Basic HTML Version
Ontario Day to Day
Workbook 2010
13
The word “Ontario” comes from a native
word, loosely translated as “beautiful,
sparkling water”.
DID YOU KNOW?
Many immigrants wonder “where shall we live in Ontario?” and “in what size of community?” Making those decisions
depends partly on opportunities for employment, but there are other considerations. For example, do you feel most
at home in a city, a village, or in the agricultural countryside? Do you have relatives already living somewhere in
Ontario? And how do various places compare in terms of employment, schools or health facilities?
Bigger cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo or London have the largest immigrant communities
and immigrant support centres, as well as stores that sell the products of your home countries. They operate extensive
public transit systems, and other public services are readily available.
And these larger cities offer the most varied opportunities for employment, from the most basic service jobs to the
most sophisticated financial, research and manufacturing work. But, in the big cities, competition for jobs can be
fierce. Big cities are also more crowded, and living costs, particularly housing, and other items like insurance, can be
much higher than in smaller centres.
Many of Ontario’s smaller cities, towns and rural areas have the benefits of a more balanced lifestyle. The cost of
living is lower, especially for housing, and there is greater opportunity to meet neighbours outside your immigrant
group.
As you can see, deciding where to live in Ontario depends on individual preferences and opportunities, and requires
careful thought.
LIVING ADVANTAGES - BIG CITY OR SMALL TOWN?
EXERCISE
Explore Ontario’s cities and towns by:
1. Speaking to people you know,
2. Asking your local immigrant-serving agency for information, and
3. Referring to the following websites to learn about Ontario’s regions, cities and towns:
www.ontarioimmigration.ca/english/how_live_cities.asp
www.ontario.ca
(click on “About Ontario” at the top then “Cities and Towns”)
www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-city.asp
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of big and small cities using the table below:
Where would you like to live – big city or small town?
Big City Pros (Small City Cons)
Small City Pros (Big City Cons)