For most of us, the Toronto Islands are a quick getaway without actually having to leave the city. But, about 700 residents are lucky enough to call the islands home. Kristin Basmadjin lives on Algonquin Island and tells CityNews it's a special place with a tight knit community.

Yes, there is a small, vibrant community of approximately 700 to 800 residents living on the Toronto Islands, specifically within the Ward's Island and Algonquin Island neighborhoods. This community is unique because it is the largest urban car-free community in North America. Living on the island is highly regulated; houses are governed by the Toronto Islands Residential Community Trust, which ensures that homes are not sold for market profit but rather passed down or sold at a controlled price to people on a notoriously long waiting list (which can take decades to move). Residents rely on the year-round ferry service to reach the mainland for work, high school, and major shopping. The lifestyle is deeply community-oriented, with residents sharing a public school, a church, and a community center, all set within a park-like environment that feels worlds away from the nearby downtown skyscrapers.