Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
28 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
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Details
Description
Especially call all our previous guest to come back for a second visit! We are now a father & daughter (24) team - as 2 of us have relocated to the Arctic. Our home in Toronto is located in a well established neighbourhood, a 5 minute walk to the subway, and a short ride to downtown . We enjoy travelling and meeting new people from different cultures and backgrounds. Please share with us your travel and adventure stories!
It would be a bonus if you are a native Spanish speaker, but this is not necessary. Having hosted for six years we have had the pleasure of welcoming travellers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, United States....
Vegetarians can be accommodated as our daughter is strictly vegetarian, but the rest of us eat meat and fish regularly. Do you have any dietary restrictions or preferences to be accommodated? We enjoy cooking with fresh healthy ingredients and experiencing food from all over the world. We try to eat together as often as possible.
We are very sad to say that our pet rabbit, Jumbo, has died at age 9. She really enjoyed the company of our workaway guests and made quite the impression! You will see her mentioned throughout the comments, but sadly she is no longer with us. There are no pets in the house.
We enjoy hosting visitors and welcoming new guests into our family. Stays are booked and confirmed for two weeks - however, together we can decide to extend your stay after your first five days here. Our longest guest enjoyed three months with us, and many others have extended their stays as well.
This is not a hotel or hostel, but a welcoming home. We hope you take time to enjoy our city, explore the neighbourhood, and you should want to spend time in conversation outside of your working hours and join us in meals and events when possible. We hope to make genuine connections with you and remain friends after you continue on your travels.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Between May and October there are opportunities to go to our cottage on Long Point near Port Rowan (for a weekend or several days). This is a beautiful area known for birding and also has a great freshwater beach. It will be a mix of some chores and free/relaxation time up there. Long Point is a biosphere reserve on a 30+ kilometer sandbar with gorgeous beach about 2.5 hours from Toronto.
Niagara Falls is only about 1.5 hours from here too - and a must see!
Our family has many interests and we are happy to include you - such as: hiking/walks, art gallery visits, music festivals, cultural festivals, snow activities....
Our home has a lovely garden/back yard and deck area where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or eat outside in good weather. There is some wildlife - rabbits often nested in our shrubs, and squirrels and chipmunks are a daily sighting. We enjoy a neighbourhood walk regularly and of course you will be welcome to join us!
Help
Let us know what skills you bring- Can you Garden? Have any construction/building skills? Are you creative? Depending on your skill set, we may send a more detailed outline of possible tasks after you contact us.
We consider your preferences and input when creating the schedules together so you will have the flexibility to enjoy our city.
During the spring/summer/fall there are more tasks outside in the yard.
There may be some small home improvement tasks such as preparing for painting, maybe refinishing wooden doors? Other tasks may include sorting attic and basement, moving some small furniture and organizing around the house.
You must have a positive outlook on work and do it with energy and efficiency. You should be able to self manage, prioritize, and keep track of what you have done. Volunteer hours are intended for working on assigned tasks and we ask that you please refrain from using your phone, eating your breakfast or lunch, or other personal matters in this time. It would be good if you can manage your schedule and keep track of your hours without reminders.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We are now two native English speakers. One of us here will only speak to you in English for your language practice. The other one is learning Spanish and requests that communication be in Spanish, if this is your language. However speakers from any language / continent are welcome !!
Accommodation
Private bedroom space that only you use (see photos) but the rest of the house and two bathrooms are shared. We provide you up to three balanced meals daily if you are home to eat with us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
What else ...
We are non-smokers and do not drink alcohol in the house. We will only accept a non-smoker and someone who will not drink alcohol while on the property and will not return home while intoxicated.
We are within a 5 min walking distance to library, indoor pool (small charge) gym (may have small charge too), indoor skating rink, cafes, restaurants, tennis courts, a park, and neighbourhood shops. We are a short walk to the subway with a 20 minute ride to downtown.
Toronto is a diverse multicultural center with almost any kind of activity that you can think of. There are numerous art galleries, museums, theatre venues.... some of which can be quite costly, but there are also many free events throughout the city.
We are a 5 min walk to Royal York subway station - close to downtown. It will take you under 45 minutes to get to our home from Union train station or Pearson Airport. Toronto is well connected with public transit at all hours of the day and night.
As mentioned above, IF you are a Spanish speaker we may schedule a few hours per week where you would help Meghan with reading or some type of grammar lessons and this time would be agreed upon beforehand and counted towards your working hours - However, all other conversations we have in Spanish (her chance to practice) or English (your chance to practice) are not counted toward the hours – that part of culture/language exchange is considered a bonus for each of us.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (22)
Photos
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Accuracy of profile:
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Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
If you have a chance to stay with them, i highly recommend you send a message!!
Thanks for all:):)
It was my first workaway stay and they treated me as a family member from the first moment.
I worked in the garden and did some simple household chores, including taking a little care of Jumbo.
In the afternoon I had plenty of time… read more
It was a pleasure to help them with all!
This was the perfect workaway balance: spending time with us like family - and - enthusiastically completing all work tasks to a high standard. Jumbo too received extra care and attention and misses Maria. We all miss her and hope that she will come back to… read more
As everyone else in here i enjoyed staying with Stella, Hanna, Meghan and Stephen and overall their stories. They included me as I was from the family.
They are just lovely and the little jumbo is a cutie!!!
They are very kind, warm, hardworking and honest family.
The work is very easy, only you need to do the thinks in the best way.
Always are willing to talk and give the best advice to know the surroundings and if you want to travel further they also guide you, they are a great option to practice English.
Thanks… read more
And yes , when a start a project , I like to… read more
This family is really nice and does everything to integrate you.
They like to share with travelers and give you a lot of good advice to visit toronto.
Work is varied and schedules flexible.
The place in great and next to the subway.
Thank you for doing your best to make feel part of your family for two weeks!
The thing I appreciate most is how you enjoy the idea of Workaway and having workawayers at home.
You helped me to integrate as a member of your family.
I could share your family life and that was very interesting and warm… read more
All the food they… read more
Stella,Stephen,Meghan&Hannah are awesome people :) and of course Jumbo the cutest house Bunny I’ve ever seen!
I stayed at their place for 2 weeks and had a lot of fun.
They told me a lot about that wonderful city and what cool things are to do there.
on one weekend we made a… read more
The whole family enjoyed the time he spent with us and look forward to receiving photos and updates. Always the best to you, Mehmet! (2 weeks in April/May 2018).
He was always chearful and eager to help with whatever was required around the house - but especially making very delicious meals that we all enjoyed. As he said, he put his heart into it. (And delivered Chile to us on a plate ; ). He is a genuine good person that became part of our… read more
