Mary Brohart

Silent breeze echoing around my feet as squint and snowshoe across the field with our 11 month old daughter on my back and three year old by my side. "Look, mommy, Swiper tracks!" she announces with exuberance. My daughter has identified a path which could be, as she suspects, the trail of a fox who took the same stroll earlier that day. For some, those memories are only found in vacation time; for us they are to be had each day, as sure and as welcoming as the beauty of Northern Ontario. Whether it is an appreciation for nature, the pride of a strong community or the opportunity for growth; young people should consider Northern Ontario an excellent home for their dreams.

Learning from the bush has been standard for my husband. He grew up on a farm in Northern Ontario and can walk the back acreage as easily as a stroll from the kitchen table to the bedroom. He can look up at night and find his way to north; all of this he learned as a child. For young people starting families, the lure for excellent education opportunity is strong. I recall once, having a friend in Toronto comment that my husband seemed very wise, when referring to his skill and knowledge set. No school but Northern Ontario herself could claim tutelage over his ability. Recreational opportunities in the North revolve around snow, water and wildlife. Spending a day, or a week for that matter, out in an ice shack is familiar to many adventures in Northern Ontario. For others, it may be enjoying canoeing, kayaking or boating over many of the lakes littered across the land. The possibility of building a waterfront home or camp is very inviting and possible in the North. Real Estate in Northern Ontario should be a draw for anyone paying high housing fees; a young person could purchase a home close to work, often for less than rent in the south.

Young people need strong ties in a community to start their careers and households, and Northern Ontario has many established, strong communities to provide this support. Young families require trusted daycare for precious treasures; in Northern Ontario you have the opportunity to know their providers by name. Each community has a strength or character of it's own. Art communities are strong with festivals in South River, Manitoulin Island and Elliot Lake. Centers like Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie are nurturing out Olympians. Many communities boast hockey clubs, figure skating clubs and swimming clubs that draw parents together for the sake of their children. Hunters and Anglers spend many long days and nights bonding on many adventures. Beyond the structured activities though, there is a sense of belonging simply for being a part of Northern Ontario. It's the knowing glances when someone in a grocery line talks about the unseasonable snowfall or run off. It's the pride you feel when you meet someone on the side of the road who needs help and you are able to give it because you have chains, blankets and booster cables in the back seat. There is a character development reminiscent of the Pioneers that gives you the sign; "I'm from Northern Ontario."

Growth is often the draw of a large metropolitan area; quality growth can be found in the diversity of Northern Ontario Communities. There exist many possibilities for young people to innovate in technology, service and natural resources in Northern Ontario. If one wants to learn from industry leaders like Domtar, Algoma Steel or Sun Dog Outfitters, there is opportunity. If someone wanted to start a new technology area, the cost of real estate would be a bonus. With information and communication technology the way it is now, offices can have a work force spread over miles completing the same tasks they might do in an office building using computers. What would be a better office space than your own home in Northern Ontario? Economic growth is only part of the equation though, as personal growth and the development of meaningful relationships is high on the minds of many young people. Northern Ontario may not have the concentrated numbers of people of the same age, but it provides opportunity to have strong bonds with people from across age barriers. Intergenerational interaction improves community ties, maximizes potential for gaining wisdom and provides esteem to all involved.

I grew up in Northern Ontario and went south for my post secondary education. As soon as that phase of my life was completed, I looked for opportunities in Northern Ontario again. In high school, the draw for the south was entertainment, peers and education. After the experience, I wanted to return to a pace of life that would allow me to go for long walks with my family, to know the grocer by name and to work with a friendly workforce. Growth, community and nature await any youth who dares to join the Northern Ontario workforce. The question becomes, why wouldn't any youth choose to live and work in Northern Ontario?

At age 26, an amazing opportunity presented itself to me. In Southern Ontario, I met a fellow Northerner from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and we moved in together. We shared a common respect and longing to live life the way we were raised in the North. On a fateful visit to Sault Ste. Marie two years ago, we decided to stop in at some local businesses and get a feel for the employment situation in the city. We were greeted with a pleasant surprise, and found that the city is facing a shortage of skilled workers in many areas.