'Creating Community,' Special Guest Post
I recently came across Penelope Morrow, a Freelance Writer in the Barrie Area. She is all about supporting local and helping the local community grow. Which lead me to ask her if she would be so kind as to write a guest blog post for me, to allow you to read her work and why supporting local is such a viable aspect to our community. Here is what Penelope had to say:
Having a strong sense of community contributes to the
overall wellbeing for those living there. Being active in your community is a
rich investment with an infinite rate of return!
The rewards are both emotional and financial; when we
support local, we invest in our community, and money spent in our community
stays in our community. In the process we make connections with the people who
grow our food, produce what we need, create and inspire us, bake our breads,
pour our drinks, serve our meals, provide us services, entertain us and
educate us. It is a symbiotic relationship.
Growing up in a pre-confederation village where neighbours
knew my every move had obvious drawbacks as a teenager, but it affirmed the
quality of life I learnt to be necessary to thrive. Moving to Barrie with my
young daughter eleven years ago replicated that small town experience, within a
large city.
Advocating for local in my career as a Freelance Writer is a
lifestyle decision that supports my style of life. My days evolve around a cycle of community
support and in turn the community of Barrie supports me.
Downtown Barrie is the symbolic center of the city; my daily
and weekly rituals spiral outward from the core.
With an abundance of natural beauty, the waterfront, walking
and biking trails are enhanced by the city’s involvement in the Communities in
Bloom Program; this is a gorgeous place to live. Nothing says “good morning”
quite like an invigorating jaunt along the bay.
Independently owned cafes and restaurants are delicious
choices for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea; shopping is a pleasure when I
nibble along Dunlop Street.
As a locavore it was inevitable that I would become a
regular Saturday morning shopper at the Barrie Farmers Market. Hint, if you are
not an early riser, many vendors have an email “order in advance system”, so you
can roll into market after the rush.
It feels right knowing my dollars are going into the wallet
of the farmer or producer who will grow or make food I will eat in a
neighbourhood restaurant.
Afternoon shopping turns into Barrie evening. Fine dining
flourishes here; attend a gallery opening, film festival movie, live music or
theater. The singer songwriter series is a must listen event!
Culture, Barrie has it; summer weekends our waterfront is a
hive of activity. Throughout the seasons our city supports the arts with family
friendly festivals, including the ever-popular early New Years Eve fireworks
for the littles.
Want to dip a paintbrush, hear Sunday afternoon jazz, I know
just the place!
Canada’s finest musicians fill downtown venues with song at two
annual Blues and Jazz festivals. I sing their praises in the reviews on my
website, as covering those events are favourites of mine.
My fingers fly on the keyboard when I write to support
local, making connections has enriched my palate, flavoured my work and
enhanced my life.
I invest in my community.
Please join me!
Thank you Penelope for giving myself and our community, a little more insight into the Downtown Barrie area and supporting local.
Comments
Post a Comment