A big part of being an international student is experiencing living with other students in residences or student dorms. Student housing creates access to affordable housing options, and a community for students to share their experience with others in a similar situation while making friends.
There’s nothing like finding your home away from home, but choosing a place to live in Canada can be daunting. We compiled a list of some of the best neighbourhoods in Toronto and Vancouver, where our ILAC campuses are located, to help you pick the right option for you.
Toronto:
North St. James Town (Church-Yonge Corridor)
- Harrington Residences – 561 Sherbourne St.
The area now known as the Church-Yonge Corridor was home to some of the most famous families of Toronto in the early days. The street names in this neighbourhood, like Jarvis Street and McGill street, come from these influential families. The most popular places in this area are the Eaton Centre, Toronto’s largest indoor mall, and Allan Gardens, along with many great restaurants and bars for a fun nightlife. Our Harrington House residence and our iconic Deam Building are at the heart of this neighbourhood.
Humewood-Cedarvale (St. Clair Ave West)
- Dream House Markdale – 3 Markdale Ave
- Dream House – 181-183-185-187 Vaughan Rd
- Dream Apartments – 189 Vaughan Road and 595 St Clair Ave W
The origin of this neighbourhood began in 1912 when Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, the original owner of Toronto’s famous Casa Loma, invested in its residential development. There is a variety of interesting shops, as well as high-end boutiques and restaurants in the area for those looking for something to do. There’s also Cedarvale Park for lovers of the outdoors. You can find quite a few of our residences in this area, such as Dream House and the Dream Apartments.
Yonge-St. Clair (Deer Park)
- Casa Residence – 101 Lawton Blvd. / 2 Glen Elm Ave
Yonge and St.Clair is one of midtown Toronto’s busiest shopping, entertainment, and business areas. The David Balfour Park is one of the nicest green spaces in the city, and it’s at the heart of this neighborhood. The neighbourhood is also known as Deer Park. The area used to be referred to by the First Nations people as “Mushquoteh”, which means a place in the woods where deer gathered to feed. This is why when a prominent family bought the land in 1837, they named it “Deer Park”. Take a look at the Casa Residence if you are interested in this area.
Annex (Yorkville)
- Dream House Yorkville – 32 Admiral Road
The Annex as the neighbourhood we know today is over one hundred years old. It’s first residents included influential people like Timothy Eaton, from what we now know as the Eaton Centre, and George Gooderham, president of the Gooderham and Worts Distillery (now known as the Distillery District). This is a fun area for students as it is near the University of Toronto, and has plenty of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs to choose from along Bloor Street. Our Dream House Yorkville is located in this beautiful neighbourhood.
Vancouver:
Fairview (North Vancouver)
- APT Living @ 12th Avenue – 1125 W 12th Ave
Fairview is a charming neighbourhood home of iconic places like Granville Island, a great shopping district, and the Vancouver General Hospital. Granville Island hosts the Granville Island Public Market, established in 1979 and one of the most popular markets in Vancouver. Our APT Living @ 12th Avenue residence is located in this area if you are interested in this wonderful neighbourhood.
Downtown Vancouver
- GEC Viva – 1311 Howe St
- YWCA Hotel – 733 Beatty St
Downtown is Vancouver’s primary business district. It houses many arts, entertainment, and sports venues, and it’s close to several vibrant residential communities. World-famous Stanley Park is part of the west end, and popular historic districts such as Gastown can be found at the east end. You can stay at one of our downtown residences, GEC Viva and YWCA Hotel, and be near the heart of the city.
Riley Park-Little Mountain
- GEC King Edward – 431 W King Edward Avenue
Riley Park, sometimes also known as Riley Park–Little Mountain, is a neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia. This neighbourhood contains two shopping hubs, including many vintage and antique shops. The neighbourhood is home to the city’s highest point at the top of Little Mountain. Check out our GEC King Edward residence if you are interested in this neighbourhood!
Marpole (South Vancouver)
- GEC Pearson – 7657 Cambie St
Marpole, once the site of a Musqueam village, is now a mostly residential neighbourhood located on the southern edge of the city of Vancouver. It is a less busy neighbourhood as it is located farther from the city and is perfect for those looking for a more quiet, relaxed atmosphere. The GEC Pearson residence is part of this great neighbourhood if this is what you are looking for when staying in Vancouver.
How to Select the Best Residence for International Students?
Are you still not sure about where your home away from home will be?
Contact us at [email protected] and we can help you!
