My parents moved to Prince Edward County 25 years ago and I visited them a lot. I brought my boyfriend, who became my husband, and we even got married here, and then we brought the kids. We came to escape the energy drain of the city, but we never thought it would be possible to actually live here.

Then we found the perfect house with two barns opposite Black River Cheese Factory, where ice cream cones flow out the door almost year round, and we grabbed it. We sold the house in Toronto, quit our jobs and came here with two fairly annoyed children in the backseat. Two and half years later we are running the Galloping Goat Gallery, a busy little shop selling gifts, garden things and handcrafts. The children have acclimatized (but still swear they are city kids.) Leah is convinced the more colours and patterns she wears together, the better the fashion statement. Quinlan sticks to the usual rules that boys do, but he follows his own drum when it comes to a career. He wants to be an actor.

When Festival Players was casting for the play “Schoolhouse,” Quinlan determined that playing the part of Vern Yellowlees would be his perfect summer job. When we discovered how much commitment was involved we suggested it might be more than he could handle: three weeks of rehearsal six days a week, followed by six performances a week for three weeks. His summer is only eight weeks long, but as usual Quinn didn’t back down.

He loved being a part of Festival Players and the older kids made him feel comfortable. Andrew who played his older brother treated him like a brother on and offstage. Jennifer Brewin the director helped Quinlan discover new skills and a new voice. She listened to his ideas and suggestions and praised his ability to understand performing on stage as well as the seasoned actors (who nicknamed him “Marty” as in Scorsese because of all those directorial inspirations he was eager to share!)

Now the play is finished, Quinn is missing his extended “family” and making big plans for next year’s production of Schoolhouse. He wants the role of Milton. He knows all the lines by heart and has decided that singing is not so uncool. I was shocked when he stood in front of his first audience and belted out a solo at the end of the play, and of course I cried.

The experience has changed and matured Quinn enormously. He learned about commitment, grew in confidence and found a great outlet for his creative energy. He never gave up, and even when he was really tired he gave his best for the audience. Thank you Festival Players for your enthusiasm and creativity and for being a big part of what makes this County so awesome!

We had no idea how many opportunities would come our way just by living here. When we moved it was scary; we had nothing but ideas and a dream and a lot of hope. The community welcomed us, and people supported our little store. All of us have made great friends here and we have made ourselves a real home that we all love. We are setting down strong roots, the kind I have never had. I feel like my soul is home.