Nelina Schetakis

I feel so alive as the wind rushes past my face and the cool, crisp air fills my lungs. As the sweet scent of pine reaches my nose and I see the sun peak through the branches of the snow-laden coniferous trees that stand side by side with the deciduous trees, I marvel at the beauty of my surroundings. This is a place of such purity that it seems touched by the perfection of God. Yet, so many of them want to leave. Maybe even I want to leave this place that I have called home for so long. Why do so many youth of Northern Ontario want to flee? While exploring the answer to this question further, the following will establish the pros and cons for youth to live and work in Northern Ontario. Finally solutions will be proposed to increase youth migration back to Northern Ontario.

The hollows left by receding glaciers are now lakes, rivers and waterfalls, making each venture into this vast geographic region an awe inspiring trek. The diverse landscape includes inland seas, winding rivers, northern bays of saltwater, pastoral beauty and the world's largest fresh water island.

To see why anyone would choose to live in Northern Ontario one need not look far. The natural beauty of this area surrounds its residents so closely. For instance, in Elliot Lake, almost all the residents are a walking distance away from at least one of the many lakes around the community. Furthermore, trees and forested area are nearly always within view. Being so close to nature promotes good health. It beckons people outside to enjoy the scenery and the fresh air (as opposed to the smog that plagues so many of our fellow Ontarians to the south). Also, outdoor activities such as skiing in the winter, and swimming in the summertime are extremely accessible.

The pace of life is slower and simpler here than it is in Southern Ontario. While in Southern Ontario it is commonplace to see people commuting or going from one place to the next while talking on their cell phone and checking their 'Blackberry', this is virtually non-existent in the North. Here, people have less of a need to be in a rush, because everything is minutes away. Also, because we are not so much in a state of commuting, we do not tend to rely much on portable devices on a day to day basis.

Finally, the North is an attractive place for anyone to establish their life and career, because the cost of living is generally lower. A house in the GTA of similar proportions and allure to one in a Northern Ontario community will likely cost significantly more. This is because so many people try to establish their lives and careers in that area, which in turn raises the demand and thus the cost.

Now, with so many reasons to live in the North, why do so many young people flee from this area? The number one reason is because of the lack of job opportunities awaiting them in the North when they finish their education. Youth will naturally gravitate towards areas where they can find jobs in the fields that they have studied in. Also, nowadays, having a career is less about having just a job that pays the bills, but more to have a job that one truly enjoys. Unfortunately, the North has much fewer options and opportunities that youth barely even give coming to the North to establish their careers a second thought. Additionally, the allure of higher earnings elsewhere attracts youth to Southern Ontario.

Because there are few youth who return after their studies, northern communities do not tend to develop the amenities that cater to the younger population. If the youth cannot see themselves living in such communities, then they are not going to come back. Being afraid of a lack of a social life and becoming bored among other things will deter young adults from establishing their lives here. Additionally, seemingly minor things such as the lack of 'good shopping' may also dissuade them from returning.

Clearly, Northern Ontario presents both its pros and cons to young adults. Ultimately it comes down to personal values, preference in terms of lifestyle, and outlook on life. With that said, there is still much that can be done to attract youth back to the North.

Following this initiative to have students write this essay, I propose that all this be taken one step further. Not only youth, but children as well must be engaged in this process and learn the benefits of the North. They must also have a sense of belonging and pride of where they come from and be able to conceive the idea that their dreams are possible in Northern Ontario. They should be taught the value of clean air for their future health and how lucky they are not to have to commute long hours to get to school and to their activities. They should also be exposed to the many outdoor activities that the North can offer them and learn that in other places, people don't have such luxuries. Once these values are instilled in them from young, perhaps they will be less likely to flee without any intentions of returning when they are older.

Am I going to stay in the North? That will only be answered once I experience Southern Ontario with its bittersweet mix of opportunities and smog and once I have gone around the world and spent a significant amount of time figuring out what is important to me in this life. Up until now, I hadn't even considered coming back to the North. In this process, I have come to realize the true benefits of it.

The beauty of our lakeside sunsets, the crisp, clean air, the trees and the numerous outdoor activities are what the North has to offer. Undoubtedly, the North must also create some other incentives for young adults to migrate here. Therefore, as we develop an infrastructure that caters to young adults by creating jobs and an environment in which they can see themselves in, let us instill the value of the North to the children of today.

When the first stanza of the William Campbell poem Indian Summer...

"Along the line of smoky hills The crimson forest stands, And all the day the blue jay calls Throughout the autumn lands."...

or, when Robert Frost's mention of woods filling with snow, conjures up images that remind you of home, you know it's a good place to come from, but it's an even better place to return to.