Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Fond Memories of Burlington


Readers asked to Recall Fondest Memories of Burlington

Happy Birthday, Burlington!
We think you look pretty good for your 125 years.
There's no question that, over time, you have changed significantly.
From a village to a town to a major city you have seen a lot in your day.
You have been through wars, a Depression, a recession and economic booms.
You have watched the decades come and go, each of them so vastly different from the last.
Yet, you endure and keep pace with technological advances
and seem more than eager to embrace each new set of challenges.

We are sure there are many Burlington Post readers
who have special or fond memories about the city we call home.
Perhaps it's a story about growing up here during the 50's
or may be, you obtained your first job here.
Whatever your reason, we would love to hear from you.
In 500 words or less, the Post invites its readers
to submit short stories about why Burlington is so special to them.
Deadline for entries is Friday, March 27.  (1998)

Following is the essay I submitted to the Burlington Post.

Burlington, I always considered a wonderful lakeside city of appeal, class and distinction ... one of those cities where I'd really love to work and live. So, with a son two and a half years old, my husband working at Stelco Research Centre, it was the summer of 1967 that we moved from the east Hamilton Mountain to this fine City of Opportunity!

Every Christmas season, we drove along Northshore Boulevard and Lakeshore Road just to admire the beauty of these residences ... snow laden branches, the profusion of coloured lights and spotlights on homes and lawn displays, pillars at the street with ribbon-tied evergreen and pine cones.. It was wonderful to know that we lived in this city with such a magical setting ... an unparalleled location with a panorama of escarpment, lake and bay, the travel of ships from the Great Lakes and abroad. We spent many, many family summer hours along the sand beach stretching from Spencer Smith Park to the lift bridge with view of the Skyway towering over the canal from lake to bay and its harbour.

Our son grew up attending schools in Aldershot, learning to skate at Kiwanis Arena; and with a cut-down iron club, he joined Dorothy and me weekly on Camisle's 9-hole course...hitting a few balls and putting the greens. Local ski lessons put him on the slopes and into downhill racing. School bands instilled in him a keen music appreciation. Post-secondary education at The University of Windsor qualified him a degree in Computer Science. Today, Burlington reaps the benefit of his skills in software programming for a local consulting firm. On the romantic side, it was Burlington where he met “the girl of his dreams” who in 1992 became his wife.

Our daughter also benefited from the recreational programs offered in the city ... swimming and obtaining her Junior badge at an unusually early age ... figure skating and roller skating ... with a few levels of dance (study of jazz at the Burlington Dance Academy) ... and gymnastics. She excelled as an equestrian rider and represented Canada in numerous out-of-country horse jumping events.

For me, Burlington has been a wonderful place to raise my children and an  open door to explore and challenge other interests ... learning new skills. While home with my children, I joined The Colour Photographic Club ... gleaning more knowledge about picture composition, lighting and photo essays. As time permitted, I canvassed for local politicians at election times. Through courses with Verna Williams I studied fashion co-ordinating, then developed the art of staging and presenting complete fashion shows. For two or three years I returned to the education field as a “supply teacher”.

As the saying goes, “the rest is history”. No full time teaching positions available, so I donned a suit and hat, beginning a new career in real estate as a Sales Representative. Through this profession I have met many wonderful clients, listened to their needs and interests, helping them to achieve their dreams. It is very rewarding to match homes with people and their pocketbooks ... the end result is the remuneration for what one successfully accomplishes. Through these over twenty years, my trademark has been The Hat which people have identified in the various media of real estate publicity.

Most recently, I have co-sponsored city gardens along main avenues of the city and Christmas displays yearly at Spencer Smith Park's “Lakeside Festival of Lights.”.

I love Burlington, this City of Opportunity ... for it has offered to everyone in my family many “opportunities “ and moments, hours and years...to live, to work, to love and expand personal horizons.

Merle Baird-Kerr
March 1998



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