Listowel is a word synonymous with home for me. Having grown up in this quaint town from the ripe age of six, I’d like to believe Listowel is ingrained in who I am. I’ve walked the halls of Eastdale Public School, played softball on the fields of the John Bell Diamonds, ventured on the playground in the Listowel Memorial Park and fished for tadpoles in the Maitland. I’ve reigned as the Paddyfest Ambassador, acted on the Theatre 311 stage, and graduated with honours from Listowel District Secondary School. This town has shaped me, taught me and has even grown with me.
Listowel is more than a geographical location. It’s the people who are at the heart of this place. From family and friends, to teachers and community leaders, they have helped mould me into the person I am today.
The boundaries of Listowel are the ones that made up my childhood and confined me in my teenage years. So, at the age of 17, I was ready to leave my hometown and trade the quiet hum of Listowel for the loud roar of Toronto. Going from a town of less than 10,000 people to the downtown core of the big city was exactly what I needed at that age. I attended Toronto Metropolitan University, previously Ryerson University, where I obtained my degree in communications. I made lifelong friends, worked at bigshot companies and learned more about who I am.
I had big city dreams and no intentions of ever coming back. Oh, was I ever wrong.
I was working as a publicist in Toronto when we started hearing whispers of COVID-19. I packed my bags to come back home and hunker down with my family during the lockdown, naively thinking I would be back in a couple weeks time once it all blew over. I was proven wrong once again. So, in 2020 I officially moved back in with my mom and sister and was right back where I started when I was 17. I had no real job, no penthouse apartment and no plan. But one thing I did have was the love of my family and friends and the familiar territory of my hometown, and that was all I needed to reinvent myself.
Reinvention is hard. It takes time, hard work and a whole lot of patience, and here I find myself in the midst of it. But I am lucky, as I am rebuilding my life on the firm foundation that is my hometown. And now, getting to work for Midwestern Newspapers, with publications such as the Listowel Banner, is really my small town dream come true.
Experiencing Listowel as a young adult is a chapter I truly never thought I would have. Yet, it has been exactly what I need. I’m surrounded by my dearest family and friends. I’m learning new things about myself. I’m watching my best friend get married and start a family, my sister succeed from her graduate program and my mom learning what it means to be the parent of adult children. These are all life events I would have missed out on if I wasn’t residing within Listowel once again.
I never planned on returning. I wanted out of this town. But time and time again, this place has been my safe haven. I know these streets like the back of my hand. There is something so comforting about Listowel to me and everytime I see that sign, I know that I will always be welcomed back. I may not stay here forever or maybe I will. All I know is that Listowel will always have a special place in my heart. No matter where my big dreams take me, my roots are strong from being cultivated in the rich soil of good ol’ Listowel. It may not be perfect, but it’s home.
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Melissa Dunphy is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with the Listowel Banner. She can be reached at mdunphy@midwesternnewspapers.com.
