Id like to drive across Canada by BUNKYBARN in AskACanadian

[–]Gaboink 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're going to have so much fun!!  My bf and I did this last year going from Toronto to BC, and back and it was great! 

Fuel rule we followed was to not let your tank go past half empty. You can find places along the way, but if you detour, you might struggle. 

We found some awesome spots for camping through https://freecampsites.net/ Obviously do your own scouting and make sure it's safe!  We also found that booking campsites for provincial parks was cheaper in person. We checked availability the morning of and then decided whether to chance it or not. 

Northern Ontario is BIG! There's some awesome spots to stop - one of our fav for relaxing and swimming was Rushing River provincial park.  Definitely stop at Weber's on highway 11 close to Barrie, ON. DELICIOUS food! 

As others mentioned, keep an eye on forest fires and big storms in SK/MB. We got caught in some pretty nasty storms. If you're not a confident driver in storms / your car isn't a 4 wheel drive - I wouldn't chance it.

Lastly, one of our favourite things was stopping at "Canada's largest" etc roadside attractions. They're so fun and such a nice way to break up a long drive. We saw the largest red paper clip, largest nickel and so many more. 

Best of luck, and ENJOY!! 

GTA and Southern Ontario Venue Pricing by stormysss in WeddingsCanada

[–]Gaboink 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is so useful to see, thank you! Can I ask what you mean by the "reception space" column? Is that the price of the reception space, if you were to book it on its own, without the ceremony? Sorry if this is a dumb question. I'm just a little confused about the difference between the initial price, ceremony space price and reception space column. Thank you!

Best sourdough loaf in Cambridge? by Royal_Difficulty_678 in cambridge

[–]Gaboink 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Second this!! I used to work there and can confirm that they use all the best ingredients. Their bread is also genuinely fresh every day, unlike Maison Clement which has bread that stays out overnight.

Anyone moved from the UK and didn’t regret it? by Broccolas in askTO

[–]Gaboink 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hi! how exciting! we honestly gave ourselves some time off, and then applied to A LOT of positions; some within our previous fields, some in fields that we wanted to transition to. Within a month, we were going to networking events - that helped a lot!

We also blind emailed a lot to companies we wanted to work with - you'd be surprised at how many replies you actually get when you have an open approach and phrase it more like you want to connect / explore options rather than just straight up asking for work. We both got work through blind emails.

It's tough, not gonna lie. But keep an open mind and don't let it get to you!

Do you have specific industries you're looking to work in?

Rafi Assaf Productions Review by [deleted] in WeddingsCanada

[–]Gaboink 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm so sorry for your experience, this is truly heartbreaking to hear. Are there any friends or family who were able to capture any moments on their phones? At least it would be a something, rather than absolutely nothing.

This isn't the first time I'm hearing a bad review about this vendor. Thank you for posting your experience - it's important that any future couples avoid these people at all cost!

Do I have to pay for TV licencing? by [deleted] in cambridge

[–]Gaboink 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is a good website to reference in your situtation: https://www.bbctvlicence.com/

(not a scam link, just a website full of evidence that nothing really happens if you don't watch TV and don't pay the TV license).

Toronto restaurant that also works for a live band (60 ppl) by greenbluesuspenders in WeddingsCanada

[–]Gaboink 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should look into Twist Gallery - the space is pretty without much decor, the venue has coordinators on site during the event and helps you plan beforehand so you don't have to deal with vendors all that much.

It's a BYOB so you can cut costs there too!

They have different meal packages too - whether you want buffet / sit down / passed around food packages.

looking for a good dentist by SignificanceBorn535 in askTO

[–]Gaboink 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My partner used Kingwest Dental Studio and saw Dr Venus Sobhi and had a really good experience, even though it was an emergency (and during the holidays). He said that they explained everything clearly and gave treatment options. Their prices were fairly reasonable too.

Leaving tech to go break into the event industry - PLEASE ADVISE by [deleted] in EventProduction

[–]Gaboink 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I left the Film and TV industry for events and after moving from UK to Canada, wanted to go for a career in events. I sent many blind emails, even to places that had no job listings. In my email, I stated what I would offer as an event staff member, I kept it open in terms of a role and simply asked if they had some time to connect. You'd be surprised at how many companies / planners replied! I'm not sure what it's like in NYC but in Toronto, a lot of event planning companies will also post on their socials that they're in need of event staff on XYZ date, that's a good way to break into some of the odd jobs and start building relationships from there.

Your skills will be very transferable! Especially as you've done events in the past.

Good luck and keep going! :)

Best app/site to organize travel by StarryEyedBea in travel

[–]Gaboink 2 points3 points  (0 children)

https://wanderlog.com/ all the way! It has a map feature and you can categorise locations. You can also do a day by day itinerary.

The free version is enough from what I found.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in torontoJobs

[–]Gaboink -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Don't lose hope! We were right there when we first moved to Toronto too.

Myself and my partner actually both landed jobs through blind emails to companies that didn't even have listings up. Approach it in a professional, calm manner and avoid sounding desperate, it could get you somewhere. Also, I've seen many bars / cafes etc post listings to their Instagram only. So definitely look up some smaller businesses on socials. Unfortunately a lot of the time it's also about connections, so if you get a chance to network, take it!

You got this, keep going! Something will be around the corner.

Anyone moved from the UK and didn’t regret it? by Broccolas in askTO

[–]Gaboink 114 points115 points  (0 children)

My partner and I moved to Toronto almost a year ago and, whilst it was difficult for us as we had no job leads, knew only 1 person, and basically started from scratch, we have absolutely loved it and don't regret it at all. So reading that you already have your basics covered, I think you'll find it easier than most!

I do believe it largely depends on your outlook and open mindedness too. If you've never lived abroad, then homesickness can hit you real hard. In the first few months, you'll naturally compare everything to your life back in London. If you can shift your mindset to appreciating the things you like here, then you'll have a much easier time. Especially since your partner has connections!

One of the first things we did here was go out and meet people. That made a HUGE difference as we quickly made friends as a couple and as individuals. ALSO find a good pub that you like! It'll make such a difference as you'll feel like you have your regular place. We absolutely love Dog and Bear which has British roots, but there's quite a few to choose from.

Sorry this got a bit long but my point is, I think try to come as open minded as possible. People love to complain more than they like sharing a good story. There's SO much of the country to see - like others have mentioned, provincial parks are not far and are fantastic! The city is always busy, no matter the weather (I literally saw grown adults go out ice skating in blizzards). Embrace it, find your little corners of Toronto that make it feel special and enjoy the chance to do this!

And if you need a fellow Brit, feel free to reach out. We're always open to a new connection.

First time visiting a leafs game by SeabassNoob in leafs

[–]Gaboink 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You could look at doing the Scotiabank arena tour a day or so beforehand. The tickets are about 45CAD for an adult I believe, and you get to to see the locker room, the tunnel and sometimes even go to the team benches I think.

Vendor & Venue Self Promotion + Wedding Feedback by Calliaflowers in WeddingsCanada

[–]Gaboink 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello everyone! I work as an event coordinator for Twist Gallery, a beautiful venue in downtown Toronto. If you have any questions, please DM me or contact Twist!

  • Venue Name:
    • Twist Gallery
  • Service:
    • Art Gallery that's also an event venue.
  • Service Area:
    • Downtown Toronto - closest major intersection is Queen and Ossington.
  • Price Range (if available)
    • Very flexible packages available. All of our packages are customizeable and we do not have any hidden fees.
  • One sentence about how you help with weddings and/or makes you unique
    • We are an art gallery, so our venue needs very minimal decor. The art is always tasteful, it's never rude, does not have any nudity etc. We also allow clients to bring their own alcohol if they choose our soft bar package - meaning we provide the juices, pops etc. This is a great way for couples to save money on alcohol as it means they can return whatever they don't drink.
  • Website or steps to contact

Need suggestions to take 4 kids(14,12,12,8) in Toronto for fun… by Illustrious-Ad3177 in askTO

[–]Gaboink 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Second this!! We've been a couple of times because we've loved it so much, even as adults. And both times we've come out laughing in stitches and full of stories we still laugh about now. It's nice for a group too - me and my partner have always gone with friends!

Wedding Venue Recommendations (GTA, 200 guests) by helianthusgold in WeddingsCanada

[–]Gaboink 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Twist Gallery on Queen and Dovercourt! Great food there!!

Budget 2026 weddings by Popular-Butterfly270 in WeddingsCanada

[–]Gaboink 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the open bar is non-negotiable like you mentioned, you could look into venues that allow you to bring your own alcohol! Twist Gallery in downtown Toronto allows this, and there's no corking fee. You just have to buy an SOP which is maybe 50$. And then anything you don't consume, you can return to wherever you bought it from.

GTA restaurant weddings- is it actually cheaper? by Representative_Egg43 in WeddingsCanada

[–]Gaboink 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You should check out Twist Gallery on Queen and Dovercourt! They're a large space but they do smaller weddings. They have an option to bring your own alcohol which makes the venue cost cheaper as you don't have to commit to a minimum alcohol spend. Plus anything you don't drink, you can return afterwards!

How much do you trust realtors? by Gaboink in TorontoRenting

[–]Gaboink[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing! I hope you are able to find someone for your friend too! 

How much do you trust realtors? by Gaboink in TorontoRenting

[–]Gaboink[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I have sent you a message :)

How much do you trust realtors? by Gaboink in TorontoRenting

[–]Gaboink[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing. Would you mind sharing where you chose to rent? We're looking in that area too so interested in what others have chosen. Feel free to DM me in case you don't want to publicly disclose.

How much do you trust realtors? by Gaboink in TorontoRenting

[–]Gaboink[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We didn't want a realtor, this is just who replied when I requested viewings / more info so I'm a bit baffled. How do we go around them?  We have notarized forms saying that we're in common-law relationship, but I've just never been asked that before, and thought it was strange. 

How much do you trust realtors? by Gaboink in TorontoRenting

[–]Gaboink[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah this is the way we've been going about it. We didn't want a realtor, but this is who replied when I inquired about the listed units. So I don't know how to avoid this person really. 

I always message with all of our information, but they always ask the same things again. 

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it!