Job offer in the GTA

[underGRADFlame]

Originally Posted by Flames89

If you are up in Vaughn working, I still suggest living downtown. Vaughn is a brutal, boring suburb. My gf had to commute up, and it sucks in winter, but at least you are then able to capitalize on the best stuff that Toronto has to offer. Also have a buddy that does it.

Public transit here is actually very good. Even if it is not that easy for you, I would look into it for those brutal winter days. Also, your commute will be against traffic for most days, so it won't be as bad as vice versa. You can also live in some cool areas that are closer to main access points to help shave off driving time if you need. Toronto gets a bum rap, ... [also the ratios (girl-boy) are better than Calgary.

I'm married, and we will be having a kid or 2, so a suburb is what I would be looking for.

[LChoy]

I just moved a month ago to Toronto (I had a thread sometime ago that many CPers chipped in with advice)

It's hard to get over the Western Canada bias, but it's not bad here. Vaughn is outside of Toronto, so the transit system is different and don't necessary connect with each other (ie, you'll need 2 bus passes)
Otherwise, it's like living in the new communities in Calgary, big box stores, large segments of visible neighbourhoods.
I'm moving downtown in 2 weeks, and can't wait to live in a downtown highrise condo

oh, and for expenses. The HST is a bit to get use to (and I'm the type of person that tips a % of the total bill). Mostly, prices are the same before tax. Toronto is huge, so I seen the price of rent or for a home to vary quite a bit. In Vaughn, I imagine the homes there would be quite newer as well

[FlamesAddiction]

Cool.

Coincidentally, I was just flown to Toronto for an interview... just waiting to hear if I got it.

It's a pretty fun place to be despite the eastern Canada hate you see around here.

[Flames0910]

I would move to Toronto if somebody was offering me a job. Lot's more marketing out there than here (although we have a few good ones!)

Big city life would be lots of fun. No mountains though

[CKPThunder]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Just take the total bill and add 15-20% (as long as they did their job well) and don't worry about it. This is what I tell myself because I suck at math.

If you're in Alberta just take the GST charge (5%) and triple it and voila, and you have your tip amount. If you want to tip 20% then just quadruple the tax.

[Bunk]

Vaughan is a hellscape. The older, central parts of Toronto are great. If you decide to live in a place like Richmond Hill, or Mississauga, don't expect to conveniently take transit to Vaughan. If you drive, expect congestion like you've never experience in Calgary. The GTA adds 100,000 people a year, and is about 30 years behind in terms of infrastructure development...

The plus really is that you are in a really large and cosmopolitan city. Lots of great things that come along with that.

The real negative is that you will miss the ready access to the mountains and a general outdoors lifestyle more than you might think you will.

just so you know, I've lived in Toronto for about 6 of the last 10 years in total.

[Cheese]

undergrad...PM me if youd like any info on the region at all...

My 2 cents...

You'll love the winters in comparison to Calgary. Dont buy the "yeah but the cold in Calgary is a dry cold crap". Winters are significantly better. Youll never have to plug your car in again.
Groceries are much cheaper with a much greater variety.
MUCH cheaper to vacation anywhere in the Caribbean or Europe.
Great access to many of the best US destinations
Housing in Vaughan should be comparable or cheaper thanCalgary.
House Taxes will be close to the same
The HST will cost you more...but not by a huge amount and there is access to shopping in the US that will save you significantly more.
Summers are hot....and humid
4 seasons....3 months each. Beautiful autumns with great colors
Access to great sports and theater
More variety of concerts
The Lakes...pick a beach...wonderful beaches

If you have a great offer...I wouldnt worry about it in the least. If you can find a place close to where you work you are good to go. Vaughan is an ok family area...there is certainly MUCH MUCH worse. Stay away from Jane and Finch.

Skiing sucks unless you go to Quebec or Vermont
No mountains
No Oiler fans to bash


LOTS of Leaf fans to bash!

The only reason to hate Toronto is its BIG...and lots of traffic...many many great reasons to love it though. The food choices are 1000 times that of Calgary. Go to Greektown...or little Italy....maybe Little Jamaica...anything you want.

http://www.city.vaughan.on.ca/index.php
http://www.city.vaughan.on.ca/cultur...tion/index.cfm
http://www.city.vaughan.on.ca/touris...attraction.cfm

[HPLovecraft]

I don't find all the Leafs fans so bad. There's such a wide variety of people in Toronto that you'll still find fans of others teams. And Leafs fans are all self-loathing now, so it's kind of pitiful when you talk to them.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Cheese

You'll love the winters in comparison to Calgary. Dont buy the "yeah but the cold in Calgary is a dry cold crap". Winters are significantly better. !

I'd have to disagree. If you look at the actual average high temperatures in January through March - Calgary and Toronto are within 1 degree or so. The difference is the humidity and amount of sunshine (also chinooks). While Calgary can get significantly colder for a few severe cold snaps a year on balance Calgary winter days are much more tolerable. -5, grey and damp feels miserable compared to -5 and sunny in Calgary. The only downside I'd say to Calgary's winter is that it lasts about a month longer, particularly on the front end. If could could combine Calgary winters and summers (except for perhaps this Calgary summer!), with Toronto's spring and fall (ie TO has them)...then you'd have a winner.

Then again, it's just weather. you get used to it, no matter where you are.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I'd have to disagree. If you look at the actual average high temperatures in January through March - Calgary and Toronto are within 1 degree or so. The difference is the humidity and amount of sunshine (also chinooks). While Calgary can get significantly colder for a few severe cold snaps a year on balance Calgary winter days are much more tolerable. -5, grey and damp feels miserable compared to -5 and sunny in Calgary. The only downside I'd say to Calgary's winter is that it lasts about a month longer, particularly on the front end. If could could combine Calgary winters and summers (except for perhaps this Calgary summer!), with Toronto's spring and fall (ie TO has them)...then you'd have a winner.

Then again, it's just weather. you get used to it, no matter where you are.

Winter in TO region rarely starts until end of November or even December. Calgary has had 3 major blizzards and at least 1 -30C spell before that. Toronto winter ends in March and Calgary almost always gets the last winter splash on the May long weekend.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Winter in TO region rarely starts until end of November or even December. Calgary has had 3 major blizzards and at least 1 -30C spell before that. Toronto winter ends in March and Calgary almost always gets the last winter splash on the May long weekend.

Yeah, how anyone can say they prefer a Calgary winter, where you spend the first 6 weeks of “spring” waiting for it to actually warm up, and for the last of the snow to fall in May, knowing that killing frost is almost assuredly only 4 months away at that point...I dunno...

As for summer, it’s hot and muggy in Toronto, but LUSH. You can smell grass and trees and flowers on the air when there isn’t a smog warning , and you almost never see those burnt, yellow, arid stretches that we get. Toronto looks positively tropical in terms of greenery compared to Calgary in the summer, and it can be quite enjoyable.

I guess the best way to put it is that Toronto vs Calgary weather differ in the kind of suck, but they both have lots of suck.

[Finny61]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Winter in TO region rarely starts until end of November or even December. Calgary has had 3 major blizzards and at least 1 -30C spell before that. Toronto winter ends in March and Calgary almost always gets the last winter splash on the May long weekend.

And the military help you shovel your driveway in Toronto as well.
January and February are by far much better in Calgary, the other winter months are much better in Toronto.

[Shazam]

This is Ottawa the first week of June:

[Titan]

I was in TO for three years for school and found I really liked it. Very green, diverse, active. Really enjoyed being near the water. Awesome city but still a big city.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Finny61

And the military help you shovel your driveway in Toronto as well.
January and February are by far much better in Calgary, the other winter months are much better in Toronto.

You guyz keeps bringin Mel Lastman and his stupidity up...in 1998!!!

As far as January and February goes...sure if you like -25C as an average temp.

[HeartsOfFire]

Easiest way to tip in Alberta:

1. Take the value of the GST on your bill.

2. Multiply by 3.

3. Add to bill as gratuity.

4. ????

5. PROFIT!!!!

No calculator needed. Hopefully.

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

I'm married, and we will be having a kid or 2, so a suburb is what I would be looking for.

If you don't have a kid yet, I would still suggest to live downtown(ish). Also, like any move, I advise renting and getting a feel for the city before buying.

The best and dynamic part of Toronto is living in the communities downtown (Annex, Little Italy, Roncesvalle, Younge and Eg, Leslieville, etc). Suburbs can be experienced anywhere.

[Table 5]

I like Toronto, it's a pretty great place despite what most of us westerners were bred to believe. I'm actually going there myself in two weeks to scout it for a possible move.

Anyone know of an affordable, but decent, hotel to stay in? A central location that is easy to travel from would be ideal.

[Bunk]

^ Hotwire.com is your best bet. Just pick the area (dowtown toronto west) is probably most central to stuff.

Otherwise, Residence Inn downtown Toronto, or Holiday Inn Express on Bloor Street are good.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I like Toronto, it's a pretty great place despite what most of us westerners were bred to believe. I'm actually going there myself in two weeks to scout it for a possible move.

Anyone know of an affordable, but decent, hotel to stay in? A central location that is easy to travel from would be ideal.

Whatever is the closest to Brass Rail.