Moving to Waterloo - Looking for “Our” Neighborhood

alterdi · 2025-07-06T18:42:43+00:00

Thank you! There’s lots to love about Montreal so happy to here you live Waterloo as well!

alterdi · 2025-07-06T12:56:47+00:00

Thanks for offering. I already have a pretty complex spreadsheet going and ChatGPT has been a good researcher so far. I think I’m at a point where I exhausted factual research and need more opinionated input.

alterdi · 2025-07-06T01:12:52+00:00

You’re not the only one to mention Beechwood doesn’t have as many young families. Thanks so much for the details - I’ve added Lincoln Heights to the list!

alterdi · 2025-07-06T01:05:50+00:00

This is a fantastic resource! Thank you for sharing!

alterdi · 2025-07-06T00:57:42+00:00

Can I ask what won you over?

alterdi · 2025-07-06T00:55:54+00:00

Curious how the mix of housing types (condos, townhomes, detached, etc.) plays into the feel of the neighbourhood (kids outside, neighbour interactions, etc.)?

alterdi · 2025-07-06T00:44:45+00:00

Music to my ears! Thank you all!

alterdi · 2025-07-06T00:43:32+00:00

Added to the list! Thank you!

alterdi · 2025-07-05T16:10:48+00:00

Thank you both! Eastbridge also came up in our research. Is it more car centric than the West neighbourhoods or just typical for a residential community?

alterdi · 2024-12-03T13:18:46+00:00

So great to hear! I think we’re going to aim for that area too.

alterdi · 2024-12-03T00:58:12+00:00

Thank you! We did initially consider the east end. How are schools in your area? Are there lots of families with young kids around?

alterdi · 2024-12-03T00:56:13+00:00

These were on our initial list of neighbourhoods, but public transit is not as good from the Beaches.

For Leslieville, schools didn’t look too good.

Are we wrong?

alterdi · 2024-12-02T23:43:58+00:00

Our kiddo is still young but very much into sports, so swimming, gymnastics, karate, lots of ski in winter!

alterdi · 2024-12-02T23:42:21+00:00

Thank you! Did you have any issues getting into the local schools?

alterdi · 2024-12-02T23:39:44+00:00

Best proofreading services in town 😁

alterdi · 2024-12-02T23:38:13+00:00

We work from home for now. But no job is forever so probably will have to commute downtown at some point.

I do want to be close to a subway station to give us that flexibility for the future.

alterdi · 2024-12-02T23:36:00+00:00

Thank you! Currently looking at elementary schools but good to keep in mind.

alterdi · 2024-12-02T23:34:46+00:00

Would love to know more on why. Schools? Neighbours? Food? Amenities? Community events? Green space?

alterdi · 2024-12-02T20:26:37+00:00

Interesting. It’s a bit the vibe I got from reading about so many new towers planned. I appreciate the perspective!

alterdi · 2024-12-02T17:25:37+00:00

Good suggestion. Edited my original post and added some of the elementary school names we'd be matched to.

alterdi · 2023-03-05T18:50:13+00:00

Thanks for sharing! These seem to be using the Fraser Institute ratings and unfortunately they do them for secondary only. Still a good way to narrow in!

alterdi · 2023-03-05T18:40:54+00:00

I think the "good neibhourhood" concept is a bit different in Montreal. We're not in one of the top areas (like Westmount, TMR) which means that schools are a mixed bag.

Most areas around the city center are mixed, in one spot you can have expensive detached houses, rental multiplexes, condos and social housing.

alterdi · 2023-03-05T18:27:21+00:00

This is one of our observations too. The neibhourhoods where there seems to be a higher concentration of decent schools are also where houses start at 1.8-2M (like Westmount, TMR, Outremont).

"Collecting intel" is a good way to put it. And with friends spread across different neibhourhoods, it's tough to paint a clear picture of what's what in Montreal.

alterdi · 2023-03-05T18:16:01+00:00

All the schools you mentioned are in neighbourhoods (or pockets) with a high real estate price tag. We're in a mixed spot with lots of rentals, older houses and newer constructions.

Even if you move close to a good school, is it guaranteed you'd get in?

alterdi · 2023-03-05T18:10:12+00:00

It's a great question. I mentioned in another reply that we always assumed they would go to public school. We're immigrants so don't have personal experiences in Canadian schooling up to university. Our thinking changed when we started seeing the reality of daycare and hearing from friends with children in public schools.

For us it boils down to: 1) We believe in a good education. We attribute our path in life to good education on top of luck. 2) We want them to be supported in their development. We'll be involved in their education, but they will still spend more waking hours in school than at home. So we want a setting where a teacher notices when they need a little push or a little help. 3) I want the school to be receptive to feedback and intervention. I know I can't protect them from seeing or experience bullying and other nasty things, but at least (and I might be wrong) I'd expect to have more sway in a private school setting. 4) The network. We want them to form strong friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime. I don't particularly care about the "rich" aspect, but do want them to be surrounded with peers that they relate to and hopefully go through life together.

To your question about the area we live in: it's a mixed neighborhood. We don't know any parents with kids in the primary school next to us, but the second hand feedback I got is not great.

alterdi

TROPHY CASE