Scarborough City Guide
Image by Justin Ziadeh via unsplash

Canada

Scarborough City Guide

Ontario

Scarborough is a large, diverse district within Toronto, Ontario, known for its green spaces, like the Scarborough Bluffs. It's more suburban than downtown Toronto, ideal for families and those seeking a quieter lifestyle with access to urban amenities.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

Scarborough offers a wide array of ethnic cuisines, especially South Asian, Chinese, and Caribbean.

Local Dishes:
Poutine, Maple syrup products
International Cuisine:
South Asian, Chinese, Caribbean
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Limited
4

Nightlife is more subdued, focusing on casual pubs and family-friendly restaurants.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

Good range of coffee options, from chains to emerging specialty shops.

💰
Tipping
Required
15%

Tipping is common and expected in service industries like restaurants and taxis.

Top Attractions
Scarborough Bluffs
Nature
A stunning escarpment along Lake Ontario.
Toronto Zoo
Attraction
Largest zoo in Canada, home to over 5,000 animals.
Rouge National Urban Park
Nature
Large urban park with trails and wildlife viewing.
Guild Park and Gardens
Park
Park known for its beautiful gardens and historic sculptures.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are easy to get from major carrier stores in shopping malls.

Available at:
Rogers
Bell
Telus
Freedom Mobile
Fido
Koodo
Virgin Plus
Recommended Apps
TTCwatch(Transit)
Uber(Ride-sharing)
Uber Eats(Food delivery)
Google Maps(General)
Flipp(Shopping)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
7

Generally clean with regular waste pickup and comprehensive recycling programs in place.

24/7 Services
Limited
5

Some pharmacies and convenience stores are 24/7, but 24-hour dining is limited.

Groceries
Loblaws
Metro
No Frills
FreshCo
Food Basics
T&T Supermarket
Adonis

Excellent availability of international products due to the diverse population.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Card acceptance is very high; cash is rarely needed for most transactions.

ATMs

ATMs are widely available, and fees at non-bank ATMs can be CAD 2-3 per transaction.

Schools
Local only

Public schools are part of the Toronto District School Board, with English as the primary language.

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
4
Available Spaces:
Regus
Offers multiple co-working locations with flexible membership plans.
Spaces
Located at Kennedy Commons, provides office space and meeting rooms.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Starbucks
Available widely with Wi-Fi, popular for work sessions.
Tim Hortons
Widespread with reliable Wi-Fi, a safe choice for working.
The Daily Grind
Independent cafe known for its cozy work environment.
Alternatives:
Toronto Public Library
Offers quiet workspaces and free Wi-Fi, ideal for focused work.
Hotel lobbies
Quiet working environment at some larger hotels, with amenities available.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
3

Less established scene for nomads but some Toronto-based groups exist.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

Excellent access to green spaces like Rouge National Urban Park and Scarborough Bluffs.

Running
Good
7

Popular running routes include Scarborough Bluffs trails and Rouge National Urban Park.

Gyms
Available

Scarborough has several gym options available.

Available Gyms:
GoodLife Fitness
LA Fitness
Planet Fitness
YMCA
Tennis
Excellent
8

Numerous public tennis courts in parks across Scarborough, with some indoor options.

Padel
Poor
3

Padel is growing but still less common than tennis.

Yoga
Good
7

Several yoga studios offering a range of styles, with English-speaking instructors common.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Various martial arts schools offer disciplines like Karate and Taekwondo.

Skiing
Poor
2

No ski resorts in Scarborough, but some small ski hills are accessible within a 1-2 hour drive.

Water Sports
Limited
5

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing are available on Lake Ontario.

Surfing
Poor
1

No significant surfing spots due to the lack of consistent waves on Lake Ontario.

Diving
Poor
1

Limited to no significant dive sites in Lake Ontario near Scarborough.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

All major hospitals and clinics have English-speaking staff, with high-quality public healthcare.

Hospitals:
Scarborough Health Network Birchmount
Scarborough Health Network Centenary
Scarborough Health Network General
Pharmacies:
Shoppers Drug Mart
Rexall
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe to drink.

Common Scams
Online scams, Phone scams, Occasional petty theft

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Scarborough is family-friendly with numerous playgrounds and attractions like the Toronto Zoo.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
8

Generally accepting and inclusive, consistent with Canadian norms.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet-friendly with many parks allowing dogs on leash and several off-leash parks.

Communities
Scarborough Community (Local)
Toronto Expats (Expat)

Quick Facts

Population
632,098
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Power is highly reliable, consistent with Canadian standards. Outages are rare and short-lived.

Beach Access
Available

Bluffer's Park Beach is a sandy beach with good water quality for swimming.

Languages
English(90%)
Mandarin(12.5%)
Cantonese(12.5%)
Tamil(7.5%)
Emergency
911
Police, Fire, Ambulance

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
1

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
July, August
Can have hot and humid days exceeding 30°C.
Winter
December, March
Cold and snowy conditions.

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