If you’re looking for a city that offers a healthy lifestyle, Toronto is a fantastic option. Boasting the largest population in Canada, it offers an impressive blend of career and business opportunities, safety, diversity, arts and culture, and healthy living.

Whether you’re looking to relocate yourself or your family or to invest in a piece of real estate, Toronto is a bustling city that will continue to grow in terms of its economy and quality of life. It is a safe bet whether you’re moving from within Canada or from overseas for many reasons and we’ve decided to explain a few of those.

1. Healthy Restaurants

Let’s start with the most important thing – food. There is no shortage of healthy restaurants to be appreciated in Toronto. Ever since organic and vegetarian cuisine has been growing in popularity, Toronto’s restaurant scene has responded accordingly in its offerings. Regardless of where you live in Toronto, rest assured, there will be healthy restaurants nearby.

We recommend:

If you live on College Street, for example, you can enjoy the nearby Grasshopper Restaurant, known for its meat-free menu (hence the clever restaurant name). Its exposed brick and wooden furniture decor provide a hip ambiance for those dedicated vegetarians as well as those non-vegetarians looking to explore new cuisine options. They have a second location in the Junction.

If you live closer to Kensington Market, Hibiscus Café is a comforting vegan restaurant serving delightful soups. If you up for a a carb-rich meal, you can order a delicious savoury crepe stuffed with ingredients including but not limited to chocolate and brie cheese.

These are just two options, but rest assured, there are healthy dining options at each corner in Toronto.

2. Cycling Lanes

If you enjoy cycling, Toronto is an ideal destination for you. The city’s network of bicycle lanes offers comprehensive coverage of the downtown core. These lanes are separated from primary car traffic, making it safer and quicker to get around on bicycle than other major cities.

Not to mention that you don’t even have to own your own bike to cycle. Bike sharing in Toronto is very well developed and there are stations all around the city. Bike Share just added 120 new stations and a 1,000 new bikes, making it possible for more people to enjoy cycling without the burden of owning and maintaining their own bikes.

New kid on the block, Dropbike, is similar to Car2Go because it allows you to locate one of their available orange bikes using your smartphone. It will first become available around the U of T and Ryerson University and their website advertises rides starting at $1 per hour. As for Bike Share, you can choose between a membership at $90 per year, with the following usage fees:

• 0-30 minutes = no charge
• 31-60 = $1.50
• 61=90 = $4
• Every additional half-hour = $7

or you can opt for a short term membership, starting at $7 for a 24 hour pass and $15 for a 72 hour pass.

There are a number of cycling trails around the city. If you’re in the West End, make sure to check out Etobicoke’s West Bike Trail or Humber Valley Trail. For Eastenders and Downtowners, there’s the beautiful Tommy Thompson Park Trail, with no cars to ruin your cycling trip and the well known Waterfront Trail, perfect for a family cycling trip.

3. Proximity to Green Spaces & Water

According to EcoHealth Ontario, 92 per cent of studies resulted in a statistically significant relationship between mental health and proximity to nature within a city. It was also discovered that green spaces have a positive effect on physical health, presumably due to the resulting opportunities for physical activities and relaxation. Fortunately for us, Toronto is unique in its rich mix of green space and water within its urban design. Its downtown core also features a beautiful harbour.

You can spend a whole day cruising across the Toronto harbour and visiting the Toronto Islands. Central Island is a quaint getaway from the downtown bustle and offers a romantic day trip for any couples looking to ride a bike throughout this gorgeous island.

If you’re looking for a park to visit in Toronto, Trinity Bellwoods is a local favourite. Its central location makes it a perfect destination for picnics with friends or family. But we also have to mention The Don River Valley Park and of course Toronto’s biggest park – High Park.

Further away from the downtown core, there’s the gorgeous Scarborough Bluffs Park featuring a 15-km stretch of scenic lookout spots along Lake Ontario.

In the summer, you can go for a swim near Toronto by visiting one of its many nearby water locations. Elora Quarry is located about one hour away from downtown Toronto and features incredible landscapes as well as a beach area for sunbathing. St. Mary’s Quarry is deemed the biggest freshwater swimming location in the country and offers a floating dock for the purposes of jumping into the water.

4. Air Quality

Compared to other major international cities, Toronto has good air quality. According to the World Health Organization, Canada’s average pollutant air particle size is 13 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This is low compared to China, for example, with pollutant particulates of 55 micrograms per cubic meter of air or Delhi, India with particulates of 150 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Toronto outperformed the national average with a relatively impressive average particulate size of 7.9 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The air feels clean in Toronto and the data supports this anecdotal observation.

5. Healthy Grocery Stores

If you value a selection of organic grocery stores in your city, Toronto is an excellent option for you. You can buy locally-sourced fruits and vegetables and organic meat products in various outlets throughout the city.

According to blogTO, Torontonians rank Big Carrot, located on the Danforth, as one of the city’s best healthy grocery stores. It stocks a huge variety of organic grocery items and sells prepared organic food items as well. If you live near Leslieville, Raise the Root is a popular destination for organic groceries. For those living in the Junction, The Sweet Potato is a good option. Overall, Toronto boasts a wonderful assortment of organic grocery stores and farmers’ markets allowing you to cook healthily for you and your family.

Check out our list of the top 10 local food stores in the city.

6. Public Sports Programs

Toronto has an attractive offering of athletic programs available to the public.

Kayaking

If you enjoy kayaking, there are kayak rentals available at Woodbine Beach for as cheap as $25 per day. If you want to try rock climbing with friends, you can book an introductory course at the oldest rock climbing school in Ontario, located near Milton. Otherwise, if you’re interested in joining an intramural sports team, the City of Toronto offers many opportunities to get involved in local athletics.

Golf

Toronto is an excellent city for golfers. There are local golfing options for all budget levels. Don Valley is an excellent golfing destination for those on a tight budget. It’s within walking distance from York Mills subway station and green fees range from $58 – $70. While round times can be slow at this course due to its proximity to the city and inexpensive entry, this location provides excellent value and well-designed golf courses.

If you’re looking to splurge on a premium golfing experience, you can visit Copper Creek. This golf course is considered one of the best in Canada. It’s located near Toronto in a town called Kleinburg and green fees range from $125 – $190 CAD.

Skiing

Interested in making the best of Canada’s snowy weather and planning a ski trip? Toronto has plenty of nearby ski hills! Blue Mountain is a popular local skiing destination due to its beautiful natural landscapes and proximity to the city. It offers day and night skiing on its 40+ trails. Full day passes start at $70 CAD. Mount St. Louis Moonstone is another nearby skiing option. It’s about an hour away from Toronto and features 35 trails. Charging about $56 for a day pass, this hill is ideal if you’re looking for an affordable day trip destination.

7. Arts and Culture

For many people, having access to local arts and culture is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Toronto has an incredible arts and culture scene for anyone with such desires. Notable film festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival occur on a yearly basis.

New York has Broadway and Toronto has its Entertainment District. Dynamic theatre performances are given consistently if you like musicals or just about any other genre of theatre. Mirvish Productions is a must for musical lovers, while Soulpepper in the Distillery District or the Second City will impress comedy fans. And let’s not forget Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, the world’s largest queer theatre, featuring art, dance, drama and music.

Many famous and local musical artists perform on a weekly basis if you enjoy live music. Just recently Drake’s OVO festival went down at the Molson Amp featuring a huge replica of the CN Tower.

Museums and Galleries
Toronto’s museums and art galleries provide an insight into the local and international history and artistry. Famous for not just its looks, the centrally located Royal Ontario Museum offers fun for all age groups. The AGO, a well-known institution, gained some new popularity among the younger crowd recently when they started with their monthly First Thursday parties. Not to be missed are also The Hockey Hall of Fame and the Aga Khan Museum.

8. Free Healthcare

It goes without saying that it’s difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle if you’re unable to access healthcare services.

Thanks to Canada’s universal healthcare environment, Toronto promises accessible healthcare to anyone in need of regular health-related services, regardless of your income level, age or race.

Furthermore, the Canadian government regularly invests in public education campaigns in an attempt to reduce the risk of injuries and health issues for its citizens.

9. Toronto’s Smoke-Free Laws

As an extension to the previous point, Toronto guarantees a healthy environment with its strictly regulated smoke-free governmental policies.

There is a no-tolerance legislation with regards to smoking inside public facilities. Moreover, every retail site is required by law to display a no smoking sign on its doors at all times.

Government officers are frequently deployed into stores that sell age-restricted products such as tobacco to test for compliance. These officers investigate merchants’ records and behaviours for proper IDing procedures, training documents, and other such operational factors that ensure the integrity of the provincial legislation.

10. Occupational Health and Safety Policies

If you intend on moving to Toronto for employment purposes, you can be confident that your health will be treated as a priority by your employer. The Occupational Health and Safety Act mandates employers to protect your health.

This comprehensive act protects your right to refuse to carry out work where your health or safety is in danger. Unlike other major international cities with more lax occupational health policies, Toronto’s robust program places your right to a healthy lifestyle at the forefront.

Toronto is a great place to live if you’re striving for a healthy lifestyle. With its world-class health-related policies, cultural and culinary offerings, and fitness-oriented design, it offers an impressive environment for anyone.

Read more about why you should consider moving to Toronto

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Originally, this article was published on March 20, 2013. Four years ago!! Nothing has changed. This is a very sad case of the City of Toronto Building Department abdicating its responsibilities to the neighbours. It has cost thousands to fight the City’s fight. This is not to be taken lightly by any homeowner as it can happen to you tomorrow.

Hey, John Tory, the City needs to step up to compensate the neighbours!

In March 2013,  there was a meeting at City Hall between the neighbors surrounding 2 St. James Court, just north of Wellesley Street East at Wellesley Avenue and the owners of the property, Mr. and Mrs. “Nasty” Norm Rogers (not my name for him but from others with past dealings, where he has enjoyed making other neighbors lives hell…Google his name). A notice was sent out by a Land Use Consultant hired by Mr. Rogers and encouraged (supposedly) by Buildings and Heritage however neither they nor the city councillors were in attendance.

Over 12 years ago the Rogers bought a small one bedroom coach house on a very small lot in a back alley that was protected under the Heritage designation that is in the area. When they could not get the approvals that they needed to build a large two bedroom plus home with a garage, they allowed the existing home to fall to pieces so that the project was no longer Heritage but would now be considered to be “New Construction”.

The Rogers started to build a structure made of concrete and rebar with a concrete and rebar “fence” and a concrete and rebar Garden Shed at the rear. After 8 years of intimidating the neighbours (last spring they brought in a gang of pot-smoking Bikers to work construction on the site), they were closed down by the City Building Department when it was found that they had again overstepped what was allowed. Suggestions have been made that the Survey was altered…

The Land Use Consultant had probably drunk the Kool-Aid provided for her by the Rogers and at times seemed shocked by what she learned from the neighbours and Mr. Rogers when questioned. It turns out that Mr. Rogers felt that it was necessary to build a foundation that went under the house to a depth of 8 feet and then filled it in with dirt even though it has (as one neighbour noted) walls, doors and electric plugs in the walls.

It was also very easily noted from the plans that the “garage” that was part of the house, could easily be altered to be included in the gross floor area.

The Rogers, at last, threatened the group that because this was now considered by the City to be “New Construction” if the neighbours did not approve a two-storey addition over the parking garage, that a third Storey would then be built at the front of the house. Please note that although many options were laid out to the Land Use Consultant by the neighbours, they were refused by Mr. Rogers who insisted on having two large bedrooms and a built-in garage. Please note that in the area only 10 per cent of the houses have a garage and maybe another 50-60 per cent actually have parking.

SO WHERE ARE WE TODAY?

No solutions were achieved. The City has not done its job and protected the surrounding owners from someone who has made their lives miserable for over a decade. The neighbours have lost privacy, spent thousands on repairs caused by shoddy workmanship, and have lost the value inherent in their properties….because the City is intimidated by a Bully.

For everybody who is adjoining that property, their property values went down by about 10 per cent due to this.

Every citizen should be concerned that the City of Toronto has done little to protect tax paying citizens. The City is abrogating responsibility. It has and will continue to cost these neighbours thousands of dollars as well the peace and quiet that they deserve. They should not have to fight this fight! Is the neighbours’ only option to sue the City for not protecting their properties? 

Here we are 12 years later and this story is still without a happy ending. It’s been covered on the front page of The Toronto Star and the CBC News has written about it as well. It’s time for the City to step up and do something to protect the tax paying citizens.

Title Photo by Bernard Weil, The Toronto Star

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Situated on a quiet, maturely treed one way street in Cabbagetown, F’Amelia restaurant has been dispensing Northern Italian inspired dishes using local produce for the past half dozen years. Before that, Provence Delices used to operate out of this location.

Founded and owned by John Dawson and Todd Vestby, F’Amelia is located at 12 Amelia Street, just off Parliament Street between Wellesley and Winchester Streets. The name of the restaurant is a play on the street name, coined by Dawson’s wife, with an “f” attached to it to sound like “family.”

Divided into an inside eating area, an outdoor patio and a private cellar dining room, F’Amelia can accommodate up to 120 guests at any given time. Dark wood flooring and tables and chairs give the space a really rustic feel, while the lighter coloured walls and artistic accents offer up a nice contrast.

Large picture windows across the front let in plentiful natural light, while an imposing dark wood bar area stands between the diners and the kitchen at the back. An enormous 3700-pound maple and applewood burning pizza oven, imported from Naples, is a dominant feature of the establishment, and can apparently cook up a pizza in 90 seconds flat.

F’Amelia, like the name implies, has a homey and welcoming atmosphere. You quite literally feel like you’ve been invited over to a friend or family member’s place and are having drinks, and/or a meal there. The open concept with the front patio flowing into the enclosed dining room made the whole premises airy and bright. Classic rock music was playing softly in the background, adding to the welcoming vibe this place has.

Appetizers

Scrumptious bread baked in house with a small saucer of olive oil was a great way to whet my appetite for what was to come. While Summerlicous was on and they had a dinner menu devoted to it, I decided to order from the regular menu. The Calamari from their Antipasti section was first on the list. It is pan seared with asparagus, green peas, pancetta, roasted cipollini onions and fregola for $16. While I thought the calamari was good and well prepared, the supporting food around it was a little salty for my taste. Perhaps they could tone it down a touch. Some people may like this saltiness level, but alas, not me.

The Calamari

Other items on the Antipasti section included the Chef’s choice Zuppa del giorno (soup of the day) ($12), the Arugula salad with balsamic vinaigrette and Parmigiano shavings ($9), the Curly endive and radicchio salad with grapes, walnuts and fresh apples in a clementine dressing ($15) and the Beet caprese, blue cheese, toasted pecans, fresh basil and EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) ($16).

Main Course

For my main course, I elected to try one of their pastas; the Papardelle (a large, broad, flat pasta noodle) with thyme and rosemary braised rabbit, oyster mushrooms, black kale and finished with breadcrumbs for $24.

Papardelle

Apparently appropriated from one of the executive chef’s mother’s recipes, it was quite delicious, and the term papardelle derives from the word pappare meaning to “gobble up.” I most certainly did, and I hope the table manners my Mom taught me remained intact in the process. Definitely a great recommendation from my waiter. Thanks Steve!

Dessert

Red wine poached pear

While the Tiramisu was tempting, I opted instead to try the Red wine poached pear with pistachio mascarpone, grapefruit and fresh mint for $10. It was excellent with the right mix of fruity taste, sweetness and tartness. Quite a fine end to the meal.

Drinks

Since I was driving, I had the Limonata ($3.50), which went quite well with everything I ordered. There was also plentiful water in my glass at any given time. I also had a rich and flavourful Americano ($3) to go with my dessert.

F’Amelia has a great cocktail section and each cocktail is 2 oz. and costs $13. With names like Blueberry Bubbles (house infused blueberry Beefeater, fresh lemon, simple syrup and fresh mint), Agrodolce rhubarb (house infused strawberry Stolichinaya, aperol, rhubarb syrup, rhubarb bitters and prosecco) and Kiwi margarita (El jimador, Grand marnier, orange syrup, kiwi puree and fresh lime), you’ll be sure to find one to your taste.

They also sell wine by the glass and by the bottle. They pour sparkling and rose, white and red wines for you, ranging in price from $9 to $20 per glass and $46 to $295 for the bottle. Wednesdays are “Winesdays,” with bottles of wine $100 and up being 50% off. Beer is also available; they have Peroni (by the bottle) for $6.50 and Side Launch Mountain Lager (by the can) for $7.25. Whiskey ($11-18), Cognac ($11-16), Port ($8-18), Grappa ($10-16), Amaro ($9-12) and house-made Cellos (an Italian liqueur) ($8) are also available during or after your meal.

Menu Range

While I did not try it this time, Salumi is their Chef’s specialty, and they offer two choices; the chef’s choice of 3 salumi/terrine and 2 cheeses with flat bread sesame grissini, pickles and condiments for $20, or his choice of 5 salumi/terrine and 3 cheeses with flat bread sesame grissini, pickles and condiments for $8 more.

Their appetizers range from $9 for the Arugula salad with balsamic vinaigrette and parmigianino shavings, to $16 for the Calamari or the Beet Caprese, blue cheese, toasted pecans, fresh basil and EVOO.

Their pizza menu offers up nearly a dozen different pizzas; everything from the Diavola (crushed San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte, spicy soppressata, fresh red hot chilis, basil and evoo) and the Ortolana (roasted garlic, spinach, goat cheese, roasted zucchini, cherry tomatoes and roasted red peppers) on the lower end of the price scale to the Abruzzese (crushed San Marzano tomatoes, caramelized onions, ham, fior di latte, wild mushrooms, fennel sausage and parmesan) and the Cacciatore (wood oven roasted chicken, fennel sausage, San Marzano tomatoes, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and fior di latte) on the higher end. Pizzas range in price from $14 to $19.

F’Amelia also has a wonderful pasta section, as one might expect. You can get the Oven baked Lasagna (with hearty rosemary braised beef with San Marzano tomatoes and a rich bechamel) for $20 up to the Ricotta gnocchi (with roasted eggplant, spinach, black olives, cherry tomato and pecorino in a spicy tomato sauce)for $24. Their desserts, or dolce section, offers up several intriguing sweets to bring your meal to a close. Everything from Tiramisu to Red wine poached pear with pistachio mascarpone, grapefruit and fresh mint to Vanilla custard with fresh berries and crumbled pecans in a cocoa tart shell to Lemon Brulee tart with a seasonal fruit compote can grace your palette for $10.

The service was good as always, although when I got there I was seated on the patio without being asked if I wanted to sit inside instead. As it was a nice day, not a big deal but the choice would have been welcome.

Otherwise, Steve was very friendly, attentive and brought my food and took away the empty plates in a decent amount of time. His recommendation of the Papardelle with rabbit for my main course was also much appreciated.

I left F’Amelia feeling quite satisfied. The red wine poached pear dessert was a great way to finish off, and would be worth going back just for that. Otherwise, besides the Calamari that was a little too salty, everything was quite good.

F’Amelia is open from 5pm to 10pm Monday to Sunday, and is open for brunch on weekends from 11am to 2pm. Their pizzas are available until 11pm on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended.

Gift cards are available online through anycard.ca or directly from the restaurant. F’Amelia can also accommodate your next personal or corporate event. You can reach them at 416-323-0666 or at . They are also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

At the end of the long Canada Day weekend, traffic clogged major highways as city dwellers returned to their homes after spending quality time in the wilderness of Ontario’s cottage country.

But there were many who did not travel during the weekend and stayed right where they were – in the heart cottage country. Most of them were baby boomers, buying cottages to live in permanently. Thank boomers for making this summer scorching hot in Ontario’s resort areas as the buying goes unabated, never grinding to a halt.

Bonnie & John Fincham

John Fincham, a broker at Parry Sound-Muskoka Realty Ltd., specializes in selling cottages in areas like Muskoka, Parry Sound and Georgian Bay.

For him, this year has been exceptionally busy:

We were able to sell 50 percent more compared to the sales last year and this is just the beginning of the summer. We are experiencing a huge demand from baby boomers looking for properties closer to the lake with unobstructed views of the sunrise and sunset.

What are boomers looking for?

Fincham says a combination of multiple factors is responsible for the surge of boomers to cottage country:

Boomers are opting for an exclusive lifestyle surrounded by scenic views of a lake or ravine over the busy, congested city routine. Here they can indulge in an array of activities at their own pace. In addition, health services in cottage areas are considered reliable and with the number of people moving in, it is bound to grow and improve further.

The cost of the cottages on the lake varies from $100,000 to $ 800,000. At the same time, the luxury cottages range between 1 million to 10 million.

Fincham says even though there might be fewer buyers looking for the cottages in winters compared to summers, cottage country is equipped with a surplus of activities for all four seasons. Access to better roads during winter time has opened doors for people to experience cottage country year round.

Muskoka Cottage Country Winter

He is optimistic that this trend of baby boomers buying cottages will remain and even soar high in coming days.

With city life becoming more expensive, fast and hectic, the flow of boomers towards cottage country is becoming more alluring.

Torontonians are changing their lifestyles

His thoughts were shared by Richard Silver, salesperson and vice president of Sotheby’s International Realty Canada:

Most of the boomers who have bought cottages are living in them. Simultaneously, there are many more that have made up their mind to sell their property in the city and move to the cottages permanently. As Toronto life becomes more hectic and busy, people have started looking for tranquility in the countryside, far from the ever-increasing crowd.

With cost of living in the city constantly heading north, we will see people renting out their houses inside the city and buying dwellings in the countryside. This is an inevitable and logical fallout of economics identical to the pattern we see in big cities like New York.

Photo by Tony Webster

Silver feels the reason baby boomers are now living permanently in the cottages is purely a matter of lifestyle.

If you crave for a certain routine in your life, then why drive every weekend for it; why not experience and enjoy that very lifestyle all year round.

In 2016, The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) estimated that the baby boomer generation would inherit $750 billion over the next decade. One would think that the latest phenomenon of boomers buying cottages is the trickling effect of that CIBC report. But the same year, a study from Royal LePage had also said that members of so-called Generation X were buying twice as many cottages as baby boomers.

But in just one year, the cash-strapped boomers were able to surpass Generation X in purchasing the real estate in cottage country.

Boomers have a lot more money than their predecessors and also more than the Gen Xer’s. Besides, boomers do not have children draining the bank of “mom and dad” anymore. Their kids are out on their own.

The market frenzy is shifting towards cottage country

A new study from the Frasier Institute reveals that the Ontario economy is highly dependent on the housing market. As per the former chief economic analyst for Statistics Canada, the study revealed that during 2016, the home-building costs and record high housing prices, accounted for 29 percent of Ontario’s economic growth.

In such a scenario, equity-rich baby boomers are making hay with their mission to combine and enjoy both exclusivity and nature’s bliss. Market indications predict that the cottage real estate sector in foreseeable days is destined to witness bidding wars and relentless competition.

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Toronto seems to be not only the centre of Canada these days but also the centre of global diversity and attention ever since people like Drake and teams like The Jays have prominently put it on the map. So inevitably, millennials are flocking to the city that promises big opportunities and growth.

However, whether you’re living in Toronto or planning on moving there soon, you’ve probably heard the same incredulous remark: “Isn’t it really expensive to live there?”.

And the answer is: yes. There’s no hiding the fact that Toronto has one of the highest costs of living of any city in Canada. In fact, it’s the second most expensive city in the country next to Vancouver, B.C.

So you might be wondering how so many millennials have managed to inhabit downtown Toronto on a presumably humble budget?

Whether a millennial is a “starving student”, unemployed, or a professional who is doing pretty alright, they’ve likely not been in the workforce long enough to accumulate any substantial wealth. The good news is that Toronto offers a wide range of housing options for millennials in various neighbourhoods each with its own unique charm and affordability.

If you know where to look for apartments or homes, Toronto can provide an ideal atmosphere for any millennial-seeking big city amenities with authentic character.

While some Toronto-based millennials opt to rent or buy housing in white-picket-fence suburbia (or “the GTA” as the locals call it), this article showcases three hip and practical downtown neighbourhoods that warrant a premium price tag for you if you’re looking to stay, live and work in the city.

Church Wellesley Village

Church Wellesley Village (commonly referred to as “The Village”) is an animated neighbourhood home to a large portion of Toronto’s LGBTQ community. Located just steps away from Toronto’s flagship Yonge Street, the Village is ideally situated if you work in the downtown core.

This neighbourhood was considered a seedy part of town during the 1920’s. The Great Depression reduced it to a low-end strip of rooming houses. In 1950, gentrification began in the community and the neighbourhood’s appeal has been growing ever since.

Today, the Village is an undeniably hip neighbourhood of Toronto. The streets are flooded with young and diverse individuals leading vibrant lifestyles. There are countless boutique restaurants, cafés, bars, and shops lining the streets. Church Wellesley Village is a safe space where you can be whoever you want to be.

The price

Naturally, this exquisite part of town comes with a price tag. According to recent results on the Realtor.ca rent-scanning app, an average rent for a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom unit in this neighbourhood is in the arena of $2,000/month. While this rent is on the steep side for a lot of millennials, it’s worth noting this neighbourhood’s proximity to entertainment and transit before jumping to a conclusion.

Getting around

If you like to bike, Church Wellesley Village is about a 5-8 minute bike ride from Toronto’s infamous Dundas Square. If you work in the Bay Street area, you’re looking at about a 15-minute walk to work.

Or perhaps you want to live in the hustle and bustle of the Village but need to work further away from the downtown core?

No problem – this neighbourhood boasts its very own Wellesley subway station on the Yonge-University-Spadina line which offers complete access to Toronto’s impressive TTC transit system. You can get just about anywhere in the GTA with a few steps to the station and the drop of a token.

Food & Entertainment

You’ll be pleased to know that there’s a convenient Loblaws grocery store located right at the corner of Church and Carlton. This modern grocery store makes shopping a breeze as you can pick up items on your way home from work.

If you want to enjoy the exciting nightlife that the Village has to offer, Crews & Tangos is a must-see club known for its charismatic drag performances. This establishment is a landmark in Toronto and guaranteed to set the stage for a fun night out.

Overall, Church Wellesley Village offers a comfortable and welcoming environment for any millennial looking to appreciate Toronto’s downtown amenities and its remarkable diversity.

The Annex

Veering about 3 km north-west of Church Wellesley Village, you will find Toronto’s equally popular and hip neighbourhood, The Annex.

The Price

Millennials appreciate The Annex for its relatively affordable rent prices and reasonable proximity to downtown. Located close to the University of Toronto, The Annex features a wide range of older but architecturally exquisite apartment buildings suitable for students and young professionals alike. According to recent listings on Realtor.ca and Kijiji, rent for a one-bedroom apartment in The Annex ranges from approximately $1,600 – $2,800 per month.

Getting around

The Annex features the ultra-convenient St. George TTC station, located on a node of the green and yellow subway lines, making your commute an effortless task. Depending on where you live, you can also hop on at the Spadina or Bathurst stations.

The neighbourhood is about a 45-minute walk to the Toronto Eaton Centre. This commute reduces to about 15 minutes if you opt to bike or take public transit. If you’re a student at the University of Toronto, your walk to school takes anywhere from 10-20 minutes.

Food & Entertainment

If you enjoy shopping, Bloor Street offers a vast array of chic bookstores, independent clothing shops, restaurants, patios and much more. You will have no trouble spending money in this neighbourhood!

Board games fans need to check out Toronto’s famous Snakes and Lattes board game café located in The Annex at 600 Bloor Street West.

Another popular destination in this neighbourhood is the Madison Avenue Pub (also known as “The Maddie”) on 14 Madison Avenue. This student-favourite drinking establishment consists of several patios, TVs, pool tables, and occasional live bands.

Whether you’re in your 20’s or your 30’s, The Annex is a great place to live in Toronto. Offering all of the necessary amenities with a slightly quieter atmosphere than the Village, The Annex lets you work or study comfortably in the heart of Toronto while being only steps away from the artistic and colourful Kensington Market.

Photo by Chris Lee

Leslieville

Last but not least, Toronto touts its own version of Brooklyn in its trendy neighbourhood, Leslieville. This community is located east of Toronto’s downtown core, relatively close to the Beaches. Identified by many locals as an ideal destination for young families and couples in their early 30’s, this east-side neighbourhood offers the potential to have a backyard near downtown.

The catch? It may not be within everyone’s price range.

The price

Leslieville has been gentrifying for many years and is now an expensive part of town to call your home. Most of the active listings on Realtor.ca show monthly rents in excess of $2,000 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment.

Ideal for career-oriented young professionals with an appreciation for culture, Leslieville offers a fashionable assortment of retro furniture shops, design studios, indie cafés and craft beer micro-breweries.

Modern condo buildings and luxury loft apartments have sprouted up on many of Leslieville’s thoroughfares, including Gerrard Street.

Getting Around

The great thing about Leslieville is that it is located right in the middle between Toronto’s Downtown and the Beaches. It takes around 30 minutes of relaxed Sunday walk to get to the sandy Woodbine Beach, the largest of the four Toronto beaches.

If you like biking, the ride to Toronto Downtown will take you about 20 minutes,

depending on where exactly you are heading. Getting to the University of Toronto by bike will only take around 17-20 minutes. If you prefer public transport, Leslieville is best accessible by streetcar. If you hop on the bus 501 at Queen Street East you will be in the Downtown in about 20-30 minutes.

It might not be the most famous nightlife spot, but Queen Street East boasts a great bar scene. Still prefer going out in Toronto’s Downtown or the West-end? No problem! The night bus 301 will get you back home safe at any time.

Food & Entertainment

If your income allows you to hang your hat in Leslieville, rest assured you will have no trouble finding delicious food in the area. Considered one of Toronto’s finest brunch neighbourhoods, Leslieville consists of many gourmet and unique restaurants that serve a variety of delectable foods.

Be sure to check out the neighbourhood’s Pied A Terre market if you enjoy handmade arts and crafts.

From career opportunities to culture to nightlife to cuisine, Toronto is a world-class city. If you choose to live downtown versus the suburbs, you get the benefit of avoiding the city’s traffic. Commuting from the suburbs to downtown can easily become a 1-4 hour commitment per day, depending on where you live. So if you value your time and would prefer not to pay for a car, perhaps living closer to downtown is a good option for you.

There is no doubt that Toronto isn’t the cheapest city to live in. However, with its wealth of exciting new ventures, an energetic nightlife and plethora of arts and culture, the premium may very well be worth it.

DB00KI

Richard was featured in Jere Metcalf’s “Top real estate agents tell how they do it” podcast talking about real estate business and we have noted some of the great thoughts Richard shared. So, what helps Richard stay on top after 37 years in the business?

1. Teamwork

“4-5 years ago I’ve decided to move towards a team, not a partnership, but a team. And I also took the bold step of not naming it after me, I wanted it to be known as “Torontoism”, because I wanted that when I decide to retire, it could continue on and exist without me or without me being involved day-to-day. I’ve structured the team so that I no longer list anything on my own, I list together with the team members, I never work with a buyer on my own, I always work as a team”

We focused on creating diversity within our team and making sure that we represented a lot of different cultures. The reality is we not only have the different cultures, we also have 10 languages within our team. We have somebody who speaks Mandarin, we have somebody who speaks Cantonese, we have Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, English, French, Ukrainian, Portuguese.”

2. Systems, systems, systems…

Richard stresses the importance of systematic approach in any business and one of the systems he likes to use is a CRM system Realvolve. “It basically has workflows developed for every single part of the transaction and it notifies you as an agent as it gives you the list when you get up every morning and it says “ok, today you are going to do this, you are going to do that”. All of these things, and it basically automates and it puts systems into your day-to-day.”

In my history looking back on people who have come to the market and left the market, there were people who are absolutely wonderful but they had no systems, they had no sort of “ok, this is what you do today, this is what you are going to do tomorrow”, so they would have a couple of good sales and then they would disappear for three days, in the meantime everything was falling apart. So being consistent is really important.

3. Work hard and stay consistent

“It’s a matter of just being motivated and keeping that ball rolling, putting your head down…Especially for the new agents. Many people ask: “how do you achieve success?” For the first two years I just put my head down, I went and sought everything that I could: all of the open houses, I met as many people as I could, I set open houses every weekend and I worked myself crazy, just putting my head down and continuing to work.”

I didn’t go in and out, I tried not to be uneven in my workflow, I tried be very even and very dedicated.

4. Imagine you are the client

What would Richard do if he had to start all over again in a new market with only $500 in his pocket? Pretend he was a buyer!

The first thing I would do is to pretend that you are a buyer and pretend that you are a seller and go on the internet and see what is working and see what is not working, see who comes up, see what their deal is. Try and just pretend that you don’t know anyone, you just arrived here: what are you going to do? What are the steps you need to take?

5. Never stop learning

You have to change, our business is always changing, there is always going to be something new, there is always going to be a bright new shiny object, which is something I love about real estate. It’s a whole lifestyle, it’s not just the job.

6. Be the source of information

“Be the source of information, but leave your personal thoughts out of it, don’t get into it, only deal with what you do – you market properties, you’re not a surveyor you’re not a building inspector but you can provide them with the names of the best private bankers, the best immigration lawyers, etc.”

I’m trying to give as much information as possible, so that when the people are looking for information or looking for somebody to help them, they are going to come to you. Don’t be afraid of telling people how you do things, because there is a huge difference between telling people and doing it. I share everything!

You can find the video of the whole interview here.

KI00KI