Hi there,

This is the first time I have posted here. My husband and I are considering moving to Toronto (we don't have flexibility on the location - the job is in the centre of Toronto).

While we would prefer to live in a smaller community, we don't want my husband to be dealing with a huge commute because we will be there with our two young children (possibly a 3rd) and we want to have some family time together.

- Is it possible (and affordable) to live in within 10km of the city and still have a decent sized yard? I have had a look at some real estate sites but because I'm not familiar with the suburbs, it doesn't mean much yet (are there suburb names or just numbers?)
- What is the public transport system like and are there areas of the city that are better serviced by public transport?
- We will need to consider schools. Our eldest son is currently in Grade 1 at a state school in Australia, which offers an excellent education and a wonderful, nurturing environment. Would we expect the same from a state school in Toronto?
- Are there suburbs/areas to avoid or that you would recommend (particularly in terms of schooling)?
- Our youngest son is 3.5 and is currently at a community kindergarten (not long day care - just 9am-2.30pm) two days a week. What would the equivalent be in Canada? When would we expect him to start formal schooling?
- We love to get out and about on weekends (bike riding, bush walking, taking our dog to parks, scenic drives, etc). Is this easy in Toronto?

I think that's about it for now. Any advice on the living in Toronto would be great.

Thanks so much,

grubster.