- I took a much-needed vacation to Toronto and fell in love with the city.
- I love that older people are settling down there and that everyone is eager to help my career.
- I’m just waiting for my residency to come through, and I’ll leave New York City for Canada.
Tony Bennett might have left his heart in San Francisco, but Toronto took mine as soon as I stepped off the plane.
I’ve traveled worldwide since I was 18, and my passport is packed with stamps from gorgeous metropolitan hubs.
I’ve eaten amazing dim sum in Hong Kong and been transported to heaven after seeing the beauty of Italy.
At the end of last year, I traveled to Toronto, intending to take a much-needed vacation. While I had once dreamed of living in Canada, it felt like an unrealistic fantasy. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply I would fall in love with the city — so much so that the thought of returning to the US left me in tears.
This Canadian city is beautiful, but it’s not New York City — like where I live now. There are no vast halls of Rembrandt or delicious pizza intoxicating your senses. Toronto is plain. And I think that’s what made this city stand out for me.
For the first time in my life, I was greeted with authentic kindness, and I didn’t feel like a stranger for long. I knew this city needed to be my new home.
In Canada, I feel like I’m part of the cultural mosaic
Being in Toronto for over two months definitely gave me time to immerse myself in the culture. And let me tell you, America is nothing like Canada.
We might speak the same language, but after that, there’s a huge chasm of values, perceptions, and ideas surrounding every social and political issue.
One of the biggest differences is how many viewed the influx of expats living in Toronto.
Growing up in the US, I had always heard of immigration in terms of assimilation and becoming a part of the melting pot. However, Canadians didn’t see diversity in this light.
Many that I spoke with talked about Canada as a cultural mosaic — a place where all could find a home and not lose their identity in the process. I saw this lived out everywhere.
Toronto truly was a cultural mosaic. It was filled with every language, nationality, and religion, yet somehow, it managed not only to work but thrive.
For example, I attended an aqua fit class with women who were Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Atheist, and we all found community among one another. There was no “other” or outsider.
Everyone was welcomed with a sense of belonging without strings attached — a feeling I had never experienced in America.
Older people are settling down in Toronto, not fleeing the city like New Yorkers
The idea of settling down in the city is an obscure concept for many Americans.
After all, the majority of our concrete hubs are bustling with 20-somethings and young adults right out of college. But you don’t find many over 40 or 50 still-haling cabs in midtown.
I loved Manhattan, but after years of seeing friends pack up and leave for the suburbs, the bright city lights felt like the most isolating island around. Everyone I knew was leaving the city, getting married, and abandoning their condos for white picket fences.
I didn’t want that for myself. I hate the suburbs, but I had no idea where I could find a place filled with people who had settled in high-rises.
Toronto offered me this option.
I found tons of incredible people from all walks of life thriving downtown. In fact, my yoga group was mostly made up of men and women in their 60s and 70s. These titans of industry and innovation loved living in the city. They had friends, amenities, and social lives — and none of them were packing up their bags to live on the outskirts anytime soon.
The American dream might include two kids, a dog, and a house on a cul-de-sac. But, in Toronto, it seems you have the freedom to dream differently and find fellow dreamers who think outside the box.
Toronto has been great for my career growth
Toronto is also the best place I’ve found for career growth.
I can’t tell you how many people reached out to me during my time in this city. I would talk to one person on a Monday, and they would connect me with three of their closest colleagues the next day.
I didn’t pitch myself, give an elevator speech, or share a business card. I simply got to know people over a cup of coffee, and they did everything they could to offer support. Mere strangers became some of my loudest cheerleaders because they valued collaboration and truly went out of their way to show consideration.
No place is perfect, but finding a place that feels like home is like finding your soulmate. Toronto is mine.
I fell in love with this city and can’t wait to gain my permanent residency and make it my home. I’ve already begun the process, and I’m putting my dream into motion.
In the meantime, I’ll have to just keep dreaming of Balzac’s delicious Canadian Maple Lattes and the incredible Le Beau croissants.
