When hubby got a relocation offer to the east coast two-and-a-half decades ago, we were over the moon.
It’s not that we hadn’t enjoyed stints living on Montreal’s West Island and in Vernon, B.C., but we both missed the Maritimes. Oodles.
We’d met in Halifax and longed to reconnect with friends there. And I had family in Cape Breton who’d warmly welcomed Montreal-born hubby to the fold.
We scratched our heads a bit when a transfer offer came through for us to move to Moncton, N.B. Neither of us had spent much time in the hub city and only knew it as an occasional highway stop on road trips to central Canada. Our goal after seven years of living ‘away’ was to return to Halifax, a city we both knew well, hubby as an accountant, me as a newspaper reporter.
Ultimately, hubby took the Moncton deal and off we went to our beloved east coast. It might not be our first pick, but it was closer to home and worth a try!
Fast forward to last night.
I’m seated next to hubby at Moncton’s Avenir Centre, one of more than 8,000 hockey fans pumped to watch a World Junior Championship game between the U.S. and Finland.
Even though no Canadian team is playing, the place is awash in red with a multitude of folks wearing Team Canada jerseys, Moncton Wildcats’ jerseys and other crimson apparel.
Buoyed by an enthusiastic organist, I clap with the crowd. I jump up and do the wave when it reaches our section. I laugh when the Jumbotron captures an audience member being silly.
My heart swells with Canadian pride, Moncton pride.
After the match, hubby and I meet up with some friends at a cordoned-off area just outside the arena, buy a local beer and nab a spot at a picnic table to watch the start of the Canada-Sweden game being televised on a massive screen. A growing group of onlookers roars as their team nets a goal. I take in the scene and smile.
Later, we wander closer to the skating oval outside the Avenir Centre, where skaters of all ages are doing their thing and hundreds more sans skates are watching another enormous screen with the game. Food trucks offering everything from Beavertails to poutine are busy. There is laughter. There is joy. So much joy!
We leave the downtown core and walk a short distance to our car. The rest of the night, I think about this city, this region.
I think of the sense of community it has offered my family, the warmth of the neighbourhood in which hubby and I have raised our daughters, the village of friends we have made.
I think of the opportunities for exploration and adventure this region has given us, from good times on the water slides at Magic Mountain to fun treks around the Moncton Zoo, long walks and bikes along the North West Trail, Centennial Park, Mapleton Park, Mill Creek Nature Park, Irishtown Nature Park, splashes and sunset picnics at Parlee and Aboiteau beaches, fried clams in Bouctouche, lobster rolls and sticky buns in Alma, learning about the tides of the Bay of Fundy by checking out the tidal bore or visiting Hopewell Rocks, taking hikes in Fundy and Kouchibouguac National Parks, lining up for treats at the Moncton and Dieppe farmers’ markets, dining out at our favourite area restaurants, nurturing our love of words at the Frye Festival, enjoying concerts at the Capitol, the Casino and ‘the hill’, volunteering and/or participating in local runs and other community events.
I am beyond grateful.
I ponder my work as a professional travel writer, one of a handful in this province who are part of the Travel Media Association of Canada. I realize that Greater Moncton (and southeast New Brunswick, for that matter) are worthy of far more promotion and definitely more of my time. This is, indeed, a special place with amazing people.
Will I explore the world this year? Definitely.
Will I write about this province and other parts of Canada? Absolutely.
Will I feature stories about things to do and see closer to home here in Greater Moncton and the southeast? More than ever.
Have suggestions on where my travels should take me in 2023? Let me know at cathykdonaldson@outlook.com.
Here’s to a healthy, happy and adventurous New Year!
3 thoughts on “This one’s for you, Moncton!”
Fantastic article about the great place our Maritimes are…
Thanks very much, Scott — Happy New Year! Cathy
Looking forward to exploring more areas in the Moncton area!