Why hundreds of newcomers have chosen to settle in Northeastern Ontario in the past three years

 Why hundreds of newcomers have chosen to settle in Northeastern Ontario in the past three years

Northeastern Ontario is a hidden gem with untapped opportunities for newcomers and young professionals.

Many newcomers choose to settle in communities in northeastern Ontario rather than larger cities like Toronto or Montreal.

Cities in northeastern Ontario offer newcomers the opportunity to create the life they've always wanted. Affordable living costs, job opportunities, and many facilities and amenities give newcomers the opportunity to quickly establish themselves. In our beautiful area, you have peace and quiet and everything you need to live a good and successful life.

Find job opportunities in mining, forestry, construction, retail, social services and healthcare. As the region continues to grow, more job opportunities will be available for skilled foreign workers and young urban professionals looking to advance in their careers.

Find a welcoming and supportive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation. Many local economic development organizations welcome young entrepreneurs and offer programs to start, buy or expand a business. Connect with a well-connected startup ecosystem and take your business to the next level. 

You can quickly realize your dream of owning a home with a lower cost of living, higher earning potential, and more disposable income. Home prices across the region are significantly lower than those in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and other Canadian cities. In 2022, the average price of a home in Northeast Ontario will be $262,483, compared to $1,189,850 in Toronto.

 Work-Life Balance

Residents in the area have an improved work-life balance thanks to short commutes, no traffic jams, and a good public transportation system. Fewer commutes give residents a chance to enjoy life.

 Lifestyle

Sports and recreation enthusiasts can engage in activities such as hockey, snowmobiling, cross-country and downhill skiing, golf, cricket, fishing, camping, boating and more.

Northeastern Ontario offers opportunities to explore the great outdoors in all four seasons. Traverse more than 300,000 kilometers of OFSC-regulated snowmobile trails and backcountry riding opportunities across northern Ontario. Easy access to one of thousands of lakes and waterways on your doorstep. Immerse yourself in Temagami's ancient pine forests and abundant provincial or national parks, many of which are just minutes from downtown.

 Access

 Affordable housing and a great work-life balance give residents the opportunity to enjoy traveling to other parts of the province or exploring more of northern Ontario. Timmins Victor M. Power Airport has multiple daily flights to and from Toronto Billy Bishop International Airport and Pearson International Airport. The recently restored passenger trains will create a more integrated northeast Ontario. When you live in the North, you can easily stay connected to Southern Ontario and the rest of the globe while creating the life of your dreams, getting the best of both worlds.

Amenities and Facilities

The amenities located in the area also make Northeast Ontario a great place to settle and start a family. All towns and cities in our region are equipped with hospitals and medical assistance. With 154 beds, 850 frontline staff and 70 physicians, Timmins and Regional Hospital provides a full range of medical, surgical, critical care, obstetrical, neonatal, pediatric, long-term care and mental health services to the region.

The Northeast is increasingly multilingual. More than 20% of Ontario's French-speaking population lives in the Northeast, and South Asian and Chinese are increasingly heard in smaller centers, along with Polish and Spanish. Find the best education at one of four regional school boards offering English, French, and French Immersion programs in public and Catholic settings. There are also four tertiary institutions in the region offering a wide range of programs in the two official languages.

Immigration

Timmins was selected as one of 11 Canadian communities to participate in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). The Timmins Regional Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) recently expanded to communities throughout Northeast Ontario, led and facilitated by the Timmins Economic Development Corporation and a number of community partners.

Newcomers looking to live in the region long-term can expedite their path to permanent residence (PR) through the Timmins Regional RNIP. The pathway to permanent residency gives you the opportunity to actually settle in the area, afford a home and start a family.

Think of the Timmins Regional RNIP program as a way to build a life in Northeast Ontario and make Canada home. Settled in one of the northeast communities including Cochrane, Flat, Hearst, Iroquois Falls, Capscassine, Kirkland Lake, Matheson, Smooth Rock Falls, Timis Cumming Shores and Timis mins. Find eligibility information at timminsedc.com/immigration.