Hi James, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph is known as the golden triangle. You can commute to TO but that is something that makes most of us cringe! Busiest highway(401) and winter driving. No, I wouldn't recommend that to anyone-although people do it everyday. Forget TO or the immediate cities surrounding GTA-that is urban sprawl running into more urban sprawl. What country might be there is being swallowed up and only millionaires can afford it. It is the golden horseshoe area.
I am suggesting Waterloo, Guelph and Kitchener (and that other list of cities in my last post) primarily for getting work you want and having the country/small towns immediately surrounding them. Focus on the golden triangle which has country properties within driving range and an abundance of jobs.
Kitchener means travelling alittle farther in past Waterloo if coming from the north(there is an expressway). Guelph is pricier though-very pretty small city. Waterloo and Kitchener have merged. Waterloo being the tech capital of Canada and a leader in the world. Univerities and colleges in all 3 cities. Lots of stores/amenities. But smaller cities with small town or country living within 15mins-1 hour range of the city depending what kind of town you want or property! Coming from the UK the housing will be much more affordable so you will likely be able to afford closer to the cities and have the lifestyle you desire. Guelph is in Wellington county and it is a diverse county-more rural as you go north. Try that for a start. Check out Fergus, Elora, and continue on out to about Palmerston and Harriston.
Look at Elmira and St. Jacobs, in waterloo county go on past Wellesley and Listowel(perth county). Some are villages others towns with more stores/hospitals etc. On mls it will give you areas. These are outside Waterloo. You could check as far north as Mount Forest (Arthur too which is closer) which is a neighbouring county to wellington. There are many variety of hamlets, towns, and villages surrounding the golden triangle To the south is expensive (close to 401) . But North, NE and NW you can pick an executive home in a village a stone's throw from a city or farther out in villages. Or thriving towns, and country properties in between-many styles. Farms, hobby farms, homes on country lots. It really depends what you want. If you look at a map and draw a line from Mount Forest to Harriston to Listowel say, is the farthest out I would be willing to comute although others go farther. Depending which city you find work in would determine which areas you may want to go first. EX. Listowel into Waterloo, or Mount Forest into Guelph. Or Stratford area into Kitchener(and villages as New hamburg in between)
This is just one area. Many cities in Ontario to discover. Unless you are diehard big city and sprawl you can get out of the immediate greater Toronto area. Many of us don't go near TO except for a cultural day or 2 in the year-if that.
You could explore outside London or Barrie or Peterborough. Or go north to North bay if you want northern lakes and woods and rocks. But too numerous to list all the cities.
You know maybe you should check out Owen Sound. Georgian Bay area is beautiful and its a large town with lots going for it. Beautiful hills, and lake. You could commute in from little hamlets, country properties, and towns. Please check out this city. It may be nice for you considering you like NB.