Stephen and Sara Cole, a couple originating from Fergus, Ontario, have divulged their unexpected journey of relinquishing their hometown and relocating to a French chateau, to the intriguing audiences of CTV News. Following several enamoring visits to the picturesque European country, they found their hearts entwined with the allure of France. However, the idea of ever residing in such a place seemed like a distant dream to them.
Their Fergus residence, a sizeable abode with an area of 2,400 sq. ft., stylishly presented four bedrooms and was splendidly situated on three-quarters of an acre plot in the town of Fergus; a community of approximately 20,000 residents that is nestled just 20-minute drive from Guelph. “Despite it being considerably large for just the two of us, we harbored a love for hosting guests,” confessed Stephen.
Unbeknownst to the couple, their realm for entertaining was on the brink of a dramatic expansion. “Upon stumbling across a chateau during our online property searches, we realized that amid the madness of the Canadian housing market, such a dream could actually be within our grasps,” explained Sara.
In Cambridge, as the gears of time have relentlessly turned for the past 55 years, a beloved Tim Hortons location has been faithfully serving the community, doling out warm smiles with each double-double. “Hard working individuals invested immense efforts seven days a week since my parents opened the store in 1968,” narrated Dwayne McGlinchey, co-owner of the franchise. This loved institution has remained within the McGlinchey lineage throughout these years, its simplistic menu of coffee and baked goods, then sold for a mere 25 cents, has bound the community together till date.
In other news, the city of Kitchener recently received a generous gift of 40 acres of land, donated by Martin Pathak and his family. The land will benefit the local park and the future generations who use it. Known as Budd Park, it boasts of soccer fields, ball diamonds, tennis courts, and numerous other recreational hotspots.
In a major congregation, an estimated 50,000 people attended the Port Dover Friday the 13th biker rally. Motorcycle enthusiasts from all over Ontario and certain parts of the United States flock to this lakeside community every month a Friday falls on the 13th day. This tradition, dating back to 1981, regularly draws tens of thousands of bikers.
In the final story, soaring house prices in Waterloo Region are prompting residents to make challenging decisions. With a prosperous tech industry and world-class universities, Waterloo Region has been a popular place to settle down. However, due to the housing affordability crisis, longtime residents now find themselves on the verge of selling their homes at a loss. As Cambridge resident Vidya Sundar put it, “Even Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge areas are so unaffordable.” An imminent difficulty seems to loom amid the Canadian housing sector as the dream of homeownership becomes increasingly elusive.
