Discover Canada

Live in Canada

Canada attracts people from all over the world by its huge territory, abundance of natural wealth, variety of sightseeing, multicultural diversity, free schooling and health care for its people. If you decide to study and live in Ontario, especially in Greater Toronto Area (GTA), you will be surprised by its vibrant life.

GTA (Greater Toronto Area)

Toronto, a thriving multicultural city, is the capital of the Province of Ontario. Located on the North shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto has a population of approximately 2.5 million people, making it the largest city in Canada and fifth-most populous city in North America. It is home to world-class cultural institutions and infrastructure, yet only a few hours away from the renowned natural environment that Canada is famous for. Toronto is often called “a city of neighborhoods” because the large city comprises numerous smaller areas that have their own unique culture. Our school is located in North Etobicoke neighborhood, bordering with the city of Mississauga, allowing the students to enjoy both great cities, Toronto and Mississauga. To learn more about special events in Toronto and Mississauga, check Tourism Toronto and Mississauga Events.

Weather in the GTA

The Greater Toronto Area has a humid continental climate. Wind-chill factors often make the temperatures in winter seem colder than the noted temperature, while humidity often makes the summer temperatures seem hotter.

Health Care System in Canada

For Canadians, health care in Canada is delivered through a publicly funded health care system, which is mostly free at the point of use and has most services provided by private entities. Non-Canadians can also use these services, but their cost may be too high without a health insurance. It is the students’ responsibility to have adequate and comprehensive medical and travel insurance during their stay in Canada.

For medical emergency: call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital in Etobicoke or Mississauga. In a non-emergency situation, call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, or visit a medical/walking clinic. Click here to get the list of walking clinics in Etobicoke.

Entertainment

In the vicinity of the school, there are some restaurants, grocery stores and shopping malls where you can eat or do your day-to-day shopping. They are normally open Monday through Sunday, but the hours of operation may slightly differ. Malls operate from 10 am to 9 pm during weekdays, from 10am to 9pm on Saturdays, and from 11am to 5pm on Sundays. Grocery stores are normally open from 8am to 10pm. Metro is the only grocery store which offers 24-hour service.

Malls: Square One

Grocery Stores: Sobeys, Metro, Loblaws, Food Basics, Nofrills

Banking

Banking in Canada is widely considered one of the safest banking systems in the world, ranking as the world’s soundest banking system for the past six years. Canada has the highest number of ABMs per capita in the world and benefits from the highest penetration levels of electronic channels such as debit cards, Internet banking and telephone banking. People do their day-to-day banking and other more complex financial transactions at the five largest banks in Canada:

As a general rule, banks are closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

TD Bank is the only bank open on Sundays (12pm-4pm).

Transit

GTA has a large and efficient system of public transit that can take you anywhere within the GTA via bus, streetcar, or subway. The waiting time at the bus stops is 10-15 minutes. There are two types of transit systems where you will pay a separate fare:

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): You will be able to recognize TTC vehicles by their distinctive red and white colours. There is a single price to ride the TTC to any destination within the city. In most instances, you will need to ask the driver for a slip of paper called a “transfer” to be able to switch to another different vehicle without paying the fare again, but it is valid for 2 hours only. Note: Be sure to have the exact fare before boarding the bus, because drivers are not able to provide change. For TTC schedule and fare click here.

Mississauga Transit (MiWay) operates buses and, as part of the GTA, connects to GO Transit railway stations, and two TTC stations, Islington and Kipling, on the Bloor–Danforth line. You will also need a transfer to be able to switch between vehicles in Mississauga without paying the fare again. For MiWay schedule and fare click here.

Taxi: You can take a city taxi or Uber for your transportation needs. It takes 5 minutes to get to the airport, 10 minutes to Mississauga Square One and half an hour to Toronto downtown.

Living Expenses

In addition to the tuition fees, you will need around $1,500 – $2,000 (Canadian funds) per month to cover accommodations, transportation, food, books, school supplies, and entertainment. Accommodations cost is your biggest expense ranging from $500 to $1200 a month followed by your grocery basket, which may cost you around $400-600. To save money on transportation, you can buy a GTA Weekly Pass ($61).

Study in Canada

Study and stay of international students in Canada are subject to the requirements of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Depending on your country of residence and the length of your stay, you may need a temporary resident visa or a student permit.

Study in Canada for 6 months or less

Temporary Resident Visa
If you wish to enroll in courses which last six months or less, you don’t need to apply for a Study Permit. However, you may need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) if you are not a citizen of visa-exempt countries. Check the CIC website to see if you need a valid TRV to travel to Canada.

Study in Canada for more than 6 months

Study Permit

If you wish to study for more than six months in Canada, you must obtain a Study Permit from the Immigration section of the Embassy or Consulate in your country. For complete information about obtaining a Study Permit, download a guide Applying for a Study Permit.