My thoughts exactly
Big city, small town ... or what
This September will mark the 16th anniversary of my move to Woodstock. That's eight times longer than my anticipated stay of two years.
In some ways it feels like I've been here forever. In other ways, I feel like a newcomer. Either way, Carleton County is an area of this great province and country which I'm proud to call home.
I still wonder, however, how a decade and a half can pass by so quickly.
Prior to my move to Woodstock, I spent the previous 21 years in Moncton. When I moved as a teenager from Escuminac – a tiny Gaspe Coast hamlet on the shores of the Bay of Chaleur – to the Maritime's Hub City, it felt like I was moving to the hub of the universe. It had so much to offer – movie theatres, concert halls, sports teams, night clubs, malls, parks, recreation facilities and restaurants.
After all, I grew up in a community so small it didn't even have a "depanneur or epicerie" within biking distance. Taking in a movie required planning a road trip to Campbellton, 40 minutes away. Today, with improved roads, the trip takes 20 minutes.
In summer, my friend and I could hop the ferry to Dalhousie to meet girls, take in a movie and hang out. Unfortunately, we always had to catch that last boat home, usually around 10:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. at the latest. It should be noted, also, that Quebec is an hour behind New Brunswick, so that meant returning home by 10 p.m. or earlier. Not something a couple of high school kids really wanted. Thank goodness my sister Jean lived in Dalhousie. That meant when we "accidentally" missed the last boat we had a place to stay.
So the move to Moncton proved to be a move to the big city. It didn't take long to realize, however, the big city of Moncton, by most North American standards, was basically a large town. While it had plenty to offer, it paled in comparison to major centres in options for entertainment and culture.
Still, I liked Moncton and was happy with what it offered. After two decades in the Hub City, my move to small-town New Brunswick – namely Woodstock – delivered a bit of a culture shock.
While immediately impressed with the natural beauty of Woodstock and Carleton County and thrilled with the friendly attitude of the locals, it took awhile to adjust to the inconvenience of small-town living.
They wrapped up the streets at sundown, it appeared. The town's only mall could fit inside a medium-size store in Moncton. Those days of a half-hour car ride or a 15-minute ferry crossing to take in a movie seemed like a cake walk to the two-hour round trip to catch a flick in Fredericton.
For a junk-food junkie and a Tim's freak like myself, Woodstock tested my character – not one fast-food restaurant in sight, nary a Tim's and certainly no movie theatre. At least on the Canadian side of the border.
It's hard to believe that a decade and a half later, both Moncton and Woodstock could undergo such massive change. The growth of both communities has been phenomenal.
Moncton has become the Maritime's fastest growing city. Woodstock has made similar advances on a smaller scale.
While Moncton has become a retail and entertainment Mecca, Woodstock continues to expand its retail base at several levels. In addition to its first big box store, Woodstock has welcomed major expansions of Atlantic SuperStore and Sobey's and witnessed the arrival of several new operations both downtown and the ever-expanding Connell Street.
When it comes to dining out, Moncton may lead the world. While I'm not sure of the true figures, the Hub City seems to add a new restaurant on a weekly basis. And that just adds to an already remarkable selection of dining choices – from fine dining to specialty cuisine.
While Woodstock may lack a wide selection in fine-dining options, its days of being a fast-food and coffee shop wasteland are long gone. This Tim's freak now has three locations to choose from in Woodstock alone, not to mention options in Hartland and Florenceville-Bristol. That's in addition to other great options like Fusion, Fresh Market and the soon-to-open Countrystyle at the new Petro Can.
From an entertainment perspective, Moncton has moved ahead of all Maritime cities, including Halifax and Charlottetown. With the Magnetic Hill concert grounds, the remodeled Capital Theatre and a score of other big and small venues, it can attract the top entertainers in the world. Within a year or two, the Hub City will be home to the province's only major casino.
Entertainment options are perhaps the one area where Woodstock falls short. It lacks the venues for local entertainers and bands to perform, despite strong efforts by Dooly's and Fusion.
At the same time, however, the Carleton-Victoria Arts Council and Valley Young Players provide the entire Upper River Valley with a level of entertainment which far surpasses what would normally be found in a rural community. Their work rivals any live entertainment produced anywhere in the Maritimes.
As a long-time hockey fan, the one element of my move to Moncton was the access to high-level hockey it presented. From New Brunswick Junior A to Senior to University to AHL to the Q, Moncton did or continues to offer great hockey.
I lost that when I moved to Woodstock. But now we have the Slammers.
I spent my entire adult life in Moncton and Woodstock. It's probably only coincidence that they continue to be the two fastest growing communities in the Maritimes.
If I ever get tired of that constant growth, I can still return to the slow pace of Escuminac – well, Fleurant Point to be exact. In fact, that's what I'll be doing over the next two weeks as my childhood community hosts a major homecoming. It'll probably remind me that small and laid-back still has plenty to offer.
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