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Moving is always a big decision and you need to be adequately
prepared to make adjustments where necessary. Sometimes you may
not even want to move but a job may require you to. You should
always do some research on the city/town you are moving to. This
way, you will be ready for weather changes and financial
hiccups. In regards to weather, knowing about the climate of the
city you are moving to helps you get prepared for potentially
adverse conditions. Besides weather, there are a number of other
things that you need to be prepared for before moving to a
different city such as costs of living and security issues.
If you are looking to move to Toronto there
are a couple of things you need to know beforehand in order to
be mentally ready. Here are the top ten things that you should
know before moving to Toronto.
#1. Weather & Climate
You should be prepared for vast
weather conditions. During the
winter, temperatures can drop to extremely cold. However, the
lake effect ensures that the downtown core does not experience
these cold temperatures. The summer heat on the other hand can
go up to forty degrees Celsius plus humidity. As you plan to
move to Toronto, you should be ready for any type of weather
because you are likely to experience it.
#2. Big City
Toronto is big and you are likely to find a bit of
everything. With a population
of over 2.6 million (GTA
5.5 million), there are plenty of stores and government entities
to cater for such a huge number of people. The population is
still growing so more growth opportunities can be foreseen.
#3. Diversity
Toronto is a diverse place. This can be attributed to the
fact that 49 percent of its population was not born in Canada.
This means that you can find all sorts of people in Toronto.
With people from different backgrounds and with varying
cultures, you are likely to have a better life experience.
Interacting with different people adds value to a person? life.
#4. Expensive City
Toronto is an expensive place to live in, so you need to be
financially prepared. The housing, rental and cost
of living is
generally higher than that of other places in Canada. If you
cannot afford it, you may want to consider moving to a different
city in Canada. However, if you are ready to face the tough
financial times ahead and strike a balance between your expenses
and income, you are free to do so too.
#5. Quality of Life
Despite the high costs of living, Toronto
is constantly ranked as one of the best places in the world to
live and work in (See
the 2012
the Mercer? 2012 QUALITY OF LIVING WORLDWIDE CITY RANKINGS).
Torontonians are proud of this fact.
#6. Transport System
In Toronto, it is easier to take the subway than
it is to drive around. This is mainly because it is expensive to
park and there are many one way streets in some parts of
Toronto. The subway is therefore more affordable and reliable.
It is cheaper in the long run to use the subway and save the
parking money that would have otherwise been used.
#7. CN Tower - makes it easy to get around in the city
It is easy to familiarize yourself with this city. This is
because you can easily spot the CN
tower and know
where you are at all times as it is always south.
8. Grid System
Toronto city is based on a grid pattern, starting from the
north of Lake
Ontario. Yonge Street divides the city into two parts, east
and west. On the other hand, Bloor St divides the city into
uptown and downtown. This makes it easier for a newcomer to find
their way around the big city.
#9. Free News & Magazines
You can check out the weekly newspapers such as The
Grid and the Now
magazine which
are free. You can also keep yourself informed by reading the
Toronto star and The Globe. With these newspapers and magazines,
it is easy to be in the know at all times. It is always wise to
be aware of the goings on in your city so as not to be caught
off guard.
#10. Safety
Toronto is a relatively safe city despite its size, given
that crime is more rampant in big cities. However, there are
incidences of crime
in some areas and
you should exercise caution. It is easier for people to be more
productive in a safe environment as opposed to one where they
are always looking over their shoulders. As is the case in most
places, you should not throw caution to the wind just because a
city is considered safe.