Jim Mason
Columns
June 26, 2008 12:20 AM
Jim Mason
Welcome to Whitchurch-Stouffville, newcomers.
Unless you’re First Nation, you’ve all been new here at some point.
For the newest of the newbies, those folks in the subdivisions that have cropped up at all corners of Stouffville, a few tips on life here:
• We may work in “the city”, cheer for Toronto sports teams and go to the theatre south of Steeles, but we’re from Stouffville.
We’re Stouffvillites, Stouffvillians or Whitchurchians
It’s a point of pride.
• I know it sounds like a bizarre concept, especially if you are from Brampton or Scarborough, but we say hello to each other.
Perfect strangers do it. On the street, in line at Sobeys and in the park. It’s friendly. It’s so Stouffville.
It separates us from the impending mass of civilization on our southern doorstep, at least for now.
• There’s no need for butting in on Main Street because we let other drivers in front of us.
And when this is done for you, it’s appropriate to acknowledge with a wave, using all fingers in your hand. There’s that wave thing again.
• We know our neighbours and not just those of the next-door variety.
We know the kids down the street, the people who own the variety store in the plaza, the guy from across town who was drafted by an NHL team and the couple on the next street with health problems.
We hold fundraisers for people in need, financially and emotionally. And half the town shows up.
• We celebrate together.
Residents show up in large numbers for minor hockey championships, fireworks displays and Santa parades.
• We grieve together.
Funerals and memorial services draw large numbers, even for those who thought of themselves as little known.
Jim Mason is editor of The Sun-Tribune.