This marks the first installment of the Canucks Content Carnival and our first topic is about our home towns. I was actually born in Toronto, Ontario and my family moved to Mississauga when I was two. I grew up in Mississauga and to some degree still think of it as my home town, but I now reside in Brampton, and have for over sixteen years, so I guess that makes me a Bramptonite. 🙂
When I first moved to Brampton it was kind of the half way mark between where I lived and my then fiance lived. I was even working in Brampton so it made sense to look for a home here. We live in the area known as The Villages of Heart Lake and I really like it here. To the north of us is the lake with it’s own conservation area. It offers lots of amenities for enjoying the outdoors. I do appreciate that we have this wonderful space to visit practically right in our backyard. I have to laugh now, but when we first moved in I had a friend tell me we had moved to “the armpit of Peel.” She worked in the school system and it had something to do with that. Funny before we had kids, not so funny now. 🙁 To be fair though I love our little school and the fact that we are in an older neighborhood means the population of that school is low. It is pretty cool when the school secretary knows the name of over 350 children.
Heart Lake Conservation
The neighborhood we live in was established long before we arrived on the scene, but our street wasn’t. When I tell people my street name they automatically know it because it use to open out to a major road. When the huge task of closing that road happened it was to build our house (and three others). Almost seventeen years later and people will still say, “Oh you live on THAT street?” I wish we were known for something better, like maybe a lotto win, but alas we are not.
Brampton has been a town for well over 150 years and I was surprised to find out that it got it’s name from a town in England! My husband will love that tidbit of information as his ancestors hail from across the pond. Coincidence? Brampton used to be known as The Flower Town of Canada because much of the industry in the area related to greenhouse work, plants, flowers etc. There is still an older section of the city called Flower Town. The city itself sprung from an agriculture fair held in the area now known as The Four Corners. The downtown part of Brampton is where you will find the beautiful Gage Park. It has been the background for several movies and in the winter there is a lovely outdoor skating rink that goes all around the park.
Gage Park in the winter
Brampton has produced it’s fair share of great athletes, most notable is two time Captain of the Gold medal Canadian Women’s Hockey team in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics, Cassie Campbell!! My children have even learned to swim at the recreational center named after her. 🙂 One of the things that I love about Brampton is the multitude of parks and recreation centers we have, as well as playgrounds and trails. I am not sure if this is true or not, but rumor has it that a former Premier of Ontario is primarily responsible for all of the extensive parkland Brampton has.
Cassie Campbell namesake
The more I look into My Hometown the more I realize what it has to offer. We are close to Toronto, which means we can attend shows and concerts with relative ease. We are near to Canada’s Wonderland and several great colleges and universities. Just an hour and a half north of us we have the beautiful hills of Blue Mountain for skiing and the sandy beaches of Georgian Bay. Take a drive south west and we are at the most powerful waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls. All in all I think the “armpit of Peel” has prove to be a worthy town to raise my family in.
Check out some more home towns in the Canucks Content Carnival by reviewing the list below. Let’s see what other gems are out there. 🙂
Where did you grow up? What is the name of your home town?
FT&PD
Suz
I visited Brampton several years ago, just beautiful, red bricked house, so much history and many stars are from Brampton. Hockey players too, as they pride themselves in hockey. Maybe one day I’ll get back for a visit. Great post and thanks for sharing your history with us! 🙂
Thanks Jodi, yes Brampton has some fascinating history 🙂
What a nice description of Brampton, Suzanne! If the politician rumor is true, then it is probably the former Premier who also happened to be a resident of Brampton! 🙂 That picture of Gage Park has all the features of a Patricia Romance painting! It is beautiful! I enjoyed this ‘snapshot’ of your home town! May you enjoy all of the years that you will spend there! 🙂
LOL Gemma, I did not want to name names 🙂 I do love the photo of Gage Park, it is just lovely in the winter <3
As Gemma said, “nice description of Brampton”. It is so nice to read how much you do appreciate your “hometown” and your neighbourhood so I guess you won’t be moving anytime soon. lol
LOL, thanks mom and no, probably not 🙂
Brampton sounds like a great community to live in! Friendly, interesting, and close to so many other things. I think I have an extended family member who lives there, come to think of it ….. 🙂
That’s REALLY cool about an outdoor skating rink that goes around the whole park. I bet it got lots of use this year haha. 🙂
Thanks for sharing about your hometown!
Thanks for stopping in Lisa 🙂
I knew that Brampton was the Flower Town of Canada. I think that it has won a few prizes for having flowers in the municipality. Thanks for share your hometown experience. It is lovely to see.
Thank you Margarita, yes it has won awards for the flowers. I love how great the downtown area looks all dolled up with them 🙂
Gage Park looks beautiful, is that a skating trail? It is awesome to have an Olympian come from your own hometown!
Yes, it is a beautiful skating trail around the park Kristen 🙂
Just loved reading about the history of Brampton and your neighbourhood, Suzanne! LOL “the armpit of Peel”. I had never heard of it described that way. I had no idea that there were any lakes close by, like the one near you. It looks so pretty there! Great post!
Thank you Sandy 🙂 Brampton has many wonderful qualities to it and has never even come close to that description, thankfully 🙂
I have not been to Brampton before – my hometown also has an abundance of rec centers and parkland! The skating rink at Gage Park looks like so much fun!
It is great to have the rec centers for our use Ashley. Very different from when I was growing up..
Lol!! Thanks for sharing so many great tidbits about Brampton!! I love that it is the armpit of Ontario!!!
Thanks for stopping in Jenn!
Never to been to Brampton, but I have been to Toronto and Mississauga. Sounds like a lovely town. 🙂
It truly is Roaen, thanks for stopping in!
I think I would love to live in a community like Brampton! It sounds fabulous! I would love to have access to amenities such as you described. I am intrigued by Gage Park and it’s unique skating rink. What a wonderful place to take your family! Thank you for sharing your hometown!
Thank you Brandy. Gage Park is a year round wonder!
Those are gorgeous pictures! Sounds like a very cool town – thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you Bonnie 🙂
My husband’s aunt used to live and work in Brampton and she has always told us that it is nice there. I would love to go with her one of these days when she visits her friends there. I bet I will also love Brampton! I can tell that it is a nice place to raise a family by her stories and your sharing of your hometown!
It really is a lovely town with tons of hidden gems to discover!
Gage Park is beautiful! You know, I’ve only ever been to Brampton once and I just barely got off the highway into an industrial area. If it weren’t for your post, I would have no idea about all the beauty in it! Thanks!
Thank you for stopping in Cyn 🙂
I don’t believe I have ever visited Brampton but it sounds so nice! Having the secretary at the school knowing everyone’s name is definitely a perk and gives your community that small town feel, which I love! I liked getting to know a bit about you and your very pretty hometown!
Thanks for stopping in Monica 🙂