Agree to Disagree

Big cities, big dreams

I’ve lived in both a small town and a big city. I grew up in Oshawa while frequently going to Toronto for day trips and then moved to Lindsay when I was 16. So, I’ve experienced the big city life and small-town life. As much as I think Lindsay is cute and peaceful, personally, I think big cities are the way to go. They have a fun and upbeat energy about them that you can’t find in a small town.

When I’m walking down the streets of Toronto there’s so much going on and so much to look at, it’s exciting. I think small towns lack the energy that comes with a big city. Not to mention that in big cities there’s a lot more to do. There are more stores, more restaurants, more events. There’s a lot of variety that you don’t get in a small town. They also have better nightlife. Small towns tend to turn into ghost towns by 9 p.m. whereas in big cities you can be out and about till the late hours of the night.

I find that big cities also give you more room to express yourself. They’re a great place to experiment with your style, your hair, and even your makeup. Fashion in a big city is often bold and people aren’t afraid to show off their unique style.

Big cities come with big and small businesses with loads of different job opportunities. There are lots of people to network with and grow your circle. And as someone who doesn’t have a car, I much prefer a big city since there’s more available public transportation. It’s easier to get around with buses, the train, the subway, and Uber.

Maybe it’s just because I’m 20, but I’ll always love the energy of a big city.

– Keely Ross is a regular contributor to the Advocate.

Small town life has real big advantages

When I started a family in Toronto, many shared the motto of “find your village.” As the number of children I had grew, it became apparent that the village had to grow with us. You may think that because there’s so many people, it would be easy to build a support network – and that’s where you’d be mistaken. A five km commute to hockey practice could take upwards of 40 minutes depending on traffic. Even though many neighbourhood teammates were headed in the same direction, it wasn’t common to carpool. Now that we’re in Lindsay, it’s common for a parent or even coach, to offer up a ride. I don’t feel like a spider having to spin my own web to survive; rather, we operate as bees in a hive. 

Leaving the city, I was worried about the things I would miss – the food, concerts, Ubers. And I still miss those things. What I didn’t realize though were all the things I would gain. The local shops with so many unique options, run by friendly faces and families we have come to call friends. The quick and traffic-less access to nature including lakes and farms, where kids can explore freely. The overall sense of community, where strangers say good morning to one another in passing and support each other across a variety of efforts and interests. There is an abundance of reasons to love small town life, and I encourage you to explore why you choose to call Kawartha Lakes home.

Yes, I typically cannot eat at a local restaurant past 8 p.m., but I’ve adapted to eat earlier (it’s better for you anyway). And yes, there are still items you can’t get in a small town – but there’s always Amazon.

– Amanda Tayles is a writer-at-large for the Advocate.