I'm not familiar with Cory, NC besides what I just saw on Google Maps street view. It looks like a classy, upper-middle class American suburb that many people in the GTA would kill to live in. Let me be perfectly clear: if I was in your position, I would
absolutely not move to Toronto, unless perhaps if it was for a job that was paying me $350,000+ per year. Even then..
Here are my specific responses to your questions:
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Originally Posted by kahtov
-Would you recommend Toronto to a young small family?
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Yes and no. Yes because Toronto is quite liveable, safe, and has some great family-friendly neighbourhoods. No because being able to afford a home in any area of the city that's worth living in will be very difficult ($850k+).
As for the suburbs,
do not expect to find suburbs like Cory, NC in the GTA. Instead, think tract housing and strip malls, because that constitutes about 85% of the Toronto suburbs.
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Originally Posted by kahtov
-Are there lots of parks/open spaces ?
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Yes, there are many parks in Toronto.
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Originally Posted by kahtov
-Is a car a necessity for you? I would love to hop on a bus/subway to go to work, but I don't know if this is feasible. I know this is a loaded question and depends on where you live, what you do, etc. etc. but I'm more interesting in hearing individual cases
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Every family I know that lives in Toronto (including "Toronto proper") has a vehicle of some sort, though they may not use it on a daily basis to get around the city.
Individuals and married couples with no kids typically don't have cars unless they're well off.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kahtov
-Socially, is living in Canada any different than living in the USA?
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Definitely! The key to understanding social life here can be summed up in one word:
restrained.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kahtov
-In general, are Canadians more open-minded/accepting of differences?
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Most would say yes, but I'm not so sure. People won't push you to do things or ask you questions that "invade" your privacy, but at the same time, I feel like many people here will examine you carefully to see if you fit the "mold." If you don't, you will never really be accepted by them. You'll be tolerated, but never really accepted.