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Irish Couple Moving to Toronto.. Any advice?

L

Laura1013

Guest
Hi All,

This is my first time posting here, but I have enjoyed reading lots of the threads, it's helped me to get to know a bit about Toronto before we move over this summer:)

We are a female couple, and we've both just been granted a years working Visa that will allow us to live and work in Canada for a year. We can't wait to experience your country first hand!

Basically, I'd love some advise as to where might be the best place to live. We're both professionals in our late 20's but we want to take a career break for the year and maybe just do some casual work! I have a fantasy about working in a coffee shop for a couple of months, and just immersing myself in Toronto life!:cool: Any advice as to where would be a good area to look for jobs would also be greatly appreciated.

I understand Toronto is quiet a gay friendly city. Obviously this would be very important to us, is this actually the case? Would we be okay to be openly gay when we look for accommodation or jobs?
Also anything anyone could tell us about the gay village would be greatly appreciated!

We're planning to move over in the middle of July, I suppose I just want to have as much info as I can, moving over.

Sorry about the long post...

Thanks,
Laura
 
I have a fantasy about working in a coffee shop for a couple of months, and just immersing myself in Toronto life! Any advice as to where would be a good area to look for jobs would also be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Leslieville, which is the eastern leg of Queen street between Broadview and Coxwell is an affordable neighbourhood for young professionals with a lot going on. Personally, I like Ossington between Queen and Dundas, as well as Dundas between Bathurst and Ossington.
 
There's a gay Facebook group on this forum, with about 25 members. We get together quite often, so when you arrive let us know and we can meet if you like.
 
I have a fantasy about working in a coffee shop for a couple of months, and just immersing myself in Toronto life!
Click to expand...

Me too! I'd love to put down my calculator for a few months and work in a nice low stress, laid back job.
 
I think you'll find Toronto friendly enough. The city is very diverse and I'd be surprised if you ran into negative attitudes (always a few exceptions of course, but they are the exception).

Living costs are high, relative to other parts of Canada, although low compared to much of Europe. Working in a coffee shop won't pay much, but perhaps that's OK with you.

Hipster Duck has mentioned a couple of somewhat "funky", reasonably central neighbourhoods to live in. If you could indicate some preferences as to type of neighbourhood etc. maybe we could come up with more suggestions for you.

Best wishes.
 
Thanks to everyone for your responses so far!

Urban Shocker thanks for the offer, I'm sure once we get there we'll be mad to get to know a few people on the scene!

With regard to the type of neighbourhood we'd like to live in. I think our main concerns would be that it would be in a safe area, but still reasonably priced.
Somewhere close to public transport would also be important!

When we get over there, we're going to take a week or so to do a bit of sight-seeing, and then get on craigslist to look for somewhere to live, but I'd love to have an idea of the different neighbourhoods before we do this. Are there any that are just kinda 'no go' area's? I'm just thinking of the city where I live and there are several area's that to the unsuspecting eye might look okay, but in reality are places I wouldn't send my worst enemy to! :)
 
Are there Irish immigrant enclaves in Toronto?

Everyone: I felt that this would be an appropriate time to ask if there is are communities of recent-years Irish immigrant enclaves like there is here in the NYC area? One that comes to mind is Woodside,Queens. As I am of Irish descent myself it interests me.

Laura: You will find Toronto quite interesting-I certainly did over time.
It is too bad that you will probably miss Toronto's Gay Pride festival and parade at the end of June-I am straight but I have found neighborhoods in cities like Toronto that are predominantly Gay to be some of the safest and best and are full of life. Enjoy! LI MIKE
 
Chuck said:
Me too! I'd love to put down my calculator for a few months and work in a nice low stress, laid back job.
Click to expand...

my experience as a barista was anything but low stress. I'm sure that depends where you work, however.

Long Island Mike,
There are no Irish enclaves in Toronto. Although there was a mass immigration long ago, during the 20th century Toronto did not get many Irish immigrants when compared to most North American cities . I believe this is largely due to it being so bloody "orange", if you know what i mean.

Laura1013,
There seems to be a large concentration of gay women in Cabbagetown, which, coincidently, used to be Toronto's Irish ghetto. It's a lovely neighbourhood, although a bit dodgy at times. Some would say it has a lot of "personality".
Also, my parents both came here from Dublin 36 years ago "for only a while" and never left. Be careful, Canada can suck you in before you even notice! ;)

Enjoy your stay.
 
Laura1013 said:
With regard to the type of neighbourhood we'd like to live in. I think our main concerns would be that it would be in a safe area, but still reasonably priced.
Somewhere close to public transport would also be important!

When we get over there, we're going to take a week or so to do a bit of sight-seeing, and then get on craigslist to look for somewhere to live, but I'd love to have an idea of the different neighbourhoods before we do this. Are there any that are just kinda 'no go' area's? I'm just thinking of the city where I live and there are several area's that to the unsuspecting eye might look okay, but in reality are places I wouldn't send my worst enemy to! :)
Click to expand...

Downtown Toronto doesn't have many areas that are completely 'no go', but there are a few areas that have a higher incidence of the kinds of issues that one would want to avoid in a big city. higher petty crime rates, problems with drugs, prostitution etc.

my one big suggestion would be that you avoid looking for a flat in the area bounded by Jarvis, Queen, Sherbourne (or Parliament) and Wellesley...mark it out on your google map, and draw a big X through it!

(the north end of this area is actually quite close the heart of the gayborhood, at Church and Wellesley...)

its not that there aren't cool things about parts of this area, its just that if you're only here for a year, you might as well live in an area where you're not dealing with the more hardcore aspects of the city.

the other main area that is less desirable (and quite desolate architecturally) is the area bounded by Bloor, Dupont, Landsdowne and Dufferin. Its ugly and tough...

Parkdale used to be kind of rough--but its much more mixed than it used to be--its quite hip, but there are still lots of poor people blended in.

if you ARE looking in the Parkdale area though: try to avoid streets running south from Queen. North of Queen is a better bet, as south Parkdale is where most of the rooming houses are. In the Parkdale area, avoid King St and anything south of King, between Roncesvalles and Dufferin.

hope that helps!
 
Corktown, a neighbourhood in the east downtown, is now being gentrified and used to be heavily Irish in the early 19th century. Cabbagetown, to the north, used to be an Anglo-Saxon slum and is now increasingly gentrified. Just to the east, across the Don River, is Riverdale - another former working class neighbourhood that is being renovated. Take time to walk around any of these ( and other ) parts of town and you'll be able to compare their merits. I went for a long walk yesterday evening through Riverdale's leafy avenues, admiring the gardens.
 
Not everyone in the gay community wants or needs to locate right in the Village, but if you like that feeling of community (as I do) then I'd recommend trying to locate between Bloor (north), Carlton (south), Yonge (west), and Jarvis (east). Regarding the advice not to locate east of Jarvis, I'm on the west side of Jarvis facing east, and all the highrises I face are notably "gay" in population; it's not as if crossing the street will get you into trouble.

Being "out" when applying for a job:
It's no one's business, of course. It is illegal for an employer to ask. It shouldn't come up as a topic. But then again, there is a strategy of being completely open, to see if it is going to be an issue. Personally, I wouldn't take a job working for someone who was a bigot. Since you aren't in desperate need of the job, you could afford to go this route, and see what happens. Come right out and ask if your being gay will make anyone uncomfortable.

Being "out" when applying for an apartment:
Any landlord in downtown Toronto who is uncomfortable with two women looking for an apartment together has been living in a cave and probably shouldn't be allowed out in public unescorted. Again, it's no one's business. Anyone with half a brain will put two and two together, but still - you could simply be roommates for all they know.

With all of the condo construction, the apartment rental situation is a tenants' market right now, so no landlord can afford to turn away someone who appears to be a responsible potential tenant. If you're looking at a space in someone's house, you'll need to find a landlord you're comfortable with. If you're looking at an apartment building, they will examine your financial situation more closely than your sexual orientation. Just be yourselves.

Best of luck, and hope to meet you in July!
 
Laura1013 said:
When we get over there, we're going to take a week or so to do a bit of sight-seeing, and then get on craigslist to look for somewhere to live
Click to expand...

Craigslist is increasingly in the news as it has become a haven for fraud - particularly in apartment rentals. If you have to use it, keep this in mind.

Better, if you can, to walk around and when you find an area you like, jot down phone numbers from the rental signs.
 
I think deepend (above) offers good advice. As he says, avoid Dundas and Sherbourne (drugs and prostitution), and Lansdowne and Dupont (drugs and probably Toronto's worst high-rise slum building).

Parkdale is a mixed bag, IMO. It used to be slummy, dominated by cheap rooming houses. It has upgraded in recent years. Descriptions such as "gritty" now come more to mind. There are some interesting restaurants and small art galleries, and it's walking distance to High Park.

Have a look at a neighbourhood called "The Annex". Boundaries are roughly Bloor (south), Dupont (north), Bathurst (west), and St. George (east). Lots of reasonable rental apartments in buildings dating from the 1950s (not luxurious but clean and safe). Also flats in big old houses. Lots of amenities are within walking distance. However, be aware that it's close to the University of Toronto, and lots of students will be prowling the area in August, looking for accommodations.
 
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