Spryfield has been part of our story from the very start. We both grew up here in the '80s and '90s, and we've watched it change more than almost anywhere else in the city. Through it all, it has never stopped feeling like home.
The Spryfield only locals remember
If you grew up here, you remember the movie theatre, Bi-Way, the IGA and Zellers. You remember the Tim Hortons with the smoking room, a cloud of coffee and conversation where half the community seemed to solve its problems.
Most of those places are gone now. The McDonald's is still standing, but the playground is gone, and so is Grimace. Some things you just have to let go of!
And then there's the wave pool. When we started talking about Spryfield memories, we both said it without hesitating. If you were a kid in Spryfield, your summers were spent there.
Meghan has her own Spryfield story too. Her very first job was at the pharmacy. The building has since been renovated, and years later her first job in real estate took her right back through the same doors. It still smells the same: that oddly comforting mix of Earl Grey tea and Froot Loops.
The reputation versus the reality
Spryfield has carried a rough reputation for a long time. Here's what we know from living it: this is a community that perseveres. It had real challenges, but the people were always there for each other. Today, Spryfield is a safe community, and it has only gotten safer over the years.
What Spryfield is like now
The sense of community here is huge. There are events, sports teams and so many ways to get involved if you want to. So much has changed, but what made Spryfield special never did: people show up for each other.
That's a big reason why so many people who grow up here choose to stay right here in the community. At the same time, Spryfield has opened its arms to newcomers from all around the world, and to first-time buyers looking for a place to put down roots. Whether your family has been here for generations or you're just arriving, there's a place for you here.
Your first Saturday in Spryfield
New to the neighbourhood, or just curious? Here's how we'd spend the day:
- Walk the trails at the Dingle (Sir Sandford Fleming Park)
- Explore the trails at Long Lake Provincial Park
- Grab a treat from Mrs. P's Bakery
- Take the kids for a swim in the wave pool at the Captain William Spry Centre (a Spryfield rite of passage!)
Come see it for yourself
If you're thinking about making Spryfield home, we'd love to show you around. We know it by heart, and we can't wait to share it with you.