My Hometown
It’s been quite a journey from the jungles of Borneo to the shores of Elliot Lake, Ont., and what a fitting place to end up!
When my wife passed away in 2009, I eventually sold our family home and moved to the home of my married son in Keswick, Ont. I have always been a self-reliant person and very independent, so after a few years I moved out on my own. Living independently by the shores of Lake Simcoe in Keswick, I thought of our original plans to relocate to
Elliot Lake. The idea still held an attraction for me.
As a young man, I had served with the British army in the jungles of Malaya and Borneo, so the natural beauty of Ontario’s Boreal Forest range was a tremendous attraction for me. While serving in the rainforests of Asia as a young soldier, with my entire life ahead of me, I developed an enduring love of unspoiled nature. The constant changing of the seasons always appeared to demonstrate nature’s eternal life and gave one hope for the future.
As a young married man with two young sons, weekends would frequently find the four of us heading north from any of the homes we had in Hamilton, Toronto or Scarborough, destined for any one of the many wilderness camp grounds in Ontario, Quebec or the Maritimes. My two children loved the regular adventures, however, my late wife tolerated them with a smile because she knew the pleasure such trips gave her family. One summer, she and I were operating two sizable community group homes for adolescent youth, and we took all of the residents on a field trip through eastern Canada and parts of the northern United States, under canvas all the way. We returned to Hamilton in time for the start of school, without any major incidents.
Elliot Lake’s surrounding unspoiled natural beauty triggered
many memories I had myself as a younger man. Elliot Lake is also situated in close proximity to many First Nations Reserves and Amish and Mennonite communities, which provides another attraction for a simple and healthy lifestyle. Combined, the various cultures offer everything from healthy food alternatives to everyday grocery store items.
In March 2018, I packed up my furnishings, those I had retained from our family home in Capreol, Ont., and moved to Elliot Lake. I took up residence in a local retirement community, renting an apartment on the northern edge of the small city. The move has brought me in proximity to the many wonders of living close to nature. Due to a mobility problem these past couple of years I have not been able to explore my surroundings as much as I would like, but can still enjoy nature’s magical scenes from the comfort of a car during occasional outings.
For those of you who do not know Elliot Lake, or never had the pleasure of visiting this wondrous part of Canada, you can take it from this 82-year-old former jungle adventurer, it’s so beautiful you just might want to stay, too.
My late wife and I were constantly on the move following employment opportunities, and I guess I never really learned how to break that habit. If anywhere can make me stay put for however many years I have left, I think Elliot Lake has a good chance of succeeding. But who knows, before I am called to my final home, I might get that itch again. If I do ever get tempted, the next place would have to be incredibly special, indeed! ■