Maxine Cassan

When I was still in high school all I wanted to do was graduate, and leave home as quickly as possible. I grew up in a small city in Northwestern Ontario, called Dryden. To many young people, Northern Ontario is a place from which to escape, and never return. In reality, it is a great place in which to live. I am now attending college in Toronto, Ontario's largest city, and I can't wait to go back home. I, like many people my age, have taken the beauty, charm, and opportunities of Northern Ontario for granted.

The old adage, you don't know what you have until it's gone is so true. I finally understand what a great place Northern Ontario is to live.

Northern Ontario feels like home, even to those who don't live there. That is why so many visitors return to the area year after year. The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly, and welcoming, which gives everyone a sense of belonging. In a city like Toronto you can see a million people everyday, and still feel as though you are completely alone. The population in Northern Ontario is not as congested as it is most places, and that gives people more time to get to know the other people around them. Knowing the people you live around is what makes a town feel more like a community, and brings its citizens closer together.

Northern Ontario is a great place to start a life, and raise a family. There are a great variety of interesting career opportunities, and many wonderful schools. The choices for post secondary training are beginning to grow. Far from being remote or isolated, many communities in Northern Ontario offer a great deal of the services that are available in larger centres.The freedom to roam and the sense of security that I knew as child, brings to mind that 'small town' feeling that many adults of today look back on with longing. It is a very safe place to live , and has a relatively low crime rate. I have heard of more shootings in Toronto in the past month than I have ever heard of in all of Northern Ontario. It is a comfort to parents in Northern Ontario to know that their children are growing up in as safe an environment as is possible in today's world.

Northern Ontario is not only a safer, more relaxed place to live, it is also a lot of fun. The landscape is breathtakingly beautiful, and there is an endless list of all season activities to enjoy. In the summer and autumn there is fishing, swimming, hunting, camping, biking, rollerblading, sports, and countless other recreations. In the winter and spring there is ice fishing, hockey, skating, skiing, snow boarding, and snowmobiling, as well as many other fun activities to pass the time.

Recreation is an important part of any community. Recreation can bring people in a community closer together, and help to keep kids occupied and out of trouble. Studies have shown that adolescents involved in extra-curricular activities are less likely to get involved in drugs, alcohol, and crime, than those who are not. Recreation, and sports are also an excellent way for people to be active, and healthy. Having such a fantastic variety of things to do in every season is another good reason to consider living in Northern Ontario.

Northern Ontario is a beautiful place to live with an abundant supply of natural resources. There are vast expanses of forests filled with trees, and wild animals. The forests provide great scenery and supply one of Northern Ontario's leading industries; pulp and paper manufacturing.

Northern Ontario is most famous for its many spectacular lakes, rivers, and streams. More than half of the world's drinkable water is located in Canada, and much of that amount is found in Northern Ontario. It is therefore a great place for fishing, and other water sports.

Northern Ontario has a wide array of gorgeous scenery, and landscapes. The landscapes, and resources in Northern Ontario offer many opportunities, and career possibilities. There are many jobs in forestry, mining, health care education, conservation, firefighting, tourism, and basically any other industry in which a person would want to work. One of the greatest exports from the area is lumber. There are also a great deal of other exports including paper, gold, granite, silver, coal, and fresh water. The largest industries are forestry, and tourism, but the possibilities are not limited to only these fields.

When you live in a city, life moves much faster than anywhere else. Everything is rushed, and hectic. Even the slightest interference to a person's day becomes an enormous problem. Life becomes nothing more than just an endless list of things to get done and hurdles to jump. It can become difficult, if not impossible, to relax. Without the opportunity to relax there is no way to relieve stress, and people who live very stressful lives are more prone to illness, and depression. Stress, and anxiety can lead to a considerable number of health issues including stomach ulcers, skin problems, heart disease, headaches, hair loss, high blood pressure, digestive problems, and a lowered immune system. Living in a place, like Northern Ontario that is more laid back, gives people the opportunity to experience life rather than just live it.

Northern Ontario is an excellent place to live, and to work. It is beautiful, easygoing, and full of exciting opportunities. Northern Ontario may not be the ideal place for everyone to settle down, but I believe that it has a lot to offer to the majority of people. Northern Ontario has so many amazing possibilities to take advantage of. Personally I cannot wait to go home.