We are looking at moving to the surrounding areas of Toronto (Barrie, Brampton, Hamilton are all potential candidates). Once landed we intend to look for a suitable place to rent/buy and then search for employment. Question is.. my wife is very concerned with landing slap bang in the middle of winter? Would landing at this time of year make it more difficult for us? or are we just letting the nerves get to us again?

We moved from Toronto to the surrounding area last February (pictures at the beginning of the blog) as far out as you're thinking but to a rural location.
We managed but it would have been a great deal easier in April.

Gotta land sometime. My first night in Canada was -28C

It will make moving furnature etc a pain, but as long as you are paying someone else to do it its not a major issue.

You might not have any idea what your garden really looks like for several months though...but if you are renting no harm done.

Finding winter clothing in the cheaper stores could be an issue, they tend to work about a season and a half ahead here..its late summer and the summer stuff is being cleared out and some winter stuff is appearing already.

Psychologically its not a bad idea, get an idea what its like but not have to face the whole thing, and not arrive in the middle of summer and have the coming winter loom over the remaining summer weeks... If you arrive mid/late winter you can face a bit of winter and then enjoy the whole long summer knowing what to expect.

Hi JH, we're moving over this September, the latest I'd go. Decided we wouldn't do a winter move for obvious reasons. Unless you don't have a choice I'd wait for better weather, especially if you've got to travel around looking for somewhere to live and look for jobs.

Just remember if you buy a house, don't be surprised if you discover all sorts of junk in the yard when the snow melts. Snow is great for hiding stuff.

If you move to Canada you'll have to learn to deal with winter one way or another... might as well jump into the middle of it! Doing a lot of running around outdoors is less convenient in winter than in summer, but I'm sure you'll be able to manage. Be aware, though, that the region of southern Ontario north of Highway 7 (where Barrie is to be found) can get quite a bit of snow. If you settle in the "snow belt" and have little experience driving in snowy conditions, be sure to get an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Absolutely unnecessary, AWD can make it easier to get going , and will almost certainly gives you a false sense of security, right up until the point you have to stop in a hurry, at which point its bugger all use to you.

What you probably should get is a decent set of snow tires, so you can stop as well as get going. AWD is nice to have, but its certainly not necessary, and can be downright misleading for someone unused to driving in winter conditions

For me, the summer here is far, far WORSE than the winter.

Hot and humid.

Have to agree.

Been here 45 years and used to dread winters. But for the last ten years I actually look foward to winter with the snow and cold. It is a welcome change from the heat, humidity, and occasional smog.

In that exact circumstance I equipped myself with a New Beetle convertible. Much more fun than some dreary 4x4.

Good morning db. 4x4 Dreary in Canada, fun in England (if you can get down our roads) Beetle, dreary here but...fun in Ontario?

'morning.

Well not that much fun but it is a convertible and it does disconcert people to be passed by a Beetle doing a 100 (2.5 liters, not much weight, quicker than you'd guess). The Mustang was really fun but I needed something that was more of a compromise, more suitable for the snow (and had 3 seats), hence the Beetle.

I think the only vehicle I've driven which had 4x4 and was fun was the Jeep YJ we took offroading. The ones I've owned or rented; Suzuki Sidekick, Suzuki Vitara, Ford Explorer, Ford Escape, Dodge Durango have all been more sensible than entertaining and I never used the four wheel drive in any of them.

On edit : add Honda Element to AWD and dull list. Add 1987 Land Cruiser to AWD and entertaining list.

Actually, a part-time or switchable 4x4 system (as opposed to AWD) can be big fun in the snow if you leave it in 2WD and essentially have a RWD vehicle with bags of torque. Even more so if you don't actually have snow tires. I'd like to say I'm too old and sensible to enjoy doing donuts in a parking lot. But I'm not.

As I say, Mustang = Big Fun!

Ok, have done that. AX, what's that red object by your front door, (other house thread) is that a mini snow blower?
I have to ask these questions because I've never been outdoors before.
What in the hell of slaggerdom has my wife got me into!