA and downtown T, however, even in our little town of around 100k people there are smog advisories in the summer.

Yes, but the air quality is somewhat better than in the GTA.

Thanks for that Nivlad and Ocean. I'm trying to work out where best to consider in terms of looking for IT work for my OH. Obviously BC is high on the list, but I did wonder about the Kitchener area because of RIM. My son is a severe asthmatic and from what I've heard GTA wouldn't be the best place to move to, so it's good to hear that Kitchener isn't as bad as Toronto.

Southern Ontario has very high pollen counts. Air quality is generally much better in BC than in s. Ontario.

Canada's computers are in the GTA, Ottawa and K-W. If you want to live in the west and work in computing then Washington or California are the states to look at.

K-W sounds good then.

Just out of interest is it commutable from K-W if my OH got a job in Toronto? He's used to doing long distances to work, he currently drives for around 90 minutes to get to work here in the UK.