Moving from Toronto to Los Angeles wasn’t just about swapping snow boots for sandals. It meant rethinking almost everything I knew about daily life. One week I was bundling up for preschool drop-off in a parka, and the next I was Googling the best sunscreen options for the February sun.
The move came through my partner’s job, a relocation I wholeheartedly welcomed, though not without knowing there would be some challenges. Different rhythms, new routines, and a few eye-opening cultural shifts. Still, somewhere between the palm trees and the heavy traffic, LA started to feel a little like home.

It’s been over a year now, and while I wouldn’t dare claim the title of Angeleno just yet, I’ve definitely earned my stripes as an enthusiastic newcomer. So consider this a newbie’s guide to navigating LA, the wild but wonderful city of sunshine, sirens, and second chances.

Whether you're a Canadian already living in LA or just thinking about making the move, here’s what helped me settle in, from building community to figuring out how to work in a city where you know no one.

Where Do You Even Start?

You know what’s fun? Moving to a massive city where you know literally no one. But when human connection is essential to your well-being, especially when you’re raising a tiny human (hi, toddler life), it becomes a priority. Here’s what helped me start building a community in Los Angeles:

1. Join Parent Groups Before You Move

Knowing the neighborhood ahead of time allowed me to research and join local mom and parent groups before the move. I also signed up early for mommy and me classes in nearby community centers. These steps made the transition smoother and gave me ready-made reasons to get out of the house.

I approached these groups with no expectations. If connections formed, great. If not, at least I got some much-needed adult conversation, something every parent desperately craves.

2. Say Yes, Even When You’d Rather Hibernate

I decided that LA would be my “yes” era, yes to invites, yes to group fitness, yes to showing up awkwardly solo to events. Was it outside my comfort zone? Deeply. But that’s where all the good stuff happens. Some events were duds. Some people disappeared without explanation (making friends as an adult really is its own kind of weird). Still, the more I showed up, the more things began to shift—or at the very least, I started getting more comfortable in uncomfortable situations.

3. Group Activities Are a Built-In Community

Joining a hiking group, dance class, recreational sports team, or community yoga session is one of the best ways to meet people in an organic way. The shared experience takes the pressure off, and endorphins help make socializing feel a little less intimidating. Working toward a common goal, even something as simple as finishing a workout, is a reliable way to feel more connected.

4. Why Making Plans Takes Patience

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned, honestly, in life, is not to take flakiness personally. LA traffic really is intense. Add in the wildly different lifestyles and unpredictable career, suddenly making plans becomes an Olympic event. People do want to see you, it’s just harder when they live west of the 405 and seem to exist in an entirely different emotional time zone.

Instead of getting frustrated, I started shifting my mindset. I learned to be:

Flexible with meet-up ideas
Consistent with follow-ups, with no pressure
Okay with looser timelines

Friendships here don’t always move fast, but when they stick, they’re solid.

Navigating the Job Hunt in LA

Starting your career from scratch in a new city can be overwhelming. But here’s what helped me stay grounded and get going:

1. Tap Into Recruitment Agencies

I signed up with a few recruitment agencies, and they connected me to temp work that gave me:

Local experience
$$$
A routine
Contacts who later opened bigger doors

2. Talk About What You’re Looking For

Whether you’re in a workout class, a playgroup, or your neighborhood coffee shop, don’t be shy about mentioning that you’re job hunting. Most people understand what it feels like to start over, and many are open to having real conversations about career goals.

Even the mom you meet at music class might know someone who knows someone, so it’s always worth putting it out there.

3. Don’t Sleep on LinkedIn

A polished LinkedIn profile can go a long way in helping you feel less like a transplant and more like someone genuinely planting roots. I used it as a soft introduction tool, reaching out to people in my field and asking for ten minutes of their time, either in person or virtually. Engage with people whose work aligns with yours, and don’t be afraid to initiate. There’s truly nothing to lose.

4. Look Into Your Local Chamber of Commerce

It might sound a little old-school, but local chambers of commerce are alive and well. They offer valuable resources, especially if you’re freelancing, job hunting, or simply looking to expand your network.

Things I Miss (and Don’t Miss) from Canada

Miss:

The people, of course.
Certain food options.
Fall colors and that first snowfall feeling (though, admittedly, the latter doesn’t last long).

Don’t miss:

Salt stains
Shoveling
Seasonal depression

Things That Surprised Me About LA

People here love Canadians! ("You’re from Toronto? Say ‘about!’ Do you know Drake??")
LA is often dismissed as a city of glamour and surface, but beneath that veneer lies a community forged through resilience and compassion. When the California wildfires swept through in January 2025, I witnessed something profound, neighbors reaching out with open hands and open hearts, strangers becoming lifelines, and a collective spirit that defied the chaos. In those moments of crisis, the city shed its polished exterior, revealing the fierce, unbreakable bonds that hold it together. It reminded me that true connection is about showing up for one another, no matter how wild or uncertain the world feels.

One Final Thought

Enjoy the city, but don’t get distracted by it.

There’s always going to be a cooler coffee shop, a better-smelling person in line at Erewhon, or a new rooftop to check out. But chasing the next shiny thing can distract you from what truly matters: your own goals and your unique version of success.

And if you’re already here, you probably know: it’s not about “making it.” It’s about making it feel like home.

From Maple Leaves To Palm Trees