live from the north

Just spent three days relaxing in my hometown, Meaford, about two hours north west of Toronto. Pretty sleepy, quiet community that, for the most part caters to seniors. While walking around downtown I noticed a number of businesses were shut... and not just one or two but there is 7-8 empty storefronts on the main section of main (Sykes) street. There are some stores that have survived for a long time, mainly because they are types of stores that are key to the survival of a small town's downtown core. There's not too many Canadian downtowns without a drug store, bank, hair dresser, book shop, convenience store and a department store. One issue is that there isn't much for the young folk. Kids are covered with the toys in the department store or the great Eco-friendly toy shop Evolve on the main drag. Kids of the high school variety have a much tougher time taking anything away from the downtown, with no clothing, footwear or entertainment options whatsoever. Since most high schoolers will not run the risk of appearing untrendy, they drag their parents to the upscale shops in Collingwood. The parents, through no fault or malicious intent, now shop in another downtown, helping them prosper while their own towns DT closes up another storefront. 

A building that always caught my interest was the old Capitol Theatre. It was never an actual theatre since I've been born, but was a movie theatre for years before finally shutting its doors for good shortly before the advent of the DVD. The building is incredibly old and definitely needs some TLC, but the box office and classic 40s Hollywood marquee still exist (and the building is currently completely vacant omit an apartment above the front of the building. Not sure what I would do with it but picture Coyote Ugly (not really). It would just be sweet to have a place in town to shoot a game of pool, some food, have open mics, show some old movies and spruce a great building and space up! When I was growing up it felt like we did all our shopping 'downtown' and I remember it being super fun.. Maybe it was the age I was at or maybe it is because I've grown to see how depressing it has actually become. The town offers a lengthy Georgian Bay waterfront, but other than summertime frolicking there isn't much to do and that's a shame.

Will fix margins, spell check, add photos etc when I get home but am currently writing this on the way back to Toronto so I'm just trying to not get car sick while I type this.