Toronto, Canada
Toronto is the capital of the Ontario province in Canada, and it is the nation's most-populated city. The city is located on the shore of Lake Ontario, which lies between Canada and the United States. The Saint Lawrence River runs through Toronto, and it is used as a shipping route towards the east coast of Canada and out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Canada was a British colony, so Toronto was not established as Ontario's capital until the later half of the 19th century. With the capital development came the building of new transportation networks and the city's economy and infrastructure expanding. This allowed for more suburban development, both for employment and residential activity. English is the main language spoken in Toronto and Ontario; however, in the nearby province of Quebec, French is spoken, so residents will likely be bilingual with English and French. The currency is the Canadian Dollar, abbreviated C$; one Canadian dollar equals $0.78 USD.
Location
Job Opportunities
Being Canada's most-populated city, jobs in all industries are available in Toronto. Three common industries include education, fashion, in addition to finances and technology. Jobs for professors and educators are certainly available, ranging in both grades and subjects taught. In the fashion industry, opportunities range from being a salesperson to a manufacturer. As for financial services, Toronto is the largest hub for economic and financial activity around Canada, with the stock exchange and many other banking and financial services. There are many banks, including RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) and Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) as potential employers. In the technology industry, software development, design, and product manufacturing are common jobs. Toronto is continuing to "go green" through environmental jobs including sustainability and resource management, in addition to constructing greenspaces and environmentally-friendly buildings. From Toronto's technology opportunities to jobs in education, busiess operations, and fashion design, the city makes every effort to go green and be sustainable through its variety of employment.
Cost of Living
Prices for apartments in Toronto are somewhat consistent, increasing as location moves to the city center or there is higher occupancy. A one-bedroom apartment in downtown will average 2,000 C$ ($1,620 USD), while one outside the city costs around 1,650 C$ ($1,335 USD). For larger, three-bedroom units, city-center prices average 3,350 C$ ($2,700 USD), with those in the suburbs coming in around 2,600 C$ ($2,100 USD).
Basic utilities around Toronto, which include electricity, water, and heating and cooling, average out to 160 C$ ($130 USD) per month. Any internet usage or unlimited data plans for electronics may average 75 C$ ($61 USD). For car purchasing, the average price for small cars starts around 25,300 C$ ($20,500 USD); gas costs around 4.85 C$ ($3.93 USD) per gallon. Both using cars and public transit are viable options around Toronto.
Transportation
Toronto public transit operates on TTC, the Toronto Transit Commission. Modes of transit include buses, underground subways, and streetcars around the city. Because of Toronto's large size, getting from one place to another may require multiple modes of transportation or simply transferring at a stop. It is recommended that, if possessing a day, weekly, or monthly TTC Metropass, you show the attendant your card as you transfer vehicles. The PRESTO pass works similarly, simply by showing the attendant the card. However, if you pay cash for the pass, it is necessary to have a TTC Transfer Pass to show the attendant when transferring vehicles. In all, Toronto can be challenging to navigate with its public transit, so make sure to possess either the Metrocard or a transfer pass to get from point A to point B more easily.
Recreation
From historical museums to sports teams to scenic nature parks and gardens, Toronto has plenty of recreational activities. Historical places include Casa Loma, a unique castle built in 1914 as a 98-room Chateau; the Museum of Contemporary Art, featuring Canadian artists with rotating exhibits; and the Aga Khan Museum, the first museum in North America dedicated to Islamic Art. Hockey is Canada's national sport, and the Hockey Hall of Fame Museum also resides in Toronto.
On the topic of hockey, Toronto's sports teams include the Maple Leafs for hockey, which competes in the NHL between the United States and Canada. The Blue Jays are Toronto's baseball team. They also compete with the United States in the MLB; however, Toronto is the only Canadian team in Major League Baseball.
Toronto also has its share of recreational parks and activities. More peaceful activities may include Toronto's Music Gardens, a nice area for residents and tourists to walk near the city center; Scarborough Bluffs, with over nine miles of hiking trails just outside of Toronto; and other parks, gardens, and even markets to buy locally-grown products. From museums to competitive sports and other recreational activities, Toronto offers great local activities and attractions.
Climate
Toronto has a continental climate, as the Summer season is warm but the Winter is cold and snowy. In Summer months between June and August, high temperatures are around the mid 70s to low 80s (24 to 27 degrees Celsius), with lows averaging in the mid 50s to low 60s (13 to 16 degrees Celsius). During Toronto's Winter, average high temperatures are right around freezing, plus or minus a few degrees (-2 to 2 degrees Celsius). Precipitation is somewhat consistent year-round, with rainy weather between April and October and snow between November and March. Average rainfall is 2 to 3 inches per month, as is the average snow total.