Anna Raddon

Coming Home: Living and Working in Northern Ontario
James recalls his first trip to Northern Ontario clearly. He'd met the love of his life at university and was driving her home at the end of the semester. She came from a little town somewhere at the top of the Ontario road map. What he found was a vast and beautiful country. Seven years, a wedding, and a couple of jobs later, James is hooked on Northern Ontario. Although he was initially attracted by the landscape (and the girl), he's found there are a lot of great reasons to live and work in Northern Ontario.

Creating Community:
Angela and Mike agree that the reason they moved back to Northern Ontario was to be closer to their families. They have no regrets about that decision. But they do notice that their Northern Ontario city is a little different than other centers they've lived in. "People will talk to you here. That doesn't happen in a Southern Ontario city." Small town atmosphere coupled with the conveniences of an urban centre suit them just fine.

Rebecca concurs with their experience, but from a different perspective. She settled in the Southern Ontario city where she took her post-secondary education. Five years after graduation she laments, "I still don't feel like I really know people. I don't feel connected."

James, on the other hand, feels completely at home in his new northern community. "It would be really hard to leave the friends I've made here." That sense of attachment is something many young people are looking for.

Home Sweet Home
Sam and Tracey didn't choose to stay in Northern Ontario for scenery or community. But they do hope to achieve their financial goals a lot earlier in life because of Northern Ontario's terrific cost of housing. In their early 20's and earning a modest income, they have purchased a perfect starter home and are able to invest in some lifelong dreams.

A recent International Housing Affordability Survey listed Toronto as a Seriously Unaffordable place to own a home. It takes 4.4 times the median household income for a Torontonian to purchase a median-priced house. The overall for Canada is still high at 3.6 times (National Post, Thursday, February 23, 2006). In Northern Ontario young people like Sam and Tracey can purchase a home for about one year's income.

Hop, Skip, Jump
Living in close proximity to nature provides an attractive package for young people in the north. Angela and Mike love being able to hit the trails in their hiking boots or skis within minutes, despite living in an apartment complex. Northern cities marry the best of both worlds: the great outdoors on one hand and shopping, cultural events, and medical facilities on the other. All this without the rat race that normally accompanies urban life.

Although northern youth complain of "nothing to do", many have compensated by creating their own opportunities. For instance, Angela and Mike have helped develop a local sports league. And while there's plenty of room for growth in the number of available activities, many youth take advantage of the area's natural recreation such as hiking, boating, snowmobiling, and hunting.

Land of Opportunity
Some young people, like Rebecca, would like to work in the north, but the right job at the right time hasn't been available. Employment has undoubtedly been a major roadblock for northerner-wanna-bes. But there is hope that this won't be the case for increasing numbers of youth.

Over 22,000 full-time jobs have been created in Northern Ontario over an eight-year period. Recently, the Ontario government announced a $35 million investment that should bring innovative technology and high value jobs to the north as part of the province's Northern Prosperity Plan (Ontario Secures New Jobs for the North, Feb.10, 2006, www.ontariocanada.com, news releases).

When the right job does open up, youth have a better chance of getting that job in the north. Many job seekers with years of experience are unwilling to relocate to Northern Ontario. This opens the door for youth, giving them a better crack at landing an enviable position. Once hired, youth have more opportunities to advance since there is less competition. Northern employers also recognize the value of retaining promising young employees and are likely to train and reward their workers.

Matthew, on the other hand, would rather work for himself than someone else. He plans to move back to Northern Ontario to work as a freelance artist after college. The space and beauty of the north give him the creative inspiration he craves and he feels he can live affordably in the north while maintaining a wide market for his work through travel and the internet. He's also hopeful that one of the many government initiatives to promote northern youth entrepreneurship will benefit him.

I too have found Northern Ontario to be an ideal place to venture into business. A year ago I began a small publishing company and it's been a rolling stone (or rather, snowball) ever since. However, starting a business costs a lot at the outset and doesn't always net big bucks. With the reasonable cost of housing in Northern Ontario my family has been able to own our home and maintain our standard of living comfortably.

Of course, running a small business in the north has presented some unique challenges: dependence on shipping of supplies, lack of technical support, a widespread population. But, there are unique opportunities as well: untapped niche markets, room for expansion, and the burgeoning world of cyber-marketing.

Of course, running a small business in the north has presented some unique challenges: dependence on shipping of supplies, lack of technical support, a widespread population. But, there are unique opportunities as well: untapped niche markets, room for expansion, and the burgeoning world of cyber-marketing.