The Toronto Thread

Faith

A thread for all things Toronto! Chat, discuss, ask questions, arrange meet-ups, whatever!

ck24

Hi fellow Toronto goers! I'm planning to head over in September and can't wait.

Can anyone recommend any good recruiters in Toronto? I'm hoping to get work in science/lab/pharmaceutical/med device sectors so if anyone can recommend recruiters specialising in these areas it would be great. But I'm happy to work in temp or agency type jobs until I find my feet.

I'm not going to Toronto to try to make big money or anything, I'm going over to experience a new city and a new lifestyle. I have a friend in Toronto who's be loving it over there

krudler

Heading over May 21st, had a week left after that to activate my visa, cutting it close? me? :pac:
Haven't sorted an apartment yet but I figure hotel for a few nights, hostel if I'm stuck and hopefully will find someone letting a room or some other Irish people in the same boat and we can share a place, think 1-2 other would be my limit though I'm way to old to be in a house with a rake of people and I'm 32 so not going over to be living with a bunch of 21 year olds out partying all the time. Am looking to get work on film sets either as extras or general runners I dont want a regular 9-5 just yet.

ck24

krudler wrote: »

Heading over May 21st, had a week left after that to activate my visa, cutting it close? me? :pac:
Haven't sorted an apartment yet but I figure hotel for a few nights, hostel if I'm stuck and hopefully will find someone letting a room or some other Irish people in the same boat and we can share a place, think 1-2 other would be my limit though I'm way to old to be in a house with a rake of people and I'm 32 so not going over to be living with a bunch of 21 year olds out partying all the time. Am looking to get work on film sets either as extras or general runners I dont want a regular 9-5 just yet.

Working on film sets sounds interesting! Do you have experience in that industry or are you just thinking it'd be a nice industry to get into?

Regarding accommodation, airbnb seems like a good option if people wanted to avoid hostels and didnt want to pay hotel prices.

Theres a facebook group called New and Irish in Toronto which often has posts from people looking for housemates.

krudler

Will leaving it so close to the entry deadline cause any issues? its on my letter I got least year to be in Canada before 27th May so doubt it will.

about insurance, will the go4less 2 year one suffice for entry? I dont need Irish health insurance as well? the 309 quid one or whatever price it is.

with the entry letter, proof of insurance and proof of funds is that all I need at customs?

krudler

ck24 wrote: »

Working on film sets sounds interesting! Do you have experience in that industry or are you just thinking it'd be a nice industry to get into?

Regarding accommodation, airbnb seems like a good option if people wanted to avoid hostels and didnt want to pay hotel prices.

Theres a facebook group called New and Irish in Toronto which often has posts from people looking for housemates.

I have a tiny bit of experience but it's something I want to get into, I'll have enough funds where I'm not completely stuck for a good while so I dont need a full time job immediately long as I find someplace that isnt crippling rent wise I'll be grand, can look at part time or non regular hour work.
Its a working holiday after all I actually want to see some of Canada not just sit in an office or behind a counter for 2 years, I can do that here.

krudler

krudler wrote: »

Will leaving it so close to the entry deadline cause any issues? its on my letter I got least year to be in Canada before 27th May so doubt it will.

about insurance, will the go4less 2 year one suffice for entry? I dont need Irish health insurance as well? the 309 quid one or whatever price it is.

with the entry letter, proof of insurance and proof of funds is that all I need at customs?

Anyone? just need to make sure

Faith

The go4less one is fine.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

krudler

Faith wrote: »

The go4less one is fine.

Thanking you one less thing to be organising

ck24

sashafierce wrote: »

Im in Toronto since January if anyone has any questions I would be happy to help! I got work fairly quickly... Ye are all arriving at a nice time, weather has started to pick up - its not sunny yet but ive not worn a scarf in a fortnight so its looking good!!

Also, milk is awful here! I miss Irish milk

Hey sashafierce, are you liking Toronto so far? I hear from others over there that it takes a few months to settle in.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

ck24

sashafierce wrote: »

Im liking it a lot more now that the weather has turned around! We got work quick and sorted our accommodation before we came over on the New and Irish in Toronto page on facebook (highly recommend). Finding it hard to meet people other than through work, wages aren't the greatest starting off but other than that we are happy! .

When do you arrive or are you hear?

I'm not going to head over until September or thereabouts. Cant wait to leave!

Did you look at joining a womens GAA club (assuming you're a woman!)? I know you'd like to make canadian friends too, but if you make a few irish friends you'll create a network and begin to get to know others through that. I know people who joined GAA clubs over there and never played GAA before but its a great way of socialising.

You're lucky you got jobs so quick, do you mind me asking how you got them? Was it through recruitment agencies?

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

ck24

sashafierce wrote: »

Through an agency they got me a temp job and the company kept me on then. Ive met a few Irish people through work which was nice. I actually did join GAA but just find playing GAA not fun and it was outta my way and at an awkward time. Im waiting to join a Zumba class that's meant to be starting up near me soon... if you can come before September I would when the weather is better!

Zumba is a good idea itll be fun at least! Yeah ideally id be going over earlier but ive a few things to sort out so I need to hang on for another few months.

Any neighbourhood's over there you'd recommend? Id love to be near a park but also close to cafes and pubs, and the subway.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

MarkJD

Good info so far. I will hopefully be moving to Toronto in August with the future wife. Ill find out within the next week whether i was successful in getting a transfer with my current company to a role over there which would make the move a whole load easier and take a huge burden off us getting set up which seems to be the biggest issue / downside to a move. Ill share some of the info we have looked into so far maybe some people might find it useful. Im sure when i do find out for definite i will have a load of further questions.

Originally we were looking at Markham to live but after some research looks like we might settle out at Yonge & Eglinton for the first year at least. Has good public transport and seems to have a lot going on in terms of bars / restaurants etc. Seems to be about a 20-30 min ride to downtown which is not bad at all. Seems like a nice and safe enough area.

Typical 2 bed apartment / condo 800-100sqft are in the $1700-$2000 range for this area. Single bed / bachelor apartments are in the $1300-$1500. A lot of places require references / credit scores / letters of employment from your company. We will have some references from previous land lords here in Ireland but credit scores im a bit lost on. How necessary are these? Letter of employment wont be an issue im sure. We have been using mostly:

Kijiji (http://www.kijiji.ca/h-gta-greater-toronto-area/1700272)
Craigslist ( http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/)

Would welcome any other recommendations on good sites to use.

krudler

Finding a place is turning out to be a pain, it's all either crazy rent or females only.

Baskmeollox

Just booked my flight yesterday and will be arriving in Toronto the start of June

Going to wing most of it other than the necessities. Main part of my plan is finding a long stay hostel until i find out what i want to do.

Anybody know of or have heard of any good long stay hostels?

Baskmeollox

krudler wrote: »

Finding a place is turning out to be a pain, it's all either crazy rent or females only.

I've heard of people staying in student accommodation for the summer for really cheap. If i find out where i'll let you know as it seems like a good idea if stuck

krudler

Baskmeollox wrote: »

I've heard of people staying in student accommodation for the summer for really cheap. If i find out where i'll let you know as it seems like a good idea if stuck

Have seen a few campus places for rent yeah, might be an idea just get a summer place and then look at more permanent accom if I find my feet and get a job.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

retalivity

I joined a sports and social club when I lived in London ON, was a good way to meet people and play sport (including stuff i'd never played before like hockey, curling etc.).
looks like there a few in Toronto as well

http://www.torontossc.com/
http://www.yorkssc.com/index.php

dealhunter1985

sashafierce wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Not sure if you are into sports but I guess there will be lots of group sport activities starting down at the beaches now that the weather has picked up..

Agro Head

ck24 wrote: »

Zumba is a good idea itll be fun at least! Yeah ideally id be going over earlier but ive a few things to sort out so I need to hang on for another few months.

Any neighbourhood's over there you'd recommend? Id love to be near a park but also close to cafes and pubs, and the subway.

Queen Street West near Trinity Bellwoods park would be perfect for you. Really nice area, especially in the summer months. Loads of nice bars and cafes around. The park is great. They show movies outdoors once a week in the summer.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

ck24

Agro Head wrote: »

Queen Street West near Trinity Bellwoods park would be perfect for you. Really nice area, especially in the summer months. Loads of nice bars and cafes around. The park is great. They show movies outdoors once a week in the summer.

Thanks for that Argo. I was just looking at it on Google street view and its looks like a great area.

MarkJD

What websites are you guys using to find accomodation. Im finding it hard to find places in specific areas. Is it best to just wait until you get there and walk into agencies etc?

Agro Head

MarkJD wrote: »

What websites are you guys using to find accomodation. Im finding it hard to find places in specific areas. Is it best to just wait until you get there and walk into agencies etc?

I didn't find the agencies any use. They don't waste their time with renters unless you're paying major rent.

Kijji, Craigslist and Viewit are good sites. I'd recommend renting a place for a month via Air BnB while looking. Way cheaper than the short term holiday rentals or even private rooms in a hostel. Only downside is you miss out on meeting people in a hostel.

I'd strongly recommend going unfurnished when renting. I know it seems alien to most of us but you're way better off. You'll have at least 10 times the options to choose from. You can pick up nice furniture for next to nothing out here.

Another thing to note is apartment rentals almost always start on the 1st of the month. Try work you initial accommodation around this if possible.

Once you have employment letters you are fine. You can work around the credit reports. References aren't very important either.

Agro Head

ck24 wrote: »

Thanks for that Argo. I was just looking at it on Google street view and its looks like a great area.

I lived there for a year. It's nicest part of the city imo. Queen and Ossington area is great for bars etc.