Hello from a newcomer — what helped you most in your first weeks in Ontario?

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Hello everyone, I am James and I am new here. I am planning the practical side of settling in Ontario, including finding housing, sorting out health cover, and getting a feel for everyday life in a new city.

For those who have already made the move, what helped you most in your first few weeks? Was it a particular checklist, a local service, or simply advice from someone who had done it before? I would be grateful for any first-hand tips, especially about choosing a neighbourhood and keeping the move itself as stress-free as possible.

Thank you in advance for sharing your experience.

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Hi James,

Thank you for reaching out to Settlement.Org, and welcome to Ontario!

Planning housing, healthcare, and everyday essentials together can feel overwhelming. A checklist and some local support can help you break the move into more manageable steps.

While planning your move, you may find Settlement.Org’s First Days in Ontario guide helpful. It includes a checklist covering tasks such as finding somewhere to live, applying for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), applying for OHIP if you are eligible, and locating community services. You can also adapt the list to fit your needs rather than trying to complete everything at once.

The guide recommends arranging somewhere to stay for your first few nights before you arrive, if possible. This can give you a starting point while you explore your new community and look for long-term housing. Settlement.Org’s Housing section includes information about choosing where to live, rental costs, housing types, and your rights as a tenant. These resources can help you compare your options before committing to a home.

When comparing neighbourhoods, consider your everyday needs. The First Days guide suggests getting to know the location of schools, hospitals, banks, shops, community centres, and parks, as well as how to travel around the area. Will you be driving? Is the neighbourhood easily accessible by public transit? Would you like access to bike paths? You could use these points to make a short comparison list for each neighbourhood you are considering.

For accessing healthcare, it is important to check your eligibility for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). You can start with Who is eligible for OHIP?, which explains the residency and immigration-status requirements.

If you are eligible, How do I apply for a Health Card (OHIP)? explains how to prepare your application and supporting documents for ServiceOntario. Many settlement agencies can also help with the application. If you find yourself in the position that you are not eligible for OHIP, you have other options as well for private insurance and low-cost care.

Connecting with a settlement agency early can be useful. The First Days guide explains that these agencies can help newcomers learn about their community, find housing support, and connect with Housing Help Centres. You can look for nearby organizations through Settlement.Org’s Services Near Me directory or by calling 211 to speak with a community resource navigator. 211 is a free, confidential service that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a week. They also have a live chat service is available Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm ET and Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm ET.

We hope this information is helpful, and wish you all the best in this transition. Please follow up with us if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Your Settlement.Org Team

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Welcome to Ontario!

For me, it was definitely getting my public library card and joining local community groups online. The library helped me with printing documents, free programs for the family, and just having a comfortable spot to sit and focus.