1 00:00:00,968 --> 00:00:02,100 Here we are in markdale, ontario! 2 00:00:02,169 --> 00:00:04,403 [cheering & applauding] 3 00:00:04,538 --> 00:00:06,905 The, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for..." 4 00:00:06,907 --> 00:00:08,073 [audience] ice cream! 5 00:00:08,142 --> 00:00:10,175 Ice cream capital of canada. 6 00:00:10,177 --> 00:00:12,578 [cheering & applauding] 7 00:00:12,713 --> 00:00:14,846 Home, of course, to chapman's ice cream, 8 00:00:14,882 --> 00:00:17,983 The country's largest ice cream maker. 9 00:00:18,118 --> 00:00:21,186 It is the last of markdale's big employers, 10 00:00:21,321 --> 00:00:23,021 Even while your footwear 11 00:00:23,090 --> 00:00:25,057 Manufacturing jobs got the boot... 12 00:00:25,059 --> 00:00:26,791 [laughing] 13 00:00:26,793 --> 00:00:30,462 And your ski industry went downhill. 14 00:00:30,498 --> 00:00:33,231 Ice cream kept this town root beer afloat. 15 00:00:33,233 --> 00:00:35,400 [laughing] 16 00:00:35,436 --> 00:00:37,669 Your ice cream factory here continued to employ people 17 00:00:37,805 --> 00:00:42,608 Even through 2009, when the factory burned to the ground. 18 00:00:42,743 --> 00:00:44,810 Now that's a whole other story, I'll get into it. 19 00:00:44,945 --> 00:00:47,078 But for now, let's just say it is the worst case of 20 00:00:47,114 --> 00:00:48,614 Freezer burn I've ever heard. 21 00:00:48,749 --> 00:00:51,683 [laughing] 22 00:00:51,685 --> 00:00:53,818 When you grow up in a small town in newfoundland, 23 00:00:53,854 --> 00:00:55,487 You see that people have a sense of humour 24 00:00:55,556 --> 00:00:56,455 About hard times. 25 00:00:56,590 --> 00:00:57,489 Check, check. 26 00:00:57,624 --> 00:00:59,558 I turned that into a career and hit the road. 27 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,559 [mc] mr. Jonny harris! 28 00:01:01,595 --> 00:01:03,995 Now I'm on a mission to find the funny in the places 29 00:01:04,031 --> 00:01:07,433 You'd least expect, canada's struggling small towns. 30 00:01:07,568 --> 00:01:10,668 Towns that are against the ropes, but hanging in there. 31 00:01:10,704 --> 00:01:13,405 Still laughing in the face of adversity. 32 00:01:13,407 --> 00:01:15,407 This is markdale, ontario. 33 00:01:15,476 --> 00:01:23,315 ♪ 34 00:01:23,450 --> 00:01:25,951 Markdale, like many small towns across canada, 35 00:01:25,953 --> 00:01:29,454 Has seen real growth and development from, 36 00:01:29,457 --> 00:01:32,757 From a perfect storm of three things. 37 00:01:32,793 --> 00:01:35,727 First of all, the pandemic, covid. 38 00:01:35,763 --> 00:01:38,597 Second, insanely high real estate prices 39 00:01:38,666 --> 00:01:39,998 In the big cities. 40 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:45,470 And, third, a trend of people being able to work from home. 41 00:01:45,473 --> 00:01:49,475 People moving back out of the cities into rural areas. 42 00:01:49,610 --> 00:01:51,677 Small towns are getting young people. 43 00:01:51,812 --> 00:01:54,046 You're getting an infusion of fresh blood, 44 00:01:54,181 --> 00:01:56,748 Which always seems to work for keith richards. 45 00:01:56,750 --> 00:01:59,117 [laughing] 46 00:01:59,186 --> 00:02:01,153 ♪ 47 00:02:01,155 --> 00:02:04,790 I met with a woman who has seen incredible growth here. 48 00:02:04,792 --> 00:02:07,091 When she first got here in 1978, 49 00:02:07,128 --> 00:02:09,895 This place only had one stoplight. 50 00:02:09,964 --> 00:02:14,065 Just decades later, that number has doubled. 51 00:02:14,135 --> 00:02:15,967 [laughing] 52 00:02:16,003 --> 00:02:18,436 I talked with the owner of p.J. Knickerbocker toys, 53 00:02:18,438 --> 00:02:19,604 Pam petch. 54 00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:22,574 [cheering & applauding] 55 00:02:22,643 --> 00:02:25,511 Tell me about, you know, when you opened your store here 56 00:02:25,646 --> 00:02:28,579 And what the local business scene was like at the time. 57 00:02:28,581 --> 00:02:31,583 Well, I opened it 27 years ago. 58 00:02:31,718 --> 00:02:34,052 There was a lot going on in the town. 59 00:02:34,054 --> 00:02:37,422 But over the years, little by little, 60 00:02:37,458 --> 00:02:41,426 You see one shop close and another one close. 61 00:02:41,562 --> 00:02:43,728 Sometimes we felt like we were barely standing and 62 00:02:43,797 --> 00:02:46,531 Not still standing. - Right, right. 63 00:02:46,567 --> 00:02:48,132 She has seen real, you know, 64 00:02:48,169 --> 00:02:50,668 Rural decline here over the decades. 65 00:02:50,704 --> 00:02:53,905 Our grocery store, losing it downtown was a hit. 66 00:02:53,974 --> 00:02:57,809 Nordic furniture, they made beautiful furniture. 67 00:02:57,878 --> 00:03:01,679 They closed up. Tera footwear was a huge one. 68 00:03:01,715 --> 00:03:03,815 -Yeah. -They employed a lot of people. 69 00:03:03,884 --> 00:03:06,818 The closing of the tera boots factory. 70 00:03:06,953 --> 00:03:09,521 When they pulled the plug on the operation, 71 00:03:09,523 --> 00:03:11,623 You guys were just hoping that they were gonna reboot. 72 00:03:11,659 --> 00:03:13,758 [laughing] 73 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,530 Talisman, the ski resort, they closed up. 74 00:03:18,532 --> 00:03:20,465 That was another huge hit because it had employed 75 00:03:20,601 --> 00:03:24,636 A lot of people and it drew so many people to this area. 76 00:03:24,771 --> 00:03:26,671 I've talked to a lot of people in town who said 77 00:03:26,740 --> 00:03:28,640 When they were young, that was their first job, 78 00:03:28,709 --> 00:03:30,041 Up at the ski hill. 79 00:03:30,077 --> 00:03:32,844 And as far as the skiing goes, that was, you know, 80 00:03:32,913 --> 00:03:34,512 That was kind of your last resort. 81 00:03:34,582 --> 00:03:36,581 [laughing] 82 00:03:36,584 --> 00:03:38,483 Markdale was struggling, but still had chapman's 83 00:03:38,619 --> 00:03:40,118 As a major employer. 84 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:44,423 And then, September 4th, 2009. 85 00:03:44,558 --> 00:03:46,792 They had a huge fire. 86 00:03:46,927 --> 00:03:49,661 Seeing the huge flames happening and, 87 00:03:49,796 --> 00:03:52,331 All of the fire trucks and police cars. 88 00:03:52,466 --> 00:03:55,801 I live just up that street, and the day that it happened, 89 00:03:55,803 --> 00:03:59,471 There were burning pieces of black, 90 00:03:59,540 --> 00:04:02,975 Charred things falling in our neighbourhood. 91 00:04:03,110 --> 00:04:05,410 And the future of the community was in jeopardy. 92 00:04:05,446 --> 00:04:07,879 People thought, you know, not only are these jobs 93 00:04:07,915 --> 00:04:10,682 In jeopardy, but, but the support industry. 94 00:04:10,751 --> 00:04:12,017 When you're in a small community, 95 00:04:12,152 --> 00:04:14,753 You know all the employees there and... 96 00:04:14,822 --> 00:04:17,689 You just felt so bad for them. 97 00:04:17,725 --> 00:04:20,559 And we're all kind of, well, what do we do? 98 00:04:20,694 --> 00:04:21,560 People were worried, you know, like, 99 00:04:21,695 --> 00:04:24,362 "oh, maybe we'll not only lose our jobs, 100 00:04:24,498 --> 00:04:26,565 But our town will sort of lose its identity." 101 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:27,899 You thought that you were, 102 00:04:27,901 --> 00:04:29,368 You thought you were double fudged. 103 00:04:29,503 --> 00:04:30,702 [laughing] 104 00:04:33,374 --> 00:04:38,076 ♪ 105 00:04:38,078 --> 00:04:40,779 I got a chance to talk to a guy who played a big role in 106 00:04:40,914 --> 00:04:44,182 Keeping the chapman's rebuild here in markdale 107 00:04:44,218 --> 00:04:46,318 'cause there's no place like cone. 108 00:04:46,387 --> 00:04:47,986 Ashley chapman. 109 00:04:48,055 --> 00:04:50,388 [cheering & applauding] 110 00:04:50,457 --> 00:04:53,058 Chapman's was founded by ashley's parents. 111 00:04:53,193 --> 00:04:55,126 He said back in the 70s. 112 00:04:55,162 --> 00:04:57,529 There was a point where they were about $500 from 113 00:04:57,531 --> 00:04:58,664 Going out of business. 114 00:04:58,799 --> 00:05:01,866 My parents were out beating the bushes for every single 115 00:05:01,935 --> 00:05:03,868 Container of ice cream sold. 116 00:05:03,904 --> 00:05:05,770 Even when my sister and I were born, 117 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,840 They were just dedicated to this business and growing it. 118 00:05:08,909 --> 00:05:10,442 Don't think for a second that this guy was born with 119 00:05:10,511 --> 00:05:11,910 A silver scoop in his mouth. 120 00:05:11,979 --> 00:05:14,079 [laughing] 121 00:05:14,081 --> 00:05:15,513 It was more like one of those little wooden, 122 00:05:15,515 --> 00:05:17,015 Like the little flat like a... 123 00:05:17,017 --> 00:05:20,452 [laughing] 124 00:05:20,521 --> 00:05:23,255 It was late 80s, early 90s when, 125 00:05:23,257 --> 00:05:25,490 When the business really started to pick up. 126 00:05:25,492 --> 00:05:27,892 Chapman's began a run of great success, 127 00:05:27,928 --> 00:05:29,427 Which lasted for decades. 128 00:05:29,496 --> 00:05:33,698 In fact, there was over 300 full-time employees 129 00:05:33,767 --> 00:05:36,267 In September of 2009, 130 00:05:36,303 --> 00:05:39,070 When it all went up in flames. 131 00:05:39,106 --> 00:05:40,706 [sirens] 132 00:05:40,841 --> 00:05:46,378 [roaring flames] 133 00:05:46,447 --> 00:05:49,481 Mom, dad and I, we were standing up front watching 134 00:05:49,550 --> 00:05:52,384 The firefighters from this entire region, 135 00:05:52,453 --> 00:05:54,519 Show up and started fighting the fire. 136 00:05:54,521 --> 00:05:56,354 And they, they fought the blaze, 137 00:05:56,357 --> 00:05:59,323 But the factory burned to the ground. 138 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,728 The factory, the office, it was gone. 139 00:06:03,797 --> 00:06:05,897 That day, the question came from my parents to me. 140 00:06:06,032 --> 00:06:08,133 They said, "look, we're too old to do this for us. 141 00:06:08,268 --> 00:06:10,668 So, if we're gonna rebuild this, like, it's, 142 00:06:10,738 --> 00:06:13,004 It's got to be for you, as the future." 143 00:06:13,006 --> 00:06:14,705 And I said, "yes, let's do it." 144 00:06:14,742 --> 00:06:18,210 They made this decision while the factory was still on fire. 145 00:06:18,212 --> 00:06:21,380 There was no time for waffling and nobody "wafered." 146 00:06:21,515 --> 00:06:23,415 [laughing] 147 00:06:23,550 --> 00:06:25,484 They sprang into action. 148 00:06:25,486 --> 00:06:27,752 He said that week, they were on the phone, 149 00:06:27,755 --> 00:06:29,488 They were getting in touch with their employees, 150 00:06:29,490 --> 00:06:30,755 Saying, "don't move away. 151 00:06:30,824 --> 00:06:32,290 Don't make like a banana and split. 152 00:06:32,426 --> 00:06:33,958 We're gonna rebuild. 153 00:06:33,994 --> 00:06:35,960 Don't move away looking for a new job." 154 00:06:35,996 --> 00:06:38,230 And something really creepy happened, actually. 155 00:06:38,232 --> 00:06:42,234 The week after the fire, I went to pick up the mail. 156 00:06:42,369 --> 00:06:46,171 There's a flyer for a fire sale. 157 00:06:46,173 --> 00:06:48,340 It was a fire sale in florida. 158 00:06:48,475 --> 00:06:50,842 An ice cream factory had caught fire, 159 00:06:50,977 --> 00:06:53,111 And they were selling the undamaged equipment. 160 00:06:53,180 --> 00:06:55,180 Like, how weird is that? 161 00:06:55,182 --> 00:06:56,848 Florida, I mean. 162 00:06:56,884 --> 00:06:58,716 [laughing] 163 00:06:58,786 --> 00:07:00,919 I got a lot of calls from different areas 164 00:07:00,921 --> 00:07:02,187 Around ontario saying, 165 00:07:02,322 --> 00:07:05,223 "hey, why not build your new factory with us?" 166 00:07:05,259 --> 00:07:10,061 There was offers of free land and tax deferrals and whatnot. 167 00:07:10,063 --> 00:07:11,195 At the end of the day, we couldn't. 168 00:07:11,231 --> 00:07:14,766 As a family, we owed everything to this town, so... 169 00:07:14,901 --> 00:07:17,135 Here we are, we're not gonna go anywhere. 170 00:07:17,204 --> 00:07:20,539 He didn't name which communities were trying to 171 00:07:20,541 --> 00:07:24,042 Seduce him, but I got a feeling, you know... 172 00:07:24,044 --> 00:07:26,444 -Flesherton. -[laughing] 173 00:07:26,447 --> 00:07:28,913 I think, you know, showing a little flesh, it's okay, 174 00:07:28,949 --> 00:07:30,381 But a ton? Come on, flesherton. 175 00:07:30,417 --> 00:07:32,884 [laughing] 176 00:07:32,886 --> 00:07:35,887 Ashley told me that the main reason to stay in markdale 177 00:07:35,889 --> 00:07:39,023 Was to keep people in the community employed. 178 00:07:39,059 --> 00:07:42,127 But, the company would benefit from this as well. 179 00:07:42,262 --> 00:07:44,563 It's not like you can go to college or university and 180 00:07:44,565 --> 00:07:47,999 Learn how to run ice cream machinery, right? 181 00:07:48,068 --> 00:07:49,701 Like, it's a very specialized, 182 00:07:49,770 --> 00:07:52,103 So we needed our people to stay with us. 183 00:07:52,172 --> 00:07:55,106 And not just that- it was things like, for example, 184 00:07:55,175 --> 00:07:57,909 The recipes were destroyed in the fire. 185 00:07:58,044 --> 00:08:01,313 Our mix-making department, they hadn't looked at 186 00:08:01,448 --> 00:08:03,848 One of our recipes, probably in years. 187 00:08:03,917 --> 00:08:06,217 They just knew how to make the mixes so, 188 00:08:06,253 --> 00:08:07,786 A few days after the fire, 189 00:08:07,788 --> 00:08:11,255 They just sat down and we wrote them all out. 190 00:08:11,291 --> 00:08:13,124 "this is what goes in everything. 191 00:08:13,126 --> 00:08:14,326 Here's your recipes back." 192 00:08:14,328 --> 00:08:16,261 That's a big difference, I mean, that could have been- 193 00:08:16,396 --> 00:08:18,396 Well, maybe it wouldn't be that hard, I don't know, I don't- 194 00:08:18,432 --> 00:08:21,266 I don't want to be dismissive of the problem, but like, 195 00:08:21,268 --> 00:08:22,868 To come up with the recipe for ice cream- 196 00:08:23,003 --> 00:08:24,869 I just feel like, if I said to you, 197 00:08:24,872 --> 00:08:25,937 "butter pecan ice cream," 198 00:08:26,072 --> 00:08:28,273 I think I just listed the 4 main ingredients, right? 199 00:08:28,275 --> 00:08:30,141 [laughing] 200 00:08:30,210 --> 00:08:31,676 ♪ 201 00:08:31,811 --> 00:08:33,745 We did a little tour of the facility. 202 00:08:33,814 --> 00:08:36,180 Did you eat a lot of ice cream as a kid? 203 00:08:36,216 --> 00:08:39,884 Not really, we never really ate ice cream. 204 00:08:39,887 --> 00:08:44,022 Now the factory's rebuilt, they are at peak production. 205 00:08:44,157 --> 00:08:48,759 There are over 800 workers churning out ice cream 206 00:08:48,795 --> 00:08:56,134 Full-time, 24 hours a day, 6 days a week. 207 00:08:56,136 --> 00:08:57,969 6 or 7 days...? 208 00:08:58,005 --> 00:09:00,004 5 days a week. 209 00:09:00,073 --> 00:09:02,040 I couldn't remember if you made ice cream sundaes. 210 00:09:02,175 --> 00:09:03,908 [laughing] 211 00:09:03,977 --> 00:09:05,043 So, this is...? 212 00:09:05,178 --> 00:09:07,112 Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream. 213 00:09:07,247 --> 00:09:09,381 There was a bucket of, I think was, run off? 214 00:09:09,516 --> 00:09:11,048 Run off ice cream. 215 00:09:11,084 --> 00:09:13,218 I said, I said, "is this gonna be used?" 216 00:09:13,353 --> 00:09:14,819 He said, "no." I said, "but it's still good?" 217 00:09:14,855 --> 00:09:17,856 He said, "yes." anyway, later, I went back by myself, 218 00:09:17,858 --> 00:09:19,925 I found this bucket of ice cream and... 219 00:09:20,060 --> 00:09:22,661 I dunked my face in the bucket, 220 00:09:22,796 --> 00:09:24,262 This huge steel bucket of ice cream, 221 00:09:24,397 --> 00:09:26,731 Because when else are you gonna get a chance to do that? 222 00:09:26,767 --> 00:09:28,733 Some people, their whole lives, 223 00:09:28,735 --> 00:09:30,402 They'll never have that opportunity. 224 00:09:30,537 --> 00:09:32,870 I came up to breathe and my face was- 225 00:09:32,906 --> 00:09:34,906 It was like a, like one of those mud masks. 226 00:09:35,041 --> 00:09:37,008 [laughing] 227 00:09:37,044 --> 00:09:38,009 But ice cream, if they're supposed to make you 228 00:09:38,078 --> 00:09:40,412 Look younger, I probably look two years old. 229 00:09:40,547 --> 00:09:42,747 [laughing] 230 00:09:50,090 --> 00:09:53,124 [laughing] 231 00:09:53,193 --> 00:09:55,693 I wanted to ask this next guy how he went from 232 00:09:55,762 --> 00:09:58,096 Out-of-towner to town councillor, 233 00:09:58,098 --> 00:10:00,031 Deputy mayor aakash desai. 234 00:10:00,067 --> 00:10:03,768 [cheering & applauding] 235 00:10:03,903 --> 00:10:06,971 Aakash moved here to markdale in 2011. 236 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,974 He got involved with the community when he was young. 237 00:10:10,043 --> 00:10:12,477 He joined the chamber of commerce when he was 21. 238 00:10:12,546 --> 00:10:14,479 Before I moved to markdale, 239 00:10:14,481 --> 00:10:16,114 I didn't know what fall fairs were. 240 00:10:16,116 --> 00:10:17,982 I knew what cows were, obviously, 241 00:10:18,051 --> 00:10:21,453 'cause my family back in india had, had cattle. 242 00:10:21,588 --> 00:10:24,789 But I'd never really been around cattle. 243 00:10:24,924 --> 00:10:26,558 He'd never heard of a fall fair. 244 00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:29,093 By 2018, he was elected deputy mayor, 245 00:10:29,162 --> 00:10:31,062 And they were asking him to go to fairs 246 00:10:31,197 --> 00:10:33,931 To show cows and show pigs. 247 00:10:33,967 --> 00:10:36,234 I never really understood the cows, like, you know, 248 00:10:36,369 --> 00:10:38,136 Okay, you're walking in a circle. 249 00:10:38,271 --> 00:10:39,871 Well, how do you judge a cow? 250 00:10:39,940 --> 00:10:42,006 I don't know how a cow was judged, but I do know, 251 00:10:42,009 --> 00:10:43,742 Fellas, you don't just stare at the teats. 252 00:10:43,877 --> 00:10:45,810 [laughing] 253 00:10:45,945 --> 00:10:48,413 Her eyes are up here, rib eyes. 254 00:10:48,482 --> 00:10:50,482 [laughing] 255 00:10:50,484 --> 00:10:52,083 The markdale fall fair actually said, 256 00:10:52,218 --> 00:10:53,985 "well, you know, do you want to show a cow?" 257 00:10:53,987 --> 00:10:56,554 I said, "of course." 258 00:10:56,590 --> 00:10:58,890 They gave me this large beast. 259 00:10:59,025 --> 00:11:01,225 I was walking this cow around, 260 00:11:01,261 --> 00:11:03,394 And I got second prize. 261 00:11:03,430 --> 00:11:05,764 -So the cow got the...? -I did. 262 00:11:05,899 --> 00:11:07,031 -You got it? -Yeah, I did. 263 00:11:07,100 --> 00:11:09,100 The cow barely did anything. 264 00:11:09,136 --> 00:11:13,438 He won second place as the person showing the animals. 265 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:14,606 He couldn't believe it. 266 00:11:14,608 --> 00:11:17,475 And, and, and one of the cows won- I think it was the 267 00:11:17,511 --> 00:11:21,145 Biggest prize- which is the title of... 268 00:11:21,181 --> 00:11:22,781 Canada's next top moodle. 269 00:11:22,916 --> 00:11:24,849 [laughing] 270 00:11:24,984 --> 00:11:26,784 Tell me about, you know, 271 00:11:26,853 --> 00:11:28,986 What's happened in markdale since covid? 272 00:11:29,056 --> 00:11:30,855 We've had a lot of interest in people 273 00:11:30,857 --> 00:11:32,056 Who've moved to the area. 274 00:11:32,092 --> 00:11:34,993 -Where are they coming from? -So, from the urban areas. 275 00:11:34,995 --> 00:11:37,862 Compared to toronto, we're still a lot more affordable. 276 00:11:37,864 --> 00:11:42,032 New subdivisions are being built here as we speak. 277 00:11:42,069 --> 00:11:44,201 The fact that you can now work from home as long as 278 00:11:44,237 --> 00:11:47,071 You have reliable internet, it just expands your, 279 00:11:47,073 --> 00:11:48,506 You know, where you can live. 280 00:11:48,575 --> 00:11:52,276 Working from home in markdale is better than 281 00:11:52,312 --> 00:11:54,312 Working from home in toronto. 282 00:11:54,381 --> 00:11:56,547 Because with the money you'll save on a home, 283 00:11:56,583 --> 00:12:00,218 You could buy a desk, and the desk fits in the home. 284 00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:02,921 [laughing] 285 00:12:03,056 --> 00:12:07,826 ♪ 286 00:12:07,961 --> 00:12:11,229 This next couple moved from bustling downtown toronto 287 00:12:11,364 --> 00:12:13,998 For a fresh start running a main street deli 288 00:12:14,134 --> 00:12:16,033 In a quaint small town. 289 00:12:16,069 --> 00:12:19,970 It's still standing meets hallmark movie of the week. 290 00:12:20,006 --> 00:12:23,007 I'm talking about suzy raposo and catherine clarke. 291 00:12:23,009 --> 00:12:25,943 [cheering & applauding] 292 00:12:26,012 --> 00:12:28,979 These gals have moved here from queen west, 293 00:12:29,015 --> 00:12:31,316 An area called parkdale in toronto. 294 00:12:31,451 --> 00:12:34,118 The pandemic put us in this position of, like, 295 00:12:34,121 --> 00:12:35,520 We got to do our own thing. 296 00:12:35,522 --> 00:12:38,857 This is- it was like challenging us in a way and 297 00:12:38,859 --> 00:12:40,191 Challenged everybody. 298 00:12:40,227 --> 00:12:42,994 They came to this area looking at options. 299 00:12:42,996 --> 00:12:45,463 They wanted to run a business of their own. 300 00:12:45,598 --> 00:12:47,064 - I was a chef. -Yeah? 301 00:12:47,134 --> 00:12:48,399 Suzy was a hairdresser. 302 00:12:48,468 --> 00:12:50,201 And we thought, like, we don't want to 303 00:12:50,203 --> 00:12:52,537 Continue with the professions that we were in. 304 00:12:52,539 --> 00:12:54,138 We were ready for a change. 305 00:12:54,141 --> 00:12:57,809 You couldn't pick jobs that were more impacted 306 00:12:57,944 --> 00:12:59,210 By the pandemic. 307 00:12:59,279 --> 00:13:01,279 So, we came up here and we investigated. 308 00:13:01,281 --> 00:13:04,215 Most of the businesses were empty. 309 00:13:04,251 --> 00:13:07,685 And we saw this space that had been dormant for 5 years. 310 00:13:07,754 --> 00:13:11,456 They came across a much beloved local diner, 311 00:13:11,458 --> 00:13:14,892 Though it had sat empty for 5 years. 312 00:13:14,961 --> 00:13:16,895 And catherine knew it was for sale. 313 00:13:17,030 --> 00:13:19,363 And susie looked above the door, 314 00:13:19,399 --> 00:13:23,968 And she saw "susan's," and she thought... 315 00:13:24,103 --> 00:13:26,704 -"that's a sign." -[laughing] 316 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,240 We actually opened during the pandemic. 317 00:13:29,242 --> 00:13:31,942 We said, "we need to open right now." 318 00:13:31,978 --> 00:13:34,912 I'm just gonna open the door, I'm gonna put the sign out. 319 00:13:34,948 --> 00:13:36,915 Not gonna say anything. 320 00:13:36,917 --> 00:13:38,516 They made 250 bucks that day, 321 00:13:38,585 --> 00:13:41,920 Just selling coffee and squares. 322 00:13:41,922 --> 00:13:44,722 You know, 'cause susie bakes these squares. 323 00:13:44,858 --> 00:13:46,825 She's the baker, she does actually all... 324 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:48,493 -Yeah, we traded roles. -...All the baking. 325 00:13:48,495 --> 00:13:50,261 So, catherine now is front of house, 326 00:13:50,263 --> 00:13:52,129 Which is what I've always been. 327 00:13:52,165 --> 00:13:55,400 And I'm now hiding in the back, cooking and baking. 328 00:13:55,535 --> 00:13:58,402 She went from a hairdresser to a baker. 329 00:13:58,438 --> 00:14:00,237 She can make a gluten free loaf 330 00:14:00,273 --> 00:14:02,072 Look like a natural breadhead. 331 00:14:02,108 --> 00:14:04,008 [laughing] 332 00:14:08,982 --> 00:14:15,586 ♪ 333 00:14:15,589 --> 00:14:18,156 For a long time, this place has been known as 334 00:14:18,291 --> 00:14:20,491 The home for horse therapy. 335 00:14:20,627 --> 00:14:23,661 I had a chat with the maven of hope haven, barb sheperd. 336 00:14:23,730 --> 00:14:27,398 [cheering & applauding] 337 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:32,369 Our mission here is to really empower and celebrate 338 00:14:32,405 --> 00:14:36,274 Individuals of all ages who have disabilities and 339 00:14:36,409 --> 00:14:39,543 Diverse challenges, by building their self-esteem, 340 00:14:39,579 --> 00:14:42,714 And their confidence, and lifetime skills 341 00:14:42,716 --> 00:14:44,915 Through hippotherapy. 342 00:14:44,951 --> 00:14:46,517 It's called hippotherapy because 'hippo' is 343 00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:48,519 Greek for horse. 344 00:14:48,521 --> 00:14:50,521 But I gotta say if you call it hippotherapy and 345 00:14:50,557 --> 00:14:51,889 There's kids coming... 346 00:14:52,024 --> 00:14:53,524 [laughing] 347 00:14:53,660 --> 00:14:56,461 Is that a little bit of false advertising because 348 00:14:56,463 --> 00:14:58,595 There's no hippos? I'm just saying, 349 00:14:58,632 --> 00:15:01,799 Is this sort of like what barenaked ladies did... 350 00:15:01,801 --> 00:15:04,402 [laughing] 351 00:15:04,471 --> 00:15:06,404 ...To get people to come to their concerts? 352 00:15:06,539 --> 00:15:09,307 [laughing] 353 00:15:09,376 --> 00:15:12,643 It uses the movement of the horse to actually 354 00:15:12,712 --> 00:15:16,214 Help improve the rider's motor skills, 355 00:15:16,349 --> 00:15:18,549 And stability and coordination. 356 00:15:18,585 --> 00:15:20,752 It's becoming more and more popular, 357 00:15:20,754 --> 00:15:22,220 Not just because people believe in it, 358 00:15:22,355 --> 00:15:24,355 But also because of the migration 359 00:15:24,391 --> 00:15:25,890 That has happened in this area. 360 00:15:26,025 --> 00:15:28,493 I've never seen a boom like this, it's crazy. 361 00:15:28,628 --> 00:15:30,795 We have a waiting list now. 362 00:15:30,797 --> 00:15:33,564 We're actually going to build a second arena, 363 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,767 So that we can... 364 00:15:35,769 --> 00:15:39,303 Have more programs and not work 7 days a week. 365 00:15:39,306 --> 00:15:42,473 They've been running 7 days a week. 366 00:15:42,475 --> 00:15:44,308 I bet the horses are like, "wait a minute, 367 00:15:44,344 --> 00:15:45,843 You've been open 7 days a week. 368 00:15:45,845 --> 00:15:47,311 We're doing the running." 369 00:15:47,347 --> 00:15:48,645 [laughing] 370 00:15:48,682 --> 00:15:50,848 These horses, they're, they're intuitive, 371 00:15:50,850 --> 00:15:51,982 They can read you. 372 00:15:52,018 --> 00:15:54,852 I may ride a horse, and he'll be an idiot. 373 00:15:54,854 --> 00:15:57,989 And then you get someone who has a challenge or a 374 00:15:57,991 --> 00:16:02,326 Disability on the horse and behaves completely differently. 375 00:16:02,462 --> 00:16:05,897 There was a horse there, a norwegian horse called fred, 376 00:16:06,032 --> 00:16:08,132 Looked like a norwegian folklore professor. 377 00:16:08,201 --> 00:16:10,334 [laughing] 378 00:16:10,337 --> 00:16:12,469 And fred, he would kick the stall. 379 00:16:12,505 --> 00:16:14,105 He would kick the door of the stall... 380 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,307 [banging] 381 00:16:16,376 --> 00:16:17,842 ...Several times during the interview, like, 382 00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:19,610 At one point, he kicked the door and I was like," 383 00:16:19,679 --> 00:16:22,280 Hey, now." and he was like, "yeah, hay, now." 384 00:16:22,415 --> 00:16:23,714 [laughing] 385 00:16:23,717 --> 00:16:26,017 [whinnying] 386 00:16:26,019 --> 00:16:27,919 After speaking with barb, I got a chance to groom 387 00:16:28,054 --> 00:16:30,654 One of the horses with alexandra richardson. 388 00:16:30,724 --> 00:16:33,724 [cheering & applauding] 389 00:16:33,727 --> 00:16:35,293 She was a university student and 390 00:16:35,428 --> 00:16:37,562 A ballet dancer in toronto. 391 00:16:37,697 --> 00:16:39,764 At the age of 18, I was diagnosed with 392 00:16:39,899 --> 00:16:42,633 A really aggressive stage four cancer. 393 00:16:42,702 --> 00:16:46,304 And I finished chemo, then covid started. 394 00:16:46,439 --> 00:16:49,307 And so, I was here almost all the time, because suddenly, 395 00:16:49,442 --> 00:16:51,909 I had no immune system, and I couldn't be in the city. 396 00:16:51,911 --> 00:16:53,511 So, during covid, 397 00:16:53,580 --> 00:16:55,880 She moved in with her grandparents up here. 398 00:16:55,882 --> 00:16:58,449 ♪ 399 00:16:58,584 --> 00:17:00,651 Because of the chemo damage, I couldn't run, 400 00:17:00,653 --> 00:17:03,254 I couldn't do anything high impact. 401 00:17:03,256 --> 00:17:06,590 And grandma suggested hope haven and we got in touch. 402 00:17:06,592 --> 00:17:09,726 She said at the beginning, she could only sit upright 403 00:17:09,763 --> 00:17:12,263 On the horse for 5 minutes before she'd have 404 00:17:12,265 --> 00:17:14,398 Painful muscle fatigue. 405 00:17:14,434 --> 00:17:17,801 Just holding your core upright for 5 minutes 406 00:17:17,837 --> 00:17:20,671 On something that's moving is so hard 407 00:17:20,807 --> 00:17:22,673 When you haven't had to do that. 408 00:17:22,675 --> 00:17:25,476 And that was the early days, but now, like, 409 00:17:25,512 --> 00:17:27,711 I ride twice a week. 410 00:17:27,747 --> 00:17:30,481 It became sort of the thing that she looked forward to 411 00:17:30,616 --> 00:17:32,617 The most, going there twice a week. 412 00:17:32,619 --> 00:17:34,552 And for her, for a lot of people, 413 00:17:34,554 --> 00:17:36,954 The more riding they did, they would feel physically 414 00:17:37,023 --> 00:17:39,623 And mentally stronger, right. 415 00:17:39,758 --> 00:17:42,360 Being there in the barn with the horses, 416 00:17:42,495 --> 00:17:44,829 Makes people feel stable. 417 00:17:44,964 --> 00:17:47,431 [laughing] 418 00:17:47,567 --> 00:17:51,602 ♪ 419 00:17:51,638 --> 00:17:53,838 I went to a community barbecue put on by the 420 00:17:53,973 --> 00:17:55,772 Rotaract club of markdale. 421 00:17:55,809 --> 00:17:57,674 It's like a version of the rotary club, 422 00:17:57,710 --> 00:17:58,843 But younger people. 423 00:17:58,978 --> 00:18:00,778 -Patrick! -Hey, jonny, how's it going? 424 00:18:00,780 --> 00:18:01,846 I'm well, how are you doing? 425 00:18:01,915 --> 00:18:03,847 I had a chat with patrick petch. 426 00:18:03,883 --> 00:18:07,318 [cheering & applauding] 427 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,320 Patrick's introduction to the rotary club, 428 00:18:09,322 --> 00:18:11,388 His grandfather was very active in it. 429 00:18:11,458 --> 00:18:14,292 My grandfather was a rotarian so, from like 9 years old, 430 00:18:14,427 --> 00:18:17,261 He had me cutting onions for, for barbecues. 431 00:18:17,263 --> 00:18:20,264 And he was very impressed even at that age that this 432 00:18:20,333 --> 00:18:22,867 Group was, was very community minded. 433 00:18:22,936 --> 00:18:26,671 And, he, he had the old rubber band effect. 434 00:18:26,673 --> 00:18:29,340 He moved away for a while, felt he had to come back. 435 00:18:29,475 --> 00:18:32,343 He got back, and he went to a rotary meeting, 436 00:18:32,478 --> 00:18:35,680 And said that he was thinking about opening a rotaract. 437 00:18:35,682 --> 00:18:38,415 A rotaract is essentially a younger version of rotary. 438 00:18:38,485 --> 00:18:40,418 So, the whole idea behind rotoract is that 439 00:18:40,553 --> 00:18:42,420 You're trying to get young leaders from the community 440 00:18:42,422 --> 00:18:43,720 To get involved. 441 00:18:43,756 --> 00:18:45,323 The rotary club were all for it, they said, 442 00:18:45,458 --> 00:18:46,557 "yes, go for it." 443 00:18:46,593 --> 00:18:50,294 Bring in some young people, bring in some, some... 444 00:18:50,363 --> 00:18:52,897 Young energy, bring in people, you know, 445 00:18:52,966 --> 00:18:56,501 Young people who had their own hip... 446 00:18:56,636 --> 00:18:57,835 Who have their own hips, 447 00:18:57,970 --> 00:19:00,604 Bring in people who have their own hips. 448 00:19:00,673 --> 00:19:02,573 He put some signs around town, but it didn't say, 449 00:19:02,708 --> 00:19:05,309 You know, volunteer work or community service. 450 00:19:05,311 --> 00:19:07,311 It said, "free barbecue and beer". 451 00:19:07,313 --> 00:19:08,946 [laughing] 452 00:19:08,982 --> 00:19:11,515 It's an old 1812 war tactic. 453 00:19:11,551 --> 00:19:13,651 Get 'em a little tipsy and press gang 'em into service. 454 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,654 -Get them to sign a contract. -Sign on the dotted line, yeah. 455 00:19:16,723 --> 00:19:18,222 Right, if you can get people to fight in a war, 456 00:19:18,291 --> 00:19:19,456 You could probably get them to bring coleslaw 457 00:19:19,492 --> 00:19:20,724 To the rib rally. 458 00:19:20,793 --> 00:19:22,393 [laughing] 459 00:19:22,395 --> 00:19:24,461 Patrick inspired me when he said... 460 00:19:24,531 --> 00:19:26,731 We do random acts of kindness in the community, 461 00:19:26,733 --> 00:19:29,133 Really anything to raise awareness and 462 00:19:29,268 --> 00:19:30,534 Kind of make people stay. 463 00:19:30,537 --> 00:19:31,936 If you're going to live in a community, 464 00:19:32,005 --> 00:19:33,804 You should try and make it a better place. 465 00:19:33,873 --> 00:19:37,408 He said it's important that wherever you live, 466 00:19:37,477 --> 00:19:39,876 You try to make it a better place. 467 00:19:39,913 --> 00:19:42,680 And I think I'm, I'm buying a foosball table. 468 00:19:42,749 --> 00:19:44,482 I'm gonna do it, he convinced me. 469 00:19:44,617 --> 00:19:46,817 [laughing] 470 00:19:46,819 --> 00:19:50,320 ♪ 471 00:19:50,356 --> 00:19:53,491 It's a tale of fire and ice cream here in markdale, 472 00:19:53,626 --> 00:19:55,026 So they say. 473 00:19:55,028 --> 00:19:57,728 A story of life handing you lemons... 474 00:19:57,863 --> 00:20:00,498 And you turning them into lemon sorbet. 475 00:20:00,633 --> 00:20:02,433 People look for homes outside the city 476 00:20:02,568 --> 00:20:04,901 Where the prices will surely bone ya. 477 00:20:04,938 --> 00:20:07,571 For all the stuff that small towns don't have, 478 00:20:07,574 --> 00:20:10,708 One of them includes corona. 479 00:20:10,710 --> 00:20:13,711 Kids with disabilities might do hippotherapy, 480 00:20:13,713 --> 00:20:16,514 Or do an adaptive riding course and learn some 481 00:20:16,649 --> 00:20:18,516 Life lessons 'cause when they fall off, 482 00:20:18,651 --> 00:20:21,585 You get them back up on the horse. 483 00:20:21,588 --> 00:20:24,722 In markdale, you learn that life is like ice cream. 484 00:20:24,791 --> 00:20:27,291 If you drop it, instead of slowing, 485 00:20:27,293 --> 00:20:28,793 You pick it up off the ground, 486 00:20:28,928 --> 00:20:30,661 Take a sec to dust off, 487 00:20:30,697 --> 00:20:32,863 Then you take your licks and keep going. 488 00:20:32,999 --> 00:20:34,532 Thanks for coming out to the show everybody! 489 00:20:34,667 --> 00:20:35,866 You've been great! 490 00:20:36,002 --> 00:20:39,704 [cheering & applauding] 491 00:20:39,839 --> 00:20:42,473 Oh, it was super, everybody enjoyed it. 492 00:20:42,542 --> 00:20:44,608 -Amazing, hilarious. -It was amazing! 493 00:20:44,644 --> 00:20:48,479 ♪ 494 00:20:48,481 --> 00:20:49,947 The people that came with me loved it, 495 00:20:50,082 --> 00:20:52,549 And now they owe me favours. 496 00:20:52,585 --> 00:20:56,887 ♪ 497 00:20:57,023 --> 00:21:00,524 Hope haven is my great grandpa petch's old farm, 498 00:21:00,593 --> 00:21:03,293 So it was neat seeing hope haven now. 499 00:21:03,329 --> 00:21:07,765 ♪ 500 00:21:07,834 --> 00:21:09,733 I mean, the ice cream jokes were a killer. 501 00:21:09,769 --> 00:21:11,635 -Yeah. -[laughing] 502 00:21:11,637 --> 00:21:15,772 ♪ 503 00:21:15,808 --> 00:21:17,774 He ate a lot of ice cream on the plant floor, 504 00:21:17,810 --> 00:21:19,443 Let me tell you. 505 00:21:19,479 --> 00:21:24,114 ♪