Yikes, potentially moving to Toronto in November!

[greenthumbs]

Can someone please let me know the positives as all I can see is that it's going to be a brutal 4 months when the Canadians go into hibernation and we do the moving admin.

We have lived in To before but not with small children. We're going back to an area we know and have friends, who will have moved on. I'm thrilled to be leaving my commute, thrilled to be going home, it feels like home even although neither of us Canadian.

But I'm scared, full day kindergarten, what do I do with DC the rest of the year? I can't find any info on-line, I think I'm just supposed to know.

To French immersion or not? Which year would suit them best, they're new year babies. So many education decisions.

What should we pack and take with us, what to leave? Ship our whole flat over, or go with the minimum

I'm going to miss Waitrose deliveries, I'll need to actually go to a supermarket! We both loathe supermarket shopping. Is there online shopping in To?

The skiing and sledging at the weekend. The bright winter days. The guaranteed summer, the open air pools, so many things to look forward to.

I've not agreed to this move yet, DC are very happy in nursery and I have a job I love, but that seems to be the only staying factors. We don't live near our families here. DH wants to go home and has a job offer starting by November, so really need to make a decision soon. This came completely out of the blue.

Apologies, this post is long and all over the place, that's how I feel. Tell me to get a grip and it'll be fabulous and the winter is only 4 months and the spring will arrive. And it'll be fabulous.

[Bue]

Well winter is more like 5-6 months But there are so many great things about Toronto, as you know. I'm sure it will be fabulous!

No actual advice, I'm afraid. We're contemplating a move back to Canada in a couple of years and I wonder about some of the same issues.

[greenthumbs]

Thank you, I feel better just for just writing it down.

[afussyphase]

I don't think they do online groceries in TO, or most of Canada. We have family there with young DC and they really like it. I think the school system is more laid back than it is here (I doubt they fine you for going on holiday, for example, but I haven't lived there since having DC so I don't really know). DH came back from there recently with a picture of an EMPTY SUBWAY PLATFORM, (a relatively central one even) taken at 5pm (!!!).

[momnipotent]

Some places in Canada have online groceries - I think Loblaw do it. Not in my area though.
School you won't have much choice, it goes by birthdate and they will get put into the appropriate year.
We do FI - so far so good! Every school board will be different with entry points into FI.
No fines for holidays no, school is ridiculously lax here.
Subway platform empty at 5pm because everyone still working probably!
Holiday allowance is typically really bad.

[trolleycoin]

Canada is wonderful. The cold is not like our cold, its dry and lets face it, they are much more kitted out for it than we are. Sure it might be scary, but you can always come back if it doesn't work out. Wish my DH had the balls to do it, I'd go in a heartbeat. Go for it.

[Nandocushion]

Of course there are online groceries, but not from every single shop. And yes you should absolutely do French immersion if it's available. Outside of France, it's one of the few places you can do it free of charge! I'm not sure trolleycoin is right about dry cold in Ontario though - I think it's quite humid there - but given that they are used to the weather, they're set up for it and it won't be like a bad winter in the UK.

No fines for holidays during term time. But you also won't find the holiday prices jump up ridiculously the day school ends either.

If you have a flat now I'd ship the whole lot over. You're likely to have a bigger place over there and you'll need the stuff. Canada unfortunately is not cheap.

Hot summer. Cold winter. Great central location, lots of nature close by. Socialised healthcare and free French schooling. We would do it too.

[lemonpoppyseed]

We're in High Park, just west of downtown. Toronto is awesome; a great place to raise a family. It's such a welcoming, multicultural city, and we love it here.

DS will be starting jk in two weeks. At our school you don't have to decide on FI until the sk year. We are undecided at the moment; neither DH or I are French speaking so there'd be no follow through at home, but it seems like such a great opportunity.

We use Grocery Gateway for online shopping - it's run by Longos.

Healthcare is great, and I'm just starting my second mat leave, which allows me to take a year off.

[MrsMarcJacobs]

you register for school - JK or junior kindergarten - at the beginning of the year your Dc turn 4. French immersion starts the following year - there are french immersion schools for younger kids but you pay for them.
in order to register you need proof of address that you live in the catchment area.
I moved UK to toronto within a matter of weeks, I just did not think of the bad side of it too much and just went and did it. It does help to have family on your side - without my situation here there is no way I would have been able to do lots of the things I have like business travel.
I left most of my stuff - large sofas etc - but obviously only once I had compared costs of replacing things - if it makes sense financially then take your items. We sold most of our electricals as you can't use them here. It is enormously uplifting when your stuff finally arrives!