Hometown Memories: Delightful Diversity

�Embracing diversity is one adventure after another, opening new paths of discovery that connect an

understanding to caring, listening, and sharing with others who are different than ourselves.�

- April Holland -

I was born and raised in my hometown of Montreal, and spent 44 years of my life there, and although I enjoyed living in a big city in my youth, I grew tired of the congestion, the nerve-racking traffic, the flood of tall buildings, the crowds, the noise, the impatient (and oftentimes rude) people and the frantic pace as I grew older. My husband felt the same, and in 2009 we packed up and moved to Kingston, a much smaller area with a fraction of the population. And we love it here.

The neighbourhood I grew up in is one of Canada's most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods,
representing many continents of the world. It is visually interesting, and full of character.

But even though I�d never opt to live in the big city of Montreal again, I do love visiting it for the same reason I enjoy visiting other big cities near us: the multiculturalism. As Canada�s second largest city, my hometown is ethnically diverse. And when I�m immersed in its cultural mosaic, it is exhilarating. From a photographer�s perspective, a culturally diverse population is more visually interesting, and from a personal perspective, it is enlightening. I feel more connected to the world when I mingle with a wide array of people with differing beliefs, mother tongues, histories, traditions and ancestries.

Spending time downtown is a great way to get a feel for the city's diverse population.

Aside from being near my family, this mix of people is the only thing I miss about living in a big city. And one of the reasons we visit Montreal, and the other cities nearby by, from time to time. To get our multicultural fix.

Do you live, or have you ever lived, in a diverse area?