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Original poster

Toronto for a month with a toddler

50 replies

tangox3 · 22/02/2006 16:38

Hi
My husband has been offered a short term contract in Toronto.
Anything good to do there with our 18month old ds at this time of the year? Don't fancy sitting in the apartment the whole time but am unsure as he'll be working pretty long hours.

Any knowledge gratefully received!

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 22/02/2006 16:39

This time of year, ugh.

When exactly will you be there? The malls etc are nice, I guess. The museums cost money. I think there are some drop-ins, depending on where you are.

What part of town will you be in?

Original poster
tangox3 · 22/02/2006 17:45

No idea of where we will be yet, only found out today. Will be leaving within the fortnight if he takes the job though! I heard it just snowed and thought 'oh yay'!

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 22/02/2006 17:57

Well, tell me what part you'll be in (or where the contract is, anyway) and I may be able to provide some help. This time of year will suck, I'm afraid.

Toronto can be quite nice, we go every summer.

Dufferin Grove is a great park, with lovely lovely stuff going on all the time.

Will accommodation be provided?

toronto.craigslist.org is a good place to look for sublets etc, if you need to ...

RTKangaMummy · 22/02/2006 18:00

SQUARE ONE SHOPPING in mississaugua

eton mall in downtown

RTKangaMummy · 22/02/2006 18:02

march break kids stuff

Original poster
tangox3 · 22/02/2006 20:08

Thanks so much for the info so far...will let you know where we'll be staying asap. An apartment is provided (hallelujah, it's not a hotel room!)

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 25/02/2006 19:38

Any news?

Original poster
tangox3 · 26/02/2006 11:16

Going to be living in an apartment on the corner of Richmond and Simcoe streets...the firm has given details for food shopping around the area etc...any online grocery available???

OP posts:
Original poster
tangox3 · 26/02/2006 11:19

Also, found an excellent website called Toronto mama that has heaps of info for both living and visiting.
in case anyone is interested

OP posts:
Blu · 26/02/2006 12:43

Tangox - I have spent quite a lot of time in T'rano working, and staying with a friend with a 4 year-old, and I think if you are prepared to be reasonably adventurous, you could have a really great time.
Firstly, if you are going when it is still v cold, you will need to get serious cold weather gear. 'Natives' all wear long johns, and children are out and about in padded snowsuits - including padded trousers.
The public transport in T'o is fantastic. Very easy to follow, and on a grid system. You buy one ticket and as long as you keep going in one direction, you can change from Streetcar to subway to bus. Just check the protocols: you have to get on and off at the interchange stop, there is a special place for geting on buses if you have come from the subway into the bus stop etc.
You could get the streetcar or bus way out along to the East beaches, and there are a couple of nice parks there. Cafes in T'o are lovely and relaxed with good quality food, especially neighbourhood ones, and the arty ones along Queen St West. Wonderful farmers market (saturday, I THINK) at Lawrence St, excellent market at Kensignton in central T'o. There are loads of good quality small shops, and food seems generally cheaper, anyway.
The CN tower would be a good touristy visit - but not cheap, also you can get the ferry over the lake to the island.
There are good free listings papers which will have lots of ideas for children's activities. Look out for theatre shows for little ones - there are some high quality theatre companies in Canada, specialising in very visual shows.
And people are friendly, MUCH freindlier than here - my guess is that if you quickly found a local toddler group, you would be welcomed.

NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2006 13:28

Wow, you'll be right downtown. Easy walking distance to the Eaton Centre, which I expect you'll live in. I doubt you'll find a lot of playgroups etc there, as you'll be living right right right in the middle of town. You will be quite close to the University of Toronto, though, so there's probably some stuff there you can use.

For cold weather gear, you want to go to Mountain Equipment Co-op, which is just a bit south west of where you'll be.

NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2006 13:29

Oh, should have said, the Eaton Centre is a shopping mall, a big multi-level one. Bit like Bluewater.

MeerkatsUnite · 26/02/2006 14:40

The Eaton Centre has loads of shops and has a better atmosphere than Bluewater as well!!.

(The store called H20Plus in that mall sell great shower/bathroom products!).

NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2006 19:59

I quite like Mr Greenjeens (sp?) at the north end of the mall, on the west side, upstairs. It's a restaurant, very very family friendly.

Actually, I suspect it really really sucks, but I have fond memories of the place from when I was a kid, so I still like it.

NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2006 20:05

Oh, and an obvious place to look for kids' events near there would be the local libraries. Schools often have toddler drop-in sessions, from what I know, so I'd look for local elementary schools.

(I find toddler drop-ins here quite friendly, by the way. But then again, I'm in London.)

You will probably find Toronto restaurant food quite nice, and reasonably cheap. People are friendly.

Places you should try to get to:

  • Royal Ontario Museum (walking distance, but it isn't free)
  • Science Centre (far away)
  • Zoo (far away)
  • Centre Islands - you have to take a ferry. A lot of stuff there will be closed, though.
  • I think there's a skating rink outside the City Hall, which is just east of where you're staying. Would be fun to watch, anyway.
  • The Dufferin Grove park is a bus or streetcar or tube ride away, but is still a nice park. Here . Better in the summer, shocker.
  • There is a free animal park in High Park, west of you. High Park has some lovely playgrounds, too.
  • The tube is pretty kid-friendly, there are lifts in lots of stations, from what I remember.
  • Streetcars (trams) are very nice.
  • I think there are some city farms east of the city centre.
  • If there's snow, there has to be somewhere to do sledging. I forget the Canadian name for this. And I can't think of anywhere, but I'm sure you'll find somewhere if you look.
  • There are probably some nice municipal indoor pools somewhere near there?
MeerkatsUnite · 26/02/2006 20:56

Nah NQC it don't suck!!.

Mr Greenjeans is still a lovely restuarant and the desserts are to die for!!!!!.

NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2006 20:58

I still like the whole "buffalo chip" thing. But I'm sad like that.

I don't think I've had dessert there since I was a kid, actually. There's always so much food in the main courses. I think the potato skins were good.

purplemonkeydishwasher · 27/02/2006 10:23

Sledging in Canada is either sledding or tobogganning (as in going down a hill on a toboggan)
While you are there try to catch Mr Dressup on tv!!

NotQuiteCockney · 27/02/2006 12:26

Yes, toboganning is the word I grew up with.

It's frightening how much I'm losing my native words. Sledging doesn't even sound like a valid word to me, but it's still the word that comes to mind.

purplemonkeydishwasher · 27/02/2006 15:13

NQC - how long have you been over here?

Flossam · 27/02/2006 15:14

This is one of those thread titles, I read it as Tomato for a month with a toddler.

purplemonkeydishwasher · 27/02/2006 15:21

LOL Flossam!!

Blu · 27/02/2006 15:22

Christie Pits and Trinity Bellwoods are in-town parks with good sledgiing oportunities if it snows.

NotQuiteCockney · 27/02/2006 16:20

I've been in the UK for close to 10 years I think. Maybe 9? I moved over the same year Labour came in ...

NotQuiteCockney · 27/02/2006 16:21

Nearly 10. It was the summer before Blair came in.