Windsor, ON 2017
Feb 12th 2018, 9:34 pm
#31
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Location: Bath, England
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Re: Windsor, ON 2017
Welcome to Vancouver. It's cold but nice and sunny today. While there's not much to do in the city in winter, you should try to check out an important cultural Canadian event, Wing Wednesday. There are quite a few bars that will not only feature this, but will combine it with discounted lager between the hours of 3pm - 6pm. It's a must on any tourist's list of dos.
Added to note: As you're in a major Canadian city, there may be some places that will offer Taco Tuesdays, so that's an extra bonus.
Added to note: As you're in a major Canadian city, there may be some places that will offer Taco Tuesdays, so that's an extra bonus.
Thanks Oink
Feb 12th 2018, 9:56 pm
#32
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: Windsor, ON 2017
Well one would be remiss to pass up the chance of discounted tacos that's for sure. Enjoying Vancouver, but sitting a dog has it's drawbacks as we don't feel comfortable leaving him alone for any longer than 3-4 hours but we have taken him to some great sites, which gives us some insight as to what life would be with our dog.
Thanks Oink
Thanks Oink
Feb 12th 2018, 9:58 pm
#33
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Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Windsor, ON 2017
Thanks for the positive input to those who had sensible things to contribute.
My wife and I arrived in Canada and had our documentation signed and stamped and are officially canadian residents. Wed did very very well with our house sale, and it's given us a massive cushion to come out here for several months and explore each place thorough before making a final decision.
With the help of TrustedHouseSitters.com we have had some great experiences of seeing what everyday life has been like living in certain places looking after someones dog or cat. It's given us a good flavor of what living in a particular place is like.
At present we are in Vancouver (weather is obviously milder here than out East) and are enjoying a penthouse view out of a software company owners posh apartment over BC Place. It's been very helpful, and in the first week taught us we can't live in the mix of a major city. Also we are extremely priced out of buying a home here.
Next we are onto Vancouver Island with a house sit in Sooke looking after a cat, and then Victoria for a week. From there we are going to Winnipeg having ruled out places like Kelowna, Kamloops, Calgary, Regina. After there we have a long house sit in Collingwood Ontario, and I have also managed to track down a long lost 1st cousin once removed (40 years my senior) living in Owen Sound Ontario who emigrated there in the 80's. From there we will explore New Brunswick briefly and then Nova Scotia, before flying home to collect the last of our belongings, and our dog before moving back. We have plenty of time to find somewhere to live when we get back.
Looking forward still to exploring the areas between London, ON and Windsor, ON a bit more thoroughly.
My wife and I arrived in Canada and had our documentation signed and stamped and are officially canadian residents. Wed did very very well with our house sale, and it's given us a massive cushion to come out here for several months and explore each place thorough before making a final decision.
With the help of TrustedHouseSitters.com we have had some great experiences of seeing what everyday life has been like living in certain places looking after someones dog or cat. It's given us a good flavor of what living in a particular place is like.
At present we are in Vancouver (weather is obviously milder here than out East) and are enjoying a penthouse view out of a software company owners posh apartment over BC Place. It's been very helpful, and in the first week taught us we can't live in the mix of a major city. Also we are extremely priced out of buying a home here.
Next we are onto Vancouver Island with a house sit in Sooke looking after a cat, and then Victoria for a week. From there we are going to Winnipeg having ruled out places like Kelowna, Kamloops, Calgary, Regina. After there we have a long house sit in Collingwood Ontario, and I have also managed to track down a long lost 1st cousin once removed (40 years my senior) living in Owen Sound Ontario who emigrated there in the 80's. From there we will explore New Brunswick briefly and then Nova Scotia, before flying home to collect the last of our belongings, and our dog before moving back. We have plenty of time to find somewhere to live when we get back.
Looking forward still to exploring the areas between London, ON and Windsor, ON a bit more thoroughly.
I think this is a great idea for people to do if they are unsure on exactly where they would like to live.
Well done you!
Mar 30th 2018, 8:41 pm
#34
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Re: Windsor, ON 2017
Well we are coming to the end of our recce trip and have now seen Windsor or the outskirts anyway. We drove from Sarnia in the morning and had a look around Chatham-Kent. From there we drove to Belle River (lovely) Tecumseh, and just followed the road the lakes edge of Windsor (and drove around the inner city), down through LaSalle, Amherstberg, Kingsville, Leamington and then up to London.
Although it definitely isn't as nice as some parts of Canada we have seen, I definitely think people should not comment on a place unless they have recently seen it. So many Canadians have told us it's a dump, don't go there, waste of time. From what we could see it isn't anywhere near as bad as some areas of Ontario we have seen, not by a long shot.
Some of the surrounding areas like Belle River, Kingsville are really pretty places that aren't to long a commute to Windsor. I wasn't expecting a hell hole and it isn't anything close to that. Sarnia was definitely closer to that description. We saw Windsor on an utterly disgusting day of bad rain and thick fog and I imagine in sunshine it looks a lot prettier.
So far on this recce we have seen tons of Vancouver, and done house sits in White Rock, downtown, Harrison Springs, seen North Vancouver, Coquitlam etc
We have seen a ton of Vancouver Island and done house sits in Victoria and Sooke. Most of Calgary over two trips now. We've been to Winnipeg (long story) and most of middle and lower Ontario. So Niagara on the lake, Crystal Beach, Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford, Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge, London, Chatham-Kent, Windsor, Sarnia, all up lake Huron to Tobemory, Owen Sound, Meaford, Collingwood, Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Wasaga Beach, Ajax, tons of Toronto.
In short Windsor isn't that bad and although our hearts are definitely in Vancouver Island still, anyone reading this should not be put off by Windsor, for climate, views of water, proximity to the states, reasonable work opportunities, affordable beautiful housing in the outskirts, it has enough going for it to call it home depending on your preferences.
Although it definitely isn't as nice as some parts of Canada we have seen, I definitely think people should not comment on a place unless they have recently seen it. So many Canadians have told us it's a dump, don't go there, waste of time. From what we could see it isn't anywhere near as bad as some areas of Ontario we have seen, not by a long shot.
Some of the surrounding areas like Belle River, Kingsville are really pretty places that aren't to long a commute to Windsor. I wasn't expecting a hell hole and it isn't anything close to that. Sarnia was definitely closer to that description. We saw Windsor on an utterly disgusting day of bad rain and thick fog and I imagine in sunshine it looks a lot prettier.
So far on this recce we have seen tons of Vancouver, and done house sits in White Rock, downtown, Harrison Springs, seen North Vancouver, Coquitlam etc
We have seen a ton of Vancouver Island and done house sits in Victoria and Sooke. Most of Calgary over two trips now. We've been to Winnipeg (long story) and most of middle and lower Ontario. So Niagara on the lake, Crystal Beach, Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford, Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge, London, Chatham-Kent, Windsor, Sarnia, all up lake Huron to Tobemory, Owen Sound, Meaford, Collingwood, Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Wasaga Beach, Ajax, tons of Toronto.
In short Windsor isn't that bad and although our hearts are definitely in Vancouver Island still, anyone reading this should not be put off by Windsor, for climate, views of water, proximity to the states, reasonable work opportunities, affordable beautiful housing in the outskirts, it has enough going for it to call it home depending on your preferences.
Mar 31st 2018, 2:52 pm
#35
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Location: Windsor, ON
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Re: Windsor, ON 2017
I definitely think people should not comment on a place unless they have recently seen it. So many Canadians have told us it's a dump, don't go there, waste of time. From what we could see it isn't anywhere near as bad as some areas of Ontario we have seen, not by a long shot.
Mar 31st 2018, 2:56 pm
#36
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Mar 31st 2018, 11:12 pm
#37
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Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Windsor, ON 2017
I've been there several times through a complicated family connection and think that it's fabulous to be able to have a house on a big river for not very much money. I don't think there's very much there but small town Canada is like that.
Mar 31st 2018, 11:30 pm
#38
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Apr 1st 2018, 12:21 am
#39
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Re: Windsor, ON 2017
I lived in Victoria for a few years so happy to help with any questions about the island if I can
Apr 2nd 2018, 1:22 pm
#40
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Re: Windsor, ON 2017
Very very true but unfortunately people love to bash a place having just driven through it or listened to the news or someone.Downtown Detroit is another place that gets a bad rep. Had Easter dinner at Red Smoke BBQ right next door to Wahlburgers - Many people in Windsor and the surrounding areas go and support the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Pistons all located in the Downtown area.
Give me Downtown Detroit every day over Downtown Windsor for a evening/night out...
Apr 2nd 2018, 2:05 pm
#41
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Apr 2nd 2018, 5:41 pm
#43
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Re: Windsor, ON 2017
Apr 5th 2018, 6:45 pm
#44
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Re: Windsor, ON 2017
Certainly in this thread I was referring to Windsor 
I haven't been to NS yet, although I've heard very mixed reviews, I've learned nothing should deter you from going and finding out for yourself if you are able. Obviously it's not always that easy, granted.
We have loved Vancouver Island, but as many people point out, 'BC' stands for bring cash!
I haven't been to NS yet, although I've heard very mixed reviews, I've learned nothing should deter you from going and finding out for yourself if you are able. Obviously it's not always that easy, granted.
We have loved Vancouver Island, but as many people point out, 'BC' stands for bring cash!
Apr 6th 2018, 6:49 pm
#45
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Location: Downtown Toronto
Posts: 270
Re: Windsor, ON 2017
Have you heard about the planned high speed rail link between Windsor and Toronto?
I'm not sure it's altogether a good idea, but it might invigorate the Windsor economy and inflate house prices a bit.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/high-speed-rail
I'm not sure it's altogether a good idea, but it might invigorate the Windsor economy and inflate house prices a bit.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/high-speed-rail