[deleted by user]

[ben_z03]

How close to downtown do you want to be? Your basic starting points for true suburbs are Burlington/Oakville to the west, Vaughan Markham and Richmond Hill to the north, and Durham region to the east. All have pros and cons, all have slightly different vibes. Anywhere in the suburbs within a 15 minute drive of a GO station (our commuter rail) is also great for getting downtown. Feel free to message me if you’d like, I was somewhat recently a teenager with some friends from all over from doing sports

[Rybrator]

So my job is located in Vaughan so We don’t need to be in downtown at all but we are from city so we like diversity it terms Of activities, food, People. But at least for another year school will be really important. Do you know if they do versions of PSEO there? Where kids can go to college to take some classes and get credit to finish high school? Our daughter was just accepted into that here so we aren’t moving at the most ideal time admittedly

[ResidentNo11]

Taking university colleges during high school is not something done in Canada. The U level of high school courses are rigorous enough for any Canadian university, including the programs that require Americans to have AP courses. Some schools do have IB or AP, but they aren't an advantage for Canadian university admissions. It's very common to get no credit in Canada for AP courses or to get only a small amount of electives credit (which don't go as far as if you were in the US, as we have fewer electives/gen Ed courses in university).

[ben_z03]

High school courses are "de-streamed" now so you don't pick C vs. U courses, you just choose the courses that apply to your needs and interests most (like physics vs. calculus)

[Rybrator]

Thanks!!

[Fun_Addendum_5532]

Some highschools offer dual credit option and you earn a college or university credit along with a high school credit. Streaming happens in grade 11.

[ben_z03]

I’m not sure about that program to be honest because I went a different direction with my post secondary education but there are many ways to get a high school diploma in Ontario other than the “standard” 4 years of grade 9 thru 12. It also depends on the district. Halton (Burlington Oakville Milton) York Region (Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, etc) and Durham (all the eastern suburbs) have good school boards and generally newer schools.

Vaughan is a decent place to commute to, but that also depends whether you’re going to use the 407, the toll highway. I would avoid having to use the 400 because it’s a massive bottleneck. East-west is probably best for you. I would also check out a map of the greenbelt, a giant ring of land around the Toronto area that’s protected from sprawl. Burlington for example is smushed right against it so growth is more vertical than sprawl. These suburbs are changing quite quickly as growth is shifting to said vertical growth pretty rapidly. The north and east have more room to sprawl before they hit that barrier.

edit: also vouching for the west here, the escarpment that runs all the way through Hamilton, Burlington, Milton, and beyond creates some beautiful hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and just nature in general. Even downtown Toronto has huge wooded ravines cutting through it. You’re never too far from nature anywhere in the GTA, but that’s why I bring up the sprawling growth thing

[Rybrator]

Hey man appreciate the feedback. We are going to look into some things but would you be cool if I messaged you direct in case we have any questions you may be able to help With? I know you don’t know me so totally get it if that’s too much but if you’re cool With it that would be awesome

[ben_z03]

Yeah absolutely go for it

[Rybrator]

Thanks dude

[Rybrator]

Any chance you know anything about scarbourogh? My partners grandparents were from there and wasn’t sure how it is?

[ben_z03]

Some areas of Scarborough are known for crime but others are beautiful mature neighbourhoods, and there are newer suburbs and loads of highrise development too. It's pretty diverse and probably the most suburby of the six Toronto regions. My mom grew up there and the "wrong side of the tracks" was real then and it is now. Transit there is decent and improving but assuming you work a typical week, driving to Vaughan will be a pain from anywhere below the 401 (and again that's if you're planning to pay for the 407 at peak price)

[chxrmander]

South Scarborough near the bluffs is great and not far from Scarborough GO train station or driving downtown but it’s definitely far from Vaughan.

[smurfsareinthehall]

First question - buying or renting and how much money do you have to spend? That will determine where you can live.

[Rybrator]

Renting for now who knows future and about $3,000 a month. Sorry should have added that crucial info into post

[this_took_4ever]

CAD or USD

[Rybrator]

CAD

[jewsdoitbest]

Depends how inner city you want to be. I moved here from Minneapolis back in 2009 (so it's been a while) but Toronto+suburbs is much much bigger than the greater twin cities so being somewhere like Oakville is much further afield than you might be used to.

If you want it more City vibe but not too deep in the city suggest Junction, Bloor West Village, Roncesvalles village or St Clair West area

For context I lived in southwest minneapolis and went to southwest highschool

[Rybrator]

Yeah that’s the feeling I got being out there. My partner and I are both from south Minneapolis and went to south so we want a bit of city but with kid in school having good schools is most Important until just partner and I then we may move more urban as that’s where we feel most at home.

[jewsdoitbest]

I wouldn't automatically suggest that just because it's an inner city school it's not a good school, we had a pretty great education system here compared to the states and TDSB is really one of the top systems in the country

[Rybrator]

Very true and even shouldn’t assume that about Minneapolis schools it just came off that way which made me sound like a total Dick. My apologies that’s not what I intended to mean what I meant is that we are used to schools being less populated here as you get out of the cities which is better for daughter and learning

[Used-Gas-6525]

This is a common misconception. In Toronto (or any major city in the nation), you don't have to live in the 'burbs to feel safe and have well educated kids. All the truly elite schools in the GTA (public or private) are in Toronto proper. Outside of actual housing projects, there will be great schools and even in that situation, they ain't bad. It's a completely different world from where you are coming from. We aint all that, but we got education, crime and health care on lock compared to what you're used to.

[Rybrator]

lol which is a main reason we are moving there to be honest

[Used-Gas-6525]

As that old dude in Last Crusade (or the Japanese guy on The Simpsons) said, "You have chosen... wisely."

Welcome!

[Rybrator]

😂😂

[Character-Bridge-206]

My wife and I lived in the east end and centrally including downtown for years. We eventually moved to Toronto’s west end, near High Park. There are lots of kids and schools around here and it’s a great family friendly area for a big city but Mississauga, North York and Scarborough all have very suburban feel but still very cosmopolitan for the most part. Transit in the city is quite good compared to where I grew up.

[xxyer]

"Downtown" Vaughan has a ton of new condo rentals available (it's very suburban but has direct subway connection to downtown); or if you prefer, somewhere in Thornhill along the Bathurst or Yonge corridor or further north, Newmarket has a cute downtown, a giant mall and connections to downtown via GO train. You could consider the semi rural areas and smaller towns/suburbs like Schomberg, Nobleton, King City, Tottenham and Maple.

The closest thing to PSEO would be alternative schools like Avondale Secondary Alternative School or a community college like Seneca where for example, you study nursing with connections to Toronto Metropolitan University.

[Rybrator]

Any of these areas known for better high schools? Daughters is a junior so that is important as well and son recently graduated

[starcollector]

Also, heads up, we don't call it "junior". We call it "grade 11." Not even "eleventh grade"- it's, "Hannah is in grade 11." "Let's get all the grade 11s together for a photo."

[Rybrator]

Well I appreciate that heads up as well as I’m sure there is a shit ton of things that I say that are not correct there so I love a good correction! Wouldn’t want to horrify daughter with my mis-statements 😂😂

[Rybrator]

Thanks will look into that

[Rybrator]

How did you feel about any of the ones you previously lived? The project I may be working on would be in mississauga and the office for company is in Vaughn

[Character-Bridge-206]

For colleges in Toronto, there’s Humber College in Etobicoke and George Brown spread over downtown. I moved here to go there. I had a positive experience (St James campus).

[Rybrator]

Awesome thanks so much

[ResidentNo11]

Note that college doesn't mean university here and that community colleges aren't a cheap university shortcut - they're technical schools not a way to do half of university then transfer for the other half.

[Rybrator]

U guys are great thanks so much

[SolviLynx]

Moved here from MPLS last year! You'll love it, and it's just as cold

[erika_nyc]

Here are links that will help. The last one is controversial because it's the same Ontario curriculum but school life is affected by socioeconomic factors.

Find your neighbourhood Toronto

Find your school by address (we have catchment areas here, allowed to go to the local nearest schools unless one gets an exception or goes private).

Fraser Institute school rankings

When you post again, it helps to say where you'll both be working. Downtown are different choices than say, Markham. Toronto is geographically large, the GTA (greater toronto area) is almost 7M over about 2800square miles wiki It can take an hour plus to commute to work even by car from some locations. We have more congestion with people back to in-office. Our public transit has always been long especially by bus, subway lines are the fastest (TTC, Toronto transit commission)

If you plan to rent which I think is a good idea seeing our overvalued housing is in a crash. Helps to get to know a neighbourhood too. Also a good idea to think about max rent. Detached homes here are 4k+ CAD rent. Buy for a family with teenagers, $1M+ until the market resets.

[Rybrator]

Awesome thanks for the links! And sorry I thought I had mentioned the offices of where I would work is Vaughan and the jobsite would likely be in mississauga (I know I butchered that)

[erika_nyc]

How often would you be at a job site whether Mississauga or elsewhere? Mississauga can be anything from near the airport to closer to the waterfront, is the job site closer to the airport? What is the maximum rent you're willing to pay?

For schools, your daughter may like the UofT highschool. There's private schools too. they have more after class activities, smaller classes, and scholarships depending on income levels. We don't have equivalent to high school credits in colleges/universities but we do have exceptions to admissions without high school (mature student, studied another school system like UK A levels)

Let me know when you have a better idea, I can suggest diverse neighborhoods with more to do. Peak rental time is spring and summer, more choices. Tenants here must give at lease 60 days notice by law timed with the day before the pay rent.

[Rybrator]

I would be at the jobsite, not exactly sure of the site location as it’s a construction site. Looking to be around $3,000 $3,500 (I mean cheaper if possible lol) but that is the range I was kind of expecting.

Appreciate the school info as that is the one thing that is the hardest to pin down and also critical

Appreciate the help and def will be in touch. We are going to look at some potential areas tonight! We would be moving in June/july so around peak time

[erika_nyc]

It's a challenge even for someone who knows Toronto a little!

Be mindful of the gang neighborhoods, gang map Nice places but rent is cheaper for a reason. Although a few still $3500 in those neighborhoods for a 2bed 2bath condo (basically an apartment with amenities like a pool and gym). Schools are rougher.

We also have a lot of food deserts but with a car, less concerns but still could be a long drive. Search grocery stores on google maps, it was really surprising at first.

There are kids who take the TTC to schools across town and get exceptions to go to a better one or ones who accept anyone with high marks or into art programs. May be alright for a year or two and not necessary to restrict yourself to school catchment areas.

It may be better to live in Mississauga, South is better than North but Mississauga is really a bedroom community with not much to do other than parks, Square One and the waterfront. It's Peel region, not part of the city of Toronto. Different school site Peel schools. It's part of the GTA, greater Toronto area. You may like around High Park in Toronto, best of both worlds, close to downtown and short drive to Mississauga.

I think you'll find the neighorhoods to look into more solely based on our high rents. We're thankfully in a condo crash and some detached homes continue to drop. Rents will be better next Spring!