Thinking of moving to Canada (Toronto)

[giantcar]

Hi,

We are considering a move from London to Toronto. Atm one of the things that I'm really struggling with in London is hayfever and allergic rhinitis/dust allergy throughout the year, especially because there are lots of building sites where we are. I was wondering if anyone with those conditions has experience of living in Toronto? We are really hoping the quality of our life will be better there than London.

Thanks :)

Oooh can't help but we're thinking the same (different reasons!), so watching with interest :)

Also watching, we've been talking about a move to Canada in the future

I hope someone can help us out here :)

I lived there for a year. I hate to be a dampener but I had never ever had hayfever before I moved there. As soon as it stopped snowing (around April time) I was awful with it. Many of my Canadian friends said Toronto is notorious for triggering it, as it's very humid and there are a lot of trees-and maybe just the wind direction which in general comes up from the lake? the pollen count was often on the top level for weeks on end.
I suffered very badly with my ears and nose all summer and nothing at all touched it.
(Winter was fine though obvs).
As soon as I came back to London I was fine and have never had it again.

We did live there during an exceptionally hot summer mind, which also probably made it worse. Though the natives said it was a frequent problem other years too.
Other than that however it's a great place to live-brilliant for kids-safe, clean and friendly.

I suspect that your hayfever is going to depend on what triggers it. I have a mild allergy to tree pollen in the Uk, and I have the same here in The Six. (My eyes water for a couple of weeks in the spring in both places.) However, humidity and pollen/dust aren't usually a huge problem as we run forced air heating/air conditioning systems all year round in public buildings, transit and homes. These systems have air filters built in and usually some sort of humidity control.
Outdoors could be more of a problem - You may find that you have to run in the early morning (but you will have to due to heat in the summer anyway.) I am fine sailing/hiking/camping etc. near lakes so that isn't a real issue either. I find mosquitoes more of a hassle than dust and pollen...

@giantcar If you are affected by building sites, stay far, far away from Toronto!!!!! We have more active building sites than pretty much anywhere else in North America atm.

I've been here over a year now and always suffered from hayfever every summer - until now! Sorry I seem to be the unhelpful voice of dissent but so far my allergies have been non-existent since moving to Toronto! As UKsounding said, it very much depends on what triggers it.

My people!

We moved back to good old Toronto on 31 July after 20 years away, 13 in London. Both my DDs were born in London so this is a big deal for them. As I type this I am lying in bed in my childhood home.

To answer your questions OP I have never noticed hay fever being better or worse in either place. As for quality of life, it's one of the main reasons we moved. We just spent 2 weeks at the lake with my in laws, since being back in the city we have gone swimming every morning at the free, uncrowded lido at the beach, there is NO traffic here compared to London (although Torontonians will complain about it regardless), car parks are huge and luxurious in fact there is just so much space everywhere. Air is cleaner, water tastes better and the DDs can play out alone and be so much more safe and independent. Oh and cars actually stop for you to cross the street.

having said all of that I am going to miss London quite horribly I'm sure

Yes it's a lot more humid in the summer than the UK but far more places have air con.

I'm on the West Coast and we have lovely fresh air from the Pacific. My MIL used to suffer terribly with her skin and nose in Ontario but never did here in BC.

I'm kind of in the middle, in Northern Alberta. Lots of birch trees here. And we get snow mold.
At our vacation home in the Rockies at the moment

Hi MrsTP! I'm on the West Coast too (waves)

Welcome back Hearts. Which end of the city do you live in? West us best, and we love the lido at Sunnyside!
Have you got your DDs signed up for activities yet for the fall? Are they going to skate, ski etc.?

So many Canadians!

Awesome to see so many Canadians!

We are in the Beaches UKSounding. Haven't sorted out activities for the girls but they definitely need skating lessons so they don't embarrass themselves in front of their new friends We've got friends and relatives in the west end, it is lovely there you're right.

Moose that is just gorgeoeus.

OP sorry to derail!

Totally depends on the triggers, as others have said. I get barely any hayfever here in the BC Rockies - even when I go outside to find my car completely coated in a layer of bright yellow from pine pollen.

I still get terrible hayfever if I'm visiting the UK in the spring/summer.

However, I now have slight wheeziness (sp??) in the wintertime that I'd never encountered before, thanks to all the woodstove smoke!