Blog
Are you Relocating to Toronto in 2021?
Blog by Doriana Zohil-Morton, Broker of Record/Owner | March 11th, 2021
Important relocation facts to know when moving to Toronto!
Getting around
Public transportation in Toronto is made up of a subway, buses and streetcars. With traffic and delays fairly common the best way to get around in the city is with a Presto Card. Purchase tickets at stations or pick up a Presto Card which you can top-up and use as a contactless card to pay for your journeys. Cycling is also becoming a more popular option to travel throughout the city.
Prepare for snow – prepare for a lot of snow!
The winter months in Toronto (December through to March) are pretty chilly and snow tends to carpet the city between November and April. Pack some sturdy and waterproof winter shoes to navigate icy sidewalks and lots of warm layers, and you’ll be absolutely fine. It’s not nearly as cold here as it is in some of Canada’s more northerly cities!
A whole section of the city is underground
It might seem futuristic but underneath the city a 19 kilometer-long network of corridors and stores that make up Toronto’s famous PATH system. Not only is it a fabulous shopping experience, but it’s also a great way to get around parts of the city during the cold winters. If the streets seem quiet, head underground, you will not be disappointed with the vibrancy on the underground Toronto world.
Know where to live
When relocating toToronto is it crucial to know that it is not a cheap place to live, so to be able to manage financially you have to pick your new home carefully. This is where MAC Real Estate Services Inc. Brokerage and it’s experienced Toronto real estate agents can assist – they have the experience, know all the legal paperwork and know all the Toronto neighbourhoods like the back on their hand – and there are many Toronto neighbourhoods to choose from that all offer diversity.
Toronto International Film Festival
Every September the city hosts the Toronto International Film Festival, which transforms the TIFF Bell Lightbox into a celebration of cutting-edge film-making, with screenings, lectures, workshops and meet-and-greets. Whether you’re a movie-buff of a casual cinema-goer, add this weekends’ events to your calendar, when exploring downtown Toronto and all that it has to offer.
You’ll never tire of things to do
Toronto is huge. Seriously, it’s Canada’s biggest city and this bustling metropolis full of creative and entrepreneurial types is full of quirky things to visit, award-winning places to eat and ways to spend your Saturday afternoons. From hidden bars and sneaker shops to bohemian markets and niche bookstores. There is something for everyone and for every budget!
Economic Opportunity
If you’re looking for a career in arts, culture, media or tech, Toronto may be a great move for you. One of Canada’s economic powerhouses, Toronto offers economic stability and opportunity in a variety of fields, with an increasing focus on tech. While a couple of cities are vying for the “Silicon Valley North” crown, the Toronto-Waterloo corridor is making a bid that must be taken seriously. With offices for Google, Uber, Shopify, Vice magazine and more, there are over 200,000 tech and internet related jobs and counting.
Endless Exciting Things to Do
From arts and museums to fashion to nightlife to major league sports, Toronto has something for everyone. Year-round, there are exhibitions like Ripley’s Aquarium, Canada’s Wonderland, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, the Ontario Science Centre…the list goes on and on.
Here’s a shortlist of just a few of the bigger events the city has to offer.
• The Canadian National Exhibition every summer.
• The world-class Distillery District Christmas Market.
• The Pride Festival has grown to a month-long extravaganza.
• The Royal Winter Fair
Multicultural Diversity
Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. More than half of its population was born outside of Canada and about 47 percent of Toronto is a member of a visible minority. No matter what your heritage is, you’ll be able to find someone who shares it in Toronto.
Low Crime for Such a Big City
With an amazingly low crime rate, Toronto is one of the safest big cities in the world, and the safest large city in North America. There is even better news if you’re headed to “the 6”: Toronto’s crime rate has been falling for years.
That being said Toronto is still a major city and there are pockets where people, especially women walking after dark, should be careful. Right now, these areas include Jane and Finch, Scarborough, and parts of Etobicoke. If these challenged neighbourhoods are anything like some of the previous listings on Toronto’s bad neighbourhoods list, in a decade or two they’ll become gentrified.
An Airport in the Downtown Core
If you decide to make your home in downtown Toronto, you’ll find Billy Bishop/Toronto Island Airport incredibly convenient as long as you’re headed to cities along the eastern seaboard of North America. Since you can pretty much get off the TTC in Toronto and onto a plane for Montréal, New York or Chicago (with connections pretty much anywhere else in the world), you’ll never feel stuck.
Considering that the alternative is the 75-minute or more journey to Pearson airport in Mississauga, a 10-minute bus ride is pretty sweet.
Will you be relocating to Toronto? THE MAC Group will assist with any and all of your relocating and real estate needs via MAC Real Estate Services Inc., Brokerage and MAC Relocation Solutions. And also, whether you are looking for downtown Toronto furnished suites or North York serviced apartments THE MAC Group has you covered! Also, we offer the highest level of customer service, with a smile, after all at MAC “it’s not business it’s personal.”
What’s the difference between THE MAC Group and other Toronto relocation companies…we offer everything under one roof:
Real Estate Services, sales, purchases rentals
Temporary Accommodations
Destination Services
Relocation Services
So what are you waiting for – let’s connect!
www.macsuites.ca
www.macgrouprealty.com
416-222-0025 or 1-877-239-0025