Meet the EF Toronto Office: The top things to know about living and working in Toronto
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Welcome to Toronto – or as some refer to it, the 416, also known as T-Dot, or even the Six. Whatever name you choose, the largest city in Canada leaves a lasting impression on visitors and residents alike. Its skyline alone is unforgettable. Boasting the largest free-standing structure in North America, the iconic CN Tower rises 1,815 feet off the ground and is visible to staff working in Toronto at the EF Education First office .
Toronto’s streets are more like a real wilderness than a concrete jungle. Nearly 18% of Toronto’s area is devoted to parks and forests. Trinity-Bellwoods offers serene picnic spots (and albino squirrel sightings), and High Park blooms with cherry blossom trees when the weather gets warm. The many hiking trails and ferry trips to the Toronto islands provide favorite summertime activities for locals. Cars aren’t allowed on any of the islands, so many people bring bikes (as well as beach towels for a swim in Lake Ontario).
Once you’ve hiked the city’s trails, you can return to civilization and travel the culinary world. Toronto is a proud multicultural city, with over 170 languages represented in the region, and that’s also reflected in its restaurants. For example, the Danforth neighborhood is famous for Greek food, Little Italy has wood-fired pizza, and Chinatown’s restaurants serve up fresh dumplings, noodles, and dim sum. Of course, there are also Canadian food staples, like poutine, a french-fry dish covered in gravy and cheese curds.
During winter, Toronto stays warm with a series of interconnected tunnels underground. The PATH is an underground pedestrian walkway connecting nearly 70 buildings. You can do errands, go to the gym, shop for clothes, or grocery shop without ever having to step outside. These tunnels extend below the EF office, so commuters taking the subway system can avoid the cold all winter! EF’s Toronto office is on two floors, with available roles primarily in EF Educational Tours Canada and EF Go Ahead Tours. The “commons area” is a favorite community spot in the office, where EFers working in Toronto gather for town halls, board game nights, or karaoke parties. You can even take a mini tour of Canada whenever you meet, as each conference room is named after a Canadian city. “Let’s meet in Moose Jaw in ten!” is not an uncommon phrase.
EF’s office is in the Yorkville neighborhood, well-known for good food, shopping, and concerts. In the summer EFers working in Toronto enjoy lunch breaks at the nearby park and catch one of the free public jazz concerts. In the winter, the park transforms into an ice sculpture festival with a festive light show.
Festivals are popular throughout the year in Toronto. For example, the Caribana festival, which celebrates the food and culture of the Caribbean, is the largest cultural festival in North America. And, in September, the annual Toronto International Film Festival is one of the world’s largest publicly attended film festivals.
Toronto is a multicultural city that buzzes with culture, nature, and entertainment every season. For help prioritizing the long list of things to do, here’s what EFers working in Toronto recommend.
Sebastien, EF Educational Tours Canada
Neighbourhood recommendations:
Kensington Market, Distillery District, or The Beaches.
What is the commute like?
I take the TTC (the Toronto Transit Commission subway) downtown. The station is right under our office building, so you don't even have to go outside in winter! In the summer, I can bike to work on a protected bike lane.
Favorite things about Toronto?
The nature! There's High Park, the waterfront, multiple botanical gardens... plenty of places to go for walks that will make you forget you're in a major city. When I first moved here, my partner and I went for a walk and ended up in the beautiful neighborhood of Yorkville. You can find so many cool places just by walking.
What do you love about your EF office?
I love where we are located—especially when it comes to food. You will often want to buy lunch since so many good food options are nearby.
--Jenny, EF Educational Tours Canada
Neighborhood recommendations:
I live in The Beaches (also known as 'The Beach'). The Beaches runs from Neville Park to Woodbine Avenue and gets its name due to the multiple public beaches running along Lake Ontario. We have a boardwalk, public parks, and off-leash dog areas. If you’re looking for roommates, the 'Palz' network is run by local volunteers and has groups for almost every topic—Helping Zone, Pet Zone, Trading Zone, etc. It's a great spot to find other locals and post about roommates!
What is the commute like?
My commute is about 20-30 minutes. First I grab a bus to the subway line, and then ride right to Bay Station.
Favorite things about Toronto?
My favorite spots include Allan Gardens, Glen Stewart Ravine, and the Toronto Necropolis. Nature is a big focus - many tiny forests, ravines, beach fronts, and parks are scattered throughout downtown.
What do you love about your EF office?
All roads lead to EF Toronto. We have a gym in the building and a park right behind us with outdoor seating and regular festivals that are held there - lights and ice sculptures in the winter, jazz musicians in the summer, and more! We're also super close to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) and the U of T campus - a great spot to find cherry blossoms in the spring.
---Jacquelyn, EF Educational Tours Canada
Neighborhood recommendations:
Kensington! The unique shops give a smaller community feel. There are also Facebook groups to help find a roommate.
What is the commute like?
I live about a 10-minute walk away from the office. Toronto is an extremely walkable city. I can walk almost anywhere I need—from the grocery store to the library, to work, and even to my favorite dance studio. If you live outside the city center, there are subway lines, too.
What are your favorite things about Toronto?
I love how Toronto integrates nature into such a big city—whether it’s the greenspaces downtown, small forests, or farmer's markets. Toronto is also a food lover's paradise. With Canada's beautiful mosaic of cultures, you can truly see them reflected in the flavors you'll find here. You can travel the world by taste without flying out of the city.
What do you love about your EF office?
I love our common space! It's a great spot to chat, take advantage of our office snacks, and hang out. Anyone will tell you that one of the best things about working at EF is the people, and this space really allows us to connect after a day of opening the world through education.
--Laura, EF Educational Tours Canada
Neighborhood recommendations:
I’d recommend Yonge Eglinton, University of Toronto, Harbord Village, Koreatown/Little Italy, or Cabbagetown.
What is the commute like?
I cycle to work—it takes me roughly 25 minutes. On days when I take the TTC, it takes about 30 minutes. If you live outside of Toronto, there are regional transit options, like the GO train. If you use public transit a lot, get a monthly TTC pass; it lets you take any public transportation in the city for good value.
What are your favorite things about Toronto?
We're one of the world’s most multicultural cities, which means you can get any food your heart desires. We're also a great music city; most bands/artists stop in Toronto on tour. My other tip is to get a library card! Toronto has the second-best library system in the entire world, so if you like to read (or listen to audiobooks, watch movies, etc.), this is a must-have.
What do you love about your EF office?
We're on the two main subway lines, so getting here is easy. It’s a safe neighborhood and close to a lot of great food options.