Hometown Canada

[k34 0]

Born: Calgary, Alberta

Raised: Shallow Lake, ON, a tiny village in the farmlands outside Owen Sound, ON.

Interesting facts about Shallow Lake: Our General Store has been there since forever, I swear. Seriously, I think it may be THE original General Store in this area. The village used to be all one farm, but the land was portioned off. I live in one of the first houses built here--it's suspected it may have been built as part of the farm. We used to be a HUGE brick manufacturing area because of the wetlands that drain the lake every summer.

And our most interesting fact: We used to have several mink ranches (I think they're all closed now). The ranches in the village are responsible for the development of several colours of mink including the "sable" coloured mink. (Which is not Sable, just kind of looks like it, I guess?)

And the world suddenly seems even smaller! My family lived in Shallow Lake for the first couple of years of my life!

You know that big square building (next to the park) that confronts you at the turn as you're driving from Owen Sound? That was me! My parents had a general store there, although not the one you're talking about, I assume, since I think it went out of business shortly after they sold it.

[thetreble 19]

I'm from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia's masterpiece

Great place.

[sly_wolf 199]

Just noticed this thread

I lived in Montreal since I was 2 yrs old ... a long time. Was born in Linz, Austria and do have lots of family there. My wife loves Montreal too. However, if we were to move back to Canada I doubt that we would come to Montreal. Taxes and politics are a huge turn off.

Would love to go back to Austria one day. Living in Europe has a nice appeal

Sly

[TayL 0]

Born: Calgary, Alberta

Raised: Shallow Lake, ON, a tiny village in the farmlands outside Owen Sound, ON.

Interesting facts about Shallow Lake: Our General Store has been there since forever, I swear. Seriously, I think it may be THE original General Store in this area. The village used to be all one farm, but the land was portioned off. I live in one of the first houses built here--it's suspected it may have been built as part of the farm. We used to be a HUGE brick manufacturing area because of the wetlands that drain the lake every summer.

And our most interesting fact: We used to have several mink ranches (I think they're all closed now). The ranches in the village are responsible for the development of several colours of mink including the "sable" coloured mink. (Which is not Sable, just kind of looks like it, I guess?)

And the world suddenly seems even smaller! My family lived in Shallow Lake for the first couple of years of my life!

You know that big square building (next to the park) that confronts you at the turn as you're driving from Owen Sound? That was me! My parents had a general store there, although not the one you're talking about, I assume, since I think it went out of business shortly after they sold it.

If that's the one I'm thinking of, it was a Harley shop by the time we moved here. Right next to the gas station? The General Store I'm talking about is the one up on the intersection between the highway and the road that goes down to the lake and the old ball diamond. Allan's. It was known as a "convenience" store for years, but they took down the board that covered the word general (and said convenience) about a year or two ago and restored the interior to look like an old general store and everything.

[JMacQueen 0]

Born: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Raised: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia's TRUE masterpiece)

Interesting facts about Lr. Sackville: Uh, this is gonna be hard. James Sheppard of the Minnesota Wild is from there. So is nutjob stand-up comedian Nikki Payne. The guy who invented the process of making paper from wood pulp is from Middle Sackville.

Oh, the first season of "Trailer Park Boys" was filmed in Lr. Sackville.

I tell people I'm from Halifax. It's much easier.

Also lived in Ottawa, ON (which I absolutely hated), Toronto, ON (for a summer, people work too much in Toronto) and Calgary, AB (which I absolutely loved.)

[BH45 0]

born in St thomas, Ontario

raised in Rodney, ON, population 1,100

not even a traffic light in the town, haha!

interesting fact - they claim they have the tiniest jail in north america!

The tiniest jail in North America is in Rodney, Ontario, near the southwestern Ontario city of London. Built in 1890 and now a tourist attraction, the 24.3 square metre jail had two cells.

At one time, Cochrane only had 2 jail cells too. They build a new OPP office and included more jail cells.

Okay I'll talk about each town/city I have lived in...

Toronto.. I don't think an explanation is really needed, I grew up in a not so nice area called Regent Park and my mom went to UofT and worked her butt off to get us out of there.

North Bay.. my mom transferred to Nipissing university in North Bay. North Bay had the highest teenage pregancy rate per capita in Canada for many years, I think it has been beaten by Orillia though... or maybe some other place by now. My highschool had a daycare, in highschool you knew someone who had kid(s) or was about to have kids.

Barrie... I went to college here. Thats all.

Midland... its the home of the first European community in Ontario... the Jesuits came and created a home base, then the Iroquois pwned them. But now its a historical village called Sainte Marie Among the Hurons and I worked there for a few summers. It was grand. Midland is a tourist trap in the summers but its also a very picturesque and beautiful town and I really did love it there. It was fun.

Wow talking about these places is weird.

Sooooo true. Out of all my friends only 2 don't have kids yet. Most of their kids have disabilities, and a lot of them drank through their pregnancy. West Ferris still has a daycare. They have nothing better to do there I guess. *sigh* sooooo glad to be out of there lol.

I have a great neice going to West Ferris......

[BH45 0]

Born in Montreal- lived in Ville D'anjou, Point aux Trembles and a town about an hour east of Montreal called Rawdon.

Moved to Sherwood Park, Alberta when I was 9.

I moved back to Montreal for a little while when I was 21 but I got homesick and went back to Alberta.

My oldest brother lives in Sherwood Park. One house was on Ivy Crescent.

[k34 0]

If that's the one I'm thinking of, it was a Harley shop by the time we moved here. Right next to the gas station? The General Store I'm talking about is the one up on the intersection between the highway and the road that goes down to the lake and the old ball diamond. Allan's. It was known as a "convenience" store for years, but they took down the board that covered the word general (and said convenience) about a year or two ago and restored the interior to look like an old general store and everything.

Yes, I think you're right about the Harley shop. And yep... after thinking about it for a bit, I remember Allan's. It used to be run by a couple of old men who were still there when I was last there but that was probably 15 years ago, and since they were pretty old at that time...

It was a pretty cute old place though... happy to hear that they have restored it!

[iteachkids81 1]

YAY for small town Albertans!

I was born and raised in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta.

Went to Red Deer College and then to Edmonton to U of A

Interesting fact about the Crowsnest Pass, we had the busiest 7-11 in Alberta being that it was pretty much the last stop for gas, slurpees and food for about an hour (if you were following hiway 3 to BC)

Also we have the Frank Slide.

[hheaven67 2]

Grew up in Choiceland...small town of about 350 people (at that time, is now booming due to the potential diamond mines in the area) about a 2 1/2 hr drive NE of Saskatoon...moved to Saskatoon in 1985 and moved to California 2008...

For the wrestling fans, the Undertaker is also from there as well as Gene Simmons' wife...legend hockey player Bobby Clarke was a friends' cousin...

Edited March 6, 2009 by hheaven67

[Sprailenes 47]

I would totally want to live in a place called Choiceland... would make me feel like I have variety or something.

[defunct 0]

Grew up in Choiceland...small town of about 350 people (at that time, is now booming due to the potential diamond mines in the area) about a 2 1/2 hr drive NE of Saskatoon...moved to Saskatoon in 1985 and moved to California 2008...

For the wrestling fans, the Undertaker is also from there as well as Gene Simmons' wife...legend hockey player Bobby Clarke was a friends' cousin...

Gene Simmons would not approve of you calling her his wife.

and...

[thetreble 19]

James Sheppard of the Minnesota Wild is from there.

My brother and James Sheppard were line mates for 2.5 years

[JMacQueen 0]

James Sheppard of the Minnesota Wild is from there.

My brother and James Sheppard were line mates for 2.5 years

I think my Dad taught Sheppard in junior high. I had a cousin on the Screaming Eagles, too...also played for the Mooseheads and Victoriaville.

[xtinab 0]

http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/article/596779

A Great Article on Toronto