I was born and raised in London, Ontario, Canada. My family is here, my friends are here, my life is here.
When I was little I wanted to be the weather girl on Channel 10. My best friend and I would steal money from our parents, buy lots of candy from the corner variety store and hide under the CFPL tower. We’d eat our sugar and pretend to be on the news.
When I grew up that dream faded as I realized that other parts of London actually did exist. When I was 13, I went downtown (without parental supervision) for my first date with a boy. When I turned 16, I performed the next right of passage for all Londoners at the time – I went to the Ridout with fake id. Obviously, downtown was the place to be.
When I was 19, I got my first official job at Bell Canada in the core of the city and I thought my life was set. I had finally made it! I only lasted at Bell for about four months before I called it quits. Pretty funny thinking about it now.
I’ve been to the Western Fair and just about every festival there is in London. I’ve skated in every arena and run through every park in the city. I’ve been to the Pioneer Village, Eldon House, the Old Court House, the new Court House, the Children’s Museum, Museum London…you name it.
I can tell you that Dundas St. used to curve like an ‘S‘ after Adelaide, the JLC used to be the Ice House in the South end, The Mews was an entire mall underground and The Great West Steak House used to be a killer restaurant!
When I go out in London, I see someone I know 90% of the time and yet, I’m always meeting great new people.
I love it here, but when it comes to my career I often question my decision to stay in London.
So, I ask you…what if you were forced to choose? If you had to start your career all over again, would you stay in the city you call home or would you move to another city where it might be easier to advance?