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When I left Northern Ontario at age 17, I wanted the big city. I wanted a high-profile job in Toronto, I wanted to drive on the 401 everyday, and I wanted my life to be fast-paced and exciting. I thought growing up in the country half an hour north of Thunder Bay, Ontario was boring. I thought Thunder Bay was a hick town where everyone was behind the times and where my best chance of getting a well-paying job was to be promoted to supervisor at Laura Secord in Intercity mall.

So I left. I packed up my things and went off to school in Southern Ontario and never looked back. I finished school, got a job, and began my young adult life. As the years passed, small realizations came to me at very odd times. One day, while hiking the Bruce Trail in Hamilton, I saw a small waterfall passing over the rocks of the Niagara escarpment. At the same time, I smelt a most disgusting smell coming from the water. This pretty scene was ruined by the smell of sewer on a hot summer day.

I developed a craving for those sunny summer days where the blue sky is so pure and the sun is warm on your skin. I realized that in Southern Ontario the sun is usually hidden on beautiful summer days by a grey, cloudy layer of smog. When it is hot in Northern Ontario, you simply jump into the nearest lake for a swim to cool down. On one stifling day in Southern Ontario, I remember driving for half an hour to find a body of water that I would consider jumping into, and then waiting in line in my car for over an hour to finally get to a small, man-made lake that was so crowded I could barely dive in to go for a swim. I tried on another warm, summer day to go for a canoe ride down the Grand River. I was not prepared to see the dead fish floating in the river as I paddled along.

I realized sitting in your car in traffic for hours is not as much fun as it seemed to be when the exhilaration of the "big city" was still fresh for me. Over the years, I came to resent this wasted time that I spent each day sitting and staring at the people in the cars around me, dreaming about all the other things I could be doing.

I slowly started to realize all the things I had taken for granted as a teenager. The freedom to jump in the water, the bush parties where you slept out all night under the stars, and going to camps where you could have a sauna in the winter and jump out into the piles of snow; these are all things my new Southern Ontario friends had never experienced. After explaining to them that a "camp" was the same thing as what they called a "cottage", they were amazed that one didn't have to sit in traffic on Highway 400 for 4 hours to get there on a Friday night!

At age 26, an amazing opportunity presented itself to me. In Southern Ontario, I met a fellow Northerner from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and we moved in together. We shared a common respect and longing to live life the way we were raised in the North. On a fateful visit to Sault Ste. Marie two years ago, we decided to stop in at some local businesses and get a feel for the employment situation in the city. We were greeted with a pleasant surprise, and found that the city is facing a shortage of skilled workers in many areas.

My boyfriend asked if I would ever consider moving to Sault Ste. Marie. I replied "in a second", and it was decided right then and there. We put our small, two-bedroom bungalow on a busy street in Hamilton up for sale. The highly-inflated housing prices in Hamilton resulted in our being able to purchase a waterfront home on one acre of land in Goulais River, Ontario for a much lower price than what we sold the house in Hamilton for.
I began my job search as soon as we moved in, and was employed a week later. Within 2 months, I found an even better job making more money than I was making in Southern Ontario. My boyfriend had his job secured even before we moved in.

I now spend my free time (of which there is significantly more) hiking, swimming, snowshoeing, skiing, snowmobiling, and fishing. I can do all these activities from my front door without ever setting foot in my car. If I choose to drive, it takes fifteen minutes to get to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

I am most confident of the decision I made to return to Northern Ontario when I am driving home down the mile hill on Highway 17 and I see the setting sun reflecting shadows over the Robertson Lake cliffs and the Goulais River valley. When I see this sight, I feel so lucky to be able to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

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Silent breeze echoing around my feet as squint and snowshoe across the field with our 11 month old daughter on my back and three year old by my side. "Look, mommy, Swiper tracks!" she announces with exuberance. My daughter has identified a path which could be, as she suspects, the trail of a fox who took the same stroll earlier that day. For some, those memories are only found in vacation time; for us they are to be had each day, as sure and as welcoming as the beauty of Northern Ontario. Whether it is an appreciation for nature, the pride of a strong community or the opportunity for growth; young people should consider Northern Ontario an excellent home for their dreams.

Learning from the bush has been standard for my husband. He grew up on a farm in Northern Ontario and can walk the back acreage as easily as a stroll from the kitchen table to the bedroom. He can look up at night and find his way to north; all of this he learned as a child. For young people starting families, the lure for excellent education opportunity is strong. I recall once, having a friend in Toronto comment that my husband seemed very wise, when referring to his skill and knowledge set. No school but Northern Ontario herself could claim tutelage over his ability. Recreational opportunities in the North revolve around snow, water and wildlife. Spending a day, or a week for that matter, out in an ice shack is familiar to many adventures in Northern Ontario. For others, it may be enjoying canoeing, kayaking or boating over many of the lakes littered across the land. The possibility of building a waterfront home or camp is very inviting and possible in the North. Real Estate in Northern Ontario should be a draw for anyone paying high housing fees; a young person could purchase a home close to work, often for less than rent in the south.

Young people need strong ties in a community to start their careers and households, and Northern Ontario has many established, strong communities to provide this support. Young families require trusted daycare for precious treasures; in Northern Ontario you have the opportunity to know their providers by name. Each community has a strength or character of it's own. Art communities are strong with festivals in South River, Manitoulin Island and Elliot Lake. Centers like Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie are nurturing out Olympians. Many communities boast hockey clubs, figure skating clubs and swimming clubs that draw parents together for the sake of their children. Hunters and Anglers spend many long days and nights bonding on many adventures. Beyond the structured activities though, there is a sense of belonging simply for being a part of Northern Ontario. It's the knowing glances when someone in a grocery line talks about the unseasonable snowfall or run off. It's the pride you feel when you meet someone on the side of the road who needs help and you are able to give it because you have chains, blankets and booster cables in the back seat. There is a character development reminiscent of the Pioneers that gives you the sign; "I'm from Northern Ontario."

Growth is often the draw of a large metropolitan area; quality growth can be found in the diversity of Northern Ontario Communities. There exist many possibilities for young people to innovate in technology, service and natural resources in Northern Ontario. If one wants to learn from industry leaders like Domtar, Algoma Steel or Sun Dog Outfitters, there is opportunity. If someone wanted to start a new technology area, the cost of real estate would be a bonus. With information and communication technology the way it is now, offices can have a work force spread over miles completing the same tasks they might do in an office building using computers. What would be a better office space than your own home in Northern Ontario? Economic growth is only part of the equation though, as personal growth and the development of meaningful relationships is high on the minds of many young people. Northern Ontario may not have the concentrated numbers of people of the same age, but it provides opportunity to have strong bonds with people from across age barriers. Intergenerational interaction improves community ties, maximizes potential for gaining wisdom and provides esteem to all involved.

I grew up in Northern Ontario and went south for my post secondary education. As soon as that phase of my life was completed, I looked for opportunities in Northern Ontario again. In high school, the draw for the south was entertainment, peers and education. After the experience, I wanted to return to a pace of life that would allow me to go for long walks with my family, to know the grocer by name and to work with a friendly workforce. Growth, community and nature await any youth who dares to join the Northern Ontario workforce. The question becomes, why wouldn't any youth choose to live and work in Northern Ontario?

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Shores of clear blue waters, scores of diverse creatures and zones of unique flora and fauna characterize Northern Ontario, my birthplace and future home.

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.

The Group of Seven communicated their love of this region with their images of windblown pines, craggy out croppings, and four seasons of great colour. I can only imagine how the Voyageurs must have reacted as they turned each corner and broached each hill. Their partners in commerce, the Native Canadians, must have taken great joy in educating their visitors about this majestic land.

The rugged beauty that is available in all corners of this massive area is a major reason why so many northerners, such as myself, wish to return. Let me explain and elaborate on the virtues of living and working in Northern Ontario.

Many of the vistas that greeted these early adventurers are still available for residents and tourists in this, the twenty first century. The changing seasons alter the landscape's colours, textures and sounds. The inhabitants greet each new transformation as an opportunity. In the far north, for instance, temporary ice highways traverse formerly impassable stretches of water and muskeg to reach pockets of valuable resources. These seasonal modifications allow for cyclical leisure pursuits. Jagged rocks that are climbed in summer change to walls of ice that force the use of different techniques and climbing equipment in winter. Snowy, ice bound lakes that are skated, skied, snowshoed, drilled, and fished, melt into beautiful shades of blue and green and welcome paddlers, swimmers, and boaters.

Northerners are known for their hospitality. The people who inhabit this land are among the friendliest anywhere. Perhaps it is the huge space we share, the distances between communities or the pace we enjoy that makes our citizenry so welcoming and helpful. Maybe we just love to share our beautiful area to enjoy the positive feedback we receive from our guests.

Numerous Northern residents have been successful on the world stage. Theater, science, space exploration, amateur and professional athletics and literature have all benefited from our compatriots. Although many have left to make their mark, many return when practical to do so.

Upon leaving in 1999 to attend university, I set as a goal an eventual return to live, work, raise a family and enjoy the land of my youth. Returning, of course, required a number of variables to come together. First, I needed an education that would qualify me for a job in Northern Ontario. Jobs are crucial. I have more than a few friends who long to return to their Northern Ontario roots, but are unable to find work commensurate with their educational qualifications. Students who wish to return should choose their vocation with that in mind. The next hurdle was to convince my future husband to consider such a move. As a Montrealer, his ties to that area were strong. Having lived in Montreal for four years, I too, could appreciate the appeal of the big city mingling with the rural appeal of his parent's country roots, just twenty minutes from Centreville. On his first visit to Northern Ontario, however, we cleared that hurdle.

I feel there are attainable keys to attracting a move North for many former and first time residents. Firstly, this huge area that stretches from Quebec to Manitoba and from Lake Huron to Hudson Bay must maintain its pristine, natural beauty. All plants and animals need to be protected. Reintroducing elk herds is a step in the right direction, while eradicating the damage allegedly caused by a burgeoning cormorant population needs to be dealt with intelligently, yet swiftly. Our rivers, lakes and streams need to be protected from pollution and invasive species. In some instances their pure state needs to be reclaimed. If we can maintain the predominant worldview that this area is fresh, clean and teeming with wildlife, it will always be a destination of choice.

Northern Ontario offers a comfortable life style at a reasonable price. Not many areas of the country can compete in this regard. Today's retirees, baby boomers and seniors who once had to leave should be encouraged to return. Organized community reunions and celebrations are an effective strategy for welcoming former residents and nonresidents to the North for a fresh look. From real estate to outdoor sports our prices will astound them. The cost of living will allow many to live comfortably with expendable funds. The goods and services they will require will stimulate growth in local economies and provide job opportunities for the younger generation. Builders, health care workers and people with varied educational qualifications and skills will move their young families here to enjoy a life style that they'll embrace.

Educational opportunities have been enhanced by Contact North and recently by the Northern Medical School. Advanced education, once not available in the far north, is now attainable for northern cultures. Technological advances continue to make rural areas more competitive in the pursuit of young workers. These advances will continue, and our job is to let others know they exist.

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.

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When the letters of acceptance arrived in June of 1997, it wasn't a typical greeting card commercial at my house. It could have been a marketing director's dream, as I rushed to my parents with thick manila envelopes, shouting, smiling and boasting about scholarships--slyly choosing as my first and second choices, the major universities in the largest cities of Ontario. I still received proud hugs from my parents and words of congratulations, but my visions of hurrying off to class, living on macaroni and cheese, and complaining about my roommates were dashed faster than you could say, "I want to go home!" With equally matched enthusiasm, my parents firmly declared I would be attending university in my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, whether my pretentious ambitions liked it or not.

To many young people, the idea of leaving home in order to become successful isn't a choice, but a necessity. I resented the idea of staying in Northern Ontario, though I don't believe it was entirely my fault that I developed such an arrogant attitude. My high school teachers did their best to prepare us for the intense academic curriculum of higher level courses, but most of their advice was prefaced by, "When you are AWAY at university..." I couldn't turn to my friends for solace either, for although they tried to reassure me, their next breaths would be full of excitement for the possibilities of new surroundings. I felt like a prisoner being punished, though I hadn't done anything to justify the sentence. Like them, I wanted to be considered adventurous and going somewhere with my life. My parents tried to reason with me that I would still be receiving a quality education, but I wanted to be exposed to a thriving arts and entertainment industry as well. While my friends were going to concerts put on by major recording artists, or book signings by best-selling authors, I was busy wondering why our bus system took 2 hours to get across town.

I will admit that my first semester of studies weren't met with an open mind in the beginning. It wasn't until I was introduced to students who came from out of town, that I saw Sault Ste Marie and Algoma University through new eyes. Suddenly places and events I had attended many times before became exciting again, because I was able to witness it from a fresh perspective. Instead of the collective sighs I previously received from my peers as we tried to figure out something, anything, to do (before finally concluding there was nothing), suddenly I was surrounded by a whole different set of people who came here specifically to enjoy these activities. As my high school friends returned home during their study breaks, their stories stopped clouding my versions of events. I soon realized that, like them, I was receiving a full university education without the burden of financial debt, and like them, it came complete with enriching experiences which were just as important as theirs were in the Big City.

However, it wasn't until I graduated and moved to England for a year, that I realized just how isolating Northern Ontario can be. I had never experienced discrimination until I lived abroad, because I never considered myself "different". To suddenly be surrounded by people who had distinctive accents, mannerisms and use of language was a challenging experience, but it was specifically the reason why I chose to live there. It was hard to keep the bitterness out of my voice as I described where I came from, but it became almost a paradox. The very reasons why I wanted to leave were the same reasons I wanted to go back. I enjoyed the feeling of anonymity but I missed seeing familiar faces in unexpected places.

Yet there exists a form of quiet prejudice here. While we are blessed to live in a nation that has laws against judging one by their race, religion, marital status or sex, there is an underlying force of nepotism. There are so few career related jobs that word of mouth travels fast for a summer internship, and students are not hired based on their credentials but rather because a family member is employed by that specific company. While this can lessen the financial burden of these parents, it doesn't seem fair in such a small community for those students who are genuinely interested in gaining experience for their chosen field. These internships often lead into full time jobs, but the lack of competition by advertising leaves those with relative degrees having to sometimes seek two undesirable minimum wage part time jobs just to pay the bills, as opportunities to network are generally only advertised by professionals to other professionals. This creates a sense of unfulfilled self actualization, furthered by the stigma that if you are employed by these places, then you must not have excelled in school. Nobody wants to spend 4 years at university only to be faced with the prospect of a job you could have had as a student in high school.

While people are returning to the North to raise their families, it is only because they have sought experience elsewhere that is needed to earn the necessary income to survive independently here. Housing is cheap, the scenery is beautiful and the values of family and friendship keep this community closely knit. But unfortunately, it is only through experience that one learns the importance of these principles and perhaps even more tragically, my generation has already settled down elsewhere. It is up to the educators and professionals of Northern Ontario to promote its positive aspects, because peer pressure is a powerful motivator. Listen to me.

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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.

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Young people, on the verge of adulthood, have many decisions to make. They must decide whether to enroll in College or University, enter the work world or learn a trade. They must also choose where they will study, live and eventually work. Northern Ontario is an attractive option for all youth.

I am a 20 year old youth who was born and raised in Timmins, Ontario. I am presently enrolled at Cambrian College, Sudbury, Ontario in the Chemical Engineering Technology program. I chose to study in Sudbury so that I can remain close to home and to my Northern Ontario roots. When I graduate from college, I would like to work as a Water Treatment Plant operator. I care about the environment that I live in. Northern Ontario has always had a lot to offer and it is definitely a privilege to be able to enjoy it. I want to continue enjoying and contributing to a clean and healthy environment for many years to come. My career choice will help me accomplish this.

Growing up in a Northern Ontario town has been quite a positive experience. As a child, I was able to enroll in neighborhood schools. This allowed me to walk to and from school with my friends. Participating in extra curricular activities was never a problem. I didn't have to worry about the possibility of missing the school bus. There was always a parent who was available to drive us home if it was too late to walk. The greatest advantage to living in Timmins is the abundance of choices a youth has to pass the time. This wonderful city has many things to offer youth. We have access to half a dozen indoor arenas that are always open and available for us to practice or play hockey. We are extremely proud of our cross-country skiing trails and our downhill ski resort. Sports in this fine city are abundant. A person can participate in lacrosse, soccer, golf, hockey or ringette. Summers are just as pleasant, boasting many beautiful lakes and parks in close proximity to our homes and work.

When my sister and I were young, my parents, who were also born and raised in Timmins, decided that they wanted us to visit all of Canada during our summer vacations. We took our tent trailer and traveled to the East Coast and then to the West. I have seen the Rockies, swam in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and visited the Prairies. We saw and experienced many wonderful attractions in this fine country of ours, but my heart belongs in Northern Ontario.

Once I graduate from college and find employment, I would like to purchase a cottage near one of the hundreds of lakes in the area. For me, living in Northern Ontario means being able to finish a week of work and drive a very short distance to get to my cottage where I could then barbecue my supper and go for a boat ride before settling in for the night. The sound of loons would lull me to sleep. Being able to spend a weekend camping, hunting or fishing without traveling long distances is a huge advantage to living in the north. Where else can a person find such an abundance of lakes and parks at their doorstep?

Northern Ontario is also a goldmine of various employment opportunities. A youth can choose to work in a trade such as millwright, mechanic, electrician or plumber. Finding a job in one of these trades is made easier thanks to the giant lumber and mining industry in the north. If a young person decides to become a teacher, the employment opportunities in Timmins itself are very promising. The city has many elementary schools, five high schools, two colleges and a university. There is definitely a demand for professionals such as pharmacists, dentists and doctors. Timmins District Hospital itself offers a wide berth of opportunities in the health field. I believe that no matter what a person decides as their career choice, working in the north is quite possible and feasible.

Young people who enjoy arts and entertainment will find a wide selection of venues in Timmins. Our two theatre troupes offer plenty of opportunities for young people. They are always looking for volunteer actors, stagehands and prop artists. For the musically inclined, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra and Youth Singers are a force to beckon with. There is definitely an abundance of musical talent in our youth. The success of the recent Timmins Music Festival will prove this.

When all is said and done, living and working in Northern Ontario can be a dream come true. I would encourage all youth to choose Northern Ontario as a place to live and work. The possibilities for a good life are limitless and definitely worth a try.

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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.

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.

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Coming Home: Living and Working in Northern Ontario
James recalls his first trip to Northern Ontario clearly. He'd met the love of his life at university and was driving her home at the end of the semester. She came from a little town somewhere at the top of the Ontario road map. What he found was a vast and beautiful country. Seven years, a wedding, and a couple of jobs later, James is hooked on Northern Ontario. Although he was initially attracted by the landscape (and the girl), he's found there are a lot of great reasons to live and work in Northern Ontario.

Creating Community
Angela and Mike agree that the reason they moved back to Northern Ontario was to be closer to their families. They have no regrets about that decision. But they do notice that their Northern Ontario city is a little different than other centers they've lived in. "People will talk to you here. That doesn't happen in a Southern Ontario city." Small town atmosphere coupled with the conveniences of an urban centre suit them just fine.

Rebecca concurs with their experience, but from a different perspective. She settled in the Southern Ontario city where she took her post-secondary education. Five years after graduation she laments, "I still don't feel like I really know people. I don't feel connected."

James, on the other hand, feels completely at home in his new northern community. "It would be really hard to leave the friends I've made here." That sense of attachment is something many young people are looking for.

Home Sweet Home
Sam and Tracey didn't choose to stay in Northern Ontario for scenery or community. But they do hope to achieve their financial goals a lot earlier in life because of Northern Ontario's terrific cost of housing. In their early 20's and earning a modest income, they have purchased a perfect starter home and are able to invest in some lifelong dreams.

A recent International Housing Affordability Survey listed Toronto as a Seriously Unaffordable place to own a home. It takes 4.4 times the median household income for a Torontonian to purchase a median-priced house. The overall for Canada is still high at 3.6 times (National Post, Thursday, February 23, 2006). In Northern Ontario young people like Sam and Tracey can purchase a home for about one year's income.

Hop, Skip, Jump
Living in close proximity to nature provides an attractive package for young people in the north. Angela and Mike love being able to hit the trails in their hiking boots or skis within minutes, despite living in an apartment complex. Northern cities marry the best of both worlds: the great outdoors on one hand and shopping, cultural events, and medical facilities on the other. All this without the rat race that normally accompanies urban life.

Although northern youth complain of "nothing to do", many have compensated by creating their own opportunities. For instance, Angela and Mike have helped develop a local sports league. And while there's plenty of room for growth in the number of available activities, many youth take advantage of the area's natural recreation such as hiking, boating, snowmobiling, and hunting.

Land of Opportunity
Some young people, like Rebecca, would like to work in the north, but the right job at the right time hasn't been available. Employment has undoubtedly been a major roadblock for northerner-wanna-bes. But there is hope that this won't be the case for increasing numbers of youth.

Over 22,000 full-time jobs have been created in Northern Ontario over an eight-year period(NorthONJobs.com's Employers Want You, 2006, p.34). Recently, the Ontario government announced a $35 million investment that should bring innovative technology and high value jobs to the north as part of the province's Northern Prosperity Plan (Ontario Secures New Jobs for the North, Feb.10, 2006, www.ontariocanada.com, news releases).

When the right job does open up, youth have a better chance of getting that job in the north. Many job seekers with years of experience are unwilling to relocate to Northern Ontario. This opens the door for youth, giving them a better crack at landing an enviable position. Once hired, youth have more opportunities to advance since there is less competition. Northern employers also recognize the value of retaining promising young employees and are likely to train and reward their workers.

Matthew, on the other hand, would rather work for himself than someone else. He plans to move back to Northern Ontario to work as a freelance artist after college. The space and beauty of the north give him the creative inspiration he craves and he feels he can live affordably in the north while maintaining a wide market for his work through travel and the internet. He's also hopeful that one of the many government initiatives to promote northern youth entrepreneurship will benefit him.

I too have found Northern Ontario to be an ideal place to venture into business. A year ago I began a small publishing company and it's been a rolling stone (or rather, snowball) ever since. However, starting a business costs a lot at the outset and doesn't always net big bucks. With the reasonable cost of housing in Northern Ontario my family has been able to own our home and maintain our standard of living comfortably.

Of course, running a small business in the north has presented some unique challenges: dependence on shipping of supplies, lack of technical support, a widespread population. But, there are unique opportunities as well: untapped niche markets, room for expansion, and the burgeoning world of cyber-marketing.

So why am I living and working in Northern Ontario? For all of the reasons others have discovered: a great community, the opportunity to own my house, proximity to the wide outdoors, and the chance to pursue my career. And it didn't hurt that my husband-to-be of seven years ago fell in love with the place that I've always called home.

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Line up our young men and women; capable, and with potential for growth. Like proud Northern Jackpine, row upon row, they are the harvest of these cold barren lands.

What shall we do with our resources? Youth out-migration has been a hot-topic since before the expression itself was coined. Match the phrase to a search engine and you will find thousands of entries for Northern Ontario alone. I despair that while I may enjoy a lifestyle that allows for a sense of community and natural surroundings that living in Northern Ontario will limit me to a lifestyle that keeps me trapped in a state of financial instability.

I'm at the high-end of what is considered youth. Wide-eyed at fourteen, I'd stood in the high school gym and explored the options presented to me as a student aiming for university. I attended the journalism programme at Ryerson Polytechnic University. Big dreams...CBC, Toronto Star... Kevin Newman of Global News was one of my teachers. Oddly enough, he chose that year to leave Canada to work for CNN. It was a tough choice for him, to leave home in hopes of realizing his career-aspirations.

My family moved to this area in 1984. I've had the chance to live from British Columbia to Newfoundland. This is the place I call home. And like Kevin Newman, one surmises, I too made a life-choice and came home.

A good job is hard to find, and life happens. I found myself soon enough as a mother. I earned an honest living working in a truck stop or two. If life was fair for a young, educated Northern parent, there were days when I thought, "I had dreams of a career". It's what a young fourteen-year-old was promised for going to university. I wondered how I would fare heading back down south, seeking out a job in a field I once knew. But my parents are here; it's a good place to raise children. They can inhale this sweet air, and see the stars....

I have every respect for the modern-day serving wenches and scullery maids who toil to maintain the tertiary tourism industry that brings so much to our Northern economy. But for those of us who are speaking on behalf of two generations, I sometimes question my choices.

I have come to know that you can try your best to succeed wherever you live, but when opportunities are few, youth out-migration is indeed the subject at hand. This is why so many of our cousins, neighbours and schoolmates are roofing in Ottawa, drilling in Alberta, nursing in the States, or teaching English in Asia.

You can read about it on 'the net': "According to Suthey Holler Associates update on Youth Out-Migration, the rate of out migration is high and increasing... in the last 5-year census period South Temiskaming lost 506 youth 20-29. It is predicted that the 2001-2005 the out-migration will climb to 1051." That's a grim prediction.

I've known many enterprising youth of this area, dreaming-up business plans that would make sense... if only there were some existing capital! They have explored grant and loan options designed to assist in Northern development. Age-related disqualifications, enduring student loan debt and access to resources are some of the common problems.

I believe it's particularly difficult for young parents to succeed. Noteworthy things contributing to this include the necessity for transportation in small rural communities, and access to round-the-clock childcare.

It is therefore important to examine restricted access to necessary resources in seeking employment or educational facilities. The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an "agency" of the Ministry of Culture. They are "a catalyst that enables Ontarians to work together to enhance the quality of life" in cooperation with "knowledgeable volunteers who understand the needs of local communities in their region..."

To address this limited access to resources in my area, the Ontario Trillium Foundation deemed in 2005 that the City of Temiskaming Shores was "eligible for $6,700 over six months to purchase more resource materials, create an interactive website and establish and deliver an outreach program to rural areas within the municipality, making library services more accessible to all members of the community."

Sadly, it's not merely the individuals that are financially deprived and taxed with the burden of divided attention, but these small Northern communities themselves.

You may read about initiatives to promote economic development from municipality to municipality. There exists the potential to generate business and create jobs. We must focus on gathering and harvesting the ideas of youth who have chosen to make the North their home, and develop unique strategies to cultivate industry. As Northerners, we must be diligent. I do hope to see the creation of jobs for my children, at least. It's not my experience alone that has inspired me to compose this.

I chose a life in Northern Ontario because I believed I could achieve a level of happiness richer in quality than one in a dirty, impersonal city. And whether 16 or 60, most would agree that happiness and love go together, and until they find it, are forever questing.

And if I told you I thanked my lucky stars for finding the man of my dreams in Northern Ontario, would your sense of humanity be intrigued?

He found himself drawn again to the area where he was raised, seeking employment befitting of his interests. We've been dating for a year, and so have yet to approach any serious conversation of a future together. It may be pending his sense of security here.

Currently he's tethered to a part-time casual position at a desirable venue that could eventually become more - which works when the bills aren't coming in.

Recently, he was interviewed locally by a prominent institution for full-time employment with room for promotion - out of area. It broke me.

"I'm not happy about having to leave the area - but if they offer me work... I need it." This is not just my story.

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Whenever I meet someone new here in Peterborough, and they ask me where I'm from, I reply that I'm from North Bay. You can see them do a double take. The most common responses are "wow.that's really far away!" or "What's it like up there?" I often reply with "are you sure you're not thinking of Thunder Bay?" and if they are, I receive a sheepish grin. Or I say, "Well, in a lot of ways, it's like living anywhere in Ontario." They nod and smile, but act like they don't really believe me. To them, Peterborough is northern Ontario while to me, it is southern Ontario. I was born and raised in North Bay and if my choice in job permits it, that's where I'll choose to work, live and raise a family. If not North Bay, then another city in northern Ontario.

Many of my friends in their last year of high school couldn't wait to leave North Bay for schools in southern Ontario. They said North Bay was too small or there was not enough to do at night. I, however, disagree with them. If I have a choice, I would never leave North Bay, now that I know what it's like to live out of northern Ontario. I'm not one for the big nightclubs and I don't really care for all the brand name fashion. What I care about is the community feeling that comes from living in northern Ontario. Yes there are things I don't like, but no community is perfect and I'd rather live in a community where I don't have to be afraid about walking out my front door. I don't need to wear the latest trends or go club hopping at the trendiest bars.

Northern Ontario promotes this sense of community because our cities are not as big and anonymous as most southern Ontario cities are becoming. Nor are we 'hick' towns either, where flat fields and tractors are a common sight. Instead, I take a drive and see a terrain that's ever changing; rocks always shifting, people leaving messages, graffiti messages, and pictures, and the trees changing from green to red, gold, orange, falling, and then coming back to life almost overnight. The area beyond and behind the rocks is another world to explore. You can't see for miles and miles. Rather, it's a place to discover, to mark as your own. You can show people you've been there by creating an Inukshuk, or experience the wonder of seeing a beaver or moose in their natural habitat.

To most people, northern Ontario seems like a foreign country; some place they need a passport and a plane to get to. I tell my Peterborough friends that I am only 3 ½ hours away from my home in North Bay. They can't believe I travel that far in one day. I love the idea that I get can from one side of North Bay to the other in under an hour. I love the idea that I can get to know most parts of the city. North Bay is not a small city, but when I go out, there is a good chance that I will always meet someone that I know. Since the north is so community based, it's hard not to meet new people all the time. I love the idea that my family has been going to the same grocery store near our house for as long as I can remember. I love the idea that some of the clerks know us by name and ask us how we're doing and actually seem to care about what we tell them. Also, my brother, who is autistic, can be accepted into these types of communities. He has opportunities to go out and do things that he couldn't do in the bigger cities of southern Ontario. He makes friends wherever he goes. People come up to my family in stores and ask if we're related to him. When we say 'yes', they start talking about how nice and polite he is. You can't buy this type of community. People here won't be lured to the bigger and 'better' cities of southern Ontario. These are the people that make the community.

Once I finish school, and perhaps do a bit of traveling, I'll come back to North Bay, not just because it's home, but because of the community feeling and the varied landscape. Flat fields are nice change of scenery, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life looking at them. I need the mystery of not knowing what's over that rock face and I need to freedom to go discover whatever is there. To me, northern Ontario means freedom. The land isn't disappearing to businesses. If I want to watch the sun set over a lake, I have my choice of beaches. There might be me, some wildlife and perhaps a family or two just having fun. That's what I want in my life. I don't want to worry about high rates of crime, people who don't know how to smile, or being kicked off my land. I want the mystery, the freedom to discover it and a place to feel safe and that's why people should choose to work in northern Ontario.

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