It’s smaller so it’s generally just lower stress. You can comfortably walk to Southside park from most neighbourhoods. Amazing splash park and family pool and playgrounds. Good schools. Less traffic means less anxiety with letting kids be independent. I love being able to drive literally anywhere in 7 mins and making unprotected left turns during “rush hour” without waiting an eternity.

A lot of good programs, especially at the library. There’s a great robotics program at the highschool level. Lots of sports leagues… it’s kinda wild how many quality ball parks there are here (with fences and clay infields and lighting). Good hockey arena. Good curling program for adults and kids.

Both my partner and I volunteer at schools and they’re generally great. Filled with teachers who care quite a lot.

It feels like what Waterloo was when I grew up there in the 90s. I love seeing roving bands of kids on bikes without parents in tow.

Of course a lot of it is subjective. Everyone has to make their own decisions.

Thanks! Do you work remotely?

Yep, for about five years now. I can’t cay much about the commute other than you’ve got decent access in three directions of southern Ontario. My neighbour goes to Toronto daily and woof… he leaves at like 5am to avoid the traffic.

>>My neighbour goes to Toronto daily and woof… he leaves at like 5am to avoid the traffic.

And therein lies the rub. The 401 and 403 (heck, even the QEW and most other major highways) were (and still are!) so congested that it was a deciding factor to moving away from Toronto.

The only other place that reminded me of my days in sitting endlessly in stop-and-go traffic on major highways in Toronto was LA, which is a different major North American city famous for its gridlock.