Moving from Ottawa to Toronto

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Cassidy’s is a long standing and respected member of the moving industry. We strive to uphold the very best in service, standards, and care no matter how far you’re moving.

We are members of and/or accredited by the following organizations:

• Better Business Bureau
• United Van Lines
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Canadian Association of Movers
• Air Miles

Pros & Cons of Moving to Toronto

Pros

There’s a lot to love about the 4th largest city in North America. Whether you’re familiar with Ontario or moving from a completely different province, we’ve got you covered. If you’re thinking about moving from Ottawa to Toronto, there are several factors to consider about the city of your new residence.

1. Economic Opportunity

If you’re looking for a career in arts, culture, media or tech, Toronto may be a great move for you. One of Canada’s economic powerhouses, Toronto offers economic stability and opportunity in a variety of fields, with an increasing focus on tech. While a couple of cities are vying for the “Silicon Valley North” crown, the Toronto-Waterloo corridor is making a bid that must be taken seriously. With offices for Google, Uber, Shopify, Vice magazine and more, there are over 200,000 tech and internet related jobs and counting.

What’s hot in the 2020s? Startups and co-working spaces. If you’ve got an entrepreneurial mindset, you’ll find plenty of options for co-working just a quick Google search away. Co-working spaces are not only great for cheap office space for 1 to 5-person teams, but it gives you a chance to have a real mailing address, not a PO box. If you’re looking for an expert office moving company, call on Cassidy’s.

2. Endless Exciting Things to Do

From arts and museums to fashion to nightlife to major league sports, Toronto is a vibrant city that has something for everyone. Year-round, there are exhibitions like Ripley’s Aquarium, Canada’s Wonderland, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, the Ontario Science Centre…the list goes on and on.

Here’s a shortlist of just a few of the bigger events the city has to offer.

• The Canadian National Exhibition every summer.
• The world-class Distillery District Christmas Market.
• The Pride Festival has grown to a month-long extravaganza.
• The Royal Winter Fair

3. Multicultural Diversity

Toronto is one of the most major cities in the world, and with the largest population comes a wide array of cultures. More than half of its population was born outside of Canada, according to 2006 census statistics, and about 47 percent of Torontonians are a member of a visible minority. No matter what your heritage is, you’ll be able to find someone who shares it in your new home of Toronto.

4. Low Crime for Such a Big City

With an amazingly low crime rate, Toronto is one of the safest big cities in the world, and the safest large city in North America. There is even better news if you’re headed to “the 6”: Toronto’s crime rate has been falling for years.

That being said Toronto is still a major city and there are pockets where people, especially women walking after dark, should be careful. In recent years, these areas include Jane and Finch, Scarborough, and parts of Etobicoke. If these challenged neighbourhoods are anything like some of the previous listings on Toronto’s bad neighbourhoods list, in a decade or two they’ll become gentrified.

5. Easier Winters – for Canada, at Least

Unless you’re coming from Vancouver or Victoria, you’ll probably find Toronto’s winters comparatively mild. The GTA gets a moderating effect on its temperatures from Lake Ontario, and also from the heat island effect. While Toronto still gets snow, the weather isn’t nearly as harsh as what you’d experience out west.

6. An Airport in the Downtown Core

If you decide on moving to Toronto, you’ll find Billy Bishop/Toronto Island Airport incredibly convenient as long as you’re headed to cities along the eastern seaboard of North America. Since you can pretty much get off the TTC in Toronto and onto a plane for Montréal, New York or Chicago (with connections pretty much anywhere else in the world), you’ll never feel stuck.

Considering that the alternative is the 75-minute or more journey to Pearson airport in Mississauga, a 10-minute bus ride is pretty sweet.

7. Sports, Sports, Sports

Toronto has a full range of professional sports teams as compared to other Canadian cities. Within the city, you’ve got:

• Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey)
• Toronto Raptors (basketball)
• Toronto Blue Jays (baseball)
• Toronto Argonauts (football)

In addition to the professional-level teams, there are plenty of games to catch at the amateur and college level as well.

If you’re interested in sports history, Toronto is home to the N.H.L.’s Hockey Hall of Fame, and the C.F.L.’s Hall of Fame is a short drive away in Hamilton.

8. Top Education

Toronto is teeming with excellent schools. Whether you’re looking for work as an instructor, or are applying to post-secondary schooling, Toronto has you covered. The University of Toronto is a globally top-ranked public research university.

Toronto is home to over 1,400 educational establishments and related businesses, and the education sector employs more than 100,000 employees.

9. Exciting Nightlife

As Canada’s largest city, Toronto has plenty of diverse and vibrant communities. Different neighbourhoods offer a wide range of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants to explore. You can have fun experiencing other types of culture that are on offer at museums and festivals throughout the city.

44 Toronto, Rebel Toronto, and Century Toronto are all a great place to visit if you’re ready to dance the night away.

Top restaurants include: Canoe, Richmond Station, Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, and Bar Raval.

Cons

Unfortunately the news is not all good for the Big Smoke. A move to Toronto can be exciting, but here are some things to consider before relocating.

1. Housing is Expensive

Currently, the average cost of a detached home climbed to $1.37 million (2023), according to the Toronto Real Estate Board. Even though there are more affordable options in condos and townhouses, it’s not exactly great news if you’re looking to settle down.

Renting is of course less costly, but is still incredibly expensive by anyone’s standards, except perhaps those used to Vancouver. Expect to spend a minimum $1,200 a month for a 1-bedroom apartment or condo. If you plan to find 2-3 roommates, you can probably bring your rent down to something more affordable, but you’ll definitely be paying $400 – $500 more every month unless you live in the suburbs. The other bad news is that apartment sizes tend to be much smaller than elsewhere.

Speaking of suburbs, that brings us to the second biggest problem…

2. Traffic, Congestion, and Long Commute Times

If you’re from out of town you may find Toronto’s typical 8-to-12 lane expressways unbelievable, but even with that level of infrastructure there’s still a lot of congestion. Torontonians have an average commute time of 65 minutes, the longest in the province, according to a recent study.

Many Torontonians save money by foregoing the convenience of a personal car. Toronto has lots of mass transit alternatives, including rail, busses, streetcars and subways lines to make it easier. The problem is that if you have to cross regional boundaries, you’re stuck paying for multiple transit passes.

The good news for future transit riders is that the GTA should all be nicely integrated in 2017. As of now, only about 10% of the network is using the same payment system.

If you’re a bicyclist, you’ll be happy to know that there are more dedicated bike lanes every year. People know that cycling reduces congestion and smog, so they do try to encourage it. You can find out more information about the Toronto Cycling Network here.

3. It Can Be Hard to Make Friends

In other parts of the country, Torontonians have a reputation for being unfriendly and standoffish. The truth is probably more that they’re too busy to say hello to the stranger on their own at a party or in the lunchroom at work. People are often too involved with what’s on their phone screen to notice what’s going on.

“We’re a busy, go-go-go city,” notes Meg, a Toronto native who has also lived in other cities before returning to her home town. “Unless you ask for what you need quickly you may find you get a chilly reception.”

But a lot of the best answers to living with loneliness in the big city can be found online. Meetup.com is a favourite because it allows you to find friends by interest. Most neighbourhood associations also have Facebook pages, and are great resources for people looking to explore, socialize, and get involved in issues affecting their local community.

4. Not the Best Place for Nature Lovers

It may come as no surprise that outdoorsy types may have trouble getting their nature fix in such a large city. There are a variety of parks, especially in suburban areas, and boating on the lake, but serious rock climbers, hikers, and camping enthusiasts may only be able to get what they need from vacation expeditions.

The downtown core is especially greenspace-challenged, but some great options include Trinity-Bellwood park, Allen Gardens and High Park (which has a stunning cherry blossom display every April-May).

5. Very Hot Summers – for Canada

In many Canadian cities, summers are mild enough that you can often get away without air conditioning. In Toronto, it’s essential for comfortable living.

With over 7,000 square miles of asphalt and glass in the Greater Toronto Area, that’s a lot of heat being absorbed, and it often overpowers any cool breezes that may come off of Lake Ontario.

6. Developers Ruined the Waterfront

If you’ve been to cities like Chicago that have great waterfronts, you’ll find Toronto disappointing. Formerly public land has been relentlessly sold off to property developers, who put in mile after mile of condo towers. Which can be nice if you own a condo there, but not if you live nearby and would like to enjoy some of its natural beauty.

Luckily, a few select spaces and activities remain, but it’s just a shadow of what it could have been.

Is Moving to Toronto the Right Decision for You?

Depending on your age and what you’re looking for, living in Toronto can be thrilling or an ordeal. Young people attending one of its world-class universities will undoubtedly love it. Families looking for a home big enough for 2 or 3 kids may find things difficult.

One thing is for sure: there’s no excuse for boredom in such a dynamic city.

If you do decide that moving to Toronto is right for you, your next step is packing. Use our packing tips for moving guide, so you’re not caught wondering where to begin.