Toronto 'burbs
 

Hi,

My wife's got a job sorted in Vaughan, whereas I'll be based in a hospital downtown. We've both got our hearts set on a detached (or semi connected by garage) in the suburbs. My job will be as a post doctoral researcher so I can work on the train in and out (space permitting).

The original plan was to buy a place near Rutherford GO Train station but some friends of my wife at work (she started last week) have said that that area has a strong Italian contingent who don't like ex brits.

I'm just after thoughts and suggestions really, :confused:

Cheers

Welshchem

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

Anything to do with pain ? (The job I mean)

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

No, I'll be doing biochemistry research at Mt Sinai. Cell signalling.

Welshchem

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

Ah. The reseachers I know are across the road; at Sick Kids.

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

Have you got any ideas on the suburbs dbd33?

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

There certainly are a lot of Italians up there. I don't know whether or not they have any particular view on Brits.

I'm afraid I'm utterly confounded by the idea of someone willingly going to live in Vaughan. That's really knocked me for six.

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

If you've got any insights feel free...

The basics are:

Her job Vaughan 7am-5pm
My job Downtown 9am-5pm

She'll drive, I'll use public transport

We'd like a detached or semi detached house coming in under the $400,000 mark

Nice neighbourhood, parks, shops etc...

Where should we live?
(we've been looking around Rutherford GOTrain station)

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

Okay time to get really specific;

The real estate agent has lined up houses pretty much penned (sp?) in by Rutherford Rd, Keele St, Major Mackenzie Dr and Jane St.

Any thoughts on this area?

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

I think you're having us on.

I drive up the 400 early on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I look over at the projects mentioned and the newer one on the other side of the highway "Heritage Hill" (it's flat now but I expect they'll build a hill out of compacted trash) and think "at least we don't have to live there".

Sometimes I hum, the tune, not the words:

"I guess its healthy, I guess the air is clean.
I guess those people have fun with their neighbors and friends.
Look at that kitchen and all of that food.
Look at them eat it guess it tastes real good....."

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

Come on man you're going to have to give me more than that!

What's the score? Is it a nice place to live or not. I can understand if it's going to be a bit quiet for some tastes, but why don't you fancy it?

Welshchem

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

I can't say whether or not it's quiet as there's no way I would leave the highway anywhere near there, I check the gas gauge when I get to the warehouse belt and sigh with relief when I reach Canada's Wonderland.
There's no need to actually go there to experience the place; I'm sure you can find a pub, tree and shop free estate somewhere near you. Anywhere that was once a farmers field and is now covered in identical box houses; Milton Keynes for example. Even someone moving from Slough or Luton to that subdivision would miss the charm and character of home.

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

Drove along Major Mac between Jane and Keele yesterday as it happens, on my way to Kleinburg (which is very pretty). Vaughan generally feels like an endless expanse of subdivisions on flat wasteland as you drive through, (sorry, but that's my opinion, but a lot of the GTA is like that, including areas near me:( !), though I am sure than individually some of the subdivisions are fine once you are in them and I am sure tha the houses themselves are fine too. It's just that there are so many of them! The area you mention however is, I think, technically Maple, which does have a nicer village centre, so there is at least something to 'hang' the houses around. Plenty of shops etc and I noticed that some houses were really very nice. It has a couple of 'olde worlde' buildings in the centre which at least give it a bit of character so sadly lacking in so many other parts!

If the location is good for you re public transit/work etc then go and take a look at it. You do need to go and see the area for yourself though and get a general feel for the place. However, just because your wife works in Vaughan, doesn't mean you have to live there - I would drive around a number of places within a radius if I were you to see what you like best. The thing I find the biggest culture shock here (due to the amount of space) is the way that the housing estates sprawl over the land, eating up the countryside. It's acutally quite depressing!

Anyway I hope that helps a bit. I don't want to appear negative, but honest. I know how hard it is to visualise the areas when you are not there and if you need a place to live, well you need a place to live, so you have to be pragmatic! It is so random really, where we end up, and it can feel a bit scary, but I am sure you will find a great community wherever you chose.

Good luck
Snowqueen

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

Well as you know the Rutherford GO station is actually a little outside this "box", on the east of Keele at Rutherford. That is an area which is currrently under "develpoment".

I'm afraid dbd33 is right, although over the top as is his style. The new stuff is the worst sort of cookie-cutter sameness, with the typical burb housing crammed side to side and with no amenities at all.

If I were you, I'd be looking in the older parts of Richmond Hill (see location on my ID :rolleyes: ). To my mind this is a fine place with a real sense of community, lots of parks and other amenties, a theatre under construction, etc etc. It's only a 10 min drive to Vaughn and you can use the RH GO station to get to your work.

For some reason, there are a lot of chemists here too.

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

I don't even like Kleinburg. To me it's the same as Vaughan but with bigger houses; McMansions. One can see the same at Bloomington and the 404 and in Caledon.

Re: Toronto 'burbs
 

Oh. On the ethnicity thing. Maple (where you're looking) is predominantly Italian as you've been told (although not as much so as Woodbridge). However that is to me, neither here nor there. Chances are your neighbour will make grade A homebrew vino and Ive never heard of or experienced anti-Brit sentiment from Italians here. Lots of pro-paysan sentiment however.