Drugstores and pharmacies in Toronto — Shoppers Drug Mart
Mar 9, 2026Midtown · Experience date Apr 17, 2026
Shoppers Drug Mart is Canada's largest pharmacy chain — ubiquitous in Toronto (1,300+ locations). Open late (many 24 hours), sells: prescription medications, OTC drugs, cosmetics, groceries, snacks, toiletries, electronics, and lottery tickets. Optimum points (PC Optimum program): earn points on all purchases redeemable for free groceries. Prescription medications: covered partially or fully by employer benefits or Ontario Drug Benefit Program (for low-income residents). Without coverage: prescription costs $20–100+ per fill depending on medication. Rexall and Pharmasave: smaller alternatives. For urgent prescription refills without a doctor: pharmacists in Ontario can now extend prescriptions for minor conditions (Emergency Continuity of Care provisions).
Contributor: Emma Larsson Toronto cultural diversity — what to expect
Feb 4, 2026King West · Experience date Dec 3, 2025
Toronto is Canada's most multicultural city and one of the world's most diverse. Over 200 languages spoken. Population: approximately 50% not born in Canada. Neighbourhoods with cultural identity: Chinatown (Spadina), Little Italy (College), Greektown (Danforth), Little Portugal (Dundas West), Little India (Gerrard East), Koreatown (Bloor West), Little Jamaica (Eglinton West). Cultural impact: extraordinary food diversity (some of the best South Indian, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Japanese, and Persian food in North America), cultural events year-round, and a generally tolerant social atmosphere. For expats: Toronto is among the easiest cities in the world to feel welcome regardless of background — the culture of immigration is deeply embedded.
Contributor: Anna Kowalski Furnished apartments and short-term rentals in Toronto
Jan 23, 2026King West · Experience date Apr 16, 2026
Short-term and furnished accommodation in Toronto: Airbnb (extensive inventory), Furnished Finder (monthly furnished rentals, popular with travelling nurses and expats, $2,500–5,000/month), Homelike (corporate housing, expense-friendly), VRBO. Facebook groups: 'Toronto Furnished Rentals', 'Toronto Sublets'. Kijiji (Canada's equivalent of Craigslist): large volume of private furnished and unfurnished rentals — exercise caution, scams exist. Short-term furnished apartment building: Premiere Suites, National Executive (corporate furnished units, $3,500–6,000/month). The sweet spot for most expats: Furnished Finder for monthly stays while house hunting. Budget: $2,500–3,500/month for a furnished 1-bedroom in a reasonable Toronto location for monthly rentals — significantly more per-night than a longer term lease.
Renting an apartment in Toronto — the competitive market
Jan 1, 2026Kensington Market · Experience date Feb 19, 2026
Toronto's rental market is highly competitive. Average 1-bedroom rent (2024): $2,300–2,700 CAD downtown, $1,800–2,200 CAD midtown, $1,600–2,000 CAD in outer areas. Finding rentals: Zumper, PadMapper, Kijiji, Rentals.ca, Facebook Marketplace, and direct building listings. Competition: expect 5–20 other applications on desirable units. What landlords want: proof of income (3× monthly rent or employer letter), Canadian reference (or international equivalent), first and last month's rent (standard in Ontario — 2 months upfront). Credit check: landlords typically run one — new arrivals without Canadian credit history: bring a bank statement showing sufficient funds and an employer offer letter. Move quickly: good Toronto apartments are listed and rented within 48–72 hours.
Contributor: Lucas Mendes Toronto's restaurant culture — eating well across budgets
Dec 31, 2025King West · Experience date Apr 2, 2026
Toronto's food scene is genuinely world-class due to its immigrant communities. Budget eating ($10–15/meal): pho (Vietnamese, Spadina area), roti (Trinidadian/Caribbean, West Indian restaurants on Eglinton West), Ethiopian (injera with various dishes, several restaurants on Danforth), dim sum (Chinatown or Richmond Hill). Mid-range ($25–50/person): endless options across the city. Fine dining: Canoe, Alo, Edulis — Toronto has internationally recognised restaurants. Tim Hortons: the Canadian cultural institution for coffee and breakfast (not the best quality, but very Canadian). Best food neighbourhoods: Kensington Market, Chinatown, Little India (Gerrard St), Koreatown (Bloor West Village), and the vibrant restaurant row along King West.
Contributor: Nadia Dubois Child benefits and family support in Canada
Dec 30, 2025King West · Experience date Apr 16, 2026
Canada Child Benefit (CCB): federal payment for families with children under 18. Monthly amount: up to $648.91/month per child under 6, $547.77/month per child 6–17 (2024 rates, income-tested). Application: through CRA My Account after baby's birth registration, or through IRCC when you receive PR status. Ontario Child Benefit: additional provincial supplement. Eligibility for newcomers: starts when you arrive as a PR or eligible work permit holder. Ontario OHIP covers all pregnancy care and childbirth. OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program): provincial support for post-secondary — relevant if you have older children in college. Parental leave in Canada: Employment Insurance (EI) funded, 35 weeks at 55% of insured earnings — available to eligible work permit holders who have contributed to EI.
Finding a family doctor in Toronto — the biggest healthcare challenge
Dec 27, 2025Midtown · Experience date Apr 11, 2026
Finding a family doctor (GP) in Toronto is genuinely difficult — doctor shortage is a well-known Ontario crisis. How to find one: Health Care Connect (ontario.ca/healthcareconnect) — official waitlist, can take 6–24 months. Walk-in clinics: available without an appointment for non-emergency issues — common for prescription renewals, minor illness, referrals. Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000): 24/7 nurse phone line for advice — free. Virtual care: Maple, Dialogue, Teladoc — video/text doctor consultations from $49/visit (some employer benefits cover this). Urgent matters without a doctor: don't use the ER — use a walk-in clinic or Teladoc. The lack of a regular GP is a frustrating reality for most new Toronto arrivals.