Welcome

Many people think Northern Ontario stops at North Bay, Sudbury or if you’re lucky Timmins and have no idea that there is anything more further north. We have some beautiful communities full of wonderful people and opportunities up here and we need to share it. Our local populations are shrinking, from a combination of people moving out of the area, and the aging of our local population. We have seen many of the businesses big and small, and industries in our communities close their doors due to changes in the economy. If we are to keep our communities vibrant and full of opportunities for our families and future generations then we need to let people know we are here and what we have to offer. We need to encourage individuals, families, entrepreneurs and small business owner’s that appreciate all the things that we love about our Northern lifestyle to consider our communities for their homes and businesses. We’ve started this Facebook Page and Website/Blog in the hopes that those of us who love the Northern Lifestyle will share with others to help change perceptions and attract like minded people to our communities.
We need your help to collect photo’s and information about all the things you love about the communities and businesses from Hearst to Cochrane. Please take a moment to look through the pictures we already have posted to get an idea of what we are looking for and the information you need to include with your pictures. We will be organizing this information to build the Facebook Page and Website to create a resource to help promote our communities. There will be No Selling or Advertising on this page but businesses are welcome to provide their information for community pages and to sponsor prizes and giveaways in the future.
I would ask that you follow our Facebook page, subscribe to our blog and follow us on Instagram.
Let’s all come together to create the community that WE want for the future.
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Beaucoup de gens pensent que le nord de l’Ontario s’arrête à North Bay, Sudbury ou si vous êtes chanceux Timmins et n’avez aucune idée qu’il y a quelque chose de plus loin vers le Nord. Nous avons certaines communautés magnifiques pleines de gens merveilleux et possibilités ici et nous avons besoin de la partager. Nos populations locales sont réduites en raison des gens qui déménage hors de la zone et le vieillissement de notre population locale. Nous avons vu beaucoup d’entreprises, petites ou grosses, et industries dans nos communautés fermer leurs portes en raison de changements dans l’économie. Si nous voulons garder nos collectivités dynamiques et pleines de possibilités pour nos familles et nos générations futures, nous devons faire savoir que nous sommes ici et ce que nous avons à offrir. Nous devons encourager les particuliers, les familles, les entrepreneurs et les propriétaires de petite entreprise qui apprécie tout ce que nous aimons sur notre mode de vie du Nord d’examiner nos communautés pour leurs maisons et leurs entreprises. Nous avons commencé cette Page Facebook et site Web/Blog dans l’espoir que ceux d’entre nous qui aiment le style de vie du Nord partageront avec d’autres pour aider à changer les perceptions et d’attirer des gens d’esprit à nos collectivités.
Nous avons besoin de votre aide pour collecter les photos et les informations sur toutes les choses que vous aimez sur les communautés et les entreprises de Hearst à Cochrane. Prenez le temps de regarder à travers les photos que nous avons déjà posté pour avoir une idée de ce que nous recherchons et les informations que vous devez inclure avec vos photos. Nous organiserons cette information pour créer la Page Facebook et le site Web pour créer une ressource pour aider à promouvoir nos collectivités. Il y aura Aucune Vente ou Publicité sur cette page mais les entreprises sont les bienvenus à fournir leurs informations pour les pages de la communauté et de parrainer les prix et cadeaux d’entreprise à l’avenir.
Je voudrais demander que vous suivez notre page Facebook, vous abonner à notre Blog/Website et nous suivre sur Instagram.

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Sweet Northern Home

We moved here to the beautiful community of Fauquier in North Eastern Ontario just over a year ago from busy Southwestern Ontario (SWO). It was the best decision and we could not have anticipated the warm welcome we received from the locals and just how much the beauty of this region would affect us. Our friends and family in Southwestern Ontario thought we were crazy for wanting to make such a drastic move. Even our southern friends who had grown up in the north in places like Kirkland Lake, Kapuskasing, Timmins, and Temiskaming were quick to point out  “it’s cold up there,” “it’s so expensive,” “there’s no jobs!,”and “there’s nothing to do!” I’m glad I didn’t listen to them because this has truly been the best adventure!

It’s cold up there!

Yes, the winters are cold and they start earlier than down south. On the plus side however, the houses are better insulated, and heating with wood is a fairly inexpensive option compared to down south, significantly reducing our heating costs. We get about as much snow as Huron and Bruce counties in SWO, but thanks to all the trees we don’t have to put up with all the blowing snow and drifts that make driving there in winter such a nerve wracking experience. Having a proper winter, with proper snow isn’t such a bad thing either. Being stuck in doors with the kids for weeks on end because its slushy snow and freezing rain all winter is no fun at all. Even in areas down south that do get significant snowfall, the recreation opportunities can be limited by  geography, transportation, cost and regulation. Up here things are a little different, backyard skating rinks are still a thing, snowmobiling is something the majority can afford rather than the minority, and an abundance of trails, parks, and crown land provide thousands of acres of prime, snowshoeing and cross country ski opportunities that don’t cost a dime and are usually within walking distance if they aren’t right outside your door.

It’s so expensive!

The only thing I have found that is significantly more expensive is the gas price. I have to admit I hate it every time I have to fill the tank. It has ranged between $1.06 and $1.35 since we moved here in the Fall 2017 (I think it hit the $1.40 range once or twice but I was fortunate enough to have a full tank at the time). Despite the higher price we are not really spending more for gas than  in SWO, even commuting 20 minutes or so each way to get to work there’s no gas guzzling city driving. That’s really the only thing that is a higher price up here. Even housing, what was always the biggest expense has now become the lowest.

There’s no jobs!

It would be easy to make this assumption, especially looking at sites like monster.ca, indeed.ca, and jobbank.gc.ca. It’s pretty rare to see more than a handful of jobs listed for here, which is a shame because there are SO MANY jobs up here that go unfilled. Local businesses and organizations rely more on local services like Centre Emploi, community bulletin boards and good old fashioned word of mouth. Granted many of the jobs are part time and casual similar to what seems to be common just about everywhere else these days. There’s a big difference here though, many of the part time jobs are higher paid then their counterparts down south, and there are usually lots of hours available. Employers here recognize that if you are working for them part time or casual you will have to coordinate hours between jobs. I level of consideration that often doesn’t exist in SWO. Quite frankly though many of the seeming part-time and even casual jobs will keep you busy and with the lower housing costs its far easier to make ends meet.

There’s nothing to do!

Each town and village from Smooth Rock Falls to Hearst has its own long list of community events, festivals, parks, trails, rivers, lakes, and playgrounds there is often too much to do!

Life in the North is not for everyone. If clear skies, fresh air,  thick forests, abundant wildlife, endless rivers and lakes, good people, clear traffic, and affordable housing don’t do it for you, your probably better off in the city. 😉