I’ve lived in Canada for four years now. Two years in Toronto, six months in Calgary, and one warm, sea-salty summer on Vancouver Island. I came for work. I stayed for life. Simple as that. If you’re researching what day-to-day life really feels like, the candid newcomer diaries on MNQ-NMQ are a gold mine.
I put together a deeper breakdown of what makes Canada tick in my longer piece, Canada Is a Great Place to Live: My Honest Take.
You know what? It surprised me. In small ways and big ones.
The vibe that pulled me in
On my first week in Toronto, a stranger held a door for me, then said “sorry” because I was still far away. That tiny moment stuck. Folks here are polite, sure, but also steady. My neighbor, Dave, snow-blowed my sidewalk after a blizzard and left me a note: “Stay warm.” I baked him banana bread. We were friends by February.
I like that people chat about weather like it’s a sport. Not fake. Just shared. That first year also included my 19th birthday—cue my first legal pint, a story I tell in I Turned 19 in Toronto—Here’s What Drinking Legally Really Felt Like.
Health care: good, with a few bumps
I got my health card at ServiceOntario and felt legit the day it arrived. A month later I cut my hand cooking. I went to a walk-in clinic, showed my card, and didn’t pay a cent for the visit. The doctor was calm. The wait was long. Both things can be true.
I also learned fast: prescriptions and dental aren’t always free. My job plan helped. When my kid got an ear infection, the pharmacist explained everything, slow and kind. We were home in an hour. That felt huge.
Canada’s publicly funded health care system—often called medicare—does pick up the tab for hospital and physician services, but it leaves gaps in areas like prescriptions, dental work, and vision that many people cover through private insurance.
Winter is a character in the story
The cold hits different in Calgary. Dry, sharp air. I bought real boots, not fashion ones. Then a chinook rolled in and the snow melted in a day. Wild. Toronto winter is slushy. Vancouver Island winter is rain that taps all night long.
We made it fun. We kept a big bin by the door: hats, mitts, hand warmers. Ski days at Nakiska near Calgary. Toboggan runs at Christie Pits in Toronto. In March, maple syrup on hot pancakes at a farm outside the city. Sweet, smoky steam in the sugar shack. I can still smell it.
Work, money, and time off that actually feels like time off
My team is spread across provinces. Meetings start with “How’s the storm there?” and then we get to it. Vacation days felt real. No guilt trips. When my friend had a baby, she took a long leave and came back soft-landing. Employers here make space for life, at least the good ones.
Now the tough part: housing in Toronto and Vancouver costs a lot. Like, gasp kind of a lot. We moved out of the core to save. Groceries? Loblaws made my wallet frown. No Frills helped. A Costco run saved the month. I wish phone plans were cheaper. We switched carriers twice and still pay more than we did before we moved here.
Digital life is expensive here, too—yet most of us rely on our phones to stay close to family abroad, explore dating apps, and keep the romance alive across long distances. If sharing a flirty photo is part of that connection, this playful guide on how to send tasteful nudes without the awkwardness delivers smart consent tips, lighting tricks, and privacy pointers so you can keep things fun and safe even when miles apart.
Curious how alternative dating setups compare south of the border? Check out this candid Sugar Baby Salt Lake City playbook for a breakdown of allowances, meet-up spots, and ground rules that paint a clear picture of what the scene really costs and demands.
If you’re debating which city fits you, I mapped out my favorites in The Best Cities in Canada—Through My Shoes.
Multiple surveys of the cost of living in major Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver back up that sticker shock, especially when it comes to housing.
Getting around without losing your cool
In Toronto, I used a PRESTO card and the TTC. Some days, smooth as butter. Other days, a delay on Line 1 ate my morning. I learned to leave early and carry a book. In Calgary, the C-Train was clean and easy. On Vancouver Island, buses were fine, but a car made life simple. Pro tip: snow tires aren’t a suggestion; they’re peace of mind.
Biking was a joy in summer. Montreal, during a quick weekend, had bike lanes that felt safe. Yes, I cheated on my city a little. Worth it.
Food, festivals, and all those little joys
I ate poutine in a tiny spot in Montreal with squeaky cheese you could hear. In Richmond, outside Vancouver, I had the best bowl of pho, steam fogging my glasses. Butter tarts in Ontario. Nanaimo bars on the Island. Tim Hortons for road trips, even if the coffee makes me shrug. Wondering how much to tip when you dive into these eats? I broke down the etiquette in Tipping in Canada: My Honest Take.
Festivals? Caribana’s parade in Toronto is color and drums you feel in your chest. Calgary Stampede is dusty, loud, and fun if you lean in. Hockey nights turn streets quiet. Playoffs? You can feel the city hold its breath. October transforms neighborhoods with pumpkins and porch lights; I tested the spooky spirit in So, Does Canada Celebrate Halloween? I Tried It and Here’s What It’s Really Like.
Nature that makes you whisper
Banff looks like a postcard someone forgot to put away. I paddled a canoe on water so clear it felt fake. In Algonquin Park, loons called at dusk, and my kid went still, like the sound touched him. On Vancouver Island, we watched whales from a bluff near Ucluelet. They moved slow, like giants that don’t need to hurry.
In fall, Ontario trees go full flame. Red, gold, and that crazy neon orange. We raked leaves, jumped in, raked again. A chore, but happy.
Safe, steady, and kind
I walk at night and feel okay. Not careless—just calm. Libraries are a big deal here. The Toronto Reference Library became my quiet place. Free story time made my kid love books. People line up, wait their turn, and say thanks to the bus driver. Small things, big effect.
What irked me (because no place is perfect)
- Housing costs in big cities are heavy.
- Health care wait times test your patience for non-urgent stuff.
- Phone plans cost more than they should.
- Winter is long; you need a plan to stay sane.
So, would I keep living here?
Yes. I feel held, in a gentle way. I give more, and I get more back. The taxes pinch, but I see where they go—plowed streets, parks, clinics, libraries, skate rinks.
Canada isn’t flashy. It’s steady, funny, and warm under all that snow. When I look at my kid skating on a frozen pond while the sun sets pink, I think, “We did alright picking this place.”
If you like big trees, kind neighbors, and a slower kind of strong, you’ll fit. Pack real boots. Bring your patience. Leave space for joy.