There is only one thing worse then dissing someones favorite sports team and that is dissing their hometown. I will admit I am guilty of this but I have learned over the last few years that when you dis a city or town you may also be inadvertently insulting someone and sometimes that just hurts.
I grew up 10 Minutes outside of Orillia in a small Village called Oro Station. (insert village idiot joke here) My family's roots are between Orillia and Oro Station. I remember spending most of my childhood between these two places. I remember when the East Side Mario's on the corner of Hwy 12 and Memorial use to be a Ponderosa. I remember when the Tim Horton's and the office building beside it on Colbourne use to be a drive-in A&W, complete with servers on roller skates and trays that sat on your window. I remember when everything beyond Country Produce was just a field. Speaking of Country Produce, that cemetery across the road from it ..... that's where my grandparents are buried.
I know Orillia has some downfalls, but when you think about it, doesn't every other City have downfalls as well? Everyone seems to know what Orillia's downfalls are but do they really stop to think of all the benefits of living here? Let me point a few out to you. Orillia is located by 3 bodies of water. It is the home of 3 Provincial Parks and Gordon Lightfoot .... Gordie Rocks!!! Two of my all time favorite places are located here, Theo's and Mariposa Market. Last but not least, how could you not like a place that is nicknamed "The Sunshine City" ?
I hope I have given you a little insight into my hometown of Orillia. People's roots are strong and they are very loyal to where they came from. Try to keep this in mind the next time you decide to talk negatively about a City or Town, because you never know where people are from, where their roots are or where there family is buried............
2 comments:
Kyla,
Good blog, It brought back memories of where I grew up . We had an A&W as well complete with roller skates. I try not to ever knock Orillia, I love living here and I really was happy to leave Toronto.
Thanks for sharing.
Laurie
Funny thing... I have lived here and there as far west as Windsor, north as South River and Huntsville, Toronto for a year and in the Niagara Region all over the place. We moved around a LOT when I was a kid and I always found myself jealous of those who had roots and had known folks "their whole lives". In Niagara I yearned to be just a little Italian because not only are they the majority!LOL! but they have such culture, history and tradition. My point is, that I have officially lived in Orillia longer than anywhere else. It was a fluke, I never intended on ending up in some small "red-neck" town. But I found a home. I delivered two babies in the OSMH, my kids have gone to the same school, with the same teachers, their whole lives. I know my friends well, and I like them and I really believe we are who we are because of these small town roots we've sowed.
How great it is to know that when my kids get to that stage, where they get drunk their first time or get seen out of sorts, there is a really good chance that someone I know will respect me enough to give me the heads up. In more than one emergency I have been familiar enough with the nurse(s) that I know my family is in good care.
I have enjoyed the lakes, the paths, the great downtown window shopping - and seriously with a Wal-Mart, a Sport Check and a Home Depot could I want for anything???
I love living only an hour away from the mecca Toronto is: great restaurants, The Jays, The Raptors and The Leafs and every show Broadway has to offer.
So to those who choose to only see the worst without admiring and welcoming the best...get outta our town...!
“So much of what we know of love we learn at home.”
Axo
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