T Dot.

T.O.

The 416.

Is there a Canadian alive who hasn’t thought about moving to Canada’s largest city, lovingly known as The 6ix… Heck, forget Canada. People from across the entire globe flock here every year for both tourism and immigration. Our most populous city is also recognized as one of the most diverse (if not THE MOST diverse) cities in the world. And not only is it diverse, but it’s welcoming and inclusive, making it desirable to anyone looking for a change in scenery.

So what about Toronto makes it so appealing?

PLENTY.

We think there are hundreds of reasons to fall in love with Toronto, but here are our top 10.

Justo’s Top 10 Reasons for Moving to Toronto

1. The Diversity – There Are People From All Over the World

As we mentioned, Toronto is exceptionally diverse. According to Studyabroadfoundation.org, there are more than 250 different nationalities in Toronto and an estimated 180 different dialects spoken. More than 50% of the population of Toronto and the GTA was born outside of Canada. This makes Toronto especially desirable for people looking to immigrate to the Great White North since it’s likely they will find members of their own ethnic community.

If you’re a Canadian who likes learning and living with people from other cultures, Toronto is a great place to study or work! You’ll get to explore many multi-cultural markets and festivals, while also getting to know people from around the world.

2. The Food – Flavourful Cuisine From Around the World

From mouth-watering street vendor food to some of the finest restaurants in North America, Toronto’s food scene is like no other. Such a large, diverse city is an easy place for restaurateurs and chefs to settle down and experiment with many types of foods.

You’ll find fine French dining, Italian food that will make you cry out ‘Mama Mia!’ and steakhouses so good the meat melts in your mouth. You’ll also find late-night poutineries making Canada’s most famous french fry dish, delicious Halal you can grab on your lunch hour, tacos that will knock your socks off, Korean BBQ, and everything in between.

In a city with such diversity, you’ll find just about any cuisine you can dream of at almost any time of the day or night!

3. The Arts & Entertainment – So Much to See and Do in Hollywood North!

Sometimes known as Hollywood North, Toronto is a hub for both film and TV production in Canada. It’s also where you’ll find Broadway musicals like The Lion King, Rent, and Les Miserables. Home to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), The Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, and of course, the CN Tower, Toronto is full of fun places to visit.

Great late night entertainment, plenty of concerts and shows, museums, zoos, parks, festivals, TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and so much more await you all year long in Toronto. It’s truly a busy, bustling city with plenty to keep you entertained every weekend.

4. World Class Sports – Catch a Game, or Play One!

If you’re into sports, Toronto is an excellent place to move. With 4 professional sports teams in the city (Toronto Raptors, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Argonauts CFL and Toronto Maple Leafs), there are pro sporting events all year long. There are also plenty of world-class sporting events happening in the city each year, like FIFA matches and plenty of college and university games to see.

Want to play yourself? Rec leagues abound throughout the city so you can join a community soccer team, volleyball league, or pick-up basketball game. Inexpensive and subsidized swimming and team sports are available for children in every neighbourhood too!

Hey Sports Fans! Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs star Forward is one of our favourite Justo investors. Why do people like Mitch invest in a real estate brokerage like Justo? Because they know we’ve got something special happening. If you’re considering a move to the Toronto area, learn more about how Justo can make your move more simple and affordable. Plus, you’ll be contributing to the Marner Assist Fund to help Toronto Children and Youth.

5. Schools – World Class Education, No Matter Where You’re From

The Toronto Public School system is a comprehensive, rigorous school system mandated by the Ontario Ministry of Education, a province-wide education system. For those looking to move into Toronto from other parts of Canada, you’ll find the education system to be similar to other parts of the country with a focus on diversity in education. City life and other learning opportunities around the GTA give plenty of opportunities for learning to happen beyond the classroom.

Kids in Toronto visit the Ontario Science Centre, Fort York, The Curiosity Lab, the Bata Shoe Museum, Niagara Falls, and, if they’ve got a particularly cool and adventurous teacher, Canada’s Wonderland.

If you’re considering a move from outside Canada and your family is still learning English, the Toronto District School Board offers an English as a Second Language/English Literacy Development program that is of huge benefit to your children. Newcomers who haven’t yet learned English or French will get to participate in a comprehensive assessment to understand exactly what your child needs to be successful at school. Learn more about TDSBs program for newcomers here.

6. Transit – Walkable with Plenty of Transit Options for Local and International Desinations

Toronto is known for its chilly winter breezes, but luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay warm, even when you need to go somewhere. While the city itself is very walkable, most of the downtown core is connected via underground pathways and malls, making it easy and comfortable to get around, even on the coldest days.

With plenty of transit options (and transit lines that are growing every year!), you can move to Toronto even if you don’t own a car, something more difficult in Toronto’s other large cities like Calgary and Vancouver.

Toronto’s Transit Options Include:

One of the biggest concerns people have when moving to a new city is the affordability of returning home to see family and friends. Fortunately, Toronto is one of the busier international transit centers in the world and you’ll find travel in and out of the city to be more affordable than most other places in Canada.

Pearson International is Canada’s busiest airport. 30 Airlines, mostly international, fly in and out of Pearson every day to more than 180 destinations around the world.

For local and US destinations, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport hosts some Air Canada flights as well as all Porter Airlines flights in and out of the city. For quick getaways and business travel, this downtown island airport makes it convenient to get away in a hurry!

7. A Focus on Fitness – Plenty of Ways to Stay in Shape

As Toronto has expanded, there has been a focus on making the city walkable and bikeable, helping to keep people active. Most city streets will have plenty of room for pedestrians and new streets are often built with designated bike lanes.

The waterfront has many places to walk, bike, run, and play. New neighbourhoods are built with a focus on an active lifestyle and less necessity for a car, so you’ll find grocery stores, restaurants, and parks within walking distance most of the time.

8. The Seasons and Holidays – There Are So Many Things to Celebrate

Toronto’s yearly weather patterns allow for residents to see 4 distinct seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. The city comes to life at each season with plenty to celebrate. You’ll find street festivals in all types of weather, Christmas markets, parades, and parties, all year long.

The diverse, multi-cultural population also lends to plenty of festivals that celebrate different cultures and holidays from around the world. Check out Toronto’s Festivals and Events Calendar to keep up-to-date with what’s being planned for the coming year.

Some of the Justo staff’s particular favourites:

Canada Day Celebration and Fireworks
Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District
Canada Music Week
Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Luminato
Pride Toronto Festival

9. Proximity to Weekend Destinations

While Toronto is a massive city, it’s conveniently located on the northern shores of Lake Ontario, so you can quickly get out of town!

Common destinations and drive times:

USA Border Crossing at Buffalo, NY: 1hr 50 mins
Niagara Falls, ON: 1 hr 30 mins
Prince Edward County: 2 hrs 28 mins
Algonquin Provincial Park: 3 hrs
Collingwood: 2 hrs 10 mins
Stratford: 2 hrs
Lake Muskoka 2 hrs 30 mins

10. Work Opportunities

Of course, many people move to Toronto for a job. But it’s truly one of the biggest centers for commerce in North America and is an international business hub with thousands of flagship and head office centers located throughout the city.

Toronto and the GTA is an excellent place to launch and grow your career with entry and advanced level job opportunities in almost every industry. Whether you’re a young chef, an actor, a budding entrepreneur, a doctor entering a fellowship, or an experienced salesperson, there’s a place for you in our vibrant city.

There are countless reasons to move to Toronto or the GTA, but these are a few of our favourites. If you’re considering moving to our beautiful city on the lake, reach out to us. We’re your friendly realtors who can help you find a home here in Toronto, but we’re also city lovers who know plenty about this gorgeous place we call home, and we’d love to be the ones to answer all your questions!