Shannon: Canada

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you born and raised?

I was born at Brockville General Hospital and raised on Caintown Road north of Mallorytown. I lived my whole childhood in the same old stone house with my parents and a younger sister and brother. I went to high school at Brockville Collegiate Institute and then continued my education at Dalhousie University (Halifax) and then at Queen's University (Kingston). 

Do you have any personal/family traditions that you love to celebrate?

My family has a number of traditions that we like to celebrate but I think the biggest tradition is that we spend a lot of time together. We have all settled within a hour and a half of our childhood home and my sister and I are within 10 minutes of our parents. We spend all holidays together and usually have dinner about once a week. Christmas contains the traditions that I miss the most when I am away...Christmas Eve candlelight service at St Paul's Presbyterian Church followed by a party at my parent's house, Christmas morning breakfast of cinnamon rolls and present opening followed by a wonderful Christmas dinner in the afternoon. 

What advice would you give to somebody moving to Leeds Grenville from another country?

Leeds Grenville has an unbelievable number of attractions available to everyone but you need to search them out! To those who have lived here our whole lives I think we sometimes struggle to see everything this area has to offer. I was away at school and working elsewhere for 10 years and it was only when I returned that I fully realized what we have here. Whether you love sports, the arts, the outdoors, history or small town life you can find it here. Many people think that our community restricts the possibilities of what we can achieve but I firmly believe that all doors are open for people of all ages and backgrounds. I'm proud of how welcoming our small towns are to families from all corners of the world.

What do you love about living in Leeds Grenville?

I am a country girl at heart and Leeds Grenville has allowed me to live in the country while still doing the job I love. I had always dreamed of travelling the world and had ambitions to do that as a physiotherapist. I have been lucky enough to have had that opportunity while still being able to come home to my quiet house in the middle of nowhere! I love our lakes and woods and most of all, the friendly faces of people I have known my whole life.

How do you like to spend your spare time?

My husband and my young son are my priorities when I am not working at my clinic. We love to travel and spend as much time as possible with our families. I have always been obsessed with sports so I also spend a lot of time either playing or watching sports or being a physiotherapist at various sporting venues across the country.